How do you stop opponents from ripping returns

chatt_town

Hall of Fame
Nah...you got it wrong...am I into retaliation...sure I am especially if you come at me. You can play on words but let me ask you. At the 4.5 level...do you push the ball at the guy at the net to get the point or do you go at them(obviously aiming for their feet). I'm asking because none of us are pros. If you hit the poor guy in the face or God forbid the groin area...I mean you did hurt them. Whether the intent was there or not you went at them to get a point and you know just like I know you don't push the ball to the person at the net...and if you do...you will certainly get it rifled back at you(to get the point) at 4.5...and even 4.0...it's the way it is. Like I said...I've never had anyone blast my practice serve back off the fence while I'm warming up...if someone did it and I ask you not to do it and you still do...yea, you are going to have some problems because you are now giving me problems that neither of us need. So you keep your panty attitude. I'll keep a good one until you do something have no business. You say I have anger issues(which is clearly bs)....I say are one person most women wouldn't be caught dead on the court with because you'll fold up like a tent the first time someone does light your female partner up and say it's part of the game while giving him and his female partner a pass. Call it what you will...it is ehat it is...again...don't start none...there won't be none...I still hold to that and I'm not backing off of that.


Do you really not understand the difference between hitting a return at someone at the net and trying to injure them by headhunting? Intent is important here. I go at the person at the net tons, but am never trying to hit the person, I am trying to win the point. Conversely, I am thrilled when someone is stupid enough to try to go through me at the net...

Your statement was that a person returning serves during warmups is a reason for you to headhunt, don't try to backtrack your BS. Going at the netman(woman) is nothing other than strategy, or at least that is the way it should be. You are the one who is into retaliation and aggression, and into seeing it in others all the time.

I think you need to see someone for your anger issues, you seem to see reasons to retaliate against people all over the place.
 

chatt_town

Hall of Fame
He hasn't said yet what he would do if someone did light his female partner up whether it be a return or not. I don't know a woman that wouldn't be someone intimidated when a man cracks one towards her and it has all kinds of pace on it...whether it is at the feet, ankle or head....it's all the same to her....He hasn't said yet how he would even handle that other than to tell his woman to get back to the fence and in the alley...and he do nothing in return.....and he also wants us to believe he plays 4.5 and has never had a problem with people lighting him or his partners up. I call bs on that.


That's the USUAL internet advice given by those who have anger issues themselves--it's called PROJECTION--I'm not a shrink, but I did sleep at a Holiday Inn Express last night.
 

chatt_town

Hall of Fame
Was the guy's name Sam?lol He probably was checking to see if you were me.lol
did he and his partner duck the first couple of service returns? That would have been a dead give away especially if he had his partner back on the fence as you were returning.lol I'm sorry...He thinks I'm angry but I have fun every chance I get. I just don't take any chit from anyone while I'm on the court because I am there to have fun. I can deal with bs off the court. I'm sure all of us have enough of it in our lives. Like I said....I'm pretty easy to deal with. We can do it the easy way and have fun or we can do it the hard way...I'm going to have fun regardless.lol

Played a match this weekend that reminded me of this thread.
Opponent was trying to hit return 'winners' during warmup. I don't see that happen a lot at 4.5, but whatever... I had already warmed up with teammates previously, and I don't actually go for my serve in warmup anyway. So after a few of those I told him I've had enough serve warmup and that was that.
Made no difference either way in the match itself. So I think people are making a big deal over nothing.
 
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Rjtennis

Hall of Fame
So by returning a few warmup serves people get used to your spins?
OK..... :confused:

Well if that bothers you then next time do the same thing as them, warmup earlier so you keep your spins super secret.

I mean what do you expect: someone to walk up and shout: "Rule, rule, rule! Can't do this, code violation: taking advantage of secret spin serve used while warming up"?

Chipping a few back is one thing. Ripping return winners is a different story. If you need to blast balls to get a return rhythm you need to head back to the practice court.

I would expect for someone not to blast balls at me while I'm trying to warm up my arm. I probably wouldn't care, but I would find it odd.
 

rajah84

Semi-Pro
Wow, we found another genius in this forum. Amazing intelligent poster. Why can't more people on this forum be like you. I can only wish.

