Have been playing around trying to write a python module to generate isometric views of potential court situations. The goal is to show if interference is present when player is hitting a reasonably high volley.

For simplicity, I have drawn the lower and upper pyramid lines to the tin and upper out-line. Rather providing room for the ball to hit the front wall without contacting the tin or out-line. I don’t expect it will make a major difference to this simple look at how the pyramid affects whether or not there is front-wall interference.

Also, because the court dimensions are in given in feet, the measures here will also be in feet and inches.

Pyramid Example 1
(Figure iso1)
isometric view of the front wall pyramid for a 8.5 ft high volley at the t-line

The ball is 8.5 feet high at the t-line, 8 feet from the left side wall. The opponent, 6 foot 1 inch tall, is 6 feet from the left wall and 9 feet in front of the t-line.

At that position the opponent is within the triangle represented by the bottom of the pyramid. But the bottom of the pyramid is roughly 6.4 feet above the floor. About 3 inches above the player.

Very close to interference. Could a referee be expected to tell the difference?

add opponet to side view subplot
Alternate Image Style: volley height, nearly but technically no interference

Let’s try moving the striking point back.

Pyramid Example 2
(Figure iso2)
isometric view of the front wall pyramid for a 8.5 ft high volley 10 feet behind the t-line

I have moved the striking position back 10 feet. Now we are getting interference.

The bottom of the pyramid is now a little shy 5 feet 2 inches above the floor at the opponent’s location.

However, if the opponent bent down or squatted, there would not be any interference.

ball 8.5 feet above floor, 8 feet from left side wall, 5 feet from back wall, opponent upright
Alternate Image Style: Striking point at volley height, but closer to back wall.

Okay, let’s go back to the earlier location and lower the ball height by a foot.

Pyramid Example 3
(Figure iso3)
isometric view of the front wall pyramid for a 8.5 ft high volley 10 feet behind the t-line

So the striking point is once again on the t-line and 8 from the left wall. But is now 7.5 feet above the floor. Position of opponent has not changed.

The bottom of the pyramid is now about 5 feet 8 inches above the floor at the opponent’s position. Again interference.

However, if the opponent bent over or squatted there would not be any interference.

lower striking position of ball by 1 foot, interference now present
Alternate Image Style: Lower striking position of ball to 7.5 feet above the floor.

How about opponent squatting.

with the lower striking position of ball but opponent has crouched down
Alternate Image Style: No change to striking point, but opponent has crouched down.

Now, how about if the ball is at a typical ground stroke height.

ball at a ground stroke striking height with opponent crouched down
Alternate Image Style: Striking point at ground stoke height, opponent has crouched down.

Pretty clearly, if the striking position moved further to the right, there would be less likelihood of front wall interference with the opponent in the current position.

Should point out that if there is no front wall interference, there could also not be any boast interference. As hitting it lower than the opponent to the side wall, would likely prevent it making the front wall above the tin.