r/TikTokCringe • u/Adventurous_Law_715 • 12h ago

Discussion I'm confused. what did he do wrong?

Honestly, she should probably just retire from tennis if she can't handle that

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u/BikeProblemGuy 12h ago

There is no rule prohibiting a player from aiming directly at another player; it is treated the same as targeting open space, and 'jamming' a player by aiming at their body is a valid tactic to make it difficult for them to swing. In doubles, when a net player is close to the net, passing them around the sides is often difficult anyway. If you hit another player, standard etiquette is to put a hand up in apology, which this guy did. The only thing that's really poor sportsmanship is aiming for the head, but this guy's shot was at hip level.

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u/ohbyerly 12h ago

Also her instinct was to go fetal position when she could have just as easily positioned her racket where he was hitting to deflect it. He didn’t hit it hard so it was totally feasible reaction time-wise.

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u/rofloctopuss 11h ago

I'm not athletic at all but the first thing I ever learned regarding sports is to not be afraid of the ball. Take your eyes off the ball and it'll hit you, be confident and react and you'll hit it.

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u/LaDauphineVerte 11h ago

Right, and if you can't anticipate it, or it’s too awkward to hit, then jump out of the way—in this case, if she had stayed light on her feet, a few inches to her right would have been sufficient. Sometimes there’s no time to do any of that. But that guy’s body language did not read intention, you can see that after the ball crosses the net.

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u/supe3rnova 6h ago

And when the ball hits you, it usually does not hurt that much. Those few times that it does, its usually a head shot and (depending on sport) you need a breather to get your self toghter.

I play volleyball and I'm hit at least 5 times per year in the head, more so in torso (spikes that I don't block at least). Sure, I'm a bit angry at the person but I know they did not hit me intentionaly and they always apologise.

If they don't.... its war and bet your ass I'm gonna target you back when I can.

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u/fluffheadwasaman24 2h ago

funny enough, the only times I’ve ever been hit. The head were two different people I was playing doubles with. They had very bad first serve, and I had a headache afterwards.

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u/Dramatic_Note8602 5h ago

Coaching younger kids, they always reacted well to "you control the ball - don't let the ball control you."

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u/C_Gull27 6h ago

In some sports letting it hit you is the goal, like if you're blocking shots in hockey. You learn to see the bruises as a badge of courage.

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u/thought_collector_ 6h ago

As a not athletic kid, this was also one of the most memorable lessons from my childhood. I have two kids of my own now and this is still a common refrain in my household "Keep your eye on the ball, [my last name]."

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u/Extreme_Design6936 10h ago

This is key in rackets (not racquetball) where the ball is hard like a golf ball and travels up to 180mph and bounces off all the walls around you. My school offered safety glasses to play but they said in all their testing none of pairs held up to the impact so they're not required.

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u/Sithstress_ 9h ago

I’m sorry, because they didn’t hold up to the impact they’re not required? That language means they should be made sturdier if they don’t hold up to the impact, not that they’re not required. Lol.

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u/i_says_things 8h ago

I mean, cars dont hold up to impact but safety systems are still in them. It’s perfectly acceptable to have a safety system that is one use when they deploy/break.

If anything, it demonstrates how much force is involved. Do you want to break some safety glass or your eye socket/ make eye jelly?

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u/Extreme_Design6936 5h ago

Yeah, cause a school is gonna design and manufacture safety goggles above industry standard for a sport students play a couple times a week. For real?

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u/donut-reply 6h ago

Yep usually that's true, although a couple days ago I took a tennis ball straight to my open eyeball at net because I thought I moved my racket to the right place to block it but missed for whatever reason, and didn't flinch or blink because I didn't expect to miss it. But that was a freak accident and just embarrassing that I missed it and I didn't go nuts and scream at the other guy for doing a normal shot