The No Meat Athlete Cookbook

Barbara Youel | Towpath Member & Cookbook Author

The No Meat Athlete Cookbook: Whole Food, Plant-Based Recipes to Fuel Your Workouts – and the Rest of Your Life
by Matt Frazier and Stepfanie Romine (The Experiment, 2017) 

One of my favorite doctors is Michael Greger, who highly recommends The No Meat Athlete Cookbook – “a must for active people and athletes at every level who want to perform at their best, while protecting themselves from disease with whole, plant-based foods.”  Dr. Greger is an internationally recognized physician, author and researcher (How Not to Die), who relies on the science for his recommendations (nutritionfacts.org). How refreshing! He is not beholden to any industry – no dairy, no chickens, no big pharma. Yippee!!!

Co-authors Matt Frazier & Stepfanie Romine re-
invent the athlete's diet with this plant-based cook-
book. 

This book is a real primer in learning how elite athletes do extraordinary things without animal protein or oil.  Yes my friends, sayonara to chicken wings, Thanksgiving turkey and cheeseburgers. And, adios amigos to olive oil, peanut oil, canola oil and all oils.  To escort you through what may be a painful journey is the authors’ very easy labeling system; each of the 125 vegan recipes is clearly identified:

            FF – fast food

            SF – slow food

            SC – slow cooker

            CL – carbo loading

            GF/GFO – gluten- free/gluten-
            free option

            OF/OFO – oil-free/oil-free option

            XS – soy-free

The spectacular color photography made me want to walk, no run to my kitchen and get going. I am particularly interested in the beet (yup, beet) bourguignon (page 125), Greek chopped salad (page 139), cumin-citrus roasted carrots (page 166) and chocolate-coconut-pecan chewy bars (page 220). Yummmmmm. OK, one more I can’t resist mentioning, the sesame-turmeric oven fries (page 173). Woo-hoo!

Chapters are clearly divided into morning meals, hearty meals, greens and dressings, small plates and sides, recovery foods, flavor boosts and desserts.  Helpful guidance on nutrition, stocking the plant-based kitchen and meal planning are interspersed in this cookbook, just right for those of you newbies to plant-based foods.  

The book’s forward by Rich Roll, a vegan-strong and ultra-athlete, and co-author Matt Frazier’s introduction are worth reading before you dive into the mouth-watering recipes. The two make a solid case for the benefits of a plant-based diet for ALL athletes. If it works for the pros it can work for us amateur tennis players; it is at least worth considering, despite our devotion to the all-meat sub sandwich (which contains such awful nitrates and nitrites, I cannot even go there).

Co-author chef Stepfanie Romine is a plant-based yogi and runner. She has expanded her original repertoire of stews, stir-fries, and bean-based meals to more root vegetables, spices and healthy treats for this cookbook. Her creative recipes have been tested on pros and amateurs alike. Food stylists, registered dietitians and new cooks have all vetted these recipes, giving them a “thumbs up!” Who wants to eat food that tastes like packing peanuts? We all want great taste, satisfying mouth feel, and yes, the visual pleasure of anticipation of a delicious treat coming our way.

The recipe format is readable and easy to follow (most fit on one page) but I am not a fan of the informational colored pages with their mixtures of fonts; however, this is really a minor drawback. Overall, I highly recommend The No Meat Athlete!

* Co-author Matt Frazier is an ultra-marathoner. The No Meat Athlete Cookbook: Whole Food, Plant-Based Recipes to Fuel Your Workouts – and the Rest of Your Life (The Experiment, 2017) is available at Amazon, Barnes & Noble, independent bookstores and public libraries. 

Barb Youel, author of First
Serve Cookbook

Towpath Tennis Member Barb Youel author of First Serve: 40 Delicious Plant-Based Recipes for a Year of Tennis Grand Slams & Club Matches, (Lean Green Living LLC, 2017). Copies are available exclusively at Towpath Tennis Center for $15.95 or 2 for $30. You can order yours today at 330-928-8763.