One more question, how do you stop opponents from doing shadow swings like crazy person, right before I serve to them. it bothers me. now this is during the match.

Either deal with it or don't play doubles with stupid and or hypercompetitive people. I myself chose the later. Good luck.
 

sam_p

Professional
Nah...you got it wrong...am I into retaliation...sure I am especially if you come at me. You can play on words but let me ask you. At the 4.5 level...do you push the ball at the guy at the net to get the point or do you go at them(obviously aiming for their feet). I'm asking because none of us are pros. If you hit the poor guy in the face or God forbid the groin area...I mean you did hurt them. Whether the intent was there or not you went at them to get a point and you know just like I know you don't push the ball to the person at the net...and if you do...you will certainly get it rifled back at you(to get the point) at 4.5...and even 4.0...it's the way it is. Like I said...I've never had anyone blast my practice serve back off the fence while I'm warming up...if someone did it and I ask you not to do it and you still do...yea, you are going to have some problems because you are now giving me problems that neither of us need. So you keep your panty attitude. I'll keep a good one until you do something have no business. You say I have anger issues(which is clearly bs)....I say are one person most women wouldn't be caught dead on the court with because you'll fold up like a tent the first time someone does light your female partner up and say it's part of the game while giving him and his female partner a pass. Call it what you will...it is ehat it is...again...don't start none...there won't be none...I still hold to that and I'm not backing off of that.

Don't read much do you? Or is it simply a comprehension problem?
 

sam_p

Professional
Nah...you got it wrong...am I into retaliation...sure I am especially if you come at me. You can play on words but let me ask you. At the 4.5 level...do you push the ball at the guy at the net to get the point or do you go at them(obviously aiming for their feet). I'm asking because none of us are pros. If you hit the poor guy in the face or God forbid the groin area...I mean you did hurt them. Whether the intent was there or not you went at them to get a point and you know just like I know you don't push the ball to the person at the net...and if you do...you will certainly get it rifled back at you(to get the point) at 4.5...and even 4.0...it's the way it is. Like I said...I've never had anyone blast my practice serve back off the fence while I'm warming up...if someone did it and I ask you not to do it and you still do...yea, you are going to have some problems because you are now giving me problems that neither of us need. So you keep your panty attitude. I'll keep a good one until you do something have no business. You say I have anger issues(which is clearly bs)....I say are one person most women wouldn't be caught dead on the court with because you'll fold up like a tent the first time someone does light your female partner up and say it's part of the game while giving him and his female partner a pass. Call it what you will...it is ehat it is...again...don't start none...there won't be none...I still hold to that and I'm not backing off of that.

I'm trying to understand your garbled English here.

You seem to be saying that now you'd only get upset if someone "blast my practice serve back off the fence" - this seems to be a new standard you are unveiling here.

Further, you talk about hitting at the net man/woman again. This is part of doubles. You have no business getting mad about it and you have no business seeking retaliation for it by intent of injuring your opponent.

You also seem to have mistakenly assumed something about me and the way I play. I am an aggressive doubles player, I go down the line on returns a lot. I hit the ball hard (probably a hell of a lot harder than you and keep it in too...), but I am never intending to hurt someone. You clearly feel slighted when someone hits the ball at your partner at the net and you clearly feel that it is appropriate to retaliate rather than to just play smart tennis. I am of the mind that this is due to your deep seated anger issues (which you deny but keep demonstrating here).
 

sam_p

Professional
Played a match this weekend that reminded me of this thread.
Opponent was trying to hit return 'winners' during warmup. I don't see that happen a lot at 4.5, but whatever...

Exactly right ... "whatever". The people on this thread seem to think a) that this never happens and b) it is some major faux pas. Both of these views are bunk - I run across it a lot and it is no big deal.
 

sam_p

Professional
That's exactly right.... He gets it. He's acting like he's never ran into some @$$holes before on the court. 4.5 my Arse.lol

I've run across plenty of idiots on the court, but I generally let my tennis do the talking, seems to generally work. What I don't do is obvious headhunting at the people at the net, something you seem to think is a good idea.
 

sam_p

Professional
Great example, Bartoli, there's someone who gