About Ed Hines Expertise The Rules of Tennis primarily, including junior and collegiate application of the rules as well as recreational play. Please: NO questions about practice drills or ways to improve your game.
Experience Over 30 years playing the game, including USTA and ITA Officials' certification in junior, collegiate, and professional tennis.
Organizations USTA; former member Atlanta Professional Tennis Umpires Association
Awards and Honors ATP Linesman, Chair Official NCAA Regional Div I and Div III, Blue Gray Tournament Chair, SEC Championships, Southern Conf Championships, Atlantic Sun Conference, Several Junior National and Super National Jr. Tournaments, NCAA Womens Championship Finals, ASI and AT&T (qualifier final) Chair.
Question Are you allowed to run into the net after the ball is in play. This occurred recently during a doubles game. The opposing team mate ran towards the net as though he was going to crash into the net, but hit the net with his racket after they received the point. How do you call this situation. my response was to play the point over?
Answer If he hit the net while the ball was in play, he loses the point. The question is, was the ball in play when he struck the net or had it already bounced twice on your side, hit a permanent fixture, etc? Even if he hit a clear winner, he'd lose the point unless the point was over at the time he made contact with the net. I've called this (they're call "touches") against a player that ran furiously to the net and then hit a lob over their opponents for a winner. Unfortunately for the net rusher, he couldn't stop in time before his lob bounced twice. So timing can be critical.
Also, touches are called by the alleged toucher, not the other team, same as a double bounce.
