NTRP and player variety

(I couldn't think of a better title)

I'm looking to get into real match play (too hard to find regular hitting partners and I'd like to play competitively) but I've run into the dilemma of ratings.

The problem I'm seeing is that the scale assumes even development of strokes. For instance, I can control the depth, pace and spin of my forehand reasonably well. My serve, on the other hand, surprises me when it goes in (I'm working on it, believe me). My backhand, at this point, would likely only be sliced as my topspin bh has zero reliability. My volleys are comfortable and reasonably consistent.

What do? (no chance to post vids anytime soon.) Then again, should I just underestimate and move up as necessary?

just self rate at 3.0 and see how you go. plenty of variance at that level and you will quickly work out if you are in the right place.

CRWV said:

(I couldn't think of a better title)

I'm looking to get into real match play (too hard to find regular hitting partners and I'd like to play competitively) but I've run into the dilemma of ratings.

The problem I'm seeing is that the scale assumes even development of strokes. For instance, I can control the depth, pace and spin of my forehand reasonably well. My serve, on the other hand, surprises me when it goes in (I'm working on it, believe me). My backhand, at this point, would likely only be sliced as my topspin bh has zero reliability. My volleys are comfortable and reasonably consistent.

What do? (no chance to post vids anytime soon.) Then again, should I just underestimate and move up as necessary?

Click to expand...

In the absence of other information, I'd agree with Timbo, start at 3.0 or whatever your minimum self-rating level is and work up for their, but if you can give us more information about your tennis background, I'll take a better shot at it for you. Like, how old are you? How long have you been playing? Did you play in high school? Juniors? College? How good were you? Did you take time off after that? What kind of shape are you in? How often do you play now? How competitively? Against who? Anything else useful you can tell us? Also, post a video if you can.

My best guess (which could obviously be wildly inaccurate from a few sentences over the internet) would also be 3.0. If you've played much before at all, you're above 2.5. But, having a serve where you're surprised when it goes in (is this just first serves, or do you double fault a ton?) and a dodgy backhand leaves me to believe that you'd appreciate playing against competition that will allow you to work on those weaknesses without getting blown out, hence 3.0.

Even at 3.5, people can attack really weak 2nd serves, and put your backhand under at least a bit of pressure. Even if the rest of your game is at a 3.5 level (your description doesn't make it sound any higher than that), without being able to get a first serve in very often you'll probably be better off at 3.0 until you can remedy the serving sitution, imo.

Without a serve and a weak backhand, go for 3.0 You will be miserable at 3.5.

The published descriptions of various NTRP ratings are quite limited, but if you can control the depth, pace and spin of your forehand, you are at least a 3.0, in my opinion. [Sadly, my tennis knowledge is much more advanced than my actual skill level, as I'm a high 2.5.]

From a practical standpoint, if you are trying to play in a league, you might find that you need to play on the team that will accept you. If the 2.5 captain is salivating over the prospect of having you on the team, the 3.0 captain invites you to come out and hit with the team, and the 3.5 captain's team is suddenly full, I'd say you're a 3.0.

Go watch some league players hit. Maybe even meet some and find out if they'll allow you to come to their practice nights so you can hit with them. See how you mesh with their level of play at whatever level they're at (you should be picking this based on what you know about yourself and what you see from them as you decide whom to approach). If you find yourself struggling against them in either practice/social matches or their practice sessions, then you know they're too high a level for you.

The reason I say this is because the last thing you want to do is rank yourself below your true potential and then spend a ton of time trying to move up. Play at the level you're comfortable and happy playing at. Don't play at a level that'll make you pull your hair out because of junkballers.