So uh, how's 2021 going for you?

darkhorse

darkhorse

Semi-Pro
I stuck to flex leagues this year, as I didn't quite feel comfortable with USTA league quite yet (I'm lukewarm on that anyway), and it's been an up and down year. I didn't play at all in 2020, and 2019 was not good for me tennis-wise, so I guess it's been OK all things considered. It has been tough getting matches in flex leagues lately, I don't know if that's COVID-related or just the particular league/division I'm in, so that's disappointing. I live in Minnesota so we don't have a lot of months were the weather allows outdoor tennis, though the heat in June/July made that a bit difficult.

The fact that everybody (mostly) is working from home makes flex leagues a bit weird, as it seems many do prefer to play during the work day, but I'm not really able or willing to do that.
 
W

WhiteOut

Semi-Pro
darkhorse said:
The fact that everybody (mostly) is working from home makes flex leagues a bit weird, as it seems many do prefer to play during the work day, but I'm not really able or willing to do that.
Click to expand...

yeah it's weird to me all the day-play i get asked to do (and decline). I've been a remote worker for 15+ years...and I always get asked 'how do you stay focused, keep from distractions' etc...answer is simple: 1) the inbox is always full -- way to busy to screw around, and 2) prior to Covid, being remote, to me, was always a privilege, and kind of special...which also meant potential extra scrutiny ('how come he gets to work from home and i don't)...i i always felt i had to be 'on' and highly responsive during work hours. this is still the case. in fact, as a rule i find myself not having much fun playing in the middle of the workday anyway...once i'm in play mode, i'm done with work. never really liked taking an hour so to go exercise etc...only to come back all sweaty and gross, trying to get back into 'work' mode...would rather just work, get it over with, and then go play and not think about work unless theres an emergency or some urgent issue...
 
OnTheLine

OnTheLine

Hall of Fame
WhiteOut said:
yeah it's weird to me all the day-play i get asked to do (and decline). I've been a remote worker for 15+ years...and I always get asked 'how do you stay focused, keep from distractions' etc...answer is simple: 1) the inbox is always full -- way to busy to screw around, and 2) prior to Covid, being remote, to me, was always a privilege, and kind of special...which also meant potential extra scrutiny ('how come he gets to work from home and i don't)...i i always felt i had to be 'on' and highly responsive during work hours. this is still the case. in fact, as a rule i find myself not having much fun playing in the middle of the workday anyway...once i'm in play mode, i'm done with work. never really liked taking an hour so to go exercise etc...only to come back all sweaty and gross, trying to get back into 'work' mode...would rather just work, get it over with, and then go play and not think about work unless theres an emergency or some urgent issue...
Click to expand...

I too have WFH way longer than this pandemic. Work time is work time.

I do play very early in the morning on Mondays .... but am showered and at my desk by 9:15am.
 
ChaelAZ

ChaelAZ

G.O.A.T.
For me, the working from home has been awesome and I can schedule my day around morning or evening tennis, and even get in some afternoons at times. Just depends on what projects I am working on, classes I need to teach, etc.. Looks like that will continue as well for me, at least in the foreseeable future. I am going to start back on campus Monday's, but I can always schedule evening tennis for after work down by campus since I have some guys I work with and others I play right by there. My only excuse for not playing more is, recovery time. :)
 
K

KaiserW

Hall of Fame
Had a good usta season. Just finished 40 plus sectionals today. We were in first place this morning in our flight. Unfortunately got a DQ which prevented us from going to finals tomorrow.

The dq seems odd as we played against a really strong guy in regular season and they beat us 6 and 1. He is in other flight and no dq yet for him. Our dq also has another loss. Yet this guy didn’t even lose a set with a lot of blow outs.
 
A

ATX Tennis

Rookie
KaiserW said:
Had a good usta season. Just finished 40 plus sectionals today. We were in first place this morning in our flight. Unfortunately got a DQ which prevented us from going to finals tomorrow.

The dq seems odd as we played against a really strong guy in regular season and they beat us 6 and 1. He is in other flight and no dq yet for him. Our dq also has another loss. Yet this guy didn’t even lose a set with a lot of blow outs.
Click to expand...

You had a DQ in the middle of sectionals? I didn’t realize that could happen.
 
schmke

schmke

Legend
ATX Tennis said:
You had a DQ in the middle of sectionals? I didn’t realize that could happen.
Click to expand...
Yep, it can happen. The USTA league regulations give sections the option to check strikes at the end of a playoff event and DQ a player going forward, or they can check strikes after each match and reverse results at the playoff event.
 
