AboutEd 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; 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.
Expert: Ed Hines Date: 10/1/2007 Subject: ball spinning over the net
Question I have seen several answers regarding a ball with heavy backspin coming back over the net without being struck. I knew that the player could reach over the net in this one instance only. My question is, can this player purposely reach over the net, and slam the ball back toward the net and into it (on his opponents side), thereby effectively deadening the ball, as long as he doesn't touch the net? And if he CAN do this, if the ball comes off the net enough that the other player can play it is it still in play? I hope these questions are clear. If not I can try to explain it better. This situaiton has never actually come up in my play, but I always thought it would be an easy (and fun) way to win a point if the ball ever did bounce back over due to top spin. (Though I think it might be difficult to avoid hitting the net if ever tried.)
Answer Yes, Rich, you are correct on all counts. I've even heard it recommended to hit the ball into the net so as to essentially win the point. So, everything you say is legal, in accordance with the rules.
But keep in mind, the ball is not the dead, the point is not over until the ball hits the court in such an instance as in NORMAL play. So, if you did hit it into the opponent's net while reaching over, he conceivably still has time to return it before the ball bounces twice.
Ed
P.S. As you said, this scenario with the backspin rarely happens. When officiating, our biggest concern is that the player not touch the net when reaching over. If one is successful at that, I've never seen the point lost by the one reaching over. Just too tough for the opponent to come out on top of that one.
