This video is ridiculous

vince916

Semi-Pro
Why is everyone making a big deal out of this? If they are able to compete at the 3.5 level in their region then kudos to them. We all know the level of talent and competitiveness varies by region. Thats why there are weaker conferences in NCAA like the WAC and stronger ones like the SEC.
 

drakulie

Talk Tennis Guru
these guys are a bunch of rat douches. i've only been playing taking lessons for a little over a month now and i can see that their form/mrchanics is disgraceful. i would even venture to say i have a better backhand than the guy in the blue. disgraceful.

In other words, you are a 0.5 level player and have no business critiquing anyone. You should learn from this video, rather than spewing rhetoric.
 

iradical18

Professional
Why is everyone making a big deal out of this? If they are able to compete at the 3.5 level in their region then kudos to them. We all know the level of talent and competitiveness varies by region. Thats why there are weaker conferences in NCAA like the WAC and stronger ones like the SEC.

I agree completely. They're probably proper 3.0's in their area and like a few have said before if they came to California, specifically my neck of the woods (NorCal) they would probably get destroyed.
 

J011yroger

Talk Tennis Guru
Damn right. ;)

(SoCal can be especially provincial about this . . . )

Hey while I have you on the line, I am hoping to get some footage of my new abbreviated service motion while I am in Florida this weekend. Would you be willing to take a look at some video? I would gladly pay you for your time.

J
 

drakulie

Talk Tennis Guru
Because people from california think that people in the rest of the country can't play tennis.

J

do you know how many teams out of california won their respective divisions compared to other places in the country??

3.0, 3.5, 4.0, 4.5, 5.0 etc?????
 

J011yroger

Talk Tennis Guru
do you know how many teams out of california won their respective divisions compared to other places in the country??

3.0, 3.5, 4.0, 4.5, 5.0 etc?????

I checked out a thread or two on the topic, and it seemed like some years Kalefurnia won like half the positions, men and women, and then other years it was totally spread out. Like in 2 year cycles.

Not 100% on that, but it is what stuck in my mind.

J
 

tricky

Hall of Fame
Hey while I have you on the line, I am hoping to get some footage of my new abbreviated service motion while I am in Florida this weekend. Would you be willing to take a look at some video? I would gladly pay you for your time.

Don't really have many good insights on it, except that I think more people can execute that takeback correctly -- because it's more familiar to other non-tennis movements -- than the longer loop style. Easier to show a correct (and the value of) trophy position this way. It's also easier to add in some "advanced" tweaks to the basic movement to make the racquet speed pick up.
 

boobik2371

Semi-Pro
they probably are 3.5 or around there there are variations or 3.5s. no one actually sees how they look when they play, so those who say you must be a 6.0 may actually look like they do you just dont realize it.
 

BravoRed691

Semi-Pro
they probably are 3.5 or around there there are variations or 3.5s. no one actually sees how they look when they play, so those who say you must be a 6.0 may actually look like they do you just dont realize it.

Yea..i so get that! I mean, even though im technically rated a 3.0 here, im probably more like a 6.0 in most other places. Give or Take 3.0 of course (Variations, error in the 3.0 rating).
:)
Br
 

raiden031

Legend
they probably are 3.5 or around there there are variations or 3.5s. no one actually sees how they look when they play, so those who say you must be a 6.0 may actually look like they do you just dont realize it.

I think these guys look horrendous, but I have gotten my ass handed to me by horrendous looking players such as these in the video. With that being said, they look like they are just hitting junk to each other, which probably explains all the unforced errors, because they both can't handle junk to well. I guarantee if I was hitting balls to them with alot of pace, they would probably block every ball back and possibly beat me. I think they are likely 3.5s because 1) I've seen legit 3.5s who look worse than them and 2) they are playing #1 singles in a USTA 3.5 league. Maybe they could be in a weaker area, but for now they are considered 3.5 by USTA.
 

chess9

Hall of Fame
3.5 in a lot of cities, IMHO. In larger cities these guys might be 3.0s. In Boise they might be 4.5. ;) But I hope not.

