3.5 singles

[Playtennis]

Anyone play 3.5 singles and if so, what's the style and what to expect? ( 4.0 bump)

[Overdrive]

Originally Posted by Playtennis

Anyone play 3.5 singles and if so, what's the style and what to expect? ( 4.0 bump)

Link:
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You're welcome.

[gmatheis]

Originally Posted by Playtennis

Anyone play 3.5 singles and if so, what's the style and what to expect? ( 4.0 bump)

You will see all sorts of styles from pushers to hard hitters.

I play 3.5 and I serve 90-100mph with a second serve that is probably stronger than many 1st serves at this level. I hit a somewhat heavy topspin forehand, a 1 handed topspin backhand if the ball is up in my strike zone and a slice if the ball is low. my weaknesses are court movement (i need to drop some weight) and consistency. Now I don't think I'm typical of a 3.5 as most people I play with think I should have been move up to 4.0 last year but I have seen one or two 3.5's comparable to me in ability.

What makes a player 3.5 is their ability to win points/games not their style of play.

personally "IF" I work on my consistency and fitness I can see myself moving to 4.5 eventually but I don't forsee my style of play changinging much

[axel89]

Originally Posted by gmatheis

You will see all sorts of styles from pushers to hard hitters.

I play 3.5 and I serve 90-100mph with a second serve that is probably stronger than many 1st serves at this level. I hit a somewhat heavy topspin forehand, a 1 handed topspin backhand if the ball is up in my strike zone and a slice if the ball is low. my weaknesses are court movement (i need to drop some weight) and consistency. Now I don't think I'm typical of a 3.5 as most people I play with think I should have been move up to 4.0 last year but I have seen one or two 3.5's comparable to me in ability.

What makes a player 3.5 is their ability to win points/games not their style of play.

personally "IF" I work on my consistency and fitness I can see myself moving to 4.5 eventually but I don't forsee my style of play changinging much

whats your first serve percentage 2%?

[Govnor]

It's a pretty wide range at 3.5. I've played with a lot of 3.5 players in the last year.

I would say these are the most typical categories:

- 4.0+ plus shots, but 3.0 fitness/movement (for various different reasons), so you only get small flashes of the player they could be (or once were).
- Older players that are in good shape and are very consistent but have no real weapons because they don't generate much power on any shot.
- Young semi-upstarts. They are in great shape, but have not played tennis that long and basically get by on their fitness (pushers generally fall here).

[TennisCJC]

Don't get too high or too low when things go well or bad. Have fun - it is a 3.5 tennis match and not the US Open final.

Or, self-flagellation during the change over may help you remain intense.

[JRstriker12]

Originally Posted by Playtennis

Anyone play 3.5 singles and if so, what's the style and what to expect? ( 4.0 bump)

Question, when you say 4.0 bump, were you bumped down to 3.5 or are you being pumped up to 4.0?

Most of the guys at the top of 3.5 single are going to be consistent counter punchers. They may not have a single weapon, but they are consistent and get the ball back and move well.

You'll see a few slice and dice pushers, a few athletic guys who just track everything down but don't have great strokes, and a few players that are strong on one side (Forehand) but very weak on the other (Backhand).

[Costagirl]

Originally Posted by Playtennis

Anyone play 3.5 singles and if so, what's the style and what to expect? ( 4.0 bump)

mostly at this level don't expect alotta top spin. Flatter balls that sit right in the strike zone, shorter balls, softer and higher balls. Forehand grips on all shots including volleys. Oh and lobs...typically don't move the ball around the court to much and don't tend to play high percentage tennis. Keep the ball a good height to keep it in one more time than they do. Short ball them to bring them in to net and push them off balance with a lob. Drive them crazzy and have fun doing it.

Shake hands with a smile and tell them, GREAT match!

[Overdrive]

Originally Posted by Playtennis

Anyone play 3.5 singles and if so, what's the style and what to expect? ( 4.0 bump)

Did you even read the link I posted? That basically covers all of the other posts...

[J_R_B]

Originally Posted by TennisCJC

Don't get too high or too low when things go well or bad. Have fun - it is a 3.5 tennis match and not the US Open final.

Untill you get to 3.5 Nationals. Then, it's bigger than the US Open and you're likely to have to play Wayne Odesnick.

[goober]

Originally Posted by Overdrive

Did you even read the link I posted? That basically covers all of the other posts...

The NTRP descriptions of different levels of play is pretty much worthless and has little to do with the wide variety of styles of play you will see especially at the 3.5 level.

3.5
You have achieved improved stroke dependability with directional control on moderate shots, but need to develop depth and variety. You exhibit more aggressive net play, have improved court coverage and are developing teamwork in doubles.

I know lots of 3.5C players that meet only part or none of the description criteria.

[beernutz]

Originally Posted by JRstriker12

Question, when you say 4.0 bump, were you bumped down to 3.5 or are you being pumped up to 4.0?

Most of the guys at the top of 3.5 single are going to be consistent counter punchers. They may not have a single weapon, but they are consistent and get the ball back and move well.

