Players that don't bring balls to the court.
- Thread starter Lazerus
- Start date
pyrokid
Hall of Fame
I forgot the last part, I meant to say that him bringing the balls for them would be very appreciated.
I edited it.
AudiOphiLiA
New User
I have even offered to sell a can of balls (maybe they didn't have time to stop by the store) to these players for $3. No go. $2 still no go. Seriously $1 STILL no go. WTF
tennis tom
Legend
I know what you mean, I've opened a can of them on occasion and they are one of the best quality balls I've found. Also, had some Roland Garros balls. The people at my club are so jaded, they don't even notice or comment. I think they are just there for the bar and HATE the tennis, they can hardly wait to get to the bar and any excuse will do.
I just tried some Prince Tour balls and they are holding up excellent, as good or better that Dunlops. I opened two cans with the same number, so as not to have to walk about picking up balls. Not one person thanked me for supplying the balls, (did I say they were jaded?). There's one guy with OCD who starts complaining if there's more than three balls--the four ball cans make him neurotic--six balls and he's in orbit.
I played a local match where the loser gives up his new can of balls. The guy forgot to bring new balls..(old story)...but then he proceeds to take out a few bucks to give to me. I was kinda shocked and refused the money. The win and the gesture was enough for me. I was happy that day.
tennis tom
Legend
Don't mean to pry Pyrokid, but what is it that this forum has done to you, and, is it catchy?
Did it turn you into an arsonist?
pyrokid
Hall of Fame
At first, I was fine with just barely getting by with my four aeropro drives, because I wasn't usually having to use anyone else's racquet TOO much when the didn't get strung fast enough, but when I went on here, and learned about customization, new strings, all that jazz.
Eventually figured out that the babolats were too powerful for me, switched racquets a bunch, blah blah blah, money left,
hrstrat57
Hall of Fame
Dunlop Grand Prix are awesome too....can't find them anywhere tho....
tennis tom
Legend
Agreed, Dunlop Grand Prix are one of the top balls, they were my coach's favorite and he was on the tour for five years. If you can't find them locally, order them over the internet, Tennis Warehouse probably has them. Balls should have a shelf-life of at least a year, If you play regularly, you should be able to use up a case of 12 or 24 within a year.
Here's a link : http://www.tennis-warehouse.com/sea...chtext=balls+tennis&submit.x=-16&submit.y=-25
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tennis tom
Legend
I wouldn't get too hung up with your rackets, "It's not the violin, it's the violinist." When I'm playing tournaments I have three identical rackets in my bag, two strung with gut, one with nylon in case its's damp out. I use the POG 600 Tour and hope they never stop making them. I might switch to the oversize when I get older into the 70's.
Good players don't like changing anything including their rackets. Many pros play with the same model racket for years, their sponsors paint them with their current line of racket's graphics.
I'm reading a book about the physics of tennis called "TECHNICAL TENNIS". The more I read it, the more I learn that the racket, the balls, the court surface, etc., have very little to do with winning.
Power and control are literally more in the hand of the player to wield than in any characteristic of a racket. Like I quoted, it's not the violin, it's the violinist.
Work on your timing, technique and footwork instead of getting hung up on equipment. Save your money, Bobby Riggs used to beat people with a broom.
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Sakkijarvi
Semi-Pro
Hi Peter...
...they must have made this thread for you, Peter. Love you, guy, and admired your work in the legal community in the city. Very impressive.
Had a theory why you NEVER ... EVER ... EVER brought balls to our doubles group when it was your turn. How many times did you ask me to provide a can and I did. No worries. Not to mention all those bottles of water I gave you when you didn't have any.
Hey Peter, ever wonder why those guys didn't renew you in their doubles group...?
...they must have made this thread for you, Peter. Love you, guy, and admired your work in the legal community in the city. Very impressive.
Had a theory why you NEVER ... EVER ... EVER brought balls to our doubles group when it was your turn. How many times did you ask me to provide a can and I did. No worries. Not to mention all those bottles of water I gave you when you didn't have any.
Hey Peter, ever wonder why those guys didn't renew you in their doubles group...?
tennis tom
Legend
Yep, love that one. When they complain they don't like the new balls I just opened--"too heavy!"-or-"too light!"--I put them back in the can and say, OK, let's play with yours, and they quickly learn to like mine.
Once happened playing with the heir to ye ol' club. I opened some of the best, Dunlop Gran Prix, and he loudly complained, he likes the Costco Penns. I put them back in the can and said, "Fine, let's play with yours". He said, "Oh he had a case--but they were up in his office," and didn't want to delay the match. I said, "That's OK, I'll wait".
IF you show up in a Mercedes and never bring new tennis balls. I'll spit on your car.
ProgressoR
Hall of Fame
^^ better to scratch it with the popped lid from the ball can
What do you guys do with the tin can? I have heaps of them in the basement, I just can't get to throw them away, they seem too valuable to end up in the rubbish dump.