Service returns are horrible! Serves are mediocre. Movement? What is that? An alien word? LOL! I've seen more aggression in a cephalopod.

-Robert
 

Cindysphinx

G.O.A.T.
Service returns are horrible! Serves are mediocre. Movement? What is that? An alien word? LOL! I've seen more aggression in a cephalopod.

:runs off to check dictionary.com:

For what it is worth, these guys look *nothing* like the 3.5 lefty guy who was twisting me right off the court in mixed last week.

I *wish* 3.5 guys in mixed hit like this. Maybe I could win once in a while.
 

zapvor

G.O.A.T.
3.5 in a lot of cities, IMHO. In larger cities these guys might be 3.0s. In Boise they might be 4.5. ;) But I hope not.

Service returns are horrible! Serves are mediocre. Movement? What is that? An alien word? LOL! I've seen more aggression in a cephalopod.

-Robert

:runs off to check dictionary.com:

For what it is worth, these guys look *nothing* like the 3.5 lefty guy who was twisting me right off the court in mixed last week.

I *wish* 3.5 guys in mixed hit like this. Maybe I could win once in a while.

wow i have to say they suck. now of course there is a big range among the levels depending on your region. but i believe maverick saying before hes east coast right?
 

Babb

Professional
Dear God.




If they're 3.5, I'm definitely better than 4.0. I'm thinking closer to 5.0 compared to them. Is that some sort of joke? They can't seriously be 3.5's...
 

drakulie

Talk Tennis Guru
Babb, what is your USTA rating?? Also, if you play USTA, could you post a vid of you playing others in your same level??

Thanks in advance.
 

Babb

Professional
I've never been officially rated or anything, but a friend who plays well in local USTA 4.5's said that I'm around 4.0, but I can definitely hold my own against him? Lol. I realize that this is not reliable, but it's my only idea.

As for the video, I still live in the stone age of video cameras that use tapes. I really would love to, but I wouldn't know how to do it.
 

WBF

Hall of Fame
No offense to all of you at or around that level, but if a 5.0 or 5.5 level player can 'look like' a 3.5 or lower to some people, could you imagine that maybe the same thing is happening here? It's either level not translating on video well, or you all not being good at giving NTRP ratings (I think both, but the first one because of the second one, and both because at the lower levels you probably don't have a good idea of what to look for).
 

dubv

New User
HAhaahah i love how he says come-on!! after hitting a forehand that actually when crosscourt. I also love the guys shades.
 

blubber

Rookie
I agree that these guys are 3.5s.

They may not be good 3.5s but they are 3.5s.

I bet a couple of the people who say "if they're 3.5 then I'm ....." would lose to them.

3.5s suck; what did you expect to see?
 

goober

Legend
Apparently these guys are 7.0.
http://youtube.com/watch?v=u92FzNd7T3o&feature=related

The guys reasoning for their rating is in the comments section. Pretty hilarious. :lol:

Actually that is a 7.0 mixed team :confused: I dont get what is hilarious. In USTA 7.0 doubles teams are either 4.0 + 3.0 or two 3.5s. They could be any combination that reaches 7.0 or lower (i.e two 3.0s). Typically they can't be more than 2 levels apart in many USTA sections (4.5 with a 2.5).
 

WBF

Hall of Fame
BreakPoint, just because you know an individual or a few individuals who (taking your word for it) are 'very good', does not mean these players are not 3.5's.

By the way, calling any 3.5 'VERY good' doesn't lend much credibility... Unless you mean 'VERY good' for a 3.5.
 

smoothtennis

Hall of Fame
Raiden said:
With that being said, they look like they are just hitting junk to each other, which probably explains all the unforced errors, because they both can't handle junk to well. I guarantee if I was hitting balls to them with alot of pace, they would probably block every ball back and possibly beat me.

This is probably very close to the truth. I have slow balled and junk balled horrendus looking players before, and they DO make a lot of errors against junk. And they DO play better with blocks againt nice paced shots. So...a very good point.
 

