S&V-not_dead_yet
Talk Tennis Guru
I'd take the under: on ET's courts, I think Topher stands a fighting chance. Outdoors in the Atlanta summer, the balance shifts towards MEP.
MEP vs ET Players - Original TT Epic
- Thread starter AnyPUG
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I'd take the under: on ET's courts, I think Topher stands a fighting chance. Outdoors in the Atlanta summer, the balance shifts towards MEP.
Meh. In a rematch on ET's court Sean stands a fighting chance. Any 4.0 stands a good chance if it comes down to tennis skill and is not a fitness contest.
Based on a proven track record of calling results within 1 game(had called 0 games against Scott and 2 againat Ian vs actual 1 and 3), my forecast is as good as they come.
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What tennis skill? Hitting back to the opponent nice and easy at predictable height, distance and pace so the guy does not need to move around much?
ChaelAZ
G.O.A.T.
How does Nadal compare to GSG in pushing?
it compares very favorably......
D
Deleted member 780836
Guest
no
FiddlerDog
Hall of Fame
New MEP match!
FiddlerDog
Hall of Fame
There is no average. Players come in all styles. The rating measures whether your ball lands inside the lines. Nothing more.
Morch Us
Hall of Fame
By looking at the video, I am pretty sure that, Captain may normally be hitting heavier and faster forehands. He clearly adjusted his game plan against MEV's unconventional low spin.
It seemed to work in the first set. Reduced his unforced errors, makes it a less frustrating and easy going point play. Was also able to control the depth and placement of the balls when not giving importance for pace. So that complimented his net game. Now of course MEV caught up to it in second set. But I also think Captain went away from his game plan in second set.
I think that is exactly why you see this. Less experienced players may try to overpower MEV, generating tons of unforced errors, plus providing pace to incorrect placement spots to make it easer for MEV to counter punch. Of course if you are clearly higher level than MEV, you may have an easier match with combined pace and placement overwhelming MEV. But I don't think that is the case here.
It seemed to work in the first set. Reduced his unforced errors, makes it a less frustrating and easy going point play. Was also able to control the depth and placement of the balls when not giving importance for pace. So that complimented his net game. Now of course MEV caught up to it in second set. But I also think Captain went away from his game plan in second set.
I think that is exactly why you see this. Less experienced players may try to overpower MEV, generating tons of unforced errors, plus providing pace to incorrect placement spots to make it easer for MEV to counter punch. Of course if you are clearly higher level than MEV, you may have an easier match with combined pace and placement overwhelming MEV. But I don't think that is the case here.
D
Deleted member 780836
Guest
Captain played a lot of MEP style forehands and backhands, the match started to resemble slow motion padel 
FiddlerDog
Hall of Fame
Daniel Andrade
Hall of Fame
Ian won
Daniel Andrade
Hall of Fame
why
Daniel Andrade
Hall of Fame
what's wrong with ian
davced1
Hall of Fame
I have followed both players on YouTube and knew beforehand Ian was the much better player or so I thought. If MEP had won I would have to re-evaluate what I thought I knew because then my presumption would have been wrong. Now Ian won so I don’t need to re-evaluate anything!
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Daniel Andrade
Hall of Fame
Is a 4.5 considered to be that good for an amateur player?
davced1
Hall of Fame
Isn’t 4.5 top ten percent of all tennis players? It’s pretty good.
Daniel Andrade
Hall of Fame
I didn't know that.
Although without a doubt Ian is pretty clear the best player, IMO I didn't see him beating MEP in such a way that would leave me "astonished".
I think my college colleagues could beat MEP 6-0 6-0 in a good day for them and a bad day for MEP.
However, perhaps I'm overestimating my colleague's level or underestimating MEP's. I would say I was around MEP's level back in college, and from that insight I think Ian's level is within reach. Perhaps I'm also underestimating Ian's level, especially since he is coming back from an injury.
davced1
Hall of Fame
I also underestimated MEP when I first watched him. He is deceptively good. Ian used to be at least 5.0 so no surprise he still is the better player of the two. There is a lot to learn from both. I actually won a match today borrowing many pages from MEP’s playbook.
ChrisG
Professional
Ben is a terrific player, not by the usual standards, but by the fact he managed to get the most out of his own abilities and kept improving on that honest basis.
most rec players try to hard to play like the pros, or to look like they’re college players with flashy strikes. That’s why you see a lot of doubles faults or unforced errors. Not because of the difficulties provided by the opponent but by the player overplaying.
