“New” Tennis Etiquette, 1974

Many players are beginning as adults. They may get a fast run-through of the rules from a pro or a neighbor, and learn that swearing and racquet throwing are not acceptable even in social tennis. What they often don't get are the little subtleties of tennis etiquette that those who have played tennis since they were kids pick up by osmosis.

Do Your Companions Justice on the Court

Tennis has supposedly been a genteel sport with a stringent code. I have witnessed tournaments where spectators were hardly permitted to breathe for fear they might disturb the players. Billie Jean King remembers (March “Good Housekeeping”) that she was excluded from a picture after her first tournament because she had on white shorts instead of the prescribed tennis dress.

Yet a strange contradiction remains. Many of the premier players have been allowed to be big ugly bears on the courts. Tennis officials have now decided to get tough.

In September of 1973 the United States Lawn Tennis Association adopted a new policy. Players who commit flagrant deeds will now be penalized in some tournaments by having their scores reduced. Also on the books is a rule which permits tournament chairmen to withhold prize and-or expense money from players pending a decision on whether they will have to pay fines. Prohibited are swearing at an official; use of obscene language that can be heard by others; throwing a racquet; hitting the ball deliberately toward another player, a spectator or an official; and threats to anyone.

Tennis is an “in,” booming thing. There are 1,000 indoor-tennis clubs, and one more is being built every day. Public and private courts can be seen almost everywhere. Twenty million people now play the game...seven million more than two years ago.

Many players are beginning as adults. They may get a fast run-through of the rules from a pro or a neighbor, and learn that swearing and racquet throwing are not acceptable even in social tennis. What they often don't get are the little subtleties of tennis etiquette that those who have played tennis since they were kids pick up by osmosis.

I talked to Jack Stahr, chairman of the USLTA Umpire's Committee and author of the umpire's handbook, “A Friend at Court.” Stahr made the following suggestions:

1) Provide your share of the balls.

2) Don't walk onto another court to retrieve your ball. Wait until your neighbors have finished playing a point, then ASK for the ball.

3) If your opponent's first serve is no good, don't knock the ball back into his court if you can avoid it.

4) When one player plays a fast game and another plays slowly, a compromise should be worked out.

5) Don't make your opponent wait needlessly while you look for a third ball.

6) The server is responsible for knowing the location of the balls.

7) Players should announce the score at the end of each game, and perhaps several times during each game, to prevent arguments.

8) Don't stall.

9) Light-colored clothes are okay. Bold and clashing colors are “bush.”

10) When you are serving and the first serve goes in, don't discard the ball in a way that will distract your opponent.

11) If the server notices that his first serve might roll back into his opponent's court, he should not serve again until the first ball is removed from the court.

One final point. The tennis club where I play notified members last month that 500 towels had been lifted in five months. I suspect that people who steal towels aren't ready for the more subtle aspects of tennis etiquette. —By Maureen E. Reardon, 1974

🎾Etiquette Enthusiast, Maura J Graber, is the Site Editor for Etiquipedia© Etiquette Encyclopedia