Babb

Professional
Who has more consistency?

Marat Safin

or

A 3.0 NTRP pusher

J

I realize that consistency isn't everything, but my goodness, they're missing routine medium (maybe even slow) paced groundstrokes. I wouldn't say a bunch about consistency if they were hitting the cover off the ball, but they're having trouble just babying the ball. I know that everyone overestimates themselves on these boards for the most part, but at the pace they're hitting I could keep it in all day with no problems.

Once again, I would post a video of myself if I could. I know that no one will believe me unless I do, so yeah.
 

Babb

Professional
Raiden said:


This is probably very close to the truth. I have slow balled and junk balled horrendus looking players before, and they DO make a lot of errors against junk. And they DO play better with blocks againt nice paced shots. So...a very good point.
That's an excellent point. I experienced that just yesterday. I walked out onto the court and from the first warm up ball I knew I was going to murder my opponent, and I childishly went on to try and bring the heat to him. He had no trouble with that, and I ended up losing the set 4-6. However, at the beginning of the second set I decided to stop supplying the pace for him and pretty much just pushing from behind the baseline. He piled up so many unforced errors. I won the next two sets 6-1, 6-0. Lights out.

(I am NOT a pusher, but a counterpuncher. However, when the opponent has NO real weapons, makes errors on his own, and is less patient than me, pushing is the best strategy, IMO. It has worked for me many times.)
 
Here's some highlight footage from a team on their championship run 4.0 Southern sectionals 2007-8. This should theoretically represent the top level of 4.0


http://youtube.com/watch?v=ZZPwtbJKvUY

Well, that settles it, I'm definitely a 4.0. My ground strokes look very similar and my serve may be better (well, faster anyway). I noticed that they do lack teamwork and proper footwork at times, which I am also guilty of at times.

Nice one-hander on the rise. :)
 

goober

Legend
Well, that settles it, I'm definitely a 4.0. My ground strokes look very similar and my serve may be better (well, faster anyway). I noticed that they do lack teamwork and proper footwork at times, which I am also guilty of at times.

Nice one-hander on the rise. :)

Actually it doesn't settle anything other than you think your strokes look similar. You can have very similar strokes and still be 3.5 or even 3.0 if you have no consistency. Easiest way to find out is to go play some real USTA matches:)
 

r2473

G.O.A.T.
Actually it doesn't settle anything other than you think your strokes look similar. You can have very similar strokes and still be 3.5 or even 3.0 if you have no consistency. Easiest way to find out is to go play some real USTA matches:)

Ya, I play a lot at the local courts at the park. There are so many "great" players watching from the bleachers (^^^shaking head and speaking loudly to friends^^^ "look at that guys backhand, he's terrible. I hold a XX grip and hit with so much spin"......... "These guys are just pushers.....they have no idea").

^^^^Guy gets on court and starts missing every other shot^^^^ "Come on, give me some pace to hit against you weenie.....I can't play against these awful players".......... "Man, my strings are so loose, why didn't I restring this racquet with some 'pro super brilliant' string like Federer uses"

^^^^After losing at 2, throwing the racquet a few times and yelling at his opponent that is crushing him^^^^^ "I would have killed you if you would actually hit the ball.......Man, you have no idea how to play........^^^To his friends back in the bleachers^^^^ "I am never playing with that loser again. He has no idea how to hit with pace and just feeds off mine. He is just a worthless pusher".

^^^Goes back to making snide remarks about other players to his friends. Never gets another match against anyone at the park and soon doesn't come back^^^^
 
Ya, I play a lot at the local courts at the park. There are so many "great" players watching from the bleachers (^^^shaking head and speaking loudly to friends^^^ "look at that guys backhand, he's terrible. I hold a XX grip and hit with so much spin"......... "These guys are just pushers.....they have no idea").

