What kind of "demeanor" do you cultivate on the court? - Page 2

Coach Chad · 10-06-2012, 05:24 AM

I am the same on the court as I am off the court...no "game face"...same ol same ol. I cannot help myself, when my opponent hits a winner that would make Federer proud, I tell him/her "great shot!" You see, I refuse to be controlled...tennis is my passion and my escape...it is the highlight of my day. I am trying to be a solid 4.0; and I will be someday...I am going to enjoy the journey; and not put on some fake display of serious demeanor along the way! In other words, I am not concerned whatsoever what anyone thinks of my courtside manor. Have fun, play hard; whatever way you choose to attack your game!!!

Aurellian · 04-23-2013, 06:22 AM

If I am winning I am excessively gracious to my opponents. I have a smile permanently etched on my face and display earnestness at every opportunity. The wives and GFs of my opponents say that I am such a nice guy to the other women.

If I am loosing I must appear unhinged, I will take off my Harvard shirt and don a shirt from a CT taskforce I helped lead when downrange. I will talk about that time I was in" Fallujah with my men and it was real bad." When they assume I was in the military, I will say that I was not, I work in diplomacy and start talking about how the prettiest girls in the world are Tatar women.

They know what I say is true and I say it with a calmness and politeness so that no complaint could ever be filed;if it was it would never be upheld. I know how to get under folks' skin but rob them of a reason to articulate why i am doing so.

I did the full monty on a guy on Saturday and it did not work...maybe less mind games and more backhands....

Cindysphinx · 04-23-2013, 10:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Alchemy-Z

the more light hearted I keep things the looser I stay = the better I play

deeper concentration = I think about the score to much...get tight...double fault at dumb times.

I would like to think I come off as cheerful and happy during matches, because I am cheerful and happy. I don't understand why people act like they are being asked to storm the beaches of Normandy.

I have had partners tell me not to speak to our opponents, or to have my game face. Well, my game face is a big 'ol grin. Deal with it.

RogueFLIP · 04-23-2013, 01:25 PM

Depends on what kind of match I'm playing and whom I'm playing against.

Ladder match - I'm polite but intense. I will acknowledge good shots and say thanks, but only till after the match is done will I become chatty. Unless I'm getting my butt kicked, then the jokes come out.

I'm in this social doubles thing every week, we all know each other so I'm very comfortable in this setting, so I'm a total clown. It's competitive but very fun, so I'm pretty loud.....lots of Ric Flair "WOOO!!!", "Daaamn!!", etc....

It's set to loud club music, so I'm frequently doing some silly dance moves a la moonwalking or Gangnam style stuff. Silly basically. Good way to let off some steam. Regulars get a kick out of my antics while the new people think I'm on crack.

fleabitten · 04-23-2013, 01:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GlennK

It depends on the type of match. If it's just a casual match, I act much different then when playing a league match.

This. In league and tournament I am very focused, but I must admit if I am losing by a bit, I will chat up my partner at changeovers, and try to relax myself and make it feel more like a just a casual match. Maybe this throws off some opponents but that is not the goal. Honest.

spinorama · 04-23-2013, 01:54 PM

I like to keep it casual during changeovers even in tournament play. We aren't pro, we both want to win, nobody is gonna fail to pay the mortgage if you lose, so might as well enjoy it and just play your best.

gameboy · 04-23-2013, 02:31 PM

Geesh, people need to lighten up. It is REC sport, for FUN.

I just don't get "if I am not winning I am not having fun" crowd. I am happy to be out there playing a game that I like very much. If you are playing people of same level, you are going to lose about half your matches. It seems it would be pretty crappy to not enjoy half your matches. And it is why people sandbag.

Life is too short to take things WAY too seriously. This is supposed to be fun. Smile a little. Your opponent is there to have fun, not to watch you have a root canal.

IA-SteveB · 04-23-2013, 03:31 PM

^^^ Well said.

Tennis is a sport that has a very high number of weird people who are wound way too tight.

TTMR · 04-23-2013, 03:32 PM

I am the Tony G of rec tennis.

I offer (un)soliticed critiques of my opponent's strokes and strategy. I celebrate raucously upon each win, and smash at least one racquet per loss (I usually bring a Wal-Mart spare solely for smashing purposes). I amplify my profanity when there's children around so that when the parents complain to me I feed off their anger and my annoyance.

dizzlmcwizzl · 04-23-2013, 03:40 PM

Usually I am friendly .... offering frequent "good shots" when warranted. I am firm and clear when I think a call is in doubt or a if a rule has been violated, but generally sociable.

However, the only real attempt at gamesmanship I ever made was in a match against a far superior doubles team. I was overly complimentary and extremely chatty and friendly to our opponents. My partner later questioned me as to why I would do this and I was honest when I said I was trying to disarm them with kindness.

Unfortunately, like usual, the best team won ... but it was a really close match and I think my "gamesmanship" did end up helping to keep it close.

sureshs · 04-23-2013, 07:39 PM

Usually, I am thinking about the forthcoming lunch/dinner when playing, so I am always in a "finish it up" mood.

vegasgt3 · 04-23-2013, 08:22 PM

I try to keep things light. I give close calls and compliments when deserved. I'm here to have fun and when I have fun, I usually win. I'm not a professional, but I am still serious. I am also serious about having fun when I play.

