Have you heard of this “Coman” tiebreak? Not the Conan tiebreak (check out the photo). Not the Coleman tiebreak. It's the “Coman” tiebreak.
Although the Coman tiebreak has been around since the 1980's, it was not until the early 2000's that it was adopted by the USTA for national league play, leading to its widespread acceptance.
So what's the difference between a Coman tiebreak and the standard tiebreak procedure?
As you know, a tiebreak is used when the score in a set reaches 6-6. It is one game that determines the winner of the set. So when the tiebreak is over, the winner will have won the set 7-6. Since it is a game that is part of the set, service rotation does not change.
To start a standard tiebreak, the player whose turn it is to serve begins by serving one point from the deuce court. Serve then passes to the opposing player or team who serves two points, the first from the ad court and the second from the deuce court. The serve then alternates between players or teams, with each serving two serves, first from the ad court and then from the deuce court. Players or teams switch sides between the 6th and 7th points and then every 6 points after that. The winner is the first team to reach at least 7 points AND be ahead in the tiebreak score by 2 points (so 7-6 is not a winning tiebreak score but 8-6 is). Note that a “super” tiebreak is sometimes used in lieu of playing a 3rd set where the tiebreak score may be first to 10 points.
So what about the Coman tiebreak? The Coman tiebreak is JUST LIKE the standard tiebreak except that players switch ends after the first point and then after every four points.
That's it.
Why this change?
- In a standard tiebreak, during a doubles match, players will end up serving from both sides of the court, rather than from “their side.” The Coman tiebreak ensures that doubles players will always serve from their side and thus helps provide some consistency within the set. In other words, the tiebreak serving conditions are consistent with the set serving conditions.
- The Coman tiebreak also results in more frequent changes in sides, meaning that the effects of the court conditions (sun, wind, overhead lights, etc.) are more fairly experienced by both players or teams.
Now you're ready for any tiebreak that comes your way. Just remember – it's Coman. We're not talking about an old Arnold Schwarzenegger movie here!
Not sure what to do after the tiebreak? Check out this Tennis Fixation post for the answers: After The Tiebreaker, Who Serves?
© Kim Selzman 2012 All Rights Reserved
thanks for sharing
but who has played this, it is easy ?
To start a standard tiebreak, the player whose turn it is to serve begins by serving one point from the deuce court. Serve then passes to the opposing player or team who serves two points, the first from the ad court and the second from the deuce court.
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Ron – I myself have played tons of standard tiebreakers and several Coman tiebreakers. Many leagues now specify that the Coman is the procedure to use in a tiebreaker, especially if its a doubles league. Since most of the people I’ve played with seem to be confused by the Coman, I think its good to know how it works, especially since its so easy. Thanks for your comment!
Kim
Thanks so much for this post, Kim!!! I was looking online for some good information on the Coman Tiebreak – it’s such a simple concept but some of the details just seem to be so confusing – when I ran across this post and “After The Tiebreaker, Who Serves?”. They both did a really great job of clearing things up for me. I wasn’t surprised at all to find that you had addressed this topic and that you had done such a great job with it. I think my exact words were, “Of course Kim has a great article on this! Why didn’t I try her site first to start with?” After my moments of clarity reading your posts, I ended up writing a post on my own site giving a slightly different perspective on the Coman tiebreak. In the end, I think yours is probably still better. Just don’t tell anyone I said that or they won’t come read mine! 🙂
I experienced the Coman for the first time recently. I don’t think it leads to more fairness as, if you happen to be serving with your toss in the Sun, you’re stuck doing so throughout the tie-breaker. Also, I played the Coman at night, no Sun and no wind, so it was a lot of court changing for nothing. Give me the standard tie-breaker any day.