Maybe we need to come to an understanding about ratings

[West Coast Ace]

Originally Posted by TomT

Otherwise there's no way to tell how fast any of those serves are.

Or if they're going in...

[TomT]

Originally Posted by West Coast Ace

Or if they're going in...

Yes ... or that.

[Surecatch]

Originally Posted by Cindysphinx

Congratulations?

My point is that if you are telling folks that you are a 5.0 (or 4.0 or 4.5) based on what the coaches and directors of your league are telling you and not based on a USTA computer rating . . . well, that is not accurate.

You may in fact have skills that would allow you to be a computer-rated 5.0, but that doesn't mean you should claim to be a 5.0. 'Cause without that actual computer rating, you're just guessing.

Frankly, the problems I am describing are more likely limited to those who are 4.5 and below. There aren't many USTA league playing opportunities for 5.0s, so that does tend to be a different orbit.

The rub to this is that there are thousands of very active tennis players that have no USTA rating and aren't a member. Like myself. But I am very active in the local tennis community and in things like these forums where people speak the language" and you tend to get the question often..."what's your rating?". Now technically, I'm not rated, but I play in a "non-sanctioned" (I dislike that term in this context, btw) league in what is called 3.5 singles, and I do fair in it. Am I wrong to answer their question by saying I'm 3.5?

[TomT]

Originally Posted by Surecatch

The rub to this is that there are thousands of very active tennis players that have no USTA rating and aren't a member. Like myself.

Me too.

Originally Posted by Surecatch

But I am very active in the local tennis community and in things like these forums where people speak the language" and you tend to get the question often..."what's your rating?". Now technically, I'm not rated, but I play in a "non-sanctioned" (I dislike that term in this context, btw) league in what is called 3.5 singles, and I do fair in it. Am I wrong to answer their question by saying I'm 3.5?

What league do you play in?

[Cindysphinx]

Originally Posted by Surecatch

The rub to this is that there are thousands of very active tennis players that have no USTA rating and aren't a member. Like myself. But I am very active in the local tennis community and in things like these forums where people speak the language" and you tend to get the question often..."what's your rating?". Now technically, I'm not rated, but I play in a "non-sanctioned" (I dislike that term in this context, btw) league in what is called 3.5 singles, and I do fair in it. Am I wrong to answer their question by saying I'm 3.5?

"I'm a 3.5 self rate."

That oughtta do it.

[Cindysphinx]

Originally Posted by Timbo's hopeless slice

USTA isn't the Universe, either, and a USTA rating has relevance only in the USA

You may be aware that there are a number of other countries in the world in which tennis is also played.

There are also a rather large number of posters on this forum who hail from these selfsame countries.

With this in mind, might I respectfully suggest many of these people, myslef included, assign themselves a USTA rating for convenience when discussing tennis on these boards. We can be pretty accurate as there are some very precise and detailed international rating systems that allow us to convert our ratings.

http://www.itftennis.com/shared/medi...0_original.PDF

http://www.knltb.nl/cms/streambin.as...8-7DB28D50F3A8

So, if I say I am a 5.0, it is because I KNOW that my ITN 4 rating directly corresponds to USTA 5.0, I'm not making it up, and I don't need to be in a USTA computer to prove it..

Similarly, if some Dutch guy plays at Dutch level 6, he isn't guessing when he says he is 'about a 4.0'

There are more things in heaven and earth, Cindysphinx, than are dreamt of in your USTA computer...

Maybe we can cut a deal.

I won't go around saying I am a "Dutch level 6," and you won't go around saying you are "a 5.0."

'Cause it isn't true.

[TomT]

Originally Posted by Cindysphinx

"I'm a 3.5 self rate."

That oughtta do it.

That ought to do what? By the way, I think we're back on topic. What a fun thread, eh?

[Cindysphinx]

Originally Posted by TomT

That ought to do what?

Accurately state his level.

By the way, I think we're back on topic. What a fun thread,

Indeed. What a wild ride.

[Timbo's hopeless slice]

Originally Posted by Cindysphinx

Maybe we can cut a deal.

I won't go around saying I am a "Dutch level 6," and you won't go around saying you are "a 5.0."

'Cause it isn't true.

Ok, I am going to ask the big one. Why not?

Are you suggesting that the ITF are somehow wrong or incapable of working out the relative ratings around the world? This is not about whether or not some ALTA League only "4.0" is a USTA 4.0 or not (obviously they aren't) but whether an international player with a verified ITN computer rating (4 in my case, although it used to be 3, ahh, old age..) can be directly and accurately compared to a computer rated USTA player. Which they can.

The ITF would probably like the whole world (as opposed to almost all of it) to switch to ITN ratings, but in the case of the USA that is about as likely as y'all going metric..

But that doesn't mean 2.5 cm isn't still an inch, and you are still a Dutch level 6!!!!

