Service question for you clever umpires

Discussion in 'Rules / Tournament Regulation / Officiating' started by Cheung, Oct 7, 2002.

  1. Cheung

    Cheung Moderator

    Joined:
    Apr 25, 2002
    Messages:
    23,818
    Likes Received:
    4,791
    Occupation:
    wannabe badminton phototaker
    Location:
    Outside the box
    OK. I played a tournament and was a bit cheeky.

    It was singles.

    Prepared to play backhand serve.

    Then switched body around to forehand side and with a continuous motion played a foreahnd high serve.

    My opponent just stood there wondering what was going on.

    The umpire called a let

    I asked for the point(!) but got waved away.

    Asked another umpire at the end of the match who said I should only used two movements. I said I did but withdrawing the racquet was across my body and forward in one continuous motion.

    Legal or illegal serve?
     
  2. Mag

    Mag Moderator

    Joined:
    Apr 25, 2002
    Messages:
    3,347
    Likes Received:
    4
    Occupation:
    Graphic Designer
    Location:
    Stockholm, Sweden
    I'd say that's legal, if you moved your racquet in one continuous motion as you say, and if your feet didn't move.
     
  3. Winex West Can

    Winex West Can Regular Member

    Joined:
    Apr 25, 2002
    Messages:
    2,397
    Likes Received:
    2
    Occupation:
    Hi Tech
    Location:
    Vancouver, Canada
    How did you switch from a backhand serve to a forehand serve by switching your body?

    Not having seen it but based on what you described, I would have to say that it is a fault since your feet are probably not stationary (according to law 9.1.3, your feet has to remain in contact and stationary during serve).

    The question becomes more of when did your serve stroke starts. Did it start when you prepare to serve backhand or when you switch your body around to serve forehand.

    If it is the latter, it could be a let probably because the receiver can be considered not having been in a ready position to receive.

    Regardless, that's pretty cheeky of you to do that in a tournament :D
     
  4. Californian

    Californian Regular Member

    Joined:
    Jun 7, 2002
    Messages:
    554
    Likes Received:
    5
    Location:
    Southern California
    I'm not an umpire, but I would refer to rule 9.4:

    "Once the players have taken their positions, the first forward movement of the server's racket head is the start of the service."

    and 9.1.7:

    "The movement of the server's racket must continue forwards after the start of the service (Law 9.4) until the service is delivered..."

    As I interpret the rule, the actual serve doesn't start until there is forward movement of the racket from the serving position. Therefore, assuming you made no forward movement with the racket from the backhand position or during your switch, anything would be technically permissible--including movement of your feet--until you actually initiated the forward swing. "Forward movement" is subjective, however, and would depend on the ruling of the service judge or umpire.

    I don't see any advantage to doing this.
     
  5. cooler

    cooler Regular Member

    Joined:
    Apr 25, 2002
    Messages:
    21,811
    Likes Received:
    23
    Occupation:
    Surfing, reading fan mails:D, Dilithium Crystal hu
    Location:
    Basement Boiler Room
    it is a touchy call. If cheung had prepared the BH serve position but DID NOT start to serve but in continuous motion switch to a FH serve, then i would see it as legal. However, in a BH serve, the service foot is usually in front and by going to the FH serve, the normal one have to move the racket foot to the back . If the foot moved while doing the switch than the serve is illegal in my opinion.

    A let call was fair, legal or not, as the receiver can alway declare that he wasn't ready.
     
  6. viver

    viver Regular Member

    Joined:
    Apr 25, 2002
    Messages:
    1,935
    Likes Received:
    158
    Location:
    Vancouver, BC
    Saw players, when using bk service in doubles the non racquet foot is in front. Don't remember clearly but a few from UK doubles team (during the early 80's) adopted this stance.
     
  7. Cheung

    Cheung Moderator

    Joined:
    Apr 25, 2002
    Messages:
    23,818
    Likes Received:
    4,791
    Occupation:
    wannabe badminton phototaker
    Location:
    Outside the box
    Cooler,

    Definately I agree, you can't get a perfect FH serve in the position you stated.

    But was able to play a forehand serve without my body position in the proper stance using wrist and fingers.


    However, it was mainly the surprise factor that counts.
     