T

travlerajm

Talk Tennis Guru
schmke said:
Yep, it can happen. The USTA league regulations give sections the option to check strikes at the end of a playoff event and DQ a player going forward, or they can check strikes after each match and reverse results at the playoff event.
Click to expand...
This DQ stuff is getting out of hand. It’s almost like sprint track and field at the Olympics now, where the winners are never clean, but they are the best at cheating without getting detected.
 
K

KaiserW

Hall of Fame
Yup it was so deflating. Worst part my Captain got notified 8:20 Saturday morning and we had a match at 8:30. So we couldn’t put best lineup out for morning match because guys weren’t there.
 
K

KaiserW

Hall of Fame
schmke said:
Yep, it can happen. The USTA league regulations give sections the option to check strikes at the end of a playoff event and DQ a player going forward, or they can check strikes after each match and reverse results at the playoff event.
Click to expand...

Curious do you know how far over you have to be? My Captain wasn’t sure.
 
schmke

schmke

Legend
KaiserW said:
Yup it was so deflating. Worst part my Captain got notified 8:20 Saturday morning and we had a match at 8:30. So we couldn’t put best lineup out for morning match because guys weren’t there.
Click to expand...
That stinks. The situations I've heard it happen they check immediately after the match is played and notify then. 10 minutes before the next match doesn't seem right.
 
schmke

schmke

Legend
KaiserW said:
Curious do you know how far over you have to be? My Captain wasn’t sure.
Click to expand...
To get a strike your dynamic rating has to be over a threshold. The threshold is higher than the top of the level, but how much varies by level, more natural improvement is allowed at lower levels as generally speaking players do improve more quickly at lower levels and the USTA doesn't want to punish getting better naturally.

What level was this at?
 
K

KaiserW

Hall of Fame
schmke said:
To get a strike your dynamic rating has to be over a threshold. The threshold is higher than the top of the level, but how much varies by level, more natural improvement is allowed at lower levels as generally speaking players do improve more quickly at lower levels and the USTA doesn't want to punish getting better naturally.

What level was this at?
Click to expand...
4.0
 
schmke

schmke

Legend
KaiserW said:
Had a good usta season. Just finished 40 plus sectionals today. We were in first place this morning in our flight. Unfortunately got a DQ which prevented us from going to finals tomorrow.

The dq seems odd as we played against a really strong guy in regular season and they beat us 6 and 1. He is in other flight and no dq yet for him. Our dq also has another loss. Yet this guy didn’t even lose a set with a lot of blow outs.
Click to expand...
It isn't so simple in doubles, it is possible the really strong guy you played had a high rated partner and for that reason they were expected to beat you and so it didn't rate that high for him.

Was your player/captain given any details on the strikes? I think your section typically does, but not sure if they provide the full report in the middle of Sectionals. If they did and you don't mind sharing, DM me or e-mail me at ratings@teravation.net, I'd be interested to see how it correlates with my ratings.
 
K

KaiserW

Hall of Fame
schmke said:
It isn't so simple in doubles, it is possible the really strong guy you played had a high rated partner and for that reason they were expected to beat you and so it didn't rate that high for him.

Was your player/captain given any details on the strikes? I think your section typically does, but not sure if they provide the full report in the middle of Sectionals. If they did and you don't mind sharing, DM me or e-mail me at ratings@teravation.net, I'd be interested to see how it correlates with my ratings.
Click to expand...

As of now he hasn’t got any details. But I can email you his name. Thanks
 
onehandbh

onehandbh

G.O.A.T.
My 2021 has had some highs and lows, but overall, I feel very fortunate and grateful. Oops. You meant tennis-wise.

Have been mostly playing doubles with some occasional singles tiebreaks or hitting. Mostly social doubles once a week. Occasionally 2x. The pool of people I have been playing with is quite varied. From some juniors to a 60+ old lady to some guys who played professionally. (guy with a few ATP points and a guy who had a career high rank ATP rank of about 100)
 
Cindysphinx

Cindysphinx

G.O.A.T.
On the whole, 2021 has been a disappointment.

I was doing well enough, then went into a horrible slump this summer. I lost the ability to volley and somehow picked up a bunch of bad habits. Floppy wrist, failure to watch the ball, taking backswings, and worst of all, failing to close. I was suddenly missing volleys that would have given me no trouble in the past. Even more alarming is that even working on these things in lesson did not turn things around. It culminated in going 0-4 in the 40+ league.

