S&V-not_dead_yet
Talk Tennis Guru
For me, it's more the humidity, not the heat.
MEP vs ET Players - Original TT Epic
- Thread starter AnyPUG
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For me, it's more the humidity, not the heat.
D
Deleted member 780836
Guest
Wrong, go back and read this thread. He said racket weight was a factor in the defeats, he has since switched to a heavier racket. He said indoor was a factor. He said things would be better suited for him in the ATL outdoors.
Careful, the MEP cult might not forgive you for such sins, they might kick you out of their membership
S&V-not_dead_yet
Talk Tennis Guru
You're right. But in my view, he didn't, IMO, dwell on it like, for example, perhaps his frequent vanquished opponents in the past.
Recognition of a factor is not the same as emphasizing them.
Careful, the MEP cult might not forgive you for such sins, they might kick you out of their membership
It's OK; I have my own cult since @Slowtwitcher and @tomato123 started Sing&Ving.
D
Deleted member 780836
Guest
You could have ended the post at You're right and called it a day or not responded at all. You have to split hairs and somehow prolong the discussion. You cannot ever seem to accept that that you're wrong, you always move goalposts and start another discussion.
If I ever needed an example of why all advice on this tennis tips subforum should be ignored, your exchanges with me in this thread and the the discussion about sound vs light are enough. Thanks.
I think GSG would say you are wrong. They can handle it against a player who doesn't extend every point and run every ball down.. I live in Texas now - as I moved here from California (after spending most of my adult life in NYC).. I can say that I cannot handle it in the summer and almost no one can. It can be 110 in the shade and humid. It's insane.
Yes you can play tennis if you move real slow and take it easy - but almost no one does.. Being able to play hard in massive heat is a huge advantage. Tennis players are reasonably fit compared to average joes - but that's it. 4.5 players are not in professional level shape - and cannot play hard in that heat - with the exception of guys like MEP.
FuzzyYellowBalls
Legend
Texas, nice, welcome to my homeland. I can't know what MEP thinks about the weather or what condition his tennis partners/opponents are in. But, I can be found playing 6-8 hours of singles in 2 days for a tournament when I am in Dallas during the summer, no problem, and I'm not a triathlete, just a thin guy in above average shape. A good portion of my 4.5 tennis buddies here are in their mid 20's and just a couple years out from college tennis, they can handle the heat easily as well. So, at least in my world, I know many 4.5 players, even 4.0 and 3.5 players who can play in the heat, it doesn't require professional level fitness really, just pretty good fitness. All my tennis friends from juniors can handle the heat as well, if they are still into tennis. It's not a bad thing that you can't handle it, it is understandable, spending so much time in colder climates and probably not playing outside in 100 degree weather every summer for decades, it just is what it is. Anyone who grew up in Atlanta or had a few years to acclimate would be ok with humidity too, and usually 4.5 players are ones that play a lot of tennis.
tlm
G.O.A.T.
So you are saying you can play 3-4 hours of singles a day in 100 degree heat? From what I have heard most play either early morning or at night under the lights in the hot climates.
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In a nutshell, I can't remember ever playing a match where I felt like intense heat and/or humidity was putting me at a disadvantage against an opponent. At worst it was a neutral proposition.
FuzzyYellowBalls
Legend
FuzzyYellowBalls
Legend
Shroud
G.O.A.T.
At first i thought you were high. But looking at recent vids it seems like i am prepped by the time the ball lands mostly. Thanks for the nice words
tlm
G.O.A.T.
I understand most tournaments are in the day, it just seems most players in hot climates play in the morning or at night if they have the choice. A player hast to really be used to the heat to play singles for 6 hours in midday heat. I’m in a northern climate but we do get really hot and humid at times and playing midday with sun out is tough. We usually play in the evenings during hot times, I can take about any heat and humidity once the sun is setting but not in midday with the sun torching the court.
FuzzyYellowBalls
Legend
Shroud
G.O.A.T.
I like the heat myself but its unlikely i could play 3-4 hours of singles in any temp. 1st off thats like 20 sets and i will tighten up before that. When i was in my twenties and playing leagues and tournaments i would really try to play at noon because it was such an edge for me.
Hydration is key. I will often drink a gallon when the other guy has just had one little bottle.
FuzzyYellowBalls
Legend
That's some fast sets, 20 sets in 3-4 hours, wow!
tlm
G.O.A.T.