Tennis Player Superstitions

Kristianne Bontempo | Towpath Tennis Contributor

I’d be lying if I said I didn’t believe in superstitions. This past summer season I played a particularly awesome 1^st match, so what did I do? Wear the same outfit (granted I wore a team uniform) along with the same earrings and the same socks. First it happened to be coincidental, but then I kept on wearing them. Hey, whatever it takes to win! I had a great season thanks to feeling like my exact same outfit was my lucky charm.

Rafa Nadal's water bottles have to be 

perfectly facing out.

You’ll see athletes from across all sports with their odd and outlandish quirks, like Hall of Famer Wayne Gretzky who had a specific order of putting on his equipment and the order never changed, or baseball legend Babe Ruth always stepping on 2^nd base on his way out to the outfield, and even Ecuador’s national soccer team calling in a witch doctor to give them extra luck in the 2006 World Cup. Superstitions can be tricky. Sometimes they give you that extra boost in confidence on court, while other times it can be mentally exhausting and detrimental to your game. In tennis, you see this a lot amongst players. It’s not uncommon to see players avoiding stepping on the lines, stepping onto the court with their right foot only, or (like me) wearing the same outfit or certain jewelry for good luck. With the US Open starting, I thought it would be interesting to dive into what some of our favorite pros are superstitious of and see for ourselves if any of these are true. Can you guess which quirk belongs to which player?

No Undies – Realizing he forgot his underwear before his 1^st match at the 1999 French Open, Andre Agassi decided to go commando and won against an incredibly tough competitor. He then went on to win in his only French Open triumph and continued to play without undies for the rest of his career.

Lucky Beard – For several years in a row, Bjorn Borg started growing out his beard in the first round of each Wimbledon tournament. He went on to win each year that he did, (1976-1980).

Watching Teletubbies – Goran Ivanisevic made one of the sport's most unlikely title run in the 2001 Wimbledon Championships by depending on his routine. Not only did he reportedly dine at the same restaurant, sat at the same table, and ordered the same exact meal every night for the duration of the tourney, but he began each day by watching an episode of Teletubbies!

Pulling Eyebrows – I don't know if this was really a superstition or a nervous tick, but Ivan Lendl would be patchy and bald by the end of some tournaments.

Twirling on Court – Svetlana Kuznetsova would often spin 360 degrees on her way to returning serve.

King of Quirks – Rafa Nadal will 1) always walk on court with one racquet in his hand. 2) stay seated until his opponent has approached the umpire at the beginning of a match. 3) make sure his opponent crosses the net before he does on a changeover. 4) perfectly align his water bottles facing the court. 5) place his hair behind each ear and fiddles with his shorts (and butt) before every serve.

Dirty Socks – I’ve heard of a few quirks about the 23 Grand Slam Championista, like having to be the first to shake the umpires hand after a match, or requiring every member of her player box to sit in the exact same spot for every match. But, the most notorious/gross superstition from Serena Williams is reportedly wearing the same pair of (dirty) socks throughout her entire tournament run.

Power of 8 – He’s not perfect people! Roger Federer apparently has an obsession with the number 8. Keep a lookout for 8 towel-rubs after a set, 8 bottles of water (Evian only) and 8 rackets in his bag. P.S. He did just win his 8^th Wimbledon Championship.

Off the Social Grid – Andy Murray owed much of his success in tournaments by going dark on twitter. He went as far as to blame one particular loss of his because he tweeted before his match. 

No Calls Please - Kei Nishikori chooses not to call his parents until the end of tournaments for fear of jinxing his results.

3 Balls Each – Jack Sock becomes completely distracted if each ball handler on his side doesn’t have exactly three balls in hand.

Kissing Tennis Balls – Dominika Cibulkova appears to kiss new tennis balls before serving them, but really she’s smelling them. Cibulkova says she loves the smell, but does believe smelling will give them good luck.