  8. Cheung

    Cheung Moderator

    Joined:
    Apr 25, 2002
    Messages:
    23,818
    Likes Received:
    4,791
    Occupation:
    wannabe badminton phototaker
    Location:
    Outside the box
    Here's another question about stationary feet

    9.1.3 some part of both feet of the server and receiver must remain in contact with the surface of the court in a stationary position from the start of the service until the service is delivered (Law 9.6);


    Now for forehand high serve, the racquet foot maybe planted on the floor. Then, with the follow through, the back of the foot lifts off and only the toe remains on the floor (like the toe of a ballerina). Is that a fault?
     
  9. wilfredlgf

    wilfredlgf Regular Member

    Joined:
    May 6, 2003
    Messages:
    2,583
    Likes Received:
    11
    Occupation:
    Security Engineer
    Location:
    Malaysia
    Perhaps not. Your foot is still in contact with the floor, via your toes.
     
  10. Cheung

    Cheung Moderator

    Joined:
    Apr 25, 2002
    Messages:
    23,818
    Likes Received:
    4,791
    Occupation:
    wannabe badminton phototaker
    Location:
    Outside the box
    The point that is confusing me is as follows:

    "some part of foot......stationary position"

    So if one does the forehand serve, the backfoot comes up on to the point of the toe area and that might be considered a fault.

    Also the back foot may rotate as well whilst still in contact with the ground....technically a fault right?

    Not sure about it myself..:confused:
     
  11. yonexfanatic

    yonexfanatic Regular Member

    Joined:
    Aug 15, 2002
    Messages:
    721
    Likes Received:
    1
    Location:
    AB, canada
    I've observed many A players and have noticed that many of them do rotate their back foot as they contact the shuttle. I myself do that myself (just doing the serving movement to see if I was a culprit of this rule) as it seems like a natural "habit".

    I guess it technically would be a fault if you think about it, but I would think it's a rule that's a bit eased off.
     
  12. Neil Nicholls

    Neil Nicholls Regular Member

    Joined:
    Aug 21, 2002
    Messages:
    2,908
    Likes Received:
    10
    Location:
    Cannock, UK
    I think it means that the parts of your feet which remain in contact with the floor must be stationary. Not that the whole foot must be stationary.

    So you can lift part of the foot because the toes remain in contact and stationary.

    But you could not let that foot slide on the floor because then no part would be in contact AND stationary.
     
  13. Cheung

    Cheung Moderator

    Joined:
    Apr 25, 2002
    Messages:
    23,818
    Likes Received:
    4,791
    Occupation:
    wannabe badminton phototaker
    Location:
    Outside the box
    Neil, what about the tip of the front part of the shoe?

    That isn't initially in contact with the floor but might be so when in contact with the shuttle. i.e. the foot rocks forward that the sole no longer is in contact with the floor, but the tip of the shoe is. (assuming the foot doesn't slide).
     
  14. Neil Nicholls

    Neil Nicholls Regular Member

    Joined:
    Aug 21, 2002
    Messages:
    2,908
    Likes Received:
    10
    Location:
    Cannock, UK
    I was thinking about that just after I posted, and I would say that technically that it would be a fault, if you do it before you hit the shuttle.

    But it is hard to tell whether the foot rolls up on the tip of the shoe between start and delivery of the service, or whether it happens in the follow through after you have struck the shuttle. I think it happens more in the follow through, so it would be legal.
     
  15. Dzgdz

    Dzgdz Regular Member

    Joined:
    Feb 5, 2003
    Messages:
    289
    Likes Received:
    0
    Occupation:
    finance
    Location:
    Warsaw, Poland
    At least a part of the foot should remain in-touch with the floor during the serve, therefore there is no fault if you raise your heel during the serve. You just can’t move or raise the whole foot. In practice service judges hardly watch your feet and they concentrate rather on the racket head, waist and racket motion.

    In the Cheung’s example from the tournament I find the decision pretty difficult. Frankly, I cannot imagine how you were able to switch from backhand serve to forehand serve without starting the serve (moving the racket forward)… If you were able to do this without starting the serve, then its correct and assuming that the shuttle hit proper half of the court you should score.

    I think the reason of announcing the let by the umpire could be his judgment that your opponent was not prepared, because he waited until you finish switching to forehand serve and get ready for delivery.