You haven’t watch Shroud he hits big and goes to the net, not many long points in his game. Which by the way is a good way to play in extreme heat.
S&V-not_dead_yet
Talk Tennis Guru
tlm
G.O.A.T.
Ya I could not play fully covered like that in the heat, but it doesn’t seem to bother Shroud.
BallChaser
Rookie
Not only I am high sometimes, but also my memory is shaky these days. Therefore, I'm glad I was right.
S&V-not_dead_yet
Talk Tennis Guru
tlm
G.O.A.T.
You probably just have to get used to the heat again.
You can claim this - but I been by West Lake Highschool (in Austin) - they have 12 really nice outdoor courts over there. And if you show up on a weekend that is above 110 - no one is there. It's super easy to get a court. On days where it is nicer - it is way more crowded. So sorry - not buying this Texas tough thing. Like I said you can play in that kind of weather - against maybe a basher. But most will avoid it - and against a pusher. Hell no.
And we already have the words from the man himself - he had his opponent grasping his knees by the third point. This brutal fitness advantage is also present in other sports - but coaches can pull them out like in hoops. In tennis there is no escape. This is why guys on the tour are in amazing shape.. They have to be.
GSG to his credit makes people work to win - and thus the heat and humidity becomes a huge factor. This is not really at all controversial or even something that people should be arguing against. Is a guy in very good physical condition better in extreme heat? Yes. If he makes the other person work very hard to earn points - will they tire in the end? Yup.
Heck even indoors guys started off fast against GSG - and then he did better in later sets.
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tlm
G.O.A.T.
Thats what I thought also, most courts are empty in midday when the heat is bad. Even in Illinois where I live not many players on the courts in July during the day. But in the morning or evening there will be plenty of players out.
A friend of mine goes to a tennis camp in Florida in early March and he said the instructor told him the courts are empty during daytime once it gets hot out in summertime.
FuzzyYellowBalls
Legend
FuzzyYellowBalls
Legend
Check the tournament schedule, there was a huge tourney in Austin thus weekend, half the dallas tennis warriors were there, there are about 4 UTR tourneys in dallas alone all summer long, not to mention USTA. And, the country clubs are full, Brookhaven, TBARM full all day in the summer weekends. (Both in Dallas).
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FuzzyYellowBalls
Legend
pencilcheck
Hall of Fame
Texas is so hot, I would think it is a crime to hit under hot sun for 2-3 hours. (I lived in CA right now)
FuzzyYellowBalls
Legend
Can be 125 F an inch above the court
Yeah and its not 110 this weekend. LOL. Like I said people will play if they have to. If you want to do a UTR tourney you will suffer through it. I think we can agree to disagree here. This is like when someone asks what you can bench on an internet forum - and everyone there can bench 300+.
Are there people that still play in the extreme heat - for a tournament. Sure. Some people will play in the cold as well. It's way less popular. Point is being fit enough to handle the heat is an advantage in places like ATL and Texas.
FuzzyYellowBalls
Legend
UTR and USTA tournaments increase during the heat, plenty of people want to play in the heat, like myself. I don't think it is anything like someone bragging about a 300 bench press on a forum, I'm just sharing with you my preferences and that the tennis clubs I frequent in Dallas are full in the summer heat and available tournaments increase. I like to play 3-6 times a week all summer and I don't feel like taking a break or waiting to play only at night or at 8 am when it hits 100 plus.
GSG graciously gave his opinion on his own situation and said he doesn't feel disadvantaged in the heat and at times it's a neutral impact on his matches. I seem to think if you are playing people in Atlanta, most of them who still enjoy singles are ready for the climate, just maybe not ready for GSG getting so many balls back.
Stratotanker
Semi-Pro
This is not an exact answer, and I'm sure someone will have it, but he has mentioned before during a livestream that they (including the red one he uses sometimes as well) are older Wilson models that are custom painted. Maybe Pro Staff 95s, or 6.1s? I can't remember, but definitely an older Wilson that he custom painted.
Curious
G.O.A.T.
I have no idea, sorry!
chazz
Rookie
I'm not 100% sure but someone mentioned it was an old Wilson Burn 95 that he had painted over.
heninfan99
Talk Tennis Guru
Shroud
G.O.A.T.
