Interesting match strategy

[cam2]

I had a match where my opponent pulled out a wood racquet and started to warm up with it. I thought alright that's a little unusual but then after I beat him 6-1 in the 1st set he pulled out a wilson ntour a started the 2nd set with that. His shots changed dramatically from heavy fairly flat balls to loopier topspin shots. He got up 3-0 before I was able to readjust and win 7-5 in the 2nd.

Afterwards he apologized and said he wasn't trying to mess me up even though I didn't say anything about it. My question is why the guilty conscience if that wasn't his goal?

[kingdaddy41788]

Weird. Very... very... weird.

[103xStateChamp]

LOL thats good.

[Amone]

I had a match where my opponent pulled out a wood racquet and started to warm up with it. I thought alright that's a little unusual but then after I beat him 6-1 in the 1st set he pulled out a wilson ntour a started the 2nd set with that. His shots changed dramatically from heavy fairly flat balls to loopier topspin shots. He got up 3-0 before I was able to readjust and win 7-5 in the 2nd.

Afterwards he apologized and said he wasn't trying to mess me up even though I didn't say anything about it. My question is why the guilty conscience if that wasn't his goal?

Maybe he's an acute observer?

[YonexDude]

maybe he just felt like it, but i bet he was trying to psyche you out. i play with wood racquets every once in a while just for the fun of it, usually when i play people who are a lot worse than me to level the playing field.

[skiracer55]

...and being the wiseacre I am, I probably would have said something like "here's a $100 if you'll promise me you'll only use wood the next time we play..."

[penpal]

Afterwards he apologized and said he wasn't trying to mess me up even though I didn't say anything about it. My question is why the guilty conscience if that wasn't his goal?

Could be he was just curious how he might do with a wood racquet and/or wanted to find out if his racquet choice really made any difference, and didn't take your perception into account at all. When he noticed that the change did appear to mess you up, maybe he felt bad and wanted to express this.

[lethalfang]

I only occationally pull out my wooden racquet when I'm trying to have fun hitting with someone who is a LOT worse than I am.

[zapvor]

hmmm....next time, i am going to switch rackets after every game. maybe from a Gamma Big Bubba to a n6.1 tour 90.

[cam2]

hmmm....next time, i am going to switch rackets after every game. maybe from a Gamma Big Bubba to a n6.1 tour 90.

That wouldn't make as much of a difference. I've played people who have 2 different rackets they use and it's a small difference, but these two rackets hit the ball completely different.

[cam2]

Could be he was just curious how he might do with a wood racquet and/or wanted to find out if his racquet choice really made any difference, and didn't take your perception into account at all. When he noticed that the change did appear to mess you up, maybe he felt bad and wanted to express this.

Maybe, but reverses in score happen all the time after a shutout in the 1st set. If he didn't think he was doing anything wrong why did it even occur to him that it might have been the switch.

[FD3S]

I use wood occasionally in practice sessions with my dad. It never ceases to amaze me how merely adequate serves/shots with wood became rockets with my O3 Tour.