    Anyway, difficult decision.

    regards
    dzgdz
     
  16. AKFT

    AKFT Regular Member

    Joined:
    May 18, 2002
    Messages:
    216
    Likes Received:
    1
    Location:
    USA
    until the service is delivered I think is the key. The moment you strike the bird is when the serve is delivered. Any follow through is after the delivery and therefore not subject to the rule, IMHO
     
  17. Pointfore.Ca

    Pointfore.Ca Regular Member

    Joined:
    Jan 10, 2003
    Messages:
    245
    Likes Received:
    0
    Occupation:
    Equipment Reseller
    Location:
    Canada
    I believe your backhand to forehand serve would be considered illegal because it consists of two motions. Regardless if your feet move, you would require one motion to bring the backhand to a forehand cocked position, and then a second motion to swing forward into the shuttle.
     
  18. Aotis

    Aotis Regular Member

    Joined:
    May 23, 2002
    Messages:
    45
    Likes Received:
    0
    Occupation:
    Student
    Location:
    Ca, USA
    can someone ask the judge at badders.com ?

    IMO, the only relavence is, when did Cheung service begin?

    according to the rule, it begins after Cheung takes up position and at the moment his racquet moves FORWARD. So, Cheung's serve is illegal only if after he'd taken up the backhand service position, moves the racquet forward, but then changes back to the forehand service. On the other hand, if after Cheung have taken up the backhand service but did not move his raquaet forward, then the service have not started and therefore it's still legal to change to the forehand service.

    So it's up to Cheung to tell us which was the case.
     
  19. nSmash

    nSmash Regular Member

    Joined:
    Jul 24, 2002
    Messages:
    376
    Likes Received:
    1
    Occupation:
    Computer Engineer
    Location:
    Toronto, Canada
    It's a fault since it is not a smooth motion as the racquet needs to be
    rotated to the forehand position. I find it hard to imagine that enough
    power can be generated for a high serve because of the awkward
    position of the body and the limited distance between the body and
    the shuttle, more than half of which was "wasted" during the rotation
    from backhand to forehand. Even though the arm is continuously brought
    forward, the wrist will have to be repositioned to bend the other way
    to generate enough power which means the racquet must have been
    moved backward at some point!

    In addition, the motion of rotation involves some part of the racquet
    moving FORWARD while the other part moving backward.

    Isn't there another rule about illegal distraction i.e. shouting or waving
    during a serve? I would consider such a service distraction rather than
    deception. If we need to resort to questionable tactics to buy us significant
    advantage over our opponents, where is our confidence in our basic skills?
     
  20. Cheung

    Cheung Moderator

    Joined:
    Apr 25, 2002
    Messages:
    23,818
    Likes Received:
    4,791
    Occupation:
    wannabe badminton phototaker
    Location:
    Outside the box
    Clarification

    "9.4 Once the players have taken their positions, the first forward movement of the server's racket head is the start of the service."

    For Dzgdz, Aotis, nSmash regarding the switching from backhand position to forehand serve.

    Here's what I did to comply with the one continuous motion rule;)

    1) prepare backhand position - right foot forward, shoulders leaning forward, racquet arm extended fully at elbow, racquet grip held in fingers, racquet pointing almost vertically downwards.

    This position is essential.

    2) place the shuttle in front of the racquet

    3) withdraw the racquet backwards and out to the side, manoevering the grip with the fingers.

    4) using the extended circular motion gradually bring the racquet round in a circle.

    5) slightly readjust the hand holding the shuttle

    6) hit the shuttle using the forehand.

    Number 1 is essential because it gives enough room in front of the body to withdraw the racquet.

    so here, the serve I produced, IMHO, was one continuous smooth motion, and one forward motion as well - just a large motion, but not much larger than a typical forehand high serve.


    If you use mainly your fingers to hold the racquet, it gives "a lot" of freedom to change the grip. Granted it is difficult to do the very, very high serve, but there is the "surprise" factor as well.

    Racquet pronation is important in the shuttle being lifted high. The timing of the pronation and contact with the shuttle is crucial. Use of the first finger is important as well in this pronation movement (a detail not mentioned often).
     

Share This Page