I use some of them to organize stuff in my tennis bag. I keep candy and snacks in one. Misc stuff in another (rubberbands, small tools, tape). Otherwise my tennis bag is a warzone.
Luckily where I am, they are recycleable. I too think it is a waste to throw them out.
JRstriker12
Hall of Fame
What do you guys do with the tin can? I have heaps of them in the basement, I just can't get to throw them away, they seem too valuable to end up in the rubbish dump.
Couldn't you just recycle them?
Lazerus
New User
He did it again last night.
Tuesday night we played on clay.
I left the balls that I cracked open on the court (he didn't bring any).
Last night we play on hard court, I ask him if he has balls - "I have the ones from the sets we played on clay last night ... "
So I cracked another can, and we used his (my) 3 old balls and my new balls.
Unbelieveable.
Tuesday night we played on clay.
I left the balls that I cracked open on the court (he didn't bring any).
Last night we play on hard court, I ask him if he has balls - "I have the ones from the sets we played on clay last night ... "
So I cracked another can, and we used his (my) 3 old balls and my new balls.
Unbelieveable.
JRstriker12
Hall of Fame
Why don't you stop hitting with this guy..... or maybe just hit with him less?
AlpineCadet
Hall of Fame
Ask for tennis ball funds that you guys can split or just ask him/her/them to bring balls next time around because you won't. If you keep posting about how you get taken advantage of, I don't see how you reinforcing their habits as 100% their fault. If you're too timid to confront them, then post anonymous signs along the courts about "Free Money" or whatever would best grab their attention but link them to this thread.
BTW, if a typical person always brings tennis balls to the court, would you ever think twice about not bringing tennis balls?
BTW, if a typical person always brings tennis balls to the court, would you ever think twice about not bringing tennis balls?
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hrstrat57
Hall of Fame
Yep, sadly it is time to put the hammer down on this dude........
You are to no longer bring new balls to the court when playing this bloke....
That'll do.....
mtommer
Hall of Fame
Without a negative consequence most people don't change their ways. What I would suggest (if you don't mind me suggesting) is that you don't bring any balls and when you can't play suggest the guys go buy a can at such and such a place since you normally bring the balls.
The only other thing I would suggest to you is that if you don't have to drive anywhere near an hour to play, that you continue to buy the balls as the people who drive an hour to play with you have fuel costs that more than make up for "a couple bucks a can". In short, how much are you really paying as opposed to them so that you can hit?
West Coast Ace
G.O.A.T.
Or send him a link to this thread and ask him if he recognizes anyone? If he plays dumb, tell him maybe it's time you start 'seeing other people.'
I'm with you AC. The OP is an Enabler.
Sakkijarvi
Semi-Pro
Don't want to hijack the thread but this was way too good to pass up. Had two kings of all pushers at my old club that seemed to always offer to play with their mushy used Penn balls (which are flat when new as it is...) ... such a generous offer.
Cost be damned ... I am always willing to break out a can of nice firm Wilson Championship Extra Duty balls to send the ball through the court ...
S
saigonbond
Guest
Next time bring the oldest, flattest, baldest, and dirtiest balls you can find...
anyone play with lazy partners that rarely go pickup the balls even though all the balls are on their side.
the worse kind are the ones that not only don't bring new balls, don't go pickup the balls and the balls they hit out the court they'll just leave it for you to go to get it since it's not even their ball.
the worse kind are the ones that not only don't bring new balls, don't go pickup the balls and the balls they hit out the court they'll just leave it for you to go to get it since it's not even their ball.
athiker
Hall of Fame
Penns (Championship XD) and Wilsons are under $2 at the two big box discount stores...$1.96 I believe last I time I bought the other day. That's the single can price. Not sure how other places manage to sell them for more, or why there does not seem to be a discount for multi-packs/cases that bring the prices down to that level.
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brownbearfalling
Hall of Fame
I have to agree on dealing with the matter as friendly as possible. To lose friends playing buddies and to get a bad reputation by making such a big deal about balls is not worth the trouble. If started talking money to them, there's a good chance they are going to make a scene. If they were really your friends, they would be more considerate and you wouldn't be afraid to confront them.
LuckyR
Legend
Two observations:
1) One of my tennis buddies made the comment that at home, although he always brought high quality balls to every match, everyone else either brought previously played balls or new balls of the lowest quality, BUT in Hawaii on vacation, those same guys always brought balls and insisted that they get used because after landing at the airport everyone goes to CostCo and buys a case of Penns and as their trip comes to an end they don't want to cart all of those unopened balls back to the mainland.
2) I always bring a couple of cans of new balls but one time I forgot to replentish the stash in my car so showed up to a ladder challenge match without balls. The other guy (whom I had never met) searched though his bag and found a "new" can of balls, popped the lid and we played the match. Turns out he was a dinking spinmeister, and the balls were so very dead that he must have cracked the seal on that can awhile back for just this sort of situation.
I have never been without new balls since (though I won that match).
