Strange questions you are desperate to know the answers to.

[bluecheque4595]

Here is my question.
During Wimbledon Tennis, sometimes a ball goes and lands on the white line and it might be in or it might be out. When the IBM animation runs to show the ball landing in or out, the Wimbledon audience go clap clap clap clap and then go ooooh! when the result comes.

My question is, why the slow hand clap? This is a completely genuine question. I live too far away to go to sit in the crowd but if I did I would turn to the person next to me and ask them why the slow hand clap.

Are they annoyed about it? Are they clapping IBM technology cos its so clever and smart? Are they clapping cos they remembered they have hands and they like the sound of them bashing together!?

If anyone who is into tennis understand please answer me.

Ask a question here, anything that bugs you.

[Hobbes8]

A slow handclap is a show of impatience I think. It's not specifically to do with tennis.

[bluecheque4595]

Okay... do you know why people are impatient in tennis?

[OnlyLovers]

I'm not sure it's impatience. I think people are just clapping along with the ball, IYSWIM. Hence the slow clap and then the 'proper' clapping at the end when you can see if it was in or out.

[thecitydoc]

it is because a lot of the crowd are numpties

[OnlyLovers]

That's not very nice.

[Screaminlikeabanshee]

How come the 'ball girls and boys' hardly ever go on to become professional tennis players i'd have thought only a would be tennis player would be a ball boy or girl in the first place. Just always wondered.

[Screaminlikeabanshee]

How come when the sun shines in winter, its still freezing cold?

[OnlyLovers]

Ball kids: they're recruited from local schools rather than tennis academies or sports clubs.

I used to long to be a ball kid at Wimbledon, but never harboured ideas about being a professional player.

I don't know about the sun in winter, sorry!

[Screaminlikeabanshee]

OOooh! i see. thank you. Is a tennis academy like a school where they also have lessons?

[OnlyLovers]

I think so, yes.

[Screaminlikeabanshee]

That makes perfect sense then, all the would be tennis pros are not in mainstream school anyway.

[AllThreeWays]

It stays cold in winter on a sunny day because winter is caused by the earth's tilt during its annual rotation round the sun. So the sun is angled lower in the sky so less radiant heat makes it through the atmosphere

[Screaminlikeabanshee]

Allthreewyas thanks for your answer. I will look up what you say to understand more.

[RebootYourEngine]

I thought the tennis clap was for effect and no real reason. Or maybe like an anticipation clap. I would have loved to have been a ball girl at wimbledon. Too old now.

[OnlyLovers]

Yes, I think it is, Reboot.

[wideboy26]

I was watching tv the other night and the continuity announcer said "You're watching BBC2". What I want to know is this: how did he know? I

[notafanofwinter]

I agree Maryz.
A sort of 'you've got to be joking, the linesman was right, stop stalling and wasting time' for a slow clap.
Then a 'you were right and we were all wrong' for a fast one.

[Eastie77]

Why is there an age limit for ball girls/boys? Why can't a fit and healthy 40 year old be a ball woman/man if they want to?

[caroldecker]

ball people for wimbledon were originally from Dr Barnado type homes, but are now from local schools (hence age limit). Girls introduced in 1977, but single sex for each court until 1980.

wideboy If you weren't then you wouldn't hear him (unless neighbours with annoyingly load telly were watching). (Of course then he'd be wrong and you would sue him for misrepresentation, but he would win because he was not speaking to you but your neighbours)

[hellocleveland]

I've been to Wimbledon every year for the last ten years and sat on centre court, no 1 etc
With hawk eye, it's just a bit of excitement really. Everyone is clapping in anticipation of the result. It's all part of the atmosphere. Nothing to do with being impatient.

[wideboy26]

Carol - I don't want to overthink this, but if I were to sue, how would I quantify my loss?

[caroldecker]

Your hearing you were watching bbc2, but were actually watching bbc1. So you turned over to check. Whilst turned over, you missed a subliminal message, sent only to you on bbc1 with this weeks lottery numbers. You therefore have every right to sue for the jackpot.

[OnlyLovers]

Yes, I think hello is right about the clapping thing. Kind of what I was trying to say, but I didn't put it very well.