I think I am on the mend, as I hit with the ball machine recently and sorted out my volleys. What has been missing is any form of practice except a few lessons a month and some matches. I really need to hit with a practice partner and ball machine, and practice serving once a week.

But it is kinda sad that when the pandemic hit I was winning easily and had signed on to play up at 4.0, and now I can barely handle 3.5. I've really lost a lot in the last 18 months.

Cindy -- sorry to be bumming everyone out
 
Brian11785

Brian11785

Hall of Fame
Lost all my matches in 4.0 USTA spring/summer league. Have lost 25 pounds this year and chalk up a bit of that to too low calories. (All but one match was singles.)

Upped my calories net of exercise from 1500 to 1900 a day, went 6-1 in my UltimateTennis league this summer and am in the finals of the city playoffs. And still dropping weight slowly.
 
OnTheLine

OnTheLine

Hall of Fame
Cindysphinx said:
On the whole, 2021 has been a disappointment.

I was doing well enough, then went into a horrible slump this summer. I lost the ability to volley and somehow picked up a bunch of bad habits. Floppy wrist, failure to watch the ball, taking backswings, and worst of all, failing to close. I was suddenly missing volleys that would have given me no trouble in the past. Even more alarming is that even working on these things in lesson did not turn things around. It culminated in going 0-4 in the 40+ league.

I think I am on the mend, as I hit with the ball machine recently and sorted out my volleys. What has been missing is any form of practice except a few lessons a month and some matches. I really need to hit with a practice partner and ball machine, and practice serving once a week.

But it is kinda sad that when the pandemic hit I was winning easily and had signed on to play up at 4.0, and now I can barely handle 3.5. I've really lost a lot in the last 18 months.

Cindy -- sorry to be bumming everyone out
Click to expand...

Give yourself a little grace my friend. Did you not have fairly serious wrist surgery? Could that not be a cause of the poor volleys? Perhaps the wrist is fine, but mentally it takes a lot to start trusting an injured part.
 
P

PK6

Semi-Pro
Max G. said:
You want to quit. I - and anyone else who has read anything you post on these boards - can tell you don’t like tennis.
Click to expand...
Your right!!! Need and going to year off to lose weight/get back into shape!!! Winning doesn’t matter if I can’t be in shape to play. Mixed team is more concerned about socials after matches then winning matches, WTF!!! I’m glad I’m not captain anymore. It’s all politics anyway. Done being the sacrificial lamb in matches-that’s never happened before and if playing matches is what’s this all about them I quit!!!
 
D

Deleted member 776614

Guest
My club is doing internal leagues and there's a ton of interest. It's mostly 3.5 and 4.0, but there are leagues from 3.0 to open.

For me, personally? A nagging leg injury stopped me from running so my cardio isn't what it was. And I fell down the deep rabbit hole of racket experimentation. Fortunately l think I found my way out of that last night. I think, with my new racket and jump rope, I'll be pretty motivated for the upcoming house league and subsequent USTA league (if a team will take me as a singles-only player.)

We had an amazing Sunday morning 3.5-4.0 clinic. It was really high level (for the rating) with everyone was pushing to be the best they could be - on a rooftop clay court in Waikiki! Unfortunately they opened other clinics and all the good players dispersed, so it dropped to ~3.0 and ultimately went to 0. I still have my 3.0-3.5 on Sunday evening, so I can't complain I guess :)
 
Cindysphinx

Cindysphinx

G.O.A.T.
OnTheLine said:
Give yourself a little grace my friend. Did you not have fairly serious wrist surgery? Could that not be a cause of the poor volleys? Perhaps the wrist is fine, but mentally it takes a lot to start trusting an injured part.
Click to expand...
Yes, I think that is a factor. And I was out for a while, too.

I’m nothing without volleys. Definitely need to keep working on it.
 
S

silentkman

Hall of Fame
Cindysphinx said:
Yes, I think that is a factor. And I was out for a while, too.

I’m nothing without volleys. Definitely need to keep working on it.
Click to expand...

I'm still getting over my bad knees. I had a cortisone shot. it feels better, now i have shin splints after playing on Monday. You just have to keep grinding away.
 
n8dawg6

n8dawg6

Legend
5QEr5ab.jpg
 
S&V-not_dead_yet

S&V-not_dead_yet

Talk Tennis Guru
Cindysphinx said:
Yes, I think that is a factor. And I was out for a while, too.
Click to expand...

Probably a major factor. Give it time and be patient; let things unfold and you might be pleasantly surprised.

I'm with you on the importance of the net game. The 2nd time out playing MXDs 9.0 and I was chunking sitter volleys into the net. I probably was responsible for 80% of the loss. But life goes on.
 