[TomT]

Originally Posted by Cindysphinx

Accurately state his level.

She said, sarcastically.

[NTRPolice]

If you think that im going to go out to specifically make a video to prove all of you wrong, you really think too much of yourselves and how much I value your opinions. I'm having way too much fun here to be worried about what you guys think.

I love how the arguments become more and more withdrawn the more I post.

I also like the increased number of "dislikes" on my videos ever since I first posted them here. Lotta haters and disbelievers on this forum.

And to the person who said "lols, even if you played a 5.0, he wouldnt use his real serve on you!" he did and that was the first time ive ever been served at like that. I played with a 4.0 girl and we lost 7-5 with him serving full speed at me. He served a little easier on my partner.

[Timbo's hopeless slice]

can we just agree that we don't care what your level is NTRPolice?

it isn't really what the thread is about..

[Surecatch]

Originally Posted by Cindysphinx

"I'm a 3.5 self rate."

That oughtta do it.

I suppose, but it has a peculiar self-importance sound to it even more so than if I actually was USTA rated. And I don't think I've ever encountered an offense taken or further questioning about the USTA. The way I typically frame the answer is "I play in a 3.5 singles league." Absolutely true.

[Surecatch]

Originally Posted by TomT

Me too.

What league do you play in?

I play in the MSU 3.5 singles league in East Lansing, MI at their indoor tennis facility, and also in the Lansing City Rec. league, outdoors in the "intermediate, " or "B" division.

[Cindysphinx]

Originally Posted by Surecatch

I suppose, but it has a peculiar self-importance sound to it even more so than if I actually was USTA rated. And I don't think I've ever encountered an offense taken or further questioning about the USTA. The way I typically frame the answer is "I play in a 3.5 singles league." Absolutely true.

Sure. Go with that.

Or just say you are a Dutch level 5. Timbo says that is fine.

[Timbo's hopeless slice]

Nooo, Cindy!! It only works on REAL ratings.

anywya, they go the other way, I think, he would be a Dutch level 7, but ONLY if he had a verifiable rating.

the flip side of this is where a USTA rated player moves overseas (it happens, really!) and wants to play in, say, Australia.

We can take his USTA rating and accurately grade him in to one our leagues, 'cos it works!

However, using your argument, the reverse would not be true, as only 'USTA computer ratings' apparently count for anything...

[TomT]

Originally Posted by NTRPolice

If you think that im going to go out to specifically make a video to prove all of you wrong, you really think too much of yourselves and how much I value your opinions. I'm having way too much fun here to be worried about what you guys think.

Well, it does seem that you're spending a lot of time posting in this thread defending your assertions regarding your serve without providing any actual evidence of your serve. Why not just post some videos of your serve?

Originally Posted by NTRPolice

I also like the increased number of "dislikes" on my videos ever since I first posted them here. Lotta haters and disbelievers on this forum.

I didn't do either a dislike or a like regarding any of your videos. I would like to see some full videos of your serve. Either from behind or from the opposite side.

Originally Posted by NTRPolice

And to the person who said "lols, even if you played a 5.0, he wouldnt use his real serve on you!" he did and that was the first time ive ever been served at like that.

Not in the 3.0 vs 5.0 point play video. He was serving at much lower than his capability ... supposedly. In fact, I'll go out on a limb here and say that I don't even like that guy's serving motion. There was one serve where he seemed to rip it, but the rest were half ***. Not at all impressive or even difficult for somebody even at my level to return. Play, and video record, you playing that guy in match conditions, where you're both putting out full effort. Post some videos of you serving. I love videos. Of anybody and everybody.

[TomT]

Originally Posted by Timbo's hopeless slice

can we just agree that we don't care what your level is NTRPolice?

it isn't really what the thread is about..

You're right. But, from a newcomer (me) it has been a fun thread to monitor.

[TomT]

Originally Posted by Surecatch

I play in the MSU 3.5 singles league in East Lansing, MI at their indoor tennis facility, and also in the Lansing City Rec. league, outdoors in the "intermediate, " or "B" division.

Do you guys start with NTRP self ratings, or preestablished USTA ratings? Just trying to get an idea what your 3.5 corresponds to wrt my experience.

[Mike Y]

My first serve probably tops out at 90mph, but many times it is probably in the 80s. Nevertheless it can still ace people 4.0 or lower occasionally (even a 4.5 on a rare occasion). Even though it is the weakest part of my game, I usually have a high first serve percentage and I place it well, so it does the job mostly, it is just not dominating. 90mph is still a fast serve, I think most people grossly overestimate the speed of their serves/hits if they don't have an accurate and properly used radar gun.

A 110 mph serve that you get in 20% of the time is effectively useless, it will lose matches for you, and will hinder your progress on your serve if you keep trying it. You have to build up to that sort of serve.