Hindrances: Hats, Phones, and Planes

If a player's hat flies off, is that a hindrance? If the ball hits a tree branch, do you replay the point? Be knowledgeable about phones ringing, sticks falling, and birds flying overhead.

My opponent wants to watch an important match that is streamed live during our match. He said he\'d only watch it during changeovers.

Are players allowed to watch tv during change-overs?

No. ITF Rule 30 Comment 30.1 states "While on court or during a match, a player may not receive information via electronic devices. . . " The player should put their phone on silent and enjoy being on the court, engaged in their own match. If the televised match was important, they could record it and share it with their competitor after the match !

Tennis Quizzes

Serving & Receiving Quiz Serving & Foot Faults Quiz Game Delay Quiz Hindrances: It's Those Opponents!Hindrances: All About the Ball Hindrances: Hats, Phones, and Planes It's Those Spectators!Singles Matches College Tennis - ITA

Blog & News

A Phone Rings on Court New Year! New Strings?Tennis Tips: Discovered!Height of the Sportsmanship Bar More Articles

Common Questions

After your first serve hit the net, a blast of wind blew a pile of leaves onto the court. Seconds later, the leaves are blown off the court. You ask for a first serve; the opponents refuse.+

When should the server be granted a first serve again?

If there was a delay between first and second serve and caused by outside interference, like wind blowing leaves onto the court, the server should receive two serves. Yet the receiving team makes the decision if the delay between the first and second serve warrants first serve again.

On a hot sweaty day, your racquet slips out of your hand and hits your opponent\'s hand. You immediately apologize. He is unable to hold his racquet and must retire.+

If you injure an opponent accidently during a tennis match, who wins the match?

You win. What? Yes, when a player accidently injures their opponent, and the opponent is unable to continue, and retires, the player wins. Even though the player caused the injury - accidentally - they win the match.

The ball is in play and your opponent\'s phone rings.+

What can you do when your opponent\'s phone rings on court during play?

You may stop play, call a hindrance, and claim the point. The phone needs to be turned off.

While serving, your racquet slipped out of your hand. Your opponents stopped play and said it was their point.+

If you drop your racquet during a point, can your opponents say it\'s their point?

A player's racquet coming out of the hand does not give any player the right to call for a point, or a let. Your opponents should continue playing and take advantage of the fact that a player is scrambling to pick up their racquet.

You win the point. Your opponent discovers your dampener on their side of the court. It must have fallen off during a challenging volley sometime earlier.+

If your dampener is found on your opponent\'s court after the point ends, do you replay the point? Or does the point stand?

The point stands. It wasn't discovered until after the point ended. The rule states that a point is lost, if anything the player is wearing, carrying, etc. lands on the opponent's court while the ball is in play.

Your opponent stopped the play because they thought the plane overhead hindered your play. They call a let. Is this a hindrance?+

No, it was not a hindrance. Your point. Your opponent should continue playing unless the plane distracted him. If it did not bother you, nor was a safety issue on your side of the court, they must continue playing.

You smash an overhead winner into your opponent\'s court. The ball bounces up and hits a tree limb that hangs over your opponent\'s courts. Your opponents say they couldn\'t return because of the tree limb.+

If the ball hits a tree branch after bouncing in the court and your opponent says they could have returned the ball, do you replay the point?

You, and your opponent, accepted the tree limb as a permanent fixture before your game began. Since the ball bounced in their court then hit the tree limb, you win the point.

Your opponent\'s cell phone rang while you were retrieving a ball to begin your serve.+

If your opponent\'s cell phone rings between points, do you win the point?

Most tournaments require phones to be off before beginning the match. You would receive the point. Some tournaments will issue a warning, if a phone rings between points, then a point penalty if it happens again. Turn off all phones and enjoy the match.

Your hat flies off your head. Your opponent stops play and claims a point.+

Does your opponent earn a point because your hat dropped to the court during the point?

No, a hat flying off during play does not mean the opponent is granted a point. They may immediately call a let and play the point again because it is an unintentional hindrance. Or, they can ignore the hat and continue to play. Only your opponent can make the call. You must play on.

While in a rally, your opponent\'s hat fell off. He reached down, picked it up, then hit a great volley into your court. You could not return the shot.+

If your opponent\'s hat falls off during a point and they continue playing and hit a winner. Shouldn\'t that be your point?

Your opponent's point. They did the correct action by continuing to play. If the hat was distracting to you, you or your partner should stop immediately and call a let due to unintentional hindrance. Remember, if that hat flies off a second time, and you are forced to stop play because it is distracting, you win the point. It has become an intentional hindrance.

Your opponent\'s hat flies off in the match. You continue playing and he trips over his hat on the court. He is unable to return the ball.+

If your opponent trips over his hat that has fallen on court, do you receive a point?

You win the point. The request to re-play the point is not correct. The hat is in your opponent's control. When something is within a player's control, a let is never authorized. If they stop the play, you win the point. They can quickly retrieve the hat and continue playing.