JAK'S MONTHLY ESSAY SERIES: Achieving Your Personal Best

Tradiitional Tennis Protocol: Don't Be Last off the Turnip Truck

By Jak Beardsworth

I often joke around with lesson clients relatively new to both my coaching and competitive tennis about not being last off the turnip truck regarding one’s proper, expected, on-court comportment. And also especially with more than a few players, who have played competitive league tennis for years, and whom should know better, that – if invited - they will not be asked back for some doubles at the staid All-England Club (Wimbledon) or Roland Garros (French Open), or at any long established, tradition filled club domestically for that matter if they handle themselves boorishly.

Or, better yet, never quite getting asked into that local double’s group that you’ve been eyeing for some time despite your improved play.

Not knowing, and/or being ignorant about (no excuse!), match play protocol, including in-match acceptable behavior –regardless of even possessing a high level playing skill! – can result in you not being considered up to the long standing accepted play standards of the game, and end up on the outside looking in.

Besides responsibly knowing the universal warm-up routine (singles or doubles) – that same old expected, unspoken one that’s been around for decades which far too many, even experienced league players, are completely ignorant about (???), one should also know the basics of expected overall behavior during match play.

Here are seven (7) common issues:

1. Do not return serves clearly out which affects the server’s rhythm prior to their second serve and generally interrupts play. If in/out is a close last second call, it’s only then that receivers are permitted to go through with their return since they are unsure, and need an extra moment to make a slightly “late” call. You might add optional “sorry” (old school tennis manners) after the fact if the serve did indeed turn out to be out.
2. When the server requests a second ball prior to starting a point, hit it gently right to them, not a laser beam rifled over there away from them.
3. And, basically same as above, when just generally returning a 2nd or 3rd ball to the serving side after a point’s completion don’t just hit anywhere at all to the back fence away from the opponents.
4. When returning a ball from an adjacent court that has rolled onto your court and a let is called immediately, wait until that court’s point is completed before gently rolling it to the back fence adding: “Ball coming.”
5. There are no practice serves after the first point is played, i.e. FBI horrors. All practice serves are taken before the first point is played. “I’ll wait until it’s my serve to take my practice” is against the rules and poor sportsmanship, as is immediately practicing returns prior to dialing in your serve. Since there is time sensitivity, best to serve and catch exclusively. Yes, you can sneak in the occasional practice return in place of your practice serve if you’ve got your serve firing quickly.
6. The server should call out the score prior to playing every point. Losing track invites much argumentation after the fact. Most know that when confusion arises, Players go back to a previous score they can all agree on.
7. The racket should be spun for serve, return, side, or to defer choice to the opponents before the first warm-up ball is struck. That way you warm-up on the side that you’ll be playing the first game on, which also provides time to determine your team’s serve order First determine your racket’s particular “up or down” status. Announce your call while it’s spinning. Show the result to the opponents if you’re doing the spinning.

I’ve probably left a few faux pas out (send me your personal pet peeves for further inclusions at a later date).

Okay, agreed, so you’re probably not going to be invited anytime soon to be a fourth at Wimbledon or Roland Garros anyway you say. No matter. Don’t be a turnip. Don’t disrespect your playing partners. Don’t disrespect the game in general.

Copyright© 2007- 2025 by Jak Beardsworth Tennis. All rights reserved, including the right of reproduction in whole or in part in any form.

COMMENTS WELCOME: JB1tennis@comcast.net

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• July 2025 -“TRADITIONAL TENNIS PROTOCOL: Don’t Be Last off the Turnip TruckK”
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• May 2025 -THE BIG ROLLER–RHYTHM BUSTER
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• April 2025 -OFF THE GRID BODY POSITIONING
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• March 2025 -CAN YOU HANG?
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• February 2025 -Roy Emerson Explains The Way To Your Best Tennis
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• January 2024 - Win the First Set. Lose The 2^nd. Then the Tb Crapshoot.
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• November 2024 - The Walking Wounded
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• August 2024 - The Game's Most Difficult Skills & the Most Taken For Granted
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• June 2024 - KNOW YOUR DOUBLE'S IN-POINT SITUATION WHEN BACK or RETURNING SERVE
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• April 2024 - Coulda, shoulda got that: The Art of Poaching
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• May 2025 - THE BIG ROLLER–RHYTHM BUSTER
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• April 2025 - OFF THE GRID BODY POSITIONING
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• March 2024 - Get Your JuJu On
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• February 2024 - Giving Opponents too Much Respect
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• January 2024 - Rally Ball Or Pull The Trigger
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