Shower Story – Yes, Novak Djokovic is mainly known for his ball bouncing obsession (his highest number of bounces was 38 bounces), but because players will adamantly shower in the same stall during tournaments, Djokovic will not use the same shower twice.

Strict Serving Routine – 1) Turn back on opponents and focus on racquet strings. 2) Take balls to nominated corner of the court. 3) Walk to baseline, bounce on the spot. 4) Brush hair away from face. 5) Bounce ball twice, slowly. 6) Serve, repeat. You guessed it, Maria Sharapova stays true to her service routine EVERY TIME.

In-Betweener – John Isner doesn’t have an obsession over performing in-between the legs trick shots, but he does bounce the ball between his legs before each serve.

Lucky Ball – Richard Gasquet is known for demanding to serve with the same “lucky ball” after he wins a point.

Nixed Her Superstitions – Sam Stosur used to be controlled by her superstitions, until she kicked the habit. “I stopped being superstitious in 2009 after the (French Open),” she explained. “For the whole tournament (she reached the semifinals), I wore the same dress, the same socks, the same hat – it drove me crazy. Every night, I had to put it all in the wash. Everything had to be the same, even my hair. It was enough to drive you around the bend, so I stopped and now I don’t have any superstitions.”

With many of these players ready to get the ball rolling at this year's US Open, it'll be fun to watch their quirks in action. Also, feel free to share with us what kind of superstitions you follow or have been able to kick. Don't worry, you're not alone!

Playing Collegiate Club Tennis

Kristianne Bontempo with Gretchen Shisler | Towpath Tennis Contributor

While gearing up for classes for your very first (or returning) semester at your chosen university, many of you are also deciding on whether to get involved in one of the many organizations offered on campus and wondering what exactly they entail. Back when I was a freshman at Ohio University, among the half dozen other club activities I was interested in joining, one of them happened to be club tennis. So a few things: 

1) Ohio University does not have a Varsity team.

2) Even if they did have a Varsity team, I wasn't sure I wanted to commit full-time.

3) I might not make the Varsity team.

Obviously all good reasons why I should aim to play club tennis!

As naive as I was thinking I easily had a shot at walking on a club tennis team, little did I know that was definitely NOT the case. Another thing, joining any club is a commitment not a 'come as you please' activity. Long story short, playing club tennis wasn't in the cards for me. However, I still always wondered how everything worked: Do you have to travel? Is it co-ed? Do you play just a season like in high school? How often are practices? Now that I've had the opportunity to talk to somebody with first hand experience on playing collegiate club tennis, I can finally educate myself along with others who are debating on giving it a go!

Gretchen is going into her junior year at Ohio State, and on top of majoring in Marketing and minoring in Fashion Retail, she plays for her school's club Gray (B) tennis team. She played in high school but wanted to continue her experience after learning about the club tennis team during her summer orientation. Trying out on her own was intimidating, but now she can't imagine life on campus without tennis. Some clubs may abide by different procedures but for the most part this is what playing on a club team is generally like: 

Gretchen (far right) plays for OSU's Gray team.

• Most teams have tryouts in the fall. Many schools have more than one club team depending on how many tryout with varying levels or teams that travel while others don't. Previous members may even have to tryout every year.
• Members pay dues (generally most clubs do for one reason or another). Dues will typically cover travel costs as well as uniforms. 
• You are still playing competitive levels of tennis without the commitment of playing Varsity  (NCAA) college tennis. (ie. OSU Club tennis practices 2x/week, tournaments aren’t every weekend and not every player goes to every tournament. Varsity tennis plays and trains nearly everyday and usually has a busy tournament/match schedule during the fall/spring seasons.)
• Great option for players who want to play on a semi-regular basis, without sacrificing other social activities on campus (Gretchen is also a member of a business fraternity and works part-time).
• Teams are co-ed.
• Many universities require a minimum GPA and/or minimum credit hours to be an active club member.
• Teams are active in fund-raising events as well as giving back to their communities, such as volunteering to teach tennis lessons.
• Teams are invited to tournaments around the country by other teams’ captains or by the coordinator for USTA Tennis on campus. Normally, tournaments only last one weekend.
• Matches include (in this order):