I have a few friends that don’t improve because they “refuse” to be honest about their level and abilities.
most rec players try to hard to play like the pros, or to look like they’re college players with flashy strikes. That’s why you see a lot of doubles faults or unforced errors. Not because of the difficulties provided by the opponent but by the player overplaying.
I have a few friends that don’t improve because they “refuse” to be honest about their level and abilities.
travlerajm
Talk Tennis Guru
I underestimated him too.
Tennis, by design, does not make it easy to safely put away a ball. That is the basic problem. It requires advanced offense skills disproportionate to your average level.
In table tennis, a 3.5-equivalent player like me can still topspin and smash, so a defensive player around the same level has to be pretty good to keep getting the ball back over and over. The opponent's defense skills need to be disproportionate to his average level to do this.
The asymmetry between offense and defense is the reason for all these discussions.
In table tennis, a 3.5-equivalent player like me can still topspin and smash, so a defensive player around the same level has to be pretty good to keep getting the ball back over and over. The opponent's defense skills need to be disproportionate to his average level to do this.
The asymmetry between offense and defense is the reason for all these discussions.
vex
Legend
Why anyone would go for low percentage baseline groundstrokes against MEP I’ll never understand. Just hit with margin side to side, make MEP hit on the run and enjoy your volleys.
FiddlerDog
Hall of Fame
vex
Legend
What match are you watching? His serve allows the opponent to immediately be in the drivers seat. His return is an ultra safe, albeit deep push. If MEP is dictating after that point you’re doing it wrong. High margin groundies to either side dramatically refuces the slice effectiveness. If you hit it right to him with no pace, sure he’ll go on the slice offensive. That wasn’t the captains problem in set 2 tho, he got tired and started alternating between low margin offense and pushing. If he had been able to keep MEP running with high margin wide shots and followed that with moving in to mop up, he’d have been fine. The slice is annoying and if you aren’t used to it it’ll take adjustment but Ian played the exact game plan I laid out earlier in the thread and the only time he was mildly troubled was when he lost focus for a game or two.
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FiddlerDog
Hall of Fame
vex
Legend
FuzzyYellowBalls
Legend
Me too, can I get this exemption please?
FuzzyYellowBalls
Legend
Fidler, I need to reign you in a little bit here, don't get carried away. "even ex-D1 players can't reliably attack his low (bullet, what?) slice serve". The majority of ex-D1 players could reliably attack all the serves that you see on rec youtube tennis offerings. What was your thought process on this bold statement, 1) you've seen ex-div 1 players not be able to reliably attack that serve or 2) You've seen a ton of ex-div 1 players and are imagining them trying to return that serve?
Not a critique of MEP serve, but that kind of grand statement needs more explanation.
FiddlerDog
Hall of Fame
Here are 21 MEP matches.
The players range from D1, D2, and D3
Find me one player ripping his serves back for domination driver's seat.
FiddlerDog
Hall of Fame
Listen to the advice given by D1 girls coach.
FuzzyYellowBalls
Legend
Ok, some specific actual matches, I appreciate it, I guess "some" ex- D1 players is a more correct statement.
FiddlerDog
Hall of Fame
@FuzzyYellowBalls
There is a reason his chop serve has gotten him to 4.5
Most people can't do much with it, and a 3.5 or 4.0 will be spraying balls trying to attack his slow serve.
Sign of a hacker is someone who only see slow, and not spin.
Want to make your 3.5 opponents heads explode?
Serve a underhand slice an entire set.
You will hold serve at luv until they figure out its unattackable and must be chipped back
There is a reason his chop serve has gotten him to 4.5
Most people can't do much with it, and a 3.5 or 4.0 will be spraying balls trying to attack his slow serve.
Sign of a hacker is someone who only see slow, and not spin.
Want to make your 3.5 opponents heads explode?
Serve a underhand slice an entire set.
You will hold serve at luv until they figure out its unattackable and must be chipped back
But this is balanced by our overestimation of you
ChaelAZ
G.O.A.T.
74k views and 3k + responses, and some players are still all....
...when responding to MEP's 4.5 rating.
Everyone still focusing on strokes, but seem to miss his excellent footwork (great small adjustments steps), balance, and predictive positioning in match play. And THEN his great shot selection and placement. Just forces good players to have to hit so consistent and with less margin than many are comfortable with.
...when responding to MEP's 4.5 rating.
Everyone still focusing on strokes, but seem to miss his excellent footwork (great small adjustments steps), balance, and predictive positioning in match play. And THEN his great shot selection and placement. Just forces good players to have to hit so consistent and with less margin than many are comfortable with.
FuzzyYellowBalls
Legend
I shall remember this advice in case I ever drift down to 3.5, never played a match against one before, but never say never.
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