^^^^Guy gets on court and starts missing every other shot^^^^ "Come on, give me some pace to hit against you weenie.....I can't play against these awful players".......... "Man, my strings are so loose, why didn't I restring this racquet with some 'pro super brilliant' string like Federer uses"

^^^^After losing at 2, throwing the racquet a few times and yelling at his opponent that is crushing him^^^^^ "I would have killed you if you would actually hit the ball.......Man, you have no idea how to play........^^^To his friends back in the bleachers^^^^ "I am never playing with that loser again. He has no idea how to hit with pace and just feeds off mine. He is just a worthless pusher".

^^^Goes back to making snide remarks about other players to his friends. Never gets another match against anyone at the park and soon doesn't come back^^^^

Easy there sailor, rest assured that I am NOT one of those players. I play regularly against someone who is better than me (probably a 4.5).

I always try to stay positive and very rarely lose it even if I shank the easiest of overheads (kind of like a less talented Federer). :wink:

I never consider myself above my opponent, regardless of their style of play.

Occasionally I may blame my equipment but most of the time it's justified (like the time I had to go back to my old Babolat Puredrive oversize until my Nblade came, just a horrible racket for topspin)
 

r2473

G.O.A.T.
Easy there sailor....

That's funny. I say that sometimes.

I was just making a general comment about the thread and how the comments sounded to me (nothing specific to you). It is easy to sit on the sidelines and criticize, but I wonder if people know how bad they look on court at times.

I played a tactical match against a 5.0 last night. He "routined" me 3 and 4. The way we were hitting the ball, I bet we looked like 3.5's or 4.0's at times.
 
That's funny. I say that sometimes.

I was just making a general comment about the thread and how the comments sounded to me (nothing specific to you). It is easy to sit on the sidelines and criticize, but I wonder if people know how bad they look on court at times.

I played a tactical match against a 5.0 last night. He "routined" me 3 and 4. The way we were hitting the ball, I bet we looked like 3.5's or 4.0's at times.
Yeah, I agree that most people (including myself except for one video with pretty poor quality) cannot tell what they look like. That "killer slice backhand" that they call their best shot may float like crazy the next day when they finally watch it on video.

I really need to just buy a video camera. :mad:
 

WBF

Hall of Fame
That's funny. Unless they win every single year, I would imagine there are 3.5's elsewhere in the country who are... *gasp*... better than 3.5's in california!
 

smoothtennis

Hall of Fame
Monday night our doubles opponents had a guy that used to play div 2 college ball, and although his much overweight and older now, he had amazing shots, spin, pace and variation. He is solid 4.5 at least. I tell my partner about him, how good his game is and all.

He watches this guy playing, and says, "I don't see anything impressive, are you sure?" I was like..."Yeah, I know he doesn't look good there, but wait till you see his shots coming at you on the court!"

Long story short, this guy started off the first game with three outright clean winners, down the line 1Hbackhand, and two sharp hard cross court forehands---like it was nothing. My partner comes over and tells me with big eyes..."Wow! You were wern't kidding!"

The point is in this case, I admit, he doesn't look that good watching from teh sidelines, he really looks plain and well...overweight. But his shots have 'crap' all over them, and it's a whole different story when his shots are coming at you.
 

soyizgood

G.O.A.T.
That's funny. Unless they win every single year, I would imagine there are 3.5's elsewhere in the country who are... *gasp*... better than 3.5's in california!

NTRP ratings really are relative to the level of competition you deal with in your area or region. The speed limit says 65MPH, but you could drive 65 and look like a moron if everyone is driving at 80. I seriously doubt 3.5 competition in places like Wyoming measure up to 3.5 competition in California/Georgia/Texas/Florida and maybe New York. That's not to say a Wyoming player couldn't beat a California player at the same level, but given the quality of local and state competition faced my money would be on the California player.
 

WBF

Hall of Fame
No, they are not. NTRP ratings are a general rating to group people of similar skill levels into the same arena of play.

Warmer areas like Cali might have deeper talent pools due to the increase in accessibility of the sport, or the type of people who might live in those areas, but this does not mean they have different NTRP's, or that NTRP ratings mean different things in different areas.

My point being that you can't say 'oh, he would be rating x in section y'.
 
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