                         -One Women’s Doubles

                         -One Men’s Doubles

                         -One Women’s Singles

                                           -One Men’s Singles

                         -One Mixed Doubles

• Each match consists of one set and teams win based on cumulative games, not sets won. (ie. The scorecard could say 30-17 instead of 5-0, etc.). So even if your team is down before the mixed doubles match, they can still tie up the game score forcing a super tiebreaker to determine the winner.
• Matches are no-ad scoring. The receiving team chooses which side will return at 40-40; for mixed doubles, the receiver of the deuce serve is the player of the same gender.
• Substitutions: A team can at any point substitute a player (same gender) into a set. Once a player is replaced, they cannot return in that set. If a substitution occurs in doubles, the remaining player cannot change the side on which he/she receives or the service order. Substitutions are allowed in overtime if a player has not already played in mixed doubles. 
• You will make friends! Not only will you be spending each week with your team, but many teams do social events together OFF the courts as well. Your team becomes like family.

When you hear somebody say, "My college years were the best time of my life," I doubt they're only referring to their coursework. When you're new to campus or just looking for something to do on your downtime, joining an organization like club tennis with others that share the same interest is really the best way to enrich your social life on campus while also staying fit (hello food court)!

How to prevent a mental breakdown on the tennis court

Kristianne Bontempo | Towpath Tennis Contributor

I read about mental breakdowns on the court, I've written about how to avoid them, so when I’m in the middle of a match and am flustered with the inability to hit a ball, I’m flabbergasted thinking, “How could I be having a mental breakdown??”

With certainty, no matter who I’m playing I’m probably the most mentally dominant person on the court…is what I would’ve told you 5+ years ago. With kids and more responsibilities on my plate, things have certainly changed. Yes, it’s hard to fit the same amount of play time in, however my strokes are still there, my footwork—ehh, could use some work but is still better than the average player, but what has been the hardest pill to swallow is accepting the fact that my once mentally confident game is deteriorating. So instead of beating myself up and vowing to quit (which I’ve done numerous times), I decided to drill down what was causing me to break and ask myself, “How do I diagnose a breakdown before it happens, and what do I do to combat it?”

Diagnosis of breakdown:

Social/Environmental  – It might not have been obvious at first, but the unfamiliarity of a new partner, a new tournament format, a new venue or even playing an opponent I have history with was a disruption of my game. You’re no longer playing just a match, you have other factors involved that are out of your comfort zone.

Physical – I've been fortunate to be free of injuries, but with little ones a good night sleep is always a gamble. At times, I play more relaxed when tired, however once I get to that 2^nd set mark I slowly feel the fatigue creeping in. With USTA season in full swing, most matches are in the evenings, so after a long day not only is your footwork shot, but also is your inability to make any smart strategical decisions (at least for me that's the case).

Mental – Pressure can come in all types of form whether you had a bad day at work, have any outside social tension, or for me, just feeling the pressure to win for the team’s sake. If you continue to let the pressure eat away at you, it's like being a deer in headlights where you are unable to move—the worst kind of breakdown.

Most of the time, I'm usually dealing with just one of the culprits above (the most common being fatigue), but I wanted to figure out how to pull myself out of a complete funk when I'm feeling like every aspect of my game is going down the drain. So after more reading and experimenting, here is a list of solutions that have worked for me and hopefully for you as well!

Treatment/Prevention of breakdown:

“Only the ball” – Are you looking at the ball? The first thing I notice when I'm in a downward spiral is my eyes are on everything BUT the ball (when you’re hitting a whole ton of rimmers, then that should be your first clue). Reciting the words, “bounce, hit”, as you are swinging away will help you focus on that fuzzy yellow ball. Another useful tip during 'down times' or when waiting to return a serve, is to look at your strings to stay focused or say "ballllllll" in your head as the server is tossing. Swear this works!

