FROM THE USAPA
Ask the USAPA
“ Ask the USAPA” is a collection of pickleball questions of general interest. Send your questions to magazine @ usapa. org and we will feature three or four of your questions in each magazine edition.
Q: Is a carry legal? I played with a gentleman who unintentionally carried the ball on his paddle. I know a double hit when in one continuous motion is legal, but is a carry legal?
A:
Yes, IFP Rule 12 A addresses this issue. It simply states that it must be unintentional, continuous and in a single direction.
Q: When serving or playing a point, can the server start with two balls in hand and continue playing with one ball in hand after the serve? I haven’ t been able to find a rule that answers this question.
A:
There is no rule that prevents the person from playing with a ball in one hand unless the opponents are able to make a case for it being a distraction.
Q: I had an incident once while playing in a tournament in Amsterdam, where just as I was about to strike the ball in the act of serving, the non-receiving opponent jumped over into the service court that I was serving into. I initially thought this was illegal, however I was told that it was perfectly legal for a player to stand anywhere on the court when I was serving. It shocked me when he did it, but in hindsight I realized that had I hit him, it would have been my point. HOWEVER, would you consider this an illegal distraction, since he made this sudden move while I was in the act of serving? It sure did distract me!!!
A:
This can be a tricky question because it is correct that according to Rule 5. B. 9, a player may stand anyplace on the court. However, in this case he is intentionally jumping around while you are hitting the ball, which is a distraction under IFP Rule 12. H“ Players may not yell, stamp their feet or otherwise try to distract an opponent when the opponent is about to play the ball.”
Q: Hi, I am looking to get into the sport— can you recommend a good paddle? Wood or aluminum / carbon fiber or....? Thanks so much!
A:
USAPA does not make paddle recommendations in an effort to be“ sponsor neutral.” We recommend that you borrow at least five different paddles from your friends and try them. Paddles are a very personal thing and it may take you several attempts before you settle on a favorite. Thank you for contacting the USAPA.
Q: An interesting situation has occurred. While playing in a tournament recently, my wife noticed after winning a point that the ball was cracked. She brought it to the attention of the referee who said the point had to be replayed. She objected, but the opposing team immediately jumped on that bandwagon, the point was replayed and my wife lost it. That changed the momentum of the game, upset her and she ultimately lost that match.
A:
According to IFP Rule 12. D. Broken or Cracked Ball, play continues until the end of the rally. If, in the judgment of the referee, a broken or cracked ball affected the outcome of the rally, the referee shall call for a replay. For your question, it sounds as though the referee believed the cracked ball impacted the outcome of the point. This is a subjective call by the referee, but since he / she is the official on the court, the opinion must be respected. To take your question one step further, according to 14. J, you do have the right to call the Tournament Director for a confirmation of the rule, but in this case, I would expect that since he / she did not witness the point, the referee would be supported.
12 TO SUBSCRIBE CALL 724.942.0940 OR GO TO THEPICKLEBALLMAG. COM