Next weeks scheduled match---The champion pusher

[Surecatch]

In my league, there is a 73 year old guy that beats everyone. He's a pusher...get's everything back at you and pushes to one side or another. He doesn't give you much pace and doesn't move particularly well. He just frustrates you and by the middle of the match, confidence in your strokes has already hit the showers.

This guy beat me 8-1 two months ago but I'm significantly better now and I have blood in my eyes and revenge in my heart. I scouted him a bit last nite and talked with another player and they said he's a shameless line call cheater when things start going bad. I have all of this to consider before next tuesday. I aim to redeem myself and send him home destroyed.

Any help and/or tips would be appreciated....I'm sure you've all come up against this guy before.

[JackRabbit]

Go to the net and move him side to side...Always anticipate the down the line shot (old school players tend not to hit angles). You might get passed once or twice, but this is your best bet.

[gscone]

I beat a major pusher last week and my best advice would be to run him all over the court and more importantly, play percentage tennis.

[obackvalobasha]

I don't care how slow the ball is DUDE!! You don't lose to a 73 year old junky. In the summer time when I go to public parks. I dont remember seeing any 73 year old guy who can actually sprint forward. SO hit high heavy top spins because old school guys have hard time timing high topspin balls. Because of the old school grips they use. Also, use lots of drop shots and close in the net. That’s IT! Oldy is done. He might get to some dropper but how long can he keep that up?

The biggest mistake most people make when they playing against old guys are: they try to hit through them or hit winners and start making unforced errors . people forget the most important key to their weakness is their fitness level just keep 2 3 shots out side of the service box make them run side to side and then a dropper or go to the net and do a drop volley like above posters mentioned. DUDE HIT IT WHERE IT HURTS!

GOoD luck mate

[Surecatch]

I don't care how slow the ball is DUDE!! You don't lose to a 73 year old junky. In the summer time when I go to public parks. I dont remember seeing any 73 year old guy who can actually sprint forward. SO hit high heavy top spins because old school guys have hard time timing high topspin balls. Because of the old school grips they use. Also, use lots of drop shots and close in the net. That’s IT! Oldy is done. He might get to some dropper but how long can he keep that up?

The biggest mistake most people make when they playing against old guys are: they try to hit through them or hit winners and start making unforced errors . people forget the most important key to their weakness is their fitness level just keep 2 3 shots out side of the service box make them run side to side and then a dropper or go to the net and do a drop volley like above posters mentioned. DUDE HIT IT WHERE IT HURTS!

GOoD luck mate

I'm not losing to him Tuesday. I'm going to destroy his will to live.

[chess9]

You simply have to be patient and crafty. He's patient, that's why he beats so many younger players. In fact, pusher or not, that is a recipe for a winner in many matches. So, if you are very fit, i.e. prepared to run a lot, you can beat a much older opponent with drop shots, lobs and the angles, assuming you aren't playing Pancho Gonzales, in which case, fahgettaboutit. :)

In most club matches, fitness plays a huge role. If the 73 year old guy can run a 23 minute 5K, and the 30 year old he's playing is the typical 30 year old male who parks his SUV at Dunkin Donuts and smokes Camels, well...you get the picture. Chronological age and physical age are two different numbers. (I'm not going to start a geezer's mini-rant on the decline of American physical culture.)

Good luck! Oh, how old are you?

-Robert

[obackvalobasha]

chess, if a 73 year old guy can run 23min 5k. isn't that gonna be in the genis book of world records? heheh I mean, think about man... we talking about a 73 YEAR OLD GUy! I mean unless if you really believe in the new saying that 70s is the new 40s hahaha

[35ft6]

Dude, just keep hitting drop shots if you really want to win. For some reason I'm thinking he's going to beat you again. I mean, 8-1 is pretty lop-sided. Make him run. No unforced errors, just make him chase down balls that are hit at a pace where you can make them 10 out of 10 times.

[chess9]

Oback:

I'm guessing that would be close to a national record, but you get my point. I regularly run 5K races and plenty of young guys finish way behind me. I'm only running 24+ now on a flat, fast course. I'm an untalented 63 year old with bad asthma. But, many 30+ year old guys finish well behind me. At my club, fitness levels among younger members are horrid.