Continue playing your game – “I’m just not playing my game.” This has literally come out of my mouth numerous times over the past season. Something doesn’t work, so instead of trying the stroke or poaching again I’ll play it safe and just push it back—I despise that game! Not only do I feel like I've lost my edge, but my footwork is atrocious. Sports psychologists suggest continuing to try your shots with the correct motion (maybe even over-exaggerate it), since it will eventually come along. I know it won't help when you're in the middle of a match like I was, but really the best suggestion is to get out beforehand and hit some balls on a backboard or ball machine, or jump into a drill a day or so before.  

Be versatile – If you try and try but plan A isn’t working, then have a plan B…and C…and maybe a D. Changing your game up will actually work in your favor since your opponent will have to stay on their toes to keep up. Just be sure to start with plan A each time, since the less you use it the harder it’ll be to get it back.

It's all about body lingo – My sister back in the day had taught me the importance of looking the part of a positive, energetic and optimistic player even on the verge of defeat. That has definitely played a huge part in my playing style since forcing myself to laugh off my stupid shots has kept my mind from sinking into a dark hole. Stand up tall, smile, jump around, jog in place, shadow stroke, positive self-talk—these subtle cues will make a dramatic impression on your opponent. For me, fatigue has played a major role in affecting that positive/energetic role, so my solution—bring energy-infusing foods to your matches, like a banana or a granola bar. Makes all the difference!

Lastly Breatheeee! – Inhale. Exhale. Do this with purpose in between points to force yourself to take your time, and more importantly to relax your mind and body. 

Obviously, the way to prevent a mental breakdown is to recognize the possibility of one beforehand. If you pick up at the start of your match that you are uneasy about something (anything really), then mentally prepare yourself on a strategy that will help you focus throughout the match. Good luck and stay strong!

New to competitive tennis

Kristianne Bontempo | Towpath Tennis Contributor

You may be wondering why there's a sudden shift of excitement in the air at your club, why players are talking USTA teams, partners and uniforms, and of course wondering, "why am I not involved?" The good news about spring season being upon us so fast, is that it gets us thinking about whether we're ready to wet our toes in competitive tennis, because before we know it the 'king' of USTA seasons (summer) will be here and trust me, you're not going to want to miss any minute of it!

Towpath's 3.0 40 & Over team.

In case you need a little background, the United States Tennis Association (USTA) is the most notable tennis organization in the country for players that want to play competitive tennis. It's a long-tested, well-run, rule-implemented structure that players (not all the time, but most of the time) enjoy following so they can get out and play a fun, fair and competitive game of tennis. The USTA primarily follows the general rules of tennis, with many of it's own amendments for different scenarios and regions around the country. The summer season has gained the most notoriety because that's when most players are free to play thus why there are more teams. Plus, nice weather makes people want to get out and DO something! 

But here's where things come to a halt for most newbies. The hype of the new season usually gives way to the fear of what the word competition actually means with players asking themselves, "Am I ready for this?" The short answer is yes. The long answer is yes, you ARE ready! And in case you don't believe me, here's the 'unofficial' pre-requisite to playing on a USTA team:

• Can you serve? 

  

  3.5 Men's team finishing a match.

• Can you somewhat hold a rally?
• Do you know how to score?
• Do you want to exercise while having fun?
• Do you want something to do in your spare time?
• Can you play well with others (aka-not be a jerk on the court)?
• Do you want to get better at tennis fast?
• Do you want to meet new players and test your skills?
• Do you want to make friends?
• Do you like drama? (J/k! Contrary to common belief, not ALL teams are drama-filled.)

And to answer some of your lingering questions:  Yes, you can play at any age. Yes, you might get double bageled (lose 6-0, 6-0), and yes, you just might have a little bit of fun. Honestly, the best way for newbies to go into the USTA is to jump in with an open mind and a positive attitude--corny but true. Even at the 4.0 level, I still go in with this mantra. I might not win every match, but I'm going to do my best to come off the court laughing.

