Tennis Etiquette:
Who cheated you?
How to know if someone is cheating you.How to play tennis without cheating.
A ball lands an eighth of an inch out! Do you call it in or do you call it out?
The rule says, "Give your opponent the benefit of a doubt",
it does not say,
"give yourself the
benefit of a doubt".
The most important rules\codes designed to help combat bad
calls
are:
1) Give your opponent the benefit of a doubt
2) Make calls instantaneously (loud and clear).
3) Call the ball out (if it is) before you hit it
4) If you're not sure play it, it's in.
If you ever face a situation where you believe that your opponent is not being honest,
DO NOT stoop down to a lower level, maintain your composure, do your best,
and take that
player off your list.
The following are some situations where a player might either be, cheating, probably
cheating, or using gamesmanship. If you are guilty of using one of these tactics, try to
eliminate
them from your repertoire. Keep in mind that gamesmanship is not illegal, but
unsportsman like
behavior that takes away some of the fun from the game.
Tell us what you think, add to the list and or how you deal with dishonest players.
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The Situation |
Cheating | Probably Cheating |
Games maship |
| Stops play without making a call on a close ball, when asked says, "Oh yeah, it was way out" |
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| Hesitates, stands on top and around where the ball landed, contemplates and then says "out" |
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| The ball hits close to the line he makes a noise or grunt that sounds close to him calling the ball out, but you're not sure, you hesitate and lose the point |
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| The ball is good, hesitates to call it good and continues to stare down the mark |
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| You hit a great un-returnable serve, your opponent makes a weak attempt at returning it, fails miserably but out of nowhere, "That was a (Phantom) let" |
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| Hesitates then raises the out finger | |
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| I can't see a mark but it was out | |
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| Very close ball, when ask how far out, says, "by a yard" |
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| You can't make the call, you ask him, he says "I don't know it's your call" |
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| Hesitates, calls it good, but says "I'll give it to you" as in doing you a favor |
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| Hits a return does not call serve out until you are about to hit a winner off a short return |
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| Hits a return loses the point and continues to stare down at the spot where the serve landed |
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| You hit a clean ace, he hesitates, does not call it, stares at the spot and says "out" |
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| Stomps feet, waves arms, grunts in an effort to distract during your toss |
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| Stepping up and quickly serving without checking to see if you are ready |
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| Says "I don't know I'm not sure, it looked out" and takes the point |
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| You hit a shot, he says, "I'm sorry, I want to give it to you, but it's out" |
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| You hit a serve, he calls it out, but then says, "I'm not sure, play 2" |
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| Consistently takes longer than 90 seconds between change overs |
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| Always wants and looks for the 3rd ball after a long point | |
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| Calling out the wrong score at the right time | |
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| Hits a return and does not call the serve out until his shot is about to sail out |
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| You hit a ball close to the line, he returns it, you hit a winner, he then says the ball was out |
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| Comes up with questionable ailments that miraculously disappear |
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| Serves with one ball and walks back to the fence to pick up the second ball |
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| You hit a serve, he returns but act as if the ball is out, you hesitate, hit a weak reply or none at all. He proceeds to win the point. |
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