Oh, wait, I just checked in New Hampshire (only state I checked) and one 73 year old ran 23:21, so I'm thinking the national record is probably under 20 minutes for a 70 year old. Probably closer to 19 minutes. :)

-Robert

[PM_]

Hit plenty of low flat shots. Make him bend down a lot to get them.
Run him side to side. Begin to wear down his endurance.
When you get to around 5-6 games in the pro-set, lay the drop shots to rid him any chance to cheat line calls.
When he starts reading/running in to retrieve the drop shots, loop them over his head to make him run back.
By the time you get to 7 games, he'll probably retire.

[mansrow]

all good advices, seems like the best strategy mentioned is to run him all over the court. let us know how it turned out.

gd luck !!!!!!

[Freedom]

Be confident in yourself, but if you keep telling yourself that you're going to "Destroy his will to live", you're going to get down on yourself very quickly if he gets a couple games off you. Stay positive, but don't get cocky.

[arnz]

I'm rooting for you man :) At my level, 3.5, I have faced and lost to many of the same type of players you mention. However, I think that some of those guys may have been playing upwards of 40 to 50 years.

They may not have always been pushers, but age has forced them to change their game style. I do think they like schooling the younger players who may have just picked up tennis and believe the way to win is just to bash everything and hit winners.

Tell us what happens.

[Geezer Guy]

I got $10 on the old guy.

[PM_]

I got $10 on the old guy.
LOL that woudn't be you, would it?;)

[North]

Good tactical advice from everybody. You said he was a big cheater on line calls. If there are league officials, get one early on, after politely questioning the first several obviously bad calls, to make the calls for the rest of the match if the guy doesn't start getting honest with the calls. I did that once to a cheater, who got so pissed off and rattled (psychological meltdown), he pretty much blew the rest of the match - I had fun beating him. Good luck!

[Midlife crisis]

chess, if a 73 year old guy can run 23min 5k. isn't that gonna be in the genis book of world records? heheh I mean, think about man... we talking about a 73 YEAR OLD GUy! I mean unless if you really believe in the new saying that 70s is the new 40s hahaha

According to an age grading chart I have for masters runners, a 73 year old is at 69.8%. The world record for a 5k run for any age is 13 minutes, so an age graded world record for a 73 year old would be 18 minutes 37 seconds, or right at 6 minute mile pace. I believe the actual world record on a track is in the upper 18:40's.

[Alexandros]

Heavily top spun balls, side to side and drop shots. Percentage tennis, make him work to get the ball back to you. Patience is the key and everything will come easily.

[BillyBee]

There's something profoundly sad about a 73-year-old guy hooking line calls.

[chess9]

Lines can be hard to call at any age, but at 73? And, we have one side of this story. How many lines? And the OP needs advice about defeating an old pusher? Hmmm.....

I think there is something profoundly grand about a 73 year old who is still playing.

-Robert

[peter]

Lines can be hard to call at any age, but at 73? And, we have one side of this story. How many lines? And the OP needs advice about defeating an old pusher? Hmmm.....

I think there is something profoundly grand about a 73 year old who is still playing.


Here's two guys that participated last summer in the regional championsships:

http://www.grebo.net/~peter/vdm/2005/2005-08-21/037/lores.jpg
He is 76 and I actually played this guy in a league match (I'm 38) earlier that summer when he had to sub for another guy. I won but I had to make sure not to hit the ball towards him... (His main weakness was movement).

http://www.grebo.net/~peter/vdm/2005/2005-08-20/098/lores.jpg
Now this guy is slightly younger (70) but he has no problems with his movements or strokes. Hits topspin shots without hesitation. I've never played him but I suspect I'd have big problems.. His biggest problem is finding practice partners (so he mostly plays with guys 20 years younger than him in order to find people that can match him).

They were the two guys that played the final in the "Men 70" singles class (the "younger" guy won pretty easily).