One of Towpath's many Mixed Doubles teams.

So, whether you're completely new to the scene or resurrecting your game, I highly recommend giving USTA play a shot. Even if you don't think your game is 'competition ready' (whatever that means), try to look at this experience as a way to meet new players, gain some confidence and add value to your game. 

Your next step is to talk with our desk staff, one of our pros or one of your tennis buddies and ask how to get involved, -OR- come down to watch one of our many spring combo/mixed teams over the weekend to get a taste of what the competition is really like. You might be so enticed to commit for a team right then and there, because we guarantee it won't be long before you join in on the fun!

"Late to the Ball" by Gerald Marzorati - Becoming a tennis player at any age!

Barbara Youel | Towpath Member | Contributor

“Late to the Ball” by Gerald Marzorati is a coming of (older) age story of a former professional reader and editor, who decided to become a competitive and match-ready tennis player on a national scale. As a fifties-something player, Marzorati challenged himself by engaging coaches, trainers, friends and opponents to find skill and meaning in this game. Despite his fear of a late entry to tennis, where (according to him) his years were approaching “the anteroom of the aged,” he was eager to learn and expend both considerable time and money to find that if he plays better, he will win more. “That’s how you grow. And growing is what playing is all about, ultimately, or should be, “ urged Coach Krill.

It’s a great story, told in a conversational style, and full of references that proves he has decades of literary and scholarly prowess. But before you think this is all too academic, he takes us through all the familiar angst and anguish of the novice tennis player. We will recognize our own struggles on the court – you know – the brilliant “all planets in alignment” shot to a candidate for the all-time tennis bloopers on YouTube, no less.

Marzorati passes along all kinds of tennis tips from tennis pros to professors.

1. “To hit a tennis ball well, so many things have to go right. And then you have to be ready because it is coming right back at you, and you have to do it again.”

Oh yeah……….this just about covers the big picture! Should we stop reading now? But wait, there’s more…

2. “…top tennis players could anticipate where a serve was going by picking up not the ball’s trajectory or even the motion of the racquet but by glimpsing tiny shifts in an opponent’s torso early in the service motion.”

Reminds me of that sixties’ tune – “Easier Said Than Done”…

and, my favorite…

3. “If you want time to slow down, become a student again.”

Seriously, this just about sums up Marzorati’s love affair with tennis. It may explain why youngsters will never be old enough to drive, or graduation is so far away or…. you get the idea. Apparently young people are so busy learning all sorts of things, they feel that life’s in slomo –nothing will ever come to fruition. So if you are in mid-life or later and think time is zooming by way too fast, go out and learn something new, whether it’s tennis, some other sport, a new language, cooking, philosophy or memorizing all the state capitols (you never know when Jeopardy is in your future).

I have been pondering of late (just an expression but it works here) my coming to this wonderful game of tennis some 15 years ago (in mid-life more or less, but who knows how long I will live?) and then starting to run 5K’s “late in life” 5 years ago. Recently I ran a 5.5 mile relay in the Akron Marathon, something I have never done before and never even thought about doing. When some said I had come to running (or even tennis) “late” I began to question that assessment and asked myself if that’s a view from a wide-angle lens or microscope. When I hear players new to tennis say that they are “late-comers” to the sport, I think they reflect a relative notion, one they may be comparing to the lucky youngster given tennis lessons at age 5 or some high school or college wunderkind. But are the newcomers really “late?”

When you are ready to improve your serve, develop your forehand, tighten your volley, or run faster, the readiness IS all…and you are never late. Learn something new and put Father Time on a slow burner. The time is now and it is just right.

Oh, and Mr. Marzorati, I don’t think you are late to anything.

* Gerald Marzorati is former editor of the New York Times Magazine and has written about tennis in the New York Times and on NewYorker.com. He is 63. Late to the Ball (Scribner - 2016) is available at Amazon, Barnes & Noble and public libraries. 

