Are you affected by others?

[tennis_hand]

Hi,

I'd like to know whether you are affected by the people you are playing with or against. If I play against a better player, I player better myself. But if I play against someone who does not have consistent shots or who does not seems to give enough effort, either in intensive games or recreational fun, I don't play well either. How can I cure this problem?

Do you suffer from this?

[Discovery660]

Maybe it's a rare form of tanking? :) Your expectations and form go to crap against less competitive players.

You should play your game, not their game first off. :) Sure the game plan should change, but it ought to be your game plan.

My wife is around a 2.5, and I am thinking 4.5 for myself. When I 'hit' with her, I find myself not being myself. She has a hard time returning my full ground strokes or placement shots.

We do not play games, but I would probably lighten up on weaker opponets to make the match more enjoyable. :)

[Triple S]

Hi,

I'd like to know whether you are affected by the people you are playing with or against. If I play against a better player, I player better myself. But if I play against someone who does not have consistent shots or who does not seems to give enough effort, either in intensive games or recreational fun, I don't play well either. How can I cure this problem?

Do you suffer from this?

This is exactly what's happening to me. It seems like my body just wants to play at their level. This usually ends up with me losing the game.

I'm starting to get over this by taking each ball one by one as it comes and try not to think about who I'm playing against or how weak their shot was.

I have a lack of motivation for playing someone below my level, or people that push.

[tennis_hand]

This is exactly what's happening to me. It seems like my body just wants to play at their level. This usually ends up with me losing the game.

I'm starting to get over this by taking each ball one by one as it comes and try not to think about who I'm playing against or how weak their shot was.

I have a lack of motivation for playing someone below my level, or people that push.

Ya. :( They will beat me with their cheap shots, because I am not that motivated.

[Bagumbawalla]

I, like most people, prefer to play against players my level or stronger.

This is not always possible. When I am the, obviously, stronger player, I try to treat a friendly match as a kind of practice. I try to keep the ball in play and give my opponet a good workout, I will bring him in with a drop shot and let him volley, I will try out different change-of-pace shots and spins, I will practice different serves, and lobs-- all without trying to be too obvious or annoying.

This sort of thing helps me concentrate against the weaker player-- and we both end up getting something of value from the experience.

[The Prodigy]

My shots get slower when playing against weaker opponents, so I just work on depth and directional control. When I play better players, I have non-stop attempts to hit winners.

[ramseszerg]

When I'm training with people who hit with alot more pace, I feel like I have to up my pace as if that was the correct way to play since everyone is playing that way. Throwing it out there.

[fx101]

Instead of becoming incosistent yourself, try to become agressive and hitting with heavy spin. Then go up to the net. It's very hard to be inconsistent volleying.

[skuludo]

When I play a match against a weaker opponent I just concentrate on serving and expect them to never break it. Then I just wait till one game where I can break their serve and thats the end of the match.