[chess9]

Sweet pics. :)

-Robert

[Rickson]

In my league, there is a 73 year old guy that beats everyone. He's a pusher...get's everything back at you and pushes to one side or another. He doesn't give you much pace and doesn't move particularly well. He just frustrates you and by the middle of the match, confidence in your strokes has already hit the showers.

This guy beat me 8-1 two months ago but I'm significantly better now and I have blood in my eyes and revenge in my heart. I scouted him a bit last nite and talked with another player and they said he's a shameless line call cheater when things start going bad. I have all of this to consider before next tuesday. I aim to redeem myself and send him home destroyed.

Any help and/or tips would be appreciated....I'm sure you've all come up against this guy before.
First of all, he's 73 years old? I understand he's getting a lot of balls back, but if you can't outrun him, shame on you. How can you not get balls out of his reach? If he's truly a pusher, you should be able to control the direction of his balls and if you can't, either he's not a pusher or you need to practice controlling no pace balls. Go to the net a lot and if he can pass you easily, he's not a real pusher because most pushers like to lob. Make this guy run, give him a heart attack and you can win by default.

[BillyBee]

There's a stooped-over, 72-year-old guy at my club who amazes me by regularly beating 4.5 to 5.0 players, but then I found out that there's a pretty good reason --- he won the French Open in 1956 (doubles).

[Rickson]

There's a stooped-over, 72-year-old guy at my club who amazes me by regularly beating 4.5 to 5.0 players, but then I found out that there's a pretty good reason --- he won the French Open in 1956 (doubles).
Don Candy & Robert Perry.

[Surecatch]

First of all, he's 73 years old? I understand he's getting a lot of balls back, but if you can't outrun him, shame on you. How can you not get balls out of his reach? If he's truly a pusher, you should be able to control the direction of his balls and if you can't, either he's not a pusher or you need to practice controlling no pace balls. Go to the net a lot and if he can pass you easily, he's not a real pusher because most pushers like to lob. Make this guy run, give him a heart attack and you can win by default.


Don't even give me "shame on you." It was the third competitive tennis match in my life....the guy has probably been playing for 50 years. I can outrun anyone in my league and I have improved quite a bit in other aspects. I plan to destroy his comfortable existence in this league.

1. I'm not giving him the time of day. I'm going Jimmy Conners on him. This guy is a psyche master and I'm going to turn it around on him from the minute I set my bag down.

2. I'm going to show zero emotion...good shot or bad.

3. I'm definitely going to run him around and mix in alot of drops on him.

4. He's not beating me this time...I refuse to go down.

[kevhen]

I take the old guy too, especially if he is hooking on line calls!

[BillyBee]

Don Candy & Robert Perry.

Yeah, Bob Perry is the guy I'm talking about. Still plays every day here in La Jolla. Great guy, and a great player.

[Rickson]

Don't even give me "shame on you."
I'm giving you the shame on you because you're calling him a pusher, you claim he doesn't move well, but he's getting all your balls back. Something's not adding up unless you're also a pusher because a pusher who can't move well can not retrieve heavy paced balls that are hit well away from him. Either you were hitting all your balls to the middle of the court or you were pushing with him.

[kevhen]

I play with a 63 year old guy who is 4.0 but by age 70 I only see 3.5 rated players. Just work on your game and get it up to a 4.0 level and you shouldn't have trouble with the 70 somethings. Consistency and placement should finish these old guys off. If not, get to net and prepare to hit overheads.

[Rickson]

I play with a 63 year old guy who is 4.0 but by age 70 I only see 3.5 rated players. Just work on your game and get it up to a 4.0 level and you shouldn't have trouble with the 70 somethings. Consistency and placement should finish these old guys off. If not, get to net and prepare to hit overheads.
Good advice, kevhen. I don't think sc is playing the net on this guy and is relying on a baseline game. I've always played the net against pushers because it cuts their reaction time so much. I don't know any great passing pushers, but I know some good lobbers. For that reason, I never play the net too close against pushers.

[kevhen]

Yeah most older guys are great lobbers but don't have a lot of power on their passing shots so you play a step deeper to cover the lob and then move in on the passing shots. They will have trouble running down your vollies.

[Kaptain Karl]

1 - I'm betting $20 on the 73 year old.