You'll see a few slice and dice pushers, a few athletic guys who just track everything down but don't have great strokes, and a few players that are strong on one side (Forehand) but very weak on the other (Backhand).

I second this wholeheartedly. The better players at this level will grind you down rather than blow you off the court. They often approach on short balls and rather than drive a winner will hit an angled shot or a finesse shot or try to get you out of position. Overheads and volleying skills will vary even among the better singles players but I think I'm safe saying if they have good doubles skills the singles players will do these things better too.

[beernutz]

Originally Posted by goober

The NTRP descriptions of different levels of play is pretty much worthless and has little to do with the wide variety of styles of play you will see especially at the 3.5 level.



I know lots of 3.5C players that meet only part or none of the description criteria.

If you ignore the trolls, they go back under their bridges.

[OrangePower]

Originally Posted by goober

The NTRP descriptions of different levels of play is pretty much worthless and has little to do with the wide variety of styles of play you will see especially at the 3.5 level.

I know lots of 3.5C players that meet only part or none of the description criteria.

The USTA descriptions are pretty worthless since things like "dependability", "control", "variety", etc, are all very subjective.

I'm a successful 4.5, and yet the USTA description of 3.5 could equally well apply to me.

[gmatheis]

Originally Posted by axel89

whats your first serve percentage 2%?

My first serve % is around 50%, and my second serve is probably 90% or more. I do double fault sometimes but I get more free points off of my serve than double faults.

Like I said Ive never seen anyone serve bigger than I do at 3.5 except for a few that almost never got it in and had a pancake second serve.

I'm not bragging but rather trying to illustrate that although I'm not a typical 3.5 you may run into someone like me at this level.

I think Govnor's post does a good job of describing some of the types of players 3.5 has in it. I'm the first type he mentions, 4.0+ strokes but I'm carrying some extra weight so in doubles I'm strong but singles exposes more of my weaknesses.

[Overdrive]

If you think about it, "NTRP" levels are useless as well...

The same people keep referencing me in their subtle posts and it doesn't do anything..

It's pointless reasoning with morons.

[Cindysphinx]

Originally Posted by Overdrive

If you think about it, "NTRP" levels are useless as well...

The same people keep referencing me in their subtle posts and it doesn't do anything..

It's pointless reasoning with morons.

NTRP levels are useless?

Not for me, they are not.

They help match me up against others who are reasonably competitive with my skill level.

The USTA level descriptions are flawed, but I supposed they are better than nothing. Barely.

Regarding what OP can expect in men's 3.5 singles, I would guess that there will be a lot of big first serves that don't go in. There will be lots of errors and overhitting. If OP resolves to be precise with his footwork and try to get every ball in his strike zone and resist the temptation to hit shots he doesn't have, he will do fine.

[Overdrive]

Originally Posted by Cindysphinx

NTRP levels are useless?

Not for me, they are not.

They help match me up against others who are reasonably competitive with my skill level.

The USTA level descriptions are flawed, but I supposed they are better than nothing. Barely.

Regarding what OP can expect in men's 3.5 singles, I would guess that there will be a lot of big first serves that don't go in. There will be lots of errors and overhitting. If OP resolves to be precise with his footwork and try to get every ball in his strike zone and resist the temptation to hit shots he doesn't have, he will do fine.

See, the issue is subjective.

I don't see myself as a 'number'. It has no meaning whatsoever except to others who are always consciously trying to be 'bumped up' in recreational tennis. I can somewhat understand the rating system for younger players and having a better availability of players that you can play with, but looks can be deceiving. I can play with players who are labeled 5.0 and 5.5 (who are considered open level or D1 college players) and beat them, but may struggle against a player who is labeled 4.0. It all depends on condition.

Original Poster, what racquet do you play with?

[The Isomotion31]

Kind of nervous about this. My team captain just told me he wanted me to play on the Men's 18 and up 3.5. Told him sure thing.

I'm rated a 3.0 as I haven't played in a while and am coming from playing tons of basketball(decided to go back to playing tennis for a change of pace and something less brutal than the guys in the hoop league.)

Condition wise I could stand to lose a few lbs. But endurance is ok thanks to running 5 days a week 2-3 miles with hoops twice a week and for about a month now tennis 2-3 times a week scaling my hoops to just once a week.

[gmatheis]

Originally Posted by The Isomotion31

Kind of nervous about this. My team captain just told me he wanted me to play on the Men's 18 and up 3.5. Told him sure thing.

I'm rated a 3.0 as I haven't played in a while and am coming from playing tons of basketball(decided to go back to playing tennis for a change of pace and something less brutal than the guys in the hoop league.)

Condition wise I could stand to lose a few lbs. But endurance is ok thanks to running 5 days a week 2-3 miles with hoops twice a week and for about a month now tennis 2-3 times a week scaling my hoops to just once a week.

You sound more athletic than the majority of people you will play against at 3.5. Sounds to me like you'll do fine.