Mindset · 3 min read
When your opponent stalls or makes dubious calls
Stalling, complaints and dubious calls aim to knock you out of the match. Your answer: calm, clear rules and focus on the next point.
Why they do it
Gamesmanship aims to change the rhythm and drag you into an argument. If you get angry, your game gets worse and your opponent gets what they wanted without hitting a ball.
What to do
- Stick to your between-point routine: breathe, look at your strings, think about the next point.
- On a dubious call, ask once, calmly. If it happens again, ask for an umpire or a witness.
- Agree before starting how calls and the score will be made (call the score out loud before serving).
- Don’t respond in kind: your advantage is a cool head.
- Use the anger as energy for your feet, not your arm.
To review after the match
In the app, when you mark that your opponent was “Stalls / makes dubious calls”, we ask whether you tried:
- I didn’t play their game and stuck to my routine
- I asked for an umpire or calmly clarified the rules
- I focused on the next point
Ideas inspired by Brad Gilbert, “Winning Ugly” (ch. 12, 13 and 15).