2 - I doubt he cheats on line calls. I'm betting this report is really the result of "Sour Grapes" ... losers who can only justify losing to a 73 year old by claiming they were cheated.

3 - Is this gentleman really a "pusher"? It's my experience that many club players label anyone who isn't a Baseline Blaster or S&V a Pusher, when the player may be an All Courter, Junk Baller, Counter Puncher *or* a Pusher. (See the playing styles described here (http://tt.tennis-warehouse.com/showthread.php?t=78147) for more clarity.

Here's a (partial) lift of the Pusher description:
Pusher tennis players win by relying nearly exclusively on their opponent's unforced errors. They block, bunt or poke the ball with the goal of “just getting it back.” Pushers aim for just beyond the T in their opponent’s back court. This target gives them the largest margin for error.

They give you no power, no pace, no depth or placement. They just "get it back.” The strokes of the Pusher are never full and flowing. They have little ability to employ topspin. Any “passing shots” the Pusher hits are hardly intentional. (But they never act surprised when a shot of theirs becomes unreturnable.)

Pushers have unshakable psyches. Mind games and insults about their lack of “real” tennis ability have no effect on them. (They tell anyone in the Club about the times they beat the local High School “hero” in straight sets.) Pushers are completely aware that tennis competitors are not scored on “style”. They care only about the “W / L column....”

4 - You are getting lots of advice ... most of it really bad, IMO. Assuming "73" really IS a pusher, he will be much harder to run than you -- and many of your advisors, here -- believe. He's probably really gifted at court positioning and anticipation. (Which is also why you won't be able to over-power him, topspin him or drop/lob him as easily as your fellow posters think.)

[One of the most entertaining matches I EVER witnessed, was when a Div II tennis scholarship college student nearly quit the game after losing to a 72 year old man in two (Long!) straight sets. The college kid was cracking us up in the stands as he talked to himself about how "No 72 year old can run like that!!! ... He's gonna have a coronary any minute now ... It's like playing a human backboard!!!" And "72" went out and played the next round of the Open tournament with only a 30 minute rest ... and he won that match too...!]

5 - I'm really looking forward to your report of your results. Be very aware of -- as Brad Gilbert says -- "Who's doing what ... to whom." We can be the most help when you know what really happened....

6 - What kind of player are YOU? (What's your preferred style of play?) THEN ... we can give you better tactics for "73".

- KK

[Geezer Guy]

Don't even give me "shame on you." It was the third competitive tennis match in my life....the guy has probably been playing for 50 years. I can outrun anyone in my league and I have improved quite a bit in other aspects. I plan to destroy his comfortable existence in this league.

1. I'm not giving him the time of day. I'm going Jimmy Conners on him. This guy is a psyche master and I'm going to turn it around on him from the minute I set my bag down.

2. I'm going to show zero emotion...good shot or bad.

3. I'm definitely going to run him around and mix in alot of drops on him.

4. He's not beating me this time...I refuse to go down.
1st of all, I suggest you watch some tape on Jimmy Conners. He wasn't exactly known for "zero emotion".

2nd, I'm raising my $10 bet to $30. :)

Just giving you a hard time bud. Actually, I do have some REAL advice. If this is indeed your 4th competitive match, I wouldn't go into it with a bunch of attitude. You're putting a lot of pressure on yourself. Just relax and have fun. There IS some good advice here on how to play against this type of player. You can incorporate that into your game plan, but in my opinion the best thing you can do is just relax and hit your shots. Don't put any pressure on yourself - just consider it a learning experience.

Good Luck - but more importantly - Have Fun.

[Surecatch]

1st of all, I suggest you watch some tape on Jimmy Conners. He wasn't exactly known for "zero emotion".

2nd, I'm raising my $10 bet to $30. :)

Just giving you a hard time bud. Actually, I do have some REAL advice. If this is indeed your 4th competitive match, I wouldn't go into it with a bunch of attitude. You're putting a lot of pressure on yourself. Just relax and have fun. There IS some good advice here on how to play against this type of player. You can incorporate that into your game plan, but in my opinion the best thing you can do is just relax and hit your shots. Don't put any pressure on yourself - just consider it a learning experience.