T

Tiafoe

Rookie
In my area of the Midwst, renegade leagues are far more widespread than USTA leagues, at least for men 3.5-4.5 levels. USTA is losing more and more people every year. So I played in a renegade league but it doesn't have the same intensity as USTA because individual match results aren't published, there are no ratings and there are no playoffs. It's more for fun than USTA, which is good for some people but not for others.
 
M

Moon Shooter

Hall of Fame
KaiserW said:
Had a good usta season. Just finished 40 plus sectionals today. We were in first place this morning in our flight. Unfortunately got a DQ which prevented us from going to finals tomorrow.

The dq seems odd as we played against a really strong guy in regular season and they beat us 6 and 1. He is in other flight and no dq yet for him. Our dq also has another loss. Yet this guy didn’t even lose a set with a lot of blow outs.
Click to expand...


As I understand it, if the real strong guy you played against had a computer rating from 2019 he won't get any strikes even if he improved quite a bit in the last 2 years.
 
S&V-not_dead_yet

S&V-not_dead_yet

Talk Tennis Guru
Tiafoe said:
In my area of the Midwst, renegade leagues are far more widespread than USTA leagues, at least for men 3.5-4.5 levels. USTA is losing more and more people every year. So I played in a renegade league but it doesn't have the same intensity as USTA because individual match results aren't published, there are no ratings and there are no playoffs. It's more for fun than USTA, which is good for some people but not for others.
Click to expand...

Everyone could publish their matches in myutr.com: there is an "unofficial" option to self-report matches. Not sure if those results generate ratings like official matches do.
 
vex

vex

Legend
J011yroger said:
Can't believe my year is over.

Played one mixed match in November, and 3 men's matches and I was done for the year by July.

I checked the tournament scene and it's pretty bleak.

Seems like people just aren't into it.

Tennis is booming, courts are full, selling racquets and stuff, lessons and clinics are packed, just no one seems to want to compete here. Even our country club leagues and non USTA stuff.

J
Click to expand...
Update: on to nationals baby!
 
vex

vex

Legend
McLovin said:
Congratulations! What level/section? 18+ or 40+?
Click to expand...
Just 3.5, nothing impressive. But the team camaraderie has been a ton of fun. The tennis has actually been a bit of a grind/stressful. Hanging with the friends outside the matches has been fun times
 
McLovin

McLovin

Legend
vex said:
Just 3.5, nothing impressive. But the team camaraderie has been a ton of fun. The tennis has actually been a bit of a grind/stressful. Hanging with the friends outside the matches has been fun times
Click to expand...
I was asking more because my daughter will be running 3.5, 4.0, and 4.5, 18+ (she works for USTA National). We’ll be out there the 9th-16th, but visiting her, not playing. And we’re going to hike the Grand Canyon, as well as a few other places in Sedona.
 
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Reactions: vex
vex

vex

Legend
S&V-not_dead_yet said:
It's impressive no matter what level; it means your team kicks butt!
Click to expand...
A lot of luck too… plenty of 3-2 wins that could have gone either way. I did my part tho! 8-0 so far in the playoffs! I still need to improve overheads/volleys. Too many years spent hitting grounders/serves but if you can’t hit those shots at a high level it’s like playing missing a limb or two.
 
ChaelAZ

ChaelAZ

G.O.A.T.
Start the 4.0 leagues already on Wednesday this week. Gonna start in D3 towork back in on the team, but expect to do well. I had singed up a while back, but just didn't realize how quick it would come up. Hoping kinds continues some pretty good play for the year. Played 4 differnt practive matches against some 35. and high 4.0 players, and I am squarely in the mix for sure winning 3 of the 4 - doing well against the 3.5, but not so well against the high 4.0. Kinda figures that is where I have always been stuck.
 
CHillTennis

CHillTennis

Hall of Fame
J011yroger said:
I don't play tournaments because it's tough to justify cancelling lessons.

J
Click to expand...

I had the same problem when I used to coach full-time.

My advice (for anyone in this situation) is to pick a couple of tournaments at the beginning of the season and let your clients know that you won't be available, for lessons, on those particular dates.
 
J011yroger

J011yroger

Talk Tennis Guru
CHillTennis said:
I had the same problem when I used to coach full-time.

My advice (for anyone in this situation) is to pick a couple of tournaments at the beginning of the season and let your clients know that you won't be available, for lessons, on those particular dates.
Click to expand...

I'm planning for a work-optional lifestyle that will facilitate my senior tennis efforts.

J
 
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