1) One of my tennis buddies made the comment that at home, although he always brought high quality balls to every match, everyone else either brought previously played balls or new balls of the lowest quality, BUT in Hawaii on vacation, those same guys always brought balls and insisted that they get used because after landing at the airport everyone goes to CostCo and buys a case of Penns and as their trip comes to an end they don't want to cart all of those unopened balls back to the mainland.
2) I always bring a couple of cans of new balls but one time I forgot to replentish the stash in my car so showed up to a ladder challenge match without balls. The other guy (whom I had never met) searched though his bag and found a "new" can of balls, popped the lid and we played the match. Turns out he was a dinking spinmeister, and the balls were so very dead that he must have cracked the seal on that can awhile back for just this sort of situation.
I have never been without new balls since (though I won that match).
0d1n
Hall of Fame
EXACTLY. A decent can of balls is almost 8 $ around here. Add to that the fact that the average income is no way near the US one...and you have yourself playing on more than one occasion with the same can of balls without anybody finding this "unusual"
. How about ... telling them instead of telling us strangers on the forum ??
I think it would be better to tell them with different words and "tone of voice" than the one your posts suggest though....
AlpineCadet
Hall of Fame
Just shows how much a player you are on the court. No worries, I know a couple of players who always bring new cans. They're playing 3.5's.
heninfan99
Talk Tennis Guru
I'm guilty of lugging around used balls and sometimes forgetting to throw some in my bag. Opening a new can for a non-USTA match and hitting around is not happening. CHEAP - check, LAZY - check, BUSY - not some much.
tennis tom
Legend
Hey I'm with you, play with them 'til the rubber shows. It's a part of being green, anything to keep down global-warming, tennis should do it's part too for the environment.
I drive my car tires until the steel plies show through, just sayin'.
RogerRacket111
Semi-Pro
You could try recycling the balls if you are so green conscious. Its always good to play with new balls.
JRstriker12
Hall of Fame
I'm all for being green, but that's doesn't sound like the best way to save the evironment... unless you've already paid for a carbon-offset of the med-evac helicopter...
JRstriker12
Hall of Fame
What's wrong with a used ball is the same thing that's wrong with a flat or damaged soccer ball/ football/ basketball - they don't play as well. Whether you suck or not, you can tell when you are hitting with a dead ball.
If you play a match, you should have some new balls. If you are just hitting or warming up, a can from a day or two probably isn't too bad, but if they are bald, dead, or previously used on clay it's time for a new can.
As for advantage/disadvantage - big hitters like the more lively balls. Slice Masters and Counter-Punchers prefer the used balls.
Fedace
Banned
If you put it in the Dryer for 15 minutes before you come, then i think you can get more play out of those old balls.
I had brought some new Wimbledon balls to the league match and the guys are like,,,,,,Augggggggggggggggg.,,,,you brought that inferior balls ??
TourTenor
Professional
I thought that way too ... when I was younger. One day a friend of mine (age 23), who had been putting off replacing his tires, died (along with his wife and two kids) after he lost control and went into a river. They attributed the accident to the condition of the tires. True story. I have replaced my tires in a timely way, ever since. Just sayin'.
AlpineCadet
Hall of Fame
Rule of thumb: the older the balls the more dropshots I will hit.
Tennis secret revealed
The secret is Ball Compressors.
I bought two of those a couple of months ago. I went on vacation abroad with 2 new cans and played with all 6 balls in every session, for about 10 1-hour sessions. The balls were reasonably bouncy till the end.
You place the balls (3 at a time) inside the compressor and screw it in till the very end. There is an O ring to seal the air. As you screw it in, it compresses the balls to the pressure found inside a can - 14 lbs/sq in.
Keep your balls fresh and bouncy even as you err they get older.
The secret is Ball Compressors.
I bought two of those a couple of months ago. I went on vacation abroad with 2 new cans and played with all 6 balls in every session, for about 10 1-hour sessions. The balls were reasonably bouncy till the end.
You place the balls (3 at a time) inside the compressor and screw it in till the very end. There is an O ring to seal the air. As you screw it in, it compresses the balls to the pressure found inside a can - 14 lbs/sq in.
Keep your balls fresh and bouncy even as you err they get older.
GRANITECHIEF
Hall of Fame
With compressors you end up with very bouncy but bald balls.
hrstrat57
Hall of Fame
Amen I say amen!!!!
However having said that if I end up getting stuck with a match against a pusher who is home team and has cracked open a can of Penn tributes or court 1's or squeezed the air out of a "new" can well.....
I grew up playing on grass so I can chip, slice, chunk and dropsie doo with the best of em.....
Don't like it but ya gotta do what ya gotta do..... it is all good.
This is a classic thread!
ferocious4hand
Semi-Pro
No money, mo problems.
Hey, does anyone remember the poster who said he simply could not bring himself to open a new can of balls? It was a pretty funny thread. Is that guy still around? Has he worked through his problem?
I'm still around...yes, I still got no opening ball syndrome
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