Rules Rule: The Problem With a Z-Serve

Recently, I have received quite a few questions from members asking whether a screen can be called by a referee on a z-serve. Here is a sample of one of the questions I recently received:

Over many years of playing racquetball, a few opponents have called a screen on my z-serve. I hit the ball rather hard into the front left corner and stand in the middle of the service box. Can you imagine any scenario that a z-serve can be called a screen?

The answer is “yes.”

The Text of the Rule

Before getting into the reasons why, let’s start—as we so often should—with the text of the rule. Rule 3.9(i) says that a screen serve occurs when a served ball, “that first hits the front wall and on the rebound passes so closely to the server, or the server’s partner in doubles, that it prevents the receiver from having a clear view of the ball.” Of course, the rule specifies that the receiving player is “obligated to take up good court position, near center court” to obtain a clear view of the ball. And, the rule specifies that a referee should not call a screen serve until he or she is sure that the opponent’s attempt to return the ball was impaired by how close the serve passed the server.

A screen serve is a fault serve.  

The rule is, admittedly, a little dense. To make it easier, let’s break it down into its component parts. In order for a serve to be a screen, three things must happen:

(1)       The served ball hits the front wall and, on the rebound passes closely by the serving player (or his or her partner, in doubles);

(2)       The receiving player is prevented from having a clear view of the ball; and

(3)       The receiving player is in “good court position” near center court.

Each of these three things must happen before the referee may call a screen serve. And, as noted, the referee should first be sure that the receiving player’s attempt to return the ball was impaired by the “closeness” of the serve before calling a screen serve.

Can a Z-Serve be a Screen?

Several factors can impact whether a z-serve can be called a screen. Let’s explore a few.

• If a server is standing in the middle of the Service Zone, the odds that the serve passes “so closely” to him or her will increase; whereas a serve from the far left or right hand side of the Service Zone would significantly decrease the chances that the ball passes near the serving player.
• The height of the serve will play a role. For example, if the serve is at shoulder height, there is a greater chance that it will pass “so closely” by the serving player such that it prevents the receiving player from having a clear view. However, if the serve is at a height several feet above the serving player’s head, the receiving player should be able to visualize the entire flight of the ball.
• Where the ball passes the serving player will also make a difference. For example, if the server is in the middle of the Service Zone, and the ball passes in front of the serving player (in other words, the ball passes in between the server and the front wall), that would be more likely to hinder the receiving player’s view of the ball. However, if the ball passes behind the serving player (as in, it passes between the server’s back and the back wall), the referee could determine that the receiving player had a clear view of the ball.

• The height of the serve will play a role. For example, if the serve is at shoulder height, there is a greater chance that it will pass “so closely” by the serving player such that it prevents the receiving player from having a clear view. However, if the serve is at a height several feet above the serving player’s head, the receiving player should be able to visualize the entire flight of the ball.
• Where the ball passes the serving player will also make a difference. For example, if the server is in the middle of the Service Zone, and the ball passes in front of the serving player (in other words, the ball passes in between the server and the front wall), that would be more likely to hinder the receiving player’s view of the ball. However, if the ball passes behind the serving player (as in, it passes between the server’s back and the back wall), the referee could determine that the receiving player had a clear view of the ball.

• Where the ball passes the serving player will also make a difference. For example, if the server is in the middle of the Service Zone, and the ball passes in front of the serving player (in other words, the ball passes in between the server and the front wall), that would be more likely to hinder the receiving player’s view of the ball. However, if the ball passes behind the serving player (as in, it passes between the server’s back and the back wall), the referee could determine that the receiving player had a clear view of the ball.

Graphics may help clarify this last point:

USA Racquetball

USA Racquetball

So, can a z-serve be a screen? Absolutely, yes, it can. As long as the serve, no matter what type of serve it is, comes “so close” to the server’s body that it prevents the receiving player from having a clear view of the ball, then the serve can—and should—be called a screen serve.

Perhaps the most important factor in answering the question is the fact that Rule 3.9(i) gives referees the judgment to determine whether a screen serve has occurred. Unless and until the rule is modified to state that z-serves can never be called a screen (something I have serious doubts will ever happen), the judgment will remain in the hands of referees. As long as human discretion is involved, I can always envision a scenario in which a z-serve is called a screen.

As I was writing this article, I exchanged emails with Otto Dietrich and Lynn Stephens, two other experts on racquetball rules. Both agreed with the conclusion that z-serves can be called screens.

National Rules Commissioner Joshua Jones welcomes questions from members and will respond timely along with occasionally featuring a few in USA Racquetball’s Serving Up the News. Write to Josh at rulescommissioner@usaracquetball.com, and you may see your question in a future issue of this newsletter!