Opponent moving around on your service game

[jayb1988]

I think I saw something similar to this a while ago but can't recall what the outcome was so I'll just ask away.

I've just played a match where my opponent was moving from side to side on near enough every point while I'm serving, it's really off-putting in the extreme. It gets bad enough that I have to basically avoid looking at the service box, effectively serving blind on each point.

I've come across this alot more recently not just during ITST matches but also on WT. I can't exactly ask the opponent to stop dancing around like Michael Jackson during a match so what am I supposed to do?

Is this just gamesmanship or an actual rule break of sorts?

[Hugo Chavez]

I don't think it is bad sportmanship. I advice just look at your own player when you are serving, that's what I do when I'm serving.

[jayb1988]

Yeah I suppose that's all I can do, it's just hard to serve well when you arent looking directly at the service box to help your aim, just seems like an unfair distraction to me.

[Hugo Chavez]

I don't get it, why do you have to look at the service box to aim? I always look at my player and at a specific movement of him, I start to hold the direction.

[jayb1988]

I guess its hard to explain but when I'm aiming a serve I pick a side, so either down the middle or wide and fix mostly on that spot. I kind of get a feel for how long I need to wait for the ball to be in the right spot so I don't really look at the player that much, maybe I'm just weird .

[SlicerITST]

This tactic is used since the TS series has been around. Mainly because they think it helps them return. I wouldnt be surprised if your opponent was an old TS1 player. There ive seen it the most really. Ive always thought it was more then a myth then that it actually helped your return at all.

We never banned it. First up because it is one of those things which are hard to determine when your opponent does it too much. Secondly because we have always thought it was more up to yourself how annoyed you get because of it. It shouldnt really affect your timing.

[Ali-Iqb93]

It doesn't affect the timing. But if you're trying to catch the lines to get an ace then it does distract you a bit. I ve never really played such players here but few players in world tour did this and it distracted me. Anyways I haven't played much against such guys so maybe I m wrong

[JohnCurveo]

Wide serve is the solution 4 this, it's my best weapon, so i never had problems vs this kind of players. They have to stop moving or they will get aced all time Not only on wt, on ITST i faced some players using this. Included some top player. But it's okay, if u like to dance, what can i say

[Ali-Iqb93]

Wide serve is the solution 4 this, it's my best weapon, so i never had problems vs this kind of players. They have to stop moving or they will get aced all time Not only on wt, on ITST i faced some players using this. Included some top player. But it's okay, if u like to dance, what can i say

Nice tip, it ll work for sure. Didn't think about it before

[ICEMAN_9588]

I serve normally agst these guys, I dont care if they move, if they dance or if they do push up while I'm serving.

I just try to play like they are standing normally on the baseline. Always worked for me.