Question: What If You And Your Partner Disagree On A Line Call?

So the situation goes like this:  You and your partner are playing at the end of a set.  The score is TIGHT.  They have second serve, your advantage.  They serve to your partner and you look at the back line and see an out ball.  You put your finger  in the air (tennis sign language for out) but your partner hits the ball wide and says "GREAT SERVE!"  Then you guys stare each other down for a few seconds as a tumbleweed crosses the court...

Generally the better call goes to the more confident one.  If no one is sure, concede the point.  But there are a few situations you can be sure of being right in the override.

1.  If you are assigned to call that line.  If you are returning serve, your partner calls the back line, you call the side line.  In the aforementioned situation, you would have been right.

2.  If your partner is indisposed.  A lot of players don't see the line very well if they are running down lobs or stretched out wide.  In that case you are pretty much obligated to call the line for them.  If you don't call it out if it was, you better get ready because you will be the only one on the court at that point anyway.

3.  If everyone on the court knows what it was.  If the other team protests a bad call and your partner looks at you with the eyebrows up.  Tell him/her what you thought.  You don't have to override forcefully at that point.  An insecure partner would feel all three of you are against him/her.

4.  You and your partner both agree that your partner sucks at calling lines.  Some people suck at it.  They get sidetracked and do not pay attention.  You should still hold them accountable though.

5.  If it is a matter of the game.  If you are sure you are right and it could cost you the game, speak up.  The other team will not protest hopefully.

And the times you don't override:

1.  If your partner says its out with absolute certainty.  They are sure about it but you didn't think so.  Let the moment pass.  You don't want to fight your partner about it.  It will mess it your game and devalue the calls for the opponents.

2.  If your partner is calling an out to get the other team back for a call they made.  You don't want any parts of that one.  Support quietly.  Say nice point but don't look at your opponents for a reaction.

It is important to remember in line calling that bad calls usually even out.  Being right is good but circumstantial.  The only thing that proves you right is popular opinion.  Also, you do have your partner's self esteem to worry about.  If they feel they always make bad calls, then when you need them to call for you they will not sell the call to well and you will have to give up the point.