Playing Tennis in a club filled with people who don't want to play with you

[TonyTennis]

Sorry guys, couldn't find a proper place to put this other than here.

Has anyone ever asked someone to play but they only accepted because they're trying to be nice? I joined a Tennis club at my college and met some wonderful people to play with but it seems that there's this bubble of regular members who refuse to play with anyone outside of their bubble. Because they're regular members I'm forced to ask them to hit with me but you can see on their face how much they dread hitting with me and my other friends. They take whatever chance they can get to leave and play with people within their bubble. Maybe it's just how younger college students are nowadays?

I'm a pretty decent player who can rally with variable pace and plenty of topspin so my skill level shouldn't be the reason. I want to play with people within this group because obviously they come to most of the practices and some of them are great players.

What I'm thinking is maybe they're coming to practice to hang out and jabber, jabber and jabber moreso than play competitive Tennis?

The members of this club are the only people I can play against who are better than me by a wide margin. I play Tennis everyday but most of the time it's with friends or older folk who don't quite have enough to keep a rally going.

I should just man up and keep playing with them despite how they feel. Fine, if you're going to give me that face then I'll just play harder.

 

[movdqa]

It's normal human behavior - people for cliques for whatever reason. In general, it helps if you're brought into the group by one of the group members.

Is this club tennis at college?

 

[TonyTennis]

It's normal human behavior - people for cliques for whatever reason. In general, it helps if you're brought into the group by one of the group members.

Is this club tennis at college?

Yeah, joined a semester ago. Not a lot of new people who show up to most of the practices.

 

[movdqa]

When I did club tennis in the stone age, it was just a tournament - you formed teams and played one match per week.

Do they have a ladder? Sometimes you can hang out on the courts looking for others who are also solo. Sometimes there are good professors looking for people to hit with too.

 

[Topspin Shot]

The members of this club are the only people I can play against who are better than me by a wide margin.

Are you sure this isn't the problem?

 

[Mr.Lob]

They're better than you by a "wide margin"? No wonder they don't want to play with you. That's just the way it is for MOST players. Don't believe me? Ask LeeD.

 

[Mr.Lob]

Bluntly, they think you suck. And it is not beneficial for them to hit with you.

 

[movdqa]

I will hit with much weaker players as charity cases but it really doesn't do my game any benefit. It's much easier to find people to hit with that are around your level or a slightly weaker to make for get matches and practice sessions.

 

[heninfan99]

Clubs are social. You want to use better players for a free lesson or hitting session. They know this.
It's a great opportunity though for you to use your personal charm to change the situation.

 

[jga111]

It's normal human behavior - people for cliques for whatever reason. In general, it helps if you're brought into the group by one of the group members.

Is this club tennis at college?

Clubs are social. You want to use better players for a free lesson or hitting session. They know this.
It's a great opportunity though for you to use your personal charm to change the situation.

I would say its a combination of the above. Both great points.

Be patient. Focus on your game and improving. Try to expand your circle of playing friends. I'm a member of a site in London where we just meet and play. Maybe you have something like that where you live? Either way, just keep hitting and make sure you have your charm offensive switched on!

 

[LeeD]

Mr. Lob nailed it.
Most players don't want to waste their time playing someone clearly below their level. They'd rather hang and jabber at the clubhouse than be seen with an "inferior" player.

 

[sureshs]

Learn to grovel and ingratiate yourself. Even the best players sometimes find themselves without a partner. Praise them profusely and then surprise them with a few good shots. They will like it.

 

[rommil]

Get better at tennis and be interesting( not boring)

 

[Roger8888]

i believe this is strictly tennis based not because you do not fit in with them off of the court and just have to work to improve