I'm not sure if I've done the right thing here...

[touchdatthangfo]

I've entered a local tournament and signed up for the NTRP Men's 3.0 Singles division. As the division started to fill, I noticed people I knew who were 3.5 caliber players. By that, I mean they told me they were bumped to 3.5 last year by the USTA, but appealed and won. I know, I know, *technically* there is no problem whatsoever with them signing up for the 3.0 division.

Here's my dilemma: I consider myself to be a low-end 3.0 player, but I've only been playing for about 4 months. I'm also playing in a Senior Men's 3.5 Flex League (only because it was the lowest level available), where my best finish was losing a set by tiebreak. Other losses were 6-2, 6-0, 6-2.

After thinking about this some more, I decided to change the tournament division I'm playing in to be 2.5. Now I'm having second thoughts. Am I any better than the guys playing "down" to the 3.0 division, even though it's perfectly legal?

Heck, maybe I am just a 2.5 level player and I did the right thing after all. I just want to be competitive in whatever level I'm rated.

I'm still bothered by it, though. I guess it'll work itself out over time.

[J_R_B]

If I were you, I'd play the 2.5 division first. If you've been playing for only 4 months and have never played a tournament, start at the bottom. If you destroy the field at 2.5, then you know you should sign up for 3.0 next time. Obviously, I've never seen you play, but there's nothing you've said here to indicate that 2.5 is wrong for you.

[bluetrain4]

Play 3.0. Enjoy the better competition. Plus, its like every player in the 3.0 division was bumped down. Just a select few, correct?

[spot]

If there is a sizeable 2.5 draw then that sounds like a better fit for you. But be aware that often times there aren't enough 2.5's (particularly on the guys side) so they end up getting lumped in with the 3.0's anyway.

[touchdatthangfo]

Originally Posted by spot

If there is a sizeable 2.5 draw then that sounds like a better fit for you. But be aware that often times there aren't enough 2.5's (particularly on the guys side) so they end up getting lumped in with the 3.0's anyway.

Honestly, this is what I hoped would happen since there are only 3 of us in the division. Surprisingly, it will play out.

Like J_R_B mentioned, since this is all fairly new to me (my first ever tournament), I'll just start at the basement so I'll have a good understanding of where I should be right now.

[touchdatthangfo]

Originally Posted by bluetrain4

Play 3.0. Enjoy the better competition. Plus, its like every player in the 3.0 division was bumped down. Just a select few, correct?

I can only speak to the ones I know personally, but yes. After this tournament, I'll have a better idea of where I fit in.

I don't guess it really matters. Unless I were to do pretty well at 3.0, I would've always second-guessed my decision. :/

[IA-SteveB]

Interesting story. I had the opposite happen to me. I played one year of high school tennis and haven't played in 15 years up to this year. I am playing in my first USTA tournament tomorrow and I was self rated at 3.5 on the USTA site after answering the questions. I appealed it for a 3.0 but was denied. Their reasoning was that even though I was only a player for one year in high school, the fact that I was a collegiate athlete in college (swimming) that I had athletic ability and needed to be 3.5.

The tourney I entered didn't even have anyone enter 3.0 or lower, so I got bumped to 3.5 anyway.

[goober]

Originally Posted by touchdatthangfo

I can only speak to the ones I know personally, but yes. After this tournament, I'll have a better idea of where I fit in.

I don't guess it really matters. Unless I were to do pretty well at 3.0, I would've always second-guessed my decision. :/

You are worrying too much about it. Whatever happens adjust and play up or stay at 2.5 for next tourney. Personally I am surprised they even got 3 guys in a 2.5 division for a tourney. I signed up for 4.0 level my first tourney after starting tennis a little over a year earlier.

[CaldwellYSR]

Originally Posted by touchdatthangfo

I've entered a local tournament and signed up for the NTRP Men's 3.0 Singles division. As the division started to fill, I noticed people I knew who were 3.5 caliber players. By that, I mean they told me they were bumped to 3.5 last year by the USTA, but appealed and won. I know, I know, *technically* there is no problem whatsoever with them signing up for the 3.0 division.

Here's my dilemma: I consider myself to be a low-end 3.0 player, but I've only been playing for about 4 months. I'm also playing in a Senior Men's 3.5 Flex League (only because it was the lowest level available), where my best finish was losing a set by tiebreak. Other losses were 6-2, 6-0, 6-2.

After thinking about this some more, I decided to change the tournament division I'm playing in to be 2.5. Now I'm having second thoughts. Am I any better than the guys playing "down" to the 3.0 division, even though it's perfectly legal?

Heck, maybe I am just a 2.5 level player and I did the right thing after all. I just want to be competitive in whatever level I'm rated.

I'm still bothered by it, though. I guess it'll work itself out over time.

If I was between two ratings (which I think I probably am) I would play to the higher one. You might get bagelled every single time but then you know. If you go to the 2.5 and bagel everybody you'll feel terrible about the decision. Personally I haven't had the opportunity to play in any USTA matches or against anybody that has a USTA rating so I don't know where I'd end up but looking at the descriptions it seems to me that I'm between 3.0 and 3.5... so when I go to my first tournament I'll play 3.5 and see how I do Good luck to you and try not to think too much.