Good Luck - but more importantly - Have Fun.

You guys are cracking me up with this "I've got $10/$20/$30 on 73". I can't say I blame you....like I said, this guy beats nearly everyone in my league. He beat the hardest hitter 8-2. He's a seasoned vet but the definition of a pusher that was provided a few posts previous is right on the money...that's my guy. He just dinks everything back and watches people try to overpower him. To clarify, the first time I played him it was the third week of the league....the first league or organized tennis I'd ever played in ever. I'm now in the same league for a second time so this is my 12th match. I really turned the corner in the second half of the last league though...I think I'm much better now. I'm becoming a real tennis player. The first week of the new league I played a strong 4.0 player and only lost 8-4. The second week I succumbed to a lack of mental toughness and let a 6-4 lead slip away. I spent the week preparing mentally by reading books on the mental aspects of tennis and this past tuesday and it really paid off. I beat a strong S/V player 8-2 and I had to dig for extra heart a few times.

I've got news for all you wagerers....you would lose your money. I vow victory.

Thanks to all the advice I've gotten.

Re: Conners reference. I meant pre match....no niceties with this guy. Once match starts I'm going Borg on him. :)

[gscone]

You guys are cracking me up with this "I've got $10/$20/$30 on 73". I can't say I blame you....like I said, this guy beats nearly everyone in my league. He beat the hardest hitter 8-2. He's a seasoned vet but the definition of a pusher that was provided a few posts previous is right on the money...that's my guy. He just dinks everything back and watches people try to overpower him. To clarify, the first time I played him it was the third week of the league....the first league or organized tennis I'd ever played in ever. I'm now in the same league for a second time so this is my 12th match. I really turned the corner in the second half of the last league though...I think I'm much better now. I'm becoming a real tennis player. The first week of the new league I played a strong 4.0 player and only lost 8-4. The second week I succumbed to a lack of mental toughness and let a 6-4 lead slip away. I spent the week preparing mentally by reading books on the mental aspects of tennis and this past tuesday and it really paid off. I beat a strong S/V player 8-2 and I had to dig for extra heart a few times.

I've got news for all you wagerers....you would lose your money. I vow victory.

Thanks to all the advice I've gotten.

Re: Conners reference. I meant pre match....no niceties with this guy. Once match starts I'm going Borg on him. :)

Realistically speaking, what level do you think he is?

[chess9]

When I graduated from college and essentially stopped playing competitive tennis I would, nonetheless, play with a small group of fellows on some local clay courts. I hadn't really played many matches on clay and I was a hard court S & V player. Anyway, this local lawyer who was an old college player himself and about 50 years old at the time would thoroughly trash me every time we played. I loved the guy because he never gave up and hit everything back! He never hit much pace, but I always had to work for every bloody point. He was always my best workout because the matches would last HOURS.

My take on all this is that these older guys are the kind of players that "The Inner Game of Tennis" talks about-the guys who are your partners in learning, sort of a mentor. One day, with luck, you will be them. Let your ego go and enjoy the ride.

Respecting all players is a very important part of the game in my view, though it is more honored in the breach, sad to say. I think most of the pro players understand this after a few years on tour. I know it was something I learned my second year of varsity college tennis. I played a guy from Princeton who was terrible, but he beat me. (I had been up all night with a sick dog so that was my excuse.) Afterwards, we talked and he told me how his high school coach kicked him off the team and told him to never show up again. The coach said he was so bad he would never be any kind of an athlete, or some such comment. (The guy put his thumb behind the racket and led with his elbow on his backhand and basically pushed the shot.)He went to a local tennis pro and practiced privately for two years and then walked on at Princeton. He still was pretty bad but he never gave up and started beating guys. The tennis coach at that time was a tall, thin and very gentlemanly fellow who loved this guy because of his attitude and gave him a shot. (I don't remember the coach's name, btw, and it's driving me crazy. I'm sure someone here remembers him because he was unforgettable and was a gentleman's gentleman.) Anyway, I developed a lot of respect for the guys who put their heart into the game, but may not have great talent or great execution. Tennis is truly a game for almost everyone who is willing to learn and RUN.

