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Strategy: Bad
Calls
Strategy
In doubles, our team sees the ball land on the line and it's called out
by our opponents. Should we question our opponents about the call if it
happens more than one time?
Answer
This answer is complicated, so bear with us.
We will assume in this case that we are talking about a competitive league
or tournament match, not a social match. There's really not much at stake
in social matches, so anything but a skeptical eyebrow or a wry smile at
a bad call would be out of order.
Although the stakes in competitive play are higher, it's important to remember
that tennis is first and foremost a game played for fun. If you go
into the match uptight and paranoid that your opponents may make bad calls,
you've lost sight of the bigger picture and will probably not play your
best.
Now that we have the big picture settled, you're in the right frame of mind
to have fun playing a competitive match - it goes without saying that a
game can't be enjoyed very much if someone is cheating. In his book, "Winning
Ugly," Brad Gilbert says marginal calls shouldn't be challenged because
you could be wrong. However, he says that blatantly bad calls shouldn't
go unchallenged. We agree with Brad. You should question a truly
bad call the first time. Questioning a bad call right from the beginning
will make your opponents more alert on future close calls. Don't wait for
the second really bad call - it maybe on match point.
However, make sure to question your opponents without creating a blood feud.
Nobody enjoys being questioned about line calls. Remember, they may be making
an honest mistake and agree to play two. However, if they seem to
be playing by the un-sportsman-like rule, "If in doubt, play it out,"
especially on key points, an appropriate challenge will make them think
twice before calling the next close one.
What is an appropriate challenge? Depending on the circumstances, it could
be long stare like Borg used to give. A more direct but diplomatic challenge
could be a statement like, "Look, we're not challenging your right
to make the calls - but that one definitely looked in to us. Are you sure
of the call?"
One very critical reminder. No matter how bad a call you think your opponents
have made, don't lose your cool and start double faulting or making errors.
Don't give up the game and eventually the match because you are so
agitated by a bad call. If the situation gets worse, it is your
team's right to immediately call on an umpire, lines person or a neutral
person (perhaps the team captains) who can act on behalf of both teams to
make honest line calls. Finally, don't respond to bad line calling by making
bad calls yourself. Not only is it unsporting conduct, it will disrupt
your concentration on your game while focusing on this silly feud.
Good luck and don't lose your cool!
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