2012 Year End Ratings

[schmke]

Originally Posted by Mongolmike

A little off topic, but as regards a benchmark rating... how long does that last for you? One USTA year?

Also, say you are a 3.5 and your team advances into the playoffs, you get benchmarked AND you get bumped to 4.0... you are now a 4.0b. I understand that a benchmark rating is sort of an indicator of equality across different regions... but the benchmark given was as a 3.5. You are no longer a 3.5, you are now a 4.0b, but you haven't played league against other 4.0s yet.... so you aren't really a benchmark 4.0, right?

I know it doesn't really matter, but it seems misleading in a minor sort of way.

It is misleading only if you interpret "4.0B" to mean "a player that achieved a benchmark playing at 4.0". You need to instead interpret it as "a player that advanced to playoffs last year and became benchmark for that reason that happened to have a year-end rating of 4.0".

As has been noted before, being benchmark doesn't indicate anything about your level, it simply means you can be used as a benchmark due to having played in playoffs against teams from other areas/districts/sections.

[wrxinsc]

Originally Posted by schmke

It is misleading only if you interpret "4.0B" to mean "a player that achieved a benchmark playing at 4.0". You need to instead interpret it as "a player that advanced to playoffs last year and became benchmark for that reason that happened to have a year-end rating of 4.0".

As has been noted before, being benchmark doesn't indicate anything about your level, it simply means you can be used as a benchmark due to having played in playoffs against teams from other areas/districts/sections.

^ well explained as usual.

[Mongolmike]

Originally Posted by schmke

It is misleading only if you interpret "4.0B" to mean "a player that achieved a benchmark playing at 4.0". You need to instead interpret it as "a player that advanced to playoffs last year and became benchmark for that reason that happened to have a year-end rating of 4.0".

As has been noted before, being benchmark doesn't indicate anything about your level, it simply means you can be used as a benchmark due to having played in playoffs against teams from other areas/districts/sections.

Thank you... and the benchmark rating is for one year (assuming the player does not advance the following year)?

[schmke]

Originally Posted by Mongolmike

Thank you... and the benchmark rating is for one year (assuming the player does not advance the following year)?

Correct.

Now, to be complete, there are a few other ways to become benchmark, being DQ'd gives one a B rating I believe, but advancing to playoffs is the most common way to achieve one.

[Topaz]

Cindy, feels the same as when I played up the last two years. Only now I won't have to suffer through 7.0 mixed. Won't see as much 8.0 time, but after our run to sectionals last year, we will be kind of starting over anyway. I'll work on singles instead. Plus I'll be in the last semester of nursing school. I'll be fine thanks.

As a 3.5 woman, I played two years of 8.0 with a 4.5 guy. I returned both 4.0 and 4.5 mens serves. Some of you need to get over yourself.

[JoelDali]

3.5 Women cannot handle a 4.0 Male GOAT serve if he was playing at 100%. Especially tricky slice serves out wide. The 3.5 woman tends to panic and expose general weakness at the wicked 4.0 slice.

Most 4.5 men drop 25% capacity/power when playing against low end 3.5 women. I don't know any 4.5 GOATs that serve at full speed in Mixed.

When Fedace played Combo for our team he would serve at around 40% GOAT capacity.

[wrxinsc]

Originally Posted by OrangePower

Sorry, I don't agree at all.

Often, there is no specific weakness holding a player back. Rather, it's that the players at the higher level just do everything better than you're used to, and it takes experience to adjust to that. They get more balls back on what you're used to being winners. They hit winners where you think they are going to be forced into a defensive shots. They give you less free points on errors. They force you into defensive positions. Etc.

You're not going to address that by playing weaker players, even if you are dominating them.

No doubt in my mind that you will improve most by playing at the higher level only, rather than splitting playing time between higher and current level.

The only exception is if you have a fragile ego and need the confidence boost of still getting some wins at the lower level while you get your butt kicked at the higher level.

yes this is generally correct from personal experience. i was a solid high school #1 singles player at a strong New England team when i was young. had an opportunity as a walk on at a div 3 college with a strong team. couldn't make academics and sports work for me - so didn't play.

took a 10 year hiatus from the sport, came back to the sport with a USTA evaluator rating me a 4.5. hung there based on speed and athleticism, and started a family. took another hiatus (this one 15 years and + 50lbs...) and played ok as a self rated 3.5. eventually dominated after a year or two and got bumped to 4.0 and now am finally getting to a point where i can deal with everything you mention in your post. the guys that beat me this year were all bumped to 4.5.

spot on.

[wrxinsc]

Originally Posted by JoelDali

3.5 Women cannot handle a 4.0 Male GOAT serve if he was playing at 100%. Especially tricky slice serves out wide. The 3.5 woman tends to panic and expose general weakness at the wicked 4.0 slice.

Most 4.5 men drop 25% capacity/power when playing against low end 3.5 women. I don't know any 4.5 GOATs that serve at full speed in Mixed.

When Fedace played Combo for our team he would serve at around 40% GOAT capacity.

this also correct form personal experience. i will not serve 100% to a 3.5 or lower lady in league match play. unless she is a major ringer. we had one of those at states last year and she handled everything anyone hit to her with patience. a clear indicator to me of an out of level lady.

