So, I'm not the only one because it's a recurring topic in every single open match: why not just using left/right instead of mine/yours to call out positions?
I always talk with my partner before a game to make sure we're both ok with the way we'll call out the opponents' positions. Most of the time, a simple left/right is preferred over mine/yours.
Mine/yours changes, it isn't necessarily natural/fast to understand. It takes a few games to get used to not just making the calls but also to process the sides since it's a dynamic call. I've heard several variations:
- left/right side,
- left/right player (so cross-calls),
- mine/yours (mine = cross, yours = parallel),
- mine/yours (mine = parallel, yours = cross)
With all these options, why not just go with the universal left/right?
Anyway, just wondering how it is where you play.
Ok, this is why makes sense to me as well. I just don't get the mine/yours to refer to the crossed/parallel player. It's so counterintuitive and it's what the coaches teach here.
Basically, I spent 5 matches trying to get use to calling mine/yours to refer to the opponent's positions instead of just using left/right, for example.
Left and right is an option, but arguably more confusing when you consider that sometimes you or your partner is facing the back glass. L & R are relative - when you’re facing backwards, having to think quickly, and used to L & R being relative to your own field of vision, it could require extra time to process.
Mine/yours doesn’t have this issue, just that sometimes it can also create momentarily confusion because we’re used to those words referring to whose shot it is (when it’s ambiguous). If I’m about to play a bandeja in the middle and my partner shouts ‘mine up’, I first hear ‘mine’ and have a split second to decide whether to abandon the shot and then realise that you were referring to our opponents’ position.
Personally I like ‘line / cross’, because the emphasis is on the shouter to put themselves in the shoes of the person making the shot, saving them that extra mental legwork. But it’s something your partner needs to be used to, otherwise it’s still just another confusing signal to decipher.
You probably know that pros will use the name of their opponents because they’re so used to playing with them and knowing what side they play. At amateur level this makes least sense because I can’t remember anyone’s names let alone what side they’re standing on.
It's the first time I've heard a "reason" for the mine/yours besides "that's just how it's" haha.
I like the line/cross. You call it according to your partners' position or your own?
I just find it quite funny that coaches and "advance" players try to tell you that "this is the way it is" but every time I've played an open game people seem to prefer left/right instead.
If you’re calling, your partner is playing the ball, so you call it according to them. If they’re playing a ball I don’t want them to have to put themselves in anyone else’s shoes, and they’re already thinking about their options of shots in terms of down the line / middle / crosscourt. For me it makes sense but takes getting used to and I don’t have a regular partner to really nail it down. Another note is that it’s often more helpful to be told who is back, so a less risky shot can be played to them. But that’s no good if your partner is really used to hearing who’s up at net
Interestingly enough, I don’t have to think to process left/right, but have to think when I hear “mine/yours”. Although, I train and play both sides, so that might be it
That's interesting. I also switch sides often so it always takes me some time to get into mine/yours, not so much to call it out but to process it.
Left/right is just more natural, no need to get into flow.
Mine and yours is used for who is taking a ball through the middle right?
I have never once heard anyone call mine/yours for who is coming to the net.
Always right/lefr ot both.
I did not know this was a problem appearantly😂
You're absolutely right. Besides being used to say who's talking the ball, here in France they also using for opponents positions. It's one of the things you gotta have for intermediate/advance matches.
I find it super confusing because mine/yours changes.
If I say "mine at the net" I'm saying the cross-court opponent is at the net, if my partner calls it out, he's actually referring to my parallel. So counterintuitive in comparison to using left/right.
It's like if North/South or East/West changed.
"If I say "mine at the net" I'm saying the cross-court opponent is at the net"
If you say "mine at the net", I would ALWAYS expect the opponent parallel from you to be at the net. NOT the Cross/Court, that seems overly confusing.
I am from the Netherlands and herewe, as I said, always say Left/Right. And with that we mean OUR Left/Right. So if I say Right, I mean the Player on the Actual Right side of the court (from our perspective), not the Opponent that is technically the Right sided player from their Perspective. Anything else than this just seems confusing.
Though I have seen players call out the actual name of the guy that comes to net, mostly if it are 4 friends/players who know each other. That way there can indeed be 0 confusin on left/right ot mine/yours (unless you play against 2 guys with the same name😂)
Im guessing right left might be confusing cause are you talking about our left or their left? Mine and yours you immediately know which player you talking about
Weirdest threat imo. Never heard about this mixup, but maybe its a dutch thing. I have only heard and used left/right. The problem is mostly what the intended message is. My coach tells me to use left or right, depending where the better placement would be. So if left is back and right is up, we yell left, meaning, play to the left
I play in France, but I realised that in other countries they just refer to the left/right side OR player (backhand/drive). Quick check before a game and that's it.
Mine changes. If I say "mine" I'm referring to the cross-court opponent, if my partner calls out "mine", he's referring to my parallel. Every time I hear it I have a moment where I need to process it. Left/right is just easier.
It seems like it's a country thing too. I'll have to go to the Netherlands 😂
Spanish speaker here. I call it (and prefer to hear the call) backhand and drive/right side.
I usually say also what I'm calling too: "backhand at the net" or "drive stayed back". Most of the time I have enough time.
If I play with someone often, I ask them what they prefer. Some players prefer to be told who stayed back and others prefer to hear who's at the net.
Some people in my country say "mine/yours at the net" but I've noticed not everyone means the same (intermediate level).
Hola! I realised about this issue when I played overseas.
It's so much easier to call out a static position, like backhand/drive than using mine/yours (dynamic call).
It got me thinking how this changed between countries. So far, I got:
- left/right side,
- left/right player (backhand/drive)
- mine/yours,
- cross/line (parallel)
Critical when you face the back glass and you're ready for a Bajada or you're about to hit an overhead and you look at the ball and not the opponents or you're in a difficult situation and want to play a lob (I know it's not ideal to play a lob under pressure)... The important part is the info you get prior of deciding what are you going to play. Once you've decided it's very hard to change and most probably will have worse result. So a continuous guidance is needed. Let me gone you examples that work for me:
Both at the back or both are coming
Mine/your's at the back or very close
Gap in the middle (critical just before you hit a Bajada)
Play high
To keep it simple and answer the original question, your's/mine works better for me comparing to left/right opponent
Thanks. I get the importance, I just don't get why using terms that change to refer to the cross/parallel player, like mine/yours is the best option.
It just seems super counterintuitive in comparison to just use fixed positions.
I find it interesting how for some this feels natural and for others is super confusing.
I change sides quite often since I play tournaments with different partners and one of them is a leftie.
Making the call using mine/yours isn't hard, but processing the call is hard since it changes.
Also, got curious after playing in other countries and it's seems like some clubs/countries use different variations of it.