So, I've got $40 that says the geezer wins. :)

-Robert

[BillyBee]

Since the betting windows have been flung wide open, I'm putting my wager down, too.

While I'm rooting for SureCatch, my money is on the old man for these reasons:

1) An 8-1 loss in their last match speaks volumes. That's a big gap there. Yes, you can improve in two months, but improvement in tennis is more gradual than we would like to hope for. It's kind of like watching grass grow.

2) SureCatch wants it too badly. A couple of unforced errors in a row and he's going to start deteriorating mentally.

3) People who lose to pushers (TRUE pushers, not counter-punchers, etc.) just aren't that good. Anyone with solid strokes can dispense with a true pusher rather easily.

[Surecatch]

Since the betting windows have been flung wide open, I'm putting my wager down, too.

While I'm rooting for SureCatch, my money is on the old man for these reasons:

1) An 8-1 loss in their last match speaks volumes. That's a big gap there. Yes, you can improve in two months, but improvement in tennis is more gradual than we would like to hope for. It's kind of like watching grass grow.

2) SureCatch wants it too badly. A couple of unforced errors in a row and he's going to start deteriorating mentally.

3) People who lose to pushers (TRUE pushers, not counter-punchers, etc.) just aren't that good. Anyone with solid strokes can dispense with a true pusher rather easily.

1. I'm a different player now. That was also the worst match I ever played but of course his game made that happen. The games were close...I just couldn't seem to finish any of them.

2. Never....not going to mentally deteriorate but your point is well taken and one I will remember and use come Tuesday.

3. I'm not going to claim I'm something I'm not. What I am is an intermediate level player with potential who has never played competitively and I'm really making serious strides now. At the time I played him, I was very green in match tennis. I'm a tough competitor but I am new to the nuances of the psychology of competing in tennis. I can and will beat him. This is all part of my quest for tennis greatness....my plans are coming together.

P.S. Finally, I authored a "megathread" :)

[chess9]

Surecatch:

Yes, good thread.

Please videotape the match. We need video, or it didn't happen. :)

-Robert

[Surecatch]

Surecatch:

Yes, good thread.

Please videotape the match. We need video, or it didn't happen. :)

-Robert

:D You realize that now I'm going to feel sheepish coming on here next week and claiming a win right?

[Geezer Guy]

Yep - you're in a bit of a no-win situation.

If you lose, you LOST to a 73 year old!
If you win, heck - the old guy was 73!

But, I like your attitude. Go get him!

[Rickson]

:D You realize that now I'm going to feel sheepish coming on here next week and claiming a win right?
You really need to prove that you played and beat him, otherwise, this whole thread becomes an underdog who came back and avenged his loss story.

[kevhen]

What does Vegas have for odds on SureCatch vs 73? I will take SureCatch as a 4 to 1 longshot.

Just relax when you play him, keep the ball in play, hit crosscourt mostly but make him run some too. Try to figure out mid-match what you are doing wrong if anything and make the adjustments and sail on to victory. Good luck. Don't overestimate your opponent but don't underestimate him either. Don't psyche yourself out mentally. Play hard for each and every point and try to learn from your mistakes.

[arnz]

When there is freedom from mechanical conditioning, there is simplicity. The classical man is just a bundle of routine, ideas and tradition. If you follow the classical pattern, you are understanding the routine, the tradition, the shadow - you are not understanding yourself.

Truth has no path. Truth is living and, therefore, changing. Awareness is without choice, without demand, without anxiety; in that state of mind, there is perception. To know oneself is to study oneself in action with another person. Awareness has no frontier; it is giving of your whole being, without exclusion.

The tools are at an undifferentiated center of a circle that has no circumference, moving and yet not moving, in tension and yet relaxed, seeing everything happening and yet not at all anxious about its outcome, with nothing purposely designed, nothing consciously calculated, no anticipation, no expectation - in short, standing innocently like a baby and yet, with all the cunning, subterfuge and keen intelligence of a fully mature mind.