I should have been more clear. Sure prep can be taught, but footwork? Balance? And maybe I should clarify that at my advanced age I doubt I could relearn balance and footwork...Doubtful I could be bothered to relearn what is natural. So you may be right. I recall the frustration of the dance class my wife took me to. Omg I wanted to kill her.
Heck I am so dense on the court and can't seem to see much beyond my own game. Once in Usta I played 25 min before realizing the guy was a lefty. Which I know seems so silly but its true. Now I look immediately. Any vids on balance and footwork. I can at least watch them and see, but very very skeptical.
Funny you mention Yandell. He tought me my forehand (sure I unlearned most of it so don't blame him) and one of the things was how to line up for the ball. It wasnt exactly like Ians prep vid it was more like recognizing the line of the ball and intersecting it at a 90 deg angle. If you are on tennisplayer.net, you can see the Shroud forehand write up he did with all the before and after. So I can be taught I suppose.
I checked some recent vids and I do seem to be prepped by the time the ball lands...mostly. Thats a surprise to me.
I have changed technique in one session a few times. Played for 20+ years with a one hander. Then went out and hit open stance one handers. Pretty amazed at how short it took to do it. Recently I went out and hit a completely different bh (closed stance but with a different contact and followthrough). Sometimes it sticks like the new bh. But sometimes it reverts.
ChaelAZ
G.O.A.T.
Heat means little - in desert areas you can play in pretty high temps - because you can sweat so effectively. But heat and humidity - the wet bulb temperature drops quite a bit. Wet bulb is the temp where people start to die from heat. The issue is that you cannot sweat effectively in high humidity as the water does not evaporate to cool you off..
Sure they might schedule more tournaments and such then - but you only play if you have to.
Sure they might schedule more tournaments and such then - but you only play if you have to.
FuzzyYellowBalls
Legend
My bulbs get moist when it is hot outside. But yes, of course you have to play, you don't duck out on tennis when it's hot and humid out, time to grab 6 shirts and change em often and feel the warmth of the air like you are inside a little oven.
FuzzyYellowBalls
Legend
You know about wet bulb temperature, but it seems in that other post you incorrectly believe Fauci discouraged the use of hydroxychloroquine to boost death rates? Wait, do you actually believe Hydroxy has a place in the medical treatment of Covid? Please tell me you believe that, it would be so amazing. .....stirring the pot.... hehe. 6/4 edit
arnit, someone removed that post reply in "how deceiving is the lob serve" from yesterday, ahhhh!
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Now that I think of it again it does seem a bit not-entirely-transparent/honest. I mean it is true that Topher/Scott/Ian beat MEP fair and square. And I think if MEP played Topher again I would lean toward MEP winning 6 out of 10 matches. But Ian and Scott would beat MEP every time - because they are simply a one level higher players.
Which is why that series should have been framed as 'you want to see how to beat MEP type player? Do what these experienced 5.0 players do: don't overhit, don't get frustrated with balls coming back, stay calm, go to the net". Rather than "we have these not-really-USTA-computer-ranked players that can really be any level, for the sake of suspense we are going to call them 4.0 or 4.5, let's have MEP play against them".
imo, Topher had one fluke escape to win the match- it's like Soderling beating Rafa once. I take MEP to win each and everytime against Topher without a question on any surface.
Scott was picked by MEP as ET/Ian has explained multiple times - and MEP didn't do the homework or didn't care that he was a teaching pro with a stellar record at the recreational level. It was not a match of the same level to begin with. Ian was a bit competitive on paper as he had not played competitively recently - even then the gulf is too wide between an ex college player and a rec player who picked up the game as an adult. No surprises there as the poll here correctly predicted the outcome. But I think Scott and Ian's matches were of great 'educational value' presented with good entertainment.
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S&V-not_dead_yet
Talk Tennis Guru
To be fair to ET, it started out as just Ian v MEP. It morphed into the 4 match, 3 day lollapalooza because MEP wanted more matches [can't say I blame him, coming all the way from Atlanta]. I couldn't find any USTA record for Ian but he did enter an Open tournament back in October [although there's no evidence he actually played], which says something about his perceived level and the fact that he played D2 at a school that I think was in the top 20. And Scott was 5.0 and only could be called a 4.5 because he appealed down.
To be consistent, @PilotPete should have argued that Scott wasn't a true 4.5 either but rather a 5.0.
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