I’m guessing that if you’ve played tennis for very long, you’ve had the frustrating experience of serving a beautiful T serve, only to have it called out by the opponent. In fact, I would presume you may have experienced this more than once.
The times it has happened to me, I had a clear view of the center line and could see that my serve bounced in the correct service box right next to that line. In quiet consultation, my partner confirmed she had also seen it was in.
For receiver’s partners, the center line can be difficult to call when the ball bounces very close to it because their angle of view places them a bit too close to make fine distinctions. Balls that bounce close to lines can create an illusion they’re out when in fact they’re not, especially when the ball is moving fast.
Not only is it frustrating when your great shot is called out, these calls can muster an eruption of irritation and disappointment, especially on a serve. It can be very tempting to argue about it with your opponent in the heat of the moment. But is this wise?
Arguments on the court can sour a match and do more damage to your own game than you might anticipate. When allowed to fester, feelings of anger and frustration can become distractions that throw you off your game, even to the point where you fall behind and lose.
In studying the mental game, coaches like Ian Westermann, Jeff Greenwald, and Peter Scales advise players to put their mental energies into the things we can control, in order to play our best tennis. Since you have no control over the actions of your opponent, it is unproductive to dwell on the injustice of bad line calls.
So what can we do? Doesn’t suppressing our anger only work against us? I’m not suggesting you do that. I believe it’s most effective to fill your mind with something positive so there is no void that can be filled by negative emotions. When the action from your opponent stings, use a reset to ward off a potential cascade of negative events.
Take the time off the court to identify strategies that will help you move on when your opponent does something that may upset you. Practice ways to move on after you believe a bad line call is made. Find a reset that works for you.
Breath can be very effective and requires no thinking.
Thinking about the next point can help shift your focus.
Simply looking at the ball or thinking about placement can hook your attention and help to keep your mental focus in the moment.
Whatever tools you use, it can be empowering to simply let it go.
I have been advised that if bad line calls continue happening in a match, after the 3rd or 4th time, it’s appropriate to question the call in a respectful manner, if nothing else, to put your opponent on notice that perhaps she needs to be more careful in making close calls. But beware that even this act can derail your focus and affect your next shot unless you combine it with the reset you’ve developed.
Above all, don’t take things too seriously. Most matches we play at the recreational level are informal “friendlies” where players gather on the court to have fun. Keep this objective at the forefront of your match play. At this time of the year when we are frequently reminded of “peace on earth” and “goodwill towards our fellow human beings”, it’s good to remember to bring this attitude on the tennis court with us as well.
So, next time you feel a bad line call was made when you’re serving, let it go, let it go, let it go.
For more information about line calls--how to make and receive them, read court thoughts, “An Honest Mistake” and “On the Line” in my book Gift of Tennis.