I don't need a game face to do well because I let my racquet do the talking. I think its harder to beat a nice, friendly guy than a jerk. So, why not be extra nice?

My role model would be John Newcombe or Roy Emerson for competitive spirit. Play hard, but fair.

Alchemy-Z · 04-24-2013, 09:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cindysphinx

I would like to think I come off as cheerful and happy during matches, because I am cheerful and happy. I don't understand why people act like they are being asked to storm the beaches of Normandy.

I have had partners tell me not to speak to our opponents, or to have my game face. Well, my game face is a big 'ol grin. Deal with it.

I had one partner that was blaming every error on me one time and barking orders of where to stand etc...

at about 4-3 in the 2nd set on the change over i walked over with the opponents and stood in the other service box and got into ready position...

they looked at me and said " are you joining are team or something?"

i said " well he doesn't want me so why not" this was followed by laughs...

his was pretty much silent for the rest of the match.

and later he requested the captain never pair us again...thankfully he only stayed with us one season as by the end of it no one wanted to play doubles with him either.

goran_ace · 04-24-2013, 10:13 AM

Easygoing off the court, all-business once the ball is in play. Real contrast to what I was like when I was younger. I used to be very showy when I was winning and prone to tantrums and pouting when things weren't going my way.

Legend of Borg · 04-24-2013, 11:49 AM

Intense.

I'm hyper competetitve but I don't like it.

I want to be more casual and relaxed about the score, but I take it too seriously.

yemenmocha · 04-24-2013, 01:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GlennK

It depends on the type of match. If it's just a casual match, I act much different then when playing a league match. For casual matches, I am much more verbal and do compliment my/our opponents often. During a league match, I will compliment a special shot and do talk a little bit during the changeovers, but not nearly to the level of casual play.

I try not to take it too seriously either way, but it's my competitive nature taking over during league play. And if I notice my opponent not wanting to talk, I respect their wishes.

Glenn

Same here exactly. Depends on the league situation too - if the match outcomes matter at all or not, as sometimes at the end of season it doesn't.

LeeD · 04-24-2013, 01:52 PM

Mopey dopey, not having a great time, expect to hit unreal winners, and sulk and play with my strings when I don't.s
I sulk a lot.

10-06-2012, 05:24 AM	#21
Coach Chad Rookie Join Date: May 2012 Location: Orlando, Fla. Posts: 139	I am the same on the court as I am off the court...no "game face"...same ol same ol. I cannot help myself, when my opponent hits a winner that would make Federer proud, I tell him/her "great shot!" You see, I refuse to be controlled...tennis is my passion and my escape...it is the highlight of my day. I am trying to be a solid 4.0; and I will be someday...I am going to enjoy the journey; and not put on some fake display of serious demeanor along the way! In other words, I am not concerned whatsoever what anyone thinks of my courtside manor. Have fun, play hard; whatever way you choose to attack your game!!! __________________ To bring tennis to the masses ~ this is indeed my quest!

04-23-2013, 01:25 PM	#24
RogueFLIP Rookie Join Date: Mar 2013 Posts: 128	Depends on what kind of match I'm playing and whom I'm playing against. Ladder match - I'm polite but intense. I will acknowledge good shots and say thanks, but only till after the match is done will I become chatty. Unless I'm getting my butt kicked, then the jokes come out. I'm in this social doubles thing every week, we all know each other so I'm very comfortable in this setting, so I'm a total clown. It's competitive but very fun, so I'm pretty loud.....lots of Ric Flair "WOOO!!!", "Daaamn!!", etc.... It's set to loud club music, so I'm frequently doing some silly dance moves a la moonwalking or Gangnam style stuff. Silly basically. Good way to let off some steam. Regulars get a kick out of my antics while the new people think I'm on crack. __________________ 3.5 player. Babolat APD. RPM Blast 18 gauge @ 58#. That is all.

04-23-2013, 03:31 PM	#28
IA-SteveB Rookie Join Date: Jun 2012 Posts: 387	^^^ Well said. Tennis is a sport that has a very high number of weird people who are wound way too tight. __________________ NTRP 3.5 \| "I like everything about the sport except the uptight people." - Me

04-23-2013, 03:32 PM	#29
TTMR Hall Of Fame Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Winnipeg Posts: 1,550	I am the Tony G of rec tennis. I offer (un)soliticed critiques of my opponent's strokes and strategy. I celebrate raucously upon each win, and smash at least one racquet per loss (I usually bring a Wal-Mart spare solely for smashing purposes). I amplify my profanity when there's children around so that when the parents complain to me I feed off their anger and my annoyance. __________________ Bills looking good, will win Super Bowl.

04-23-2013, 03:40 PM	#30
dizzlmcwizzl Hall Of Fame Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: DE Posts: 1,707	Usually I am friendly .... offering frequent "good shots" when warranted. I am firm and clear when I think a call is in doubt or a if a rule has been violated, but generally sociable. However, the only real attempt at gamesmanship I ever made was in a match against a far superior doubles team. I was overly complimentary and extremely chatty and friendly to our opponents. My partner later questioned me as to why I would do this and I was honest when I said I was trying to disarm them with kindness. Unfortunately, like usual, the best team won ... but it was a really close match and I think my "gamesmanship" did end up helping to keep it close. __________________ "You should be playing linebacker, not singles."