Bruce Lee


Try Zen Tennis :)

[Ben42]

Here's two guys that participated last summer in the regional championsships:

http://www.grebo.net/~peter/vdm/2005/2005-08-21/037/lores.jpg
He is 76 and I actually played this guy in a league match (I'm 38) earlier that summer when he had to sub for another guy. I won but I had to make sure not to hit the ball towards him... (His main weakness was movement).

http://www.grebo.net/~peter/vdm/2005/2005-08-20/098/lores.jpg
Now this guy is slightly younger (70) but he has no problems with his movements or strokes. Hits topspin shots without hesitation. I've never played him but I suspect I'd have big problems.. His biggest problem is finding practice partners (so he mostly plays with guys 20 years younger than him in order to find people that can match him).

They were the two guys that played the final in the "Men 70" singles class (the "younger" guy won pretty easily).


I bet the 76 year old could move a little better if he didn't wear his shorts pulled up to his chest. I don't think I'd move very well if I was as ...um, constricted.

[Kaptain Karl]

When there is freedom from mechanical conditioning, there is simplicity. ... Truth has no path. ... in short, standing innocently like a baby and yet, with all the cunning, subterfuge and keen intelligence of a fully mature mind.

Bruce Leearnz - That was great. I was thinking, "L. Ron Hubbard ... or Anthony Robbins(!)." But Bruce Lee had some pretty "out there" thoughts, too.

- KK

[BillyBee]

I have faith that if SureCatch loses to the geezer, he will fess up and tell us so. I just have that feeling about him. But it's surely no disgrace if he loses to the guy, either.

Dude's also got moxie, and most importantly, you can tell he's on a mission. I like the determination. THAT'S what's going to propel him to higher levels more than anything else.

[Kaptain Karl]

I agree with BOTH of BillyBee's points.

Looking forward to a report on ... Wednesday or Thursday.

- KK

[buder]

I'm going to destroy his will to live.

why stop there?

[chess9]

Arnz:

That's a wonderful quote. Bruce Lee was a genius....

Surecatch, we need film. :)

-Robert

[North]

Surecatch sounds up front. Win or lose, I believe he'll be honest. But I think he's going to win - I sense confidence rising.
Just play the match in your head first and win it there so you walk on the court already in a good mental space. Like the part about destroying "his will to live" - lol!

[Surecatch]

I have faith that if SureCatch loses to the geezer, he will fess up and tell us so. I just have that feeling about him. But it's surely no disgrace if he loses to the guy, either.

Dude's also got moxie, and most importantly, you can tell he's on a mission. I like the determination. THAT'S what's going to propel him to higher levels more than anything else.

Thanks man. Moxie is a strong weapon. I've been watching sports my whole life and I've seen how far heart can go in the absence of overwhelming skillz or talent. I have the heart and the talent (albeit somewhat undeveloped)...the skillz are coming.

Now let me address these comments saying I need to provide proof of a victory to be believed. My initial reaction is this: Haha. Now seriously, what would be the stranger concept...my videotaping the match in order to provide proof that I prevailed or coming on here lying to a bunch of cats I don't even know to impress them? :p You guys are the best. Thanks for the laughs and thanks for all the comments and tips...every one of them is stored away in the Surecatch ammunition hopper and will be used appropriately as I reduce this chump to a quivering mass of low self-esteem. I assure you, the truth will be told either way...I've nothing to hide, no reason to front and am completely comfortable with losing as long as I continue up the improvement curve enroute to my final destiny...a tennis championship. I am ready for this...I spend alot of my free time formulating my plans and so forth. I'm also working out and eating very cleanly. I want to be sharp and quick as I make this guy question his very existence.

Thanks again for all the advice and tips as well as the incentive provided by betting against me.

[Surecatch]

Surecatch sounds up front. Win or lose, I believe he'll be honest. But I think he's going to win - I sense confidence rising.
Just play the match in your head first and win it there so you walk on the court already in a good mental space. Like the part about destroying "his will to live" - lol!


That's sound advice...I do spend alot of time visualizing. I've already won the match in my head several times and I have several more mental victories planned for today.

[Kaptain Karl]

Aren't you supposed to be ... WORKING??? Stop fooling around visualizing and get up that order of Fries / finish coding that project / make some money!!!