[goober]

Originally Posted by wrxinsc

this also correct form personal experience. i will not serve 100% to a 3.5 or lower lady in league match play. unless she is a major ringer. we had one of those at states last year and she handled everything anyone hit to her with patience. a clear indicator to me of an out of level lady.

I think your first hint concerning the nature about JoelDali's post are the phrases "4.0 male GOAT" and "Fedace"

[JoelDali]

Fedace was the true 4.0 GOAT Mixed Combo legend. He is sorely missed by the 3.5 lady GOATs who he was so patient with.

[sureshs]

Originally Posted by JoelDali

Fedace was the true 4.0 GOAT Mixed Combo legend. He is sorely missed by the 3.5 lady GOATs who he was so patient with.

They can play with Nostradamus instead.

[sureshs]

Originally Posted by JoelDali

3.5 Women cannot handle a 4.0 Male GOAT serve if he was playing at 100%. Especially tricky slice serves out wide. The 3.5 woman tends to panic and expose general weakness at the wicked 4.0 slice.

Most 4.5 men drop 25% capacity/power when playing against low end 3.5 women. I don't know any 4.5 GOATs that serve at full speed in Mixed.

When Fedace played Combo for our team he would serve at around 40% GOAT capacity.

Luckily, the 100% level is only in the minds of these male 4.0 and 4.5 players. The reality is at the 40% level.

[JoelDali]

Most of my 4.5 players are 5.0 GOATs playing down .5 level to stay in contention for 4.5 Nationals.

[goober]

Originally Posted by sureshs

Luckily, the 100% level is only in the minds of these male 4.0 and 4.5 players. The reality is at the 40% level.

Obviously you have not encountered a 4.0 GOAT yet.

[Topaz]

Originally Posted by wrxinsc

this also correct form personal experience. i will not serve 100% to a 3.5 or lower lady in league match play. unless she is a major ringer. we had one of those at states last year and she handled everything anyone hit to her with patience. a clear indicator to me of an out of level lady.

And those are the ladies (out of level) that you will most likely find playing 8.0 with a 4.5 guy, especially at states and beyond. We had two on our team...and the other one was *leagues* better than me (and I was considered a pretty solid ringer...many believed I should have been moved up the year before).

I've said it before, and will say it again...pure pace can be blocked. You start spinning that serve, and then I've got problems. Getting better at taking them early, but it is still a work in progress.

[JoelDali]

Originally Posted by sureshs

Luckily, the 100% level is only in the minds of these male 4.0 and 4.5 players. The reality is at the 40% level.

A 4.0 can play 80% and still be a GOAT contender amongst his peers.

A 4.5 frying pan serve at 75% capacity would crush a 3.5 female. It sad but true in my district. These chicks are more into drinking, free hot wings and making out than competitive tennis.

[Topaz]

Also, something else I"ve noticed since...well, yesterday...

Many of my friends in my tennis group got bumped. I realized, many of them were recent self rates (as in the past few years) and had always enjoyed success at their level from the get go. For the first time, they are looking at a new level where they will win some matches, but also lose. And lots of them aren't used to losing.

Meanwhile, a few of us have moved up after spending a few years at other levels, and suffering those growing pains. My first year at 3.5 was absolutely terrible.

I wonder if that will 'break' some of them...that aren't used to losing...if they will leave tennis and go find something else.

Its really two different experiences, and in the end run, I think it is better to know what to expect of a new level and to have that realization that you're going to pay your dues, but it is worth it to play against better opponents.

[Cindysphinx]

Originally Posted by Topaz

As a 3.5 woman, I played two years of 8.0 with a 4.5 guy. I returned both 4.0 and 4.5 mens serves. Some of you need to get over yourself.

Return of serve is my weakest shot. I have played 4.5 guys. I am sure there must be an instance on record where I actually got the 4.5 guy's serve into play, but I have no memory of it.

If you are able to hit decent returns in 8.0 mixed, you are way better than me.

Then again, that's not saying much -- everybody is way better than me in 8.0 mixed!

[purple-n-gold]

Originally Posted by goober

Obviously you have not encountered a 4.0 GOAT yet.

true that. strangest thing I've seen in my few yrs playing usta league were some bump downs. played a fellow this past weekend whose a 4.5 teaching pro closer to 5.0+. now is 4.0 after playing only mixed last year.

[Topaz]

Originally Posted by Cindysphinx

Return of serve is my weakest shot. I have played 4.5 guys. I am sure there must be an instance on record where I actually got the 4.5 guy's serve into play, but I have no memory of it.

If you are able to hit decent returns in 8.0 mixed, you are way better than me.

Then again, that's not saying much -- everybody is way better than me in 8.0 mixed!

I played BH side, which I think helped for ROS. The only ones I never ever got back were high kickers to my BH.

Maybe my experience is an anomaly, but my partner and I played together for two years, and didn't drop a match until the finals of districts this year. I saw plenty of big serves, from some guys who are now 5.0. I think the trick is to not try to do too much. Just get it back in play.

And if the other guy does hold, fine...as long as we held and we broke the opposing female, then we were fine.

My partner and I worked well together...both singles players, haha! He is super tall (ask AQ, she saw us play this year) and my job was to be consistent and keep the ball in play until he could put it away.