By Chris SimnettTennis is a game of finesse and restraint and hittin' the ball where the other guy ain't.
I don't know who to credit with that quote, but my dad used to say it to me all the time when I was a kid.
Tennis is a game of finesse, but more and more it's become a game of power and aggression.
You shouldn't forget the restraint, however. Trust me, I'm guilty of forgetting the restraint part and I've had more than a few embarrassing blowups on the court.
While the country club, rich-kid atmosphere is long-gone from tennis and the idea that players should play in all-white attire is only still found at Wimbledon (and a few clubs - still), the game does have some common sense rules of ettiquette that make it more fun for everyone.
Here are the basic rules you need to know whether you are playing at a club or on public courts.
These are in no particular order of importance: they're all important!
• If you hit a ball onto another court don't run onto their court to get it until they have finished their point or rally. If a ball rolls onto your court, call a let, get the ball and hit it back to the court where it came from.
• when hitting a ball back to a neighbouring court, roll it along the fence at the back of the court. Don't do this when a point is in progress. Only pass it directly to a person if they are looking at you and are expecting the ball. Say "thanks for one" when you want someone to get your ball that's on their court.
• never, ever walk behind a player when a point or rally is in progress. If they are playing on the end court where the gate is located, wait outside the gate until their point is finished and then enter the courts. Walk quickly to your court.
• It's okay to talk and sometimes yell out in frustration during your own match. Please don't scream obscenities or huck your racquet or smash balls in anger or do anything that could endanger another person.
• know what kind of balls you are playing and what their number is. If you're playing a Wilson 5 and the next court is using Penn 6s, it's easy to figure out whose balls are whose. If in doubt, keep a marker in your bag and, like a golfer, put an identifying mark on your ball. Most tournament directors will do this for you when you get your balls.
• when you're practicing your serve on courts where other people are playing, please only serve on the end courts and then, hit so your serves bounce into the corners.
• when calling lines, if you don't SEE the ball out, you can't call it out. If you think it was out but didn't actually see the ball land out, call it good. Always err on the side of your oppponent. Only call balls on your side of the court. If your opponent questions your call and you're not sure of your call, suggest you play a let. If you are sure of your call, by all means stick to it. It's your call on your side of the net. If you're not sure of a call on your side of the net you can ask your opponent if he saw it, but the polite answer to that is no. If that happens, the best thing to do is play a let. If in doubt, first offer the point to your opponent. A polite, sporting opponent will then suggest to play a let.
• everyone makes bad calls. We're all human. Accept the odd bad call if your opponent is generally fair. If bad calls persist in a tournament, call for an umpire. If you're playing for fun and the calls bug you, don't play that person any more.