Good luck, Tuesday!

- KK

[phil10s]

I can't believe I actually read this whole thread just to see is the Geezer wins or not. This is more interesting than the Aussie Open.

[Geezer Guy]

Surecatch - Remember, no sex on Monday night!

[arnz]

Aren't you supposed to be ... WORKING??? Stop fooling around visualizing and get up that order of Fries
Good luck, Tuesday!

- KK

Can you supersize mine please? :mrgreen:

[Surecatch]

Well the results are in and I will have to wait until next time to try to destroy his will to live. I went down 8-5 but was not all that unhappy with my play. I learned some things. Most importantly, he's not as much "pusher" as he is just plain good. He has alot of game for his age which by the way I am starting to doubt. Someone told me he was 73 but perhaps I shouldn't have taken that person's word as truth. If so, he is the spryest 70 plus guy I've ever seen. I don't remember him moving so well last time, probably because I didn't push him the way I did last night. He's really more like a very fit and cunning 60 year old. He knows how to play the angles. One thing he could not beat me on was any of his serves into the ad court. He kept trying to serve to my backhand and all I had to do was wait for his ball toss and then scoot to the left three feet and blister a forehand winner. I don't know why he kept letting me do it...he didn't when serving into the duece court.

He was very complimentary afterwards though, saying I had a lot of tricks up my sleeve and that I tested him as well as anyone in the league. He said if I developed more pace on my serve, I'd be very tough to beat.

I told him I would be waiting for him next time 'round.

Thanks to all for the tips and for a great thread.

[uremate]

Was hoping for a hollywood style ending to the thread Lol :)

Hard luck though, keep working at it, you WILL beat him soon enough!

[Pen Express]

That's too bad, Surecatch. :( You did better this time though, so good on ya. You'll get 'em next time.

[Rickson]

Well the results are in and I will have to wait until next time to try to destroy his will to live. I went down 8-5 but was not all that unhappy with my play. I learned some things. Most importantly, he's not as much "pusher" as he is just plain good.
Sorry about the loss, but that's what I've been trying to find out; was he really a pusher? I'm glad you found out that he wasn't a true pusher and that's a valuable lesson. I've been accused of being a pusher by people who've lost to me, but the funny thing is, if I'm a pusher, what does that make them? I know I'm not a pusher in the true sense and the garbage coming out of their mouths was just sour grapes. I'm glad you came to your senses and you'll get him next time.

[Kaptain Karl]

Thanks for the report.

Seems like your Game Plan was "fairly" effective. You made lots of progress against his game. Good job. Keep trying.

- KK

[BillyBee]

My hat is off to Surecatch for (a) improving his game significantly, (b) owning up to the result and telling us about it, and (c) realizing this guy was not a pusher.

I play two different guys that I once classified as pushers, but then also realized they weren't. The only reason I called them pushers was because I thought I should be beating them and calling them a pusher made me feel superior!! Fact is, they hit winners at effective angles and kept me off-balance with a variety of shots. They were just plain good.

Anyway, very satisfying thread, now that we have an outcome!

[kevhen]

You can look up how old that 73 year old guy is by typing in his name and estimated age on ussearch.com. What is his name and city and I can look it up for you?

[arnz]

You can look up how old that 73 year old guy is by typing in his name and estimated age on ussearch.com. What is his name and city and I can look it up for you?

Technology and privacy cannot co exist :(

[Surecatch]

You can look up how old that 73 year old guy is by typing in his name and estimated age on ussearch.com. What is his name and city and I can look it up for you?


Really not necessary but thanks. I really don't care how old he is anyway...I care about how to beat him. And I will.

[North]

Way to go for it, Surecatch! You will nail him next time. I've noticed a lot of older players (60+) particularly good at finding angles. Glad you value how much you learned from the match.

[kevhen]

Keep the ball in play. Consistency always wins unless your opponent is capable of hitting lots of winners. If you aren't consistent, then get to net, but remember to cover for the lob. 73 years olds who move well and are consistent are a crafty lot! With fitness, consistency, and practice you can beat them though.