4.0's and 9.0 mixed dubs

[chair ump]

I (a 4.0 guy) was just wondering what all you 4.0's out there had to say about playing in 9.0 mixed dubs...I am used to playing 8.0 mixed as a strong 3.5, but got bumped up to 4.0 recently, so naturally I'm curious as to what the next level offers in terms of competition and what to look for. thanks!

[kkh713x]

My belief in mixed dubs is that its who attacks the other team's girl more effectively. Can your girl who I am assuming is 4.5, can she 'hang' with the other guy attacking her; and can you effectively attack the other team's 4.5 girl, which is a whole different level from 3.5 and 4.0. A 4.5 girl will have the ability to keep the ball cross-court more to where you will have to take bigger risk if you are going to poach on her. A 4.5 girl usually has a slightly bigger serve and much better volleys. Thats what it basically comes down too.

[cak]

Would you be playing with a 5.0 woman? Or the 4.5 woman you were playing with in 8.0?

[Dr. Van Nostrand]

My experience with 9.0 mixed doubles is if you are not a true 9.0 team, 4.5 + 4.5 or 4.0 + 5.0 then you will have a difficult time competing beyond your local league level. At 9.0 the woman needs to be quite strong, i.e. a solid 4.5player. I have seen several 4.0 women playing 9.0 mixed and they generally hold their own but just barely. Sometimes if the opposing guy has a huge serve the 4.0 woman simply can't return it or maybe they can just block it back which results in the opposing net person having a fairly easy put away.

[lefty10s]

I have been playing 9.0 Mixed the last 5 years(I am 5.0 man, playing with 4.0 lady). If you have the reverse combination(5.0 woman, 4.0 man), that is normally the weaker combination that we have seen at the district and sectional level. Only when you have had self rated 5.0 woman(actually more 5.5), and self rated 4.0 man(closer to 4.5/5.0) has it been a problem. We are in the Southern section, and normally always try to have to even combination 4.5/4.5, or 5.0 man/4.0 woman. Why not try 8.0 mixed? We have seen that to be very competitive from player standpoint with 4.0/4.0 combination.
Good luck.

lefty10s

[chair ump]

I have been playing 8.0 mixed and doing quite well...now that I'm a 4.0, I was just wondering what 9.0 would feel and look like playing with a strong 5.0 woman. I strongly believe that "playing up" is a great way to see what the better players do up close, thus giving me a better idea of where my game needs improvement.
Playing lots of 8.0 dubs when I was a 3.5 is the main factor I think for doing better in my men's 3.5 leagues that lead to my being bumped. The experience was phenomenal and my 4.5 partner took me under her wing and taught me a lot.

[Vamz]

8.0 and 9.0 are two very different games. But the make up doesn't matter as long as both are good doubles players.