Playing A Practice Match With Weaker Players

[shell]

Originally Posted by Doc Hollidae

In the future, I'd probably try and go into the practice with a more open mind set. Regardless of level of play, there's always things that you can work on or new stuff to try out. I've found that when I go in with the attitude I'm better and I'm not going to have fun, that I end up just getting lazy and end up wasting both my time and the person that asked me to hit's time.

Also I find myself more open to playing with lower level people in doubles than in singles. While it sucks if your partner is getting picked on, it can force you at times to take matters into your own hands. This doesn't mean trying to cover every ball and hit shots on your partners side, but be more aggressive. This might mean poach a little more, work on lob returns, try for sharper angles, etc. Playing against lower level players also is a great time to practice serving and volleying as you'll be under less pressure with weaker returns. I've been playing with a bunch of 3.5's and 4.0's in practice and have started to see angles and opportunities I hadn't seen before simply because I was never looking for them. At the 4.5 and 5.0 level, the pace is different and I'm more prone to react with what I'm used to than think of the 2-3 options I have. So playing down has given me the chance to see angles and get more confident in poaching when I'm playing at my normal level. Before working on that stuff, I had much less variety in my game and was a lot less effective in dubs.

The one thing about playing with a weaker partner is that is exposes things that you might not necessarily be used to and puts you in situations that you wouldn't be in with an equal level partner. This is good because when match time comes around you're prepared to react in those situations.

Great post, Doc. I hadn't really thought of it like that, but you are exactly right I think. Rather than thinking in terms of shots or stroke production, practicing strategy seems a much better opportunity and use of the court time againt weaker players. Those strategies are the things that we chicken out on in a tight match and fail to practice enough. It is how we get "match tough" after all.

[Doc Hollidae]

Originally Posted by shell

Great post, Doc. I hadn't really thought of it like that, but you are exactly right I think. Rather than thinking in terms of shots or stroke production, practicing strategy seems a much better opportunity and use of the court time againt weaker players. Those strategies are the things that we chicken out on in a tight match and fail to practice enough. It is how we get "match tough" after all.

The thing I like most about playing down and working on things is that you have a slightly larger margin of error. The lower levels won't punish you like your normal level would and they usually don't hit at the same pace. Also while you're trying things out, your level of play might not be the 4.5 or 5.0 with all the new stuff you are working on or try out. So your lower level opponents aren't completely outclassed and still have fun.