Weird tennis rules & match scenarios - Part 2

Kristianne Bontempo & Katelyn Caniford | Towpath Tennis Contributors

How many times have you played a match and wondered, “Is that legal?” Well with all sorts of odd-ball rules and strange scenarios, you might find yourself frequently questioning the rules. We’re here to give you a list of ten uncommon situations you might find yourself dealing with during your matches.

1) I was playing a match one time and I hit a shot that was floating in the air, but looked like it wasn’t going to go over the net. As the ball was floating, my opponent reached over the net and hit the ball. Is that allowed?  No it’s not allowed. The ball must cross onto HER side of the net before she makes contact, and as long as she did not touch the net, THEN it is okay to follow-through over the net. The only situation when a player may reach over the net to play a ball, is if the spin or wind brings the ball back over the net to the side of the player(s) who hit the shot. Then your opponent can reach over the net to hit the ball.

2) I once played a match where my opponent was cracking open a new beer every so often while changing sides. Are you allowed to have alcoholic beverages during a USTA match? Surprisingly we cannot find any rule against this, but we would hope players would wait at least until after the match is completed to consume any alcohol. If the facility prohibits alcoholic beverages on the court then that player should certainly abide by their rules.

3) Is there a limit to how many lets you can serve in a match? Someone once tried to call a fault for doing so. No! Serve as many times as you need☺

4) Is there a rule that prevents the receiver from “crowding” the service box when returning serve? You and your partner can stand anywhere you want on your side of the court BUT seriously why would you want to considering 1) You can be distracting your doubles partner who’s returning. 2) You can get hit by your opponent's serve and lose the point anyways. 3) You need to let the service ball bounce before you hit it. 4) Your opponents could claim a distraction if you look like you’re intentionally distracting them.

5) I played a doubles match one time where my shot fell too short while lobbing and I told my partner to “watch out.” We ended up winning the point. However, my opponents told me I cannot talk when the ball is leaving my racket and that we can only talk when the ball is coming towards us. Is this correct?

No, this is not correct. You are allowed to speak to your partner at any time during play. Just try to be respectful about it. For example, this could become an issue if you and your partner are so loud that it affects your opponents' concentration or ability to set up the point. They in turn are allowed to ask for a let. 

6) During a singles match, your opponent’s hat flies off in the middle of the point. Is it considered a let or a loss point? In an officiated match, a hat, glasses, ball or racket that falls during a point is considered a let. If an item falls again, then there will be a loss of point. HOWEVER, in an UN-officiated match it is up to the opponent (not the player who dropped the item), to call the let. Also, if the ball in play happens to touch anything that you wear or carry (other than the racket) or any part of your body, then you lose the point.

7) If you whiff a serve, is it considered a fault? Yep sorry! Good news is if you swing and miss an overhead (or any other shot for that matter), you can try to retrieve the ball after the permitted one bounce or no bounce and that is legal. Your partner can make an attempt to play the ball if you whiff a shot as well.

8) What happens if my opponent is serving and purposefully comes to the baseline every time with only one ball? Therefore if she misses, she can take her time walking to get another ball in order to delay. The official rules state that if the first serve is missed, then the second serve should then be hit without delay. Even though the rules also state that there is a 20 second provision in between points, that doesn’t apply to first and second serves. Your opponent should have two balls with them every time they step up to serve.

9) Can you switch hands when playing tennis? There are players that are ambidextrous that can play with two forehands/two backhands (ie. Monica Seles). It might screw with your opponent's head but yes, it is legal to switch racket “handed-ness” during play.

10) I once hit a shot that was clearly going out. Both my opponent and I know it, yet he calls the ball out but then reaches up and catches it. Is this allowed? No. According to the rules, if a player catches a ball before it bounces then that player automatically loses the point. Players are always considered to have the benefit of the doubt that the ball is in, until it touches the ground.

To study up on other weird tennis rulings, check out Miscellaneous USTA Rules. You never know when you're going to need it!

Do you have a question or weird scenario that you'd like to know the ruling of? Email us with your question!