Why Listen to Me?
I’ve been coaching tennis for 8 years, and I’ve called more lets than I’ve had hot dinners (which, given how many lessons I teach in the Florida heat, is really saying something). Between my Exercise Science degree from UF and thousands of hours on court, I’ve developed a slightly unhealthy obsession with every technical aspect of tennis – including the humble let.
The Basic Let Rule
Here’s the thing about lets that most people don’t realize – they’re actually designed to keep the game fair and flowing. A let occurs when a served ball touches the net cord but still lands in the correct service box. Unlike hitting the net during a rally (which means you lose the point), on a serve you get a do-over.
Just last week, my student Sarah hit three lets in a row and looked at me like the tennis gods were personally messing with her. “Keep serving,” I told her, “sometimes the net just wants to be part of the action!”
Different Types of Lets
Tennis lets aren’t just about serves (though that’s what most people think of). Here are all the situations where you might hear that magical word:
- Service Let: The classic – ball hits the net cord on serve but lands in
- General Let: When play is interrupted by something unexpected
- Through Ball Let: When another ball rolls onto your court
- Player Let: When players get confused about who should hit the ball
Common Let Scenarios
Last month during a lesson, a ball from Court 3 rolled right through my student’s service motion. She served anyway (it was a perfect serve, naturally), but I had to call a let. The look on her face! But this is exactly why lets exist – to handle those “life happens” moments in tennis.
Some typical situations where you’ll see lets:
- Stray balls from other courts
- Loud noises during serve
- Players getting distracted by legitimate interruptions
- Confusion about the score
- Net cord serves
Let vs. Net
This is where things get interesting (well, as interesting as tennis rules can get – trust me, I’ve read the rulebook more times than I care to admit). During a regular rally, hitting the net and having the ball go over is completely valid – the point continues. It’s only during the serve that we use lets.
Calling Lets Properly
Here’s a pro tip from someone who’s probably called “LET!” loud enough to wake the dead: You want to be quick and clear with your call. I teach my students to:
- Use a loud, clear voice
- Call it immediately
- Hold up your hand
- Stop play right away
Let Myths and Misconceptions
Speaking of which, let me bust some common myths I hear on court:
- You don’t get a limited number of lets (my student Tom was convinced it was three and you’re out)
- The ball doesn’t have to bounce before you call a let
- Both players/teams can call lets
- You can’t “play through” a service let in official matches
The Pro Perspective
Fun fact: Until 2022, they experimented with “no-let” rules in some professional tournaments. Let me tell you, watching pros deal with net cord serves that barely dribbled over was both hilarious and fascinating. But in standard professional tennis, lets are very much part of the game.
Teaching Lets to Beginners
I have a special place in my heart for teaching new players about lets. Just yesterday, I was working with a beginner group when one of them hit their first ever let. The look of confusion followed by delight when I explained they get to serve again – priceless!
For new players, I always emphasize:
- It’s not a fault
- You get a complete do-over
- Don’t rush the second attempt
- Listen for the call
The Bottom Line
Understanding lets is crucial for enjoying tennis properly. They’re like the game’s built-in fairness mechanism, ensuring that random events don’t unfairly influence points. Plus, they give us all a chance to perfect our “LET!” calls (though maybe not as dramatically as I do – my neighboring courts probably don’t appreciate my theatrical flair).
Next time you’re out playing and you hear that distinctive “plink” of the ball hitting the net cord on your serve, remember – it’s not a mistake, it’s just tennis’s way of giving you a second chance. And if you’re anything like my students, you’ll probably make the next one perfect!
P.S. If you see me on court gesturing wildly while calling a let, just know that I’m working on making tennis rules as entertaining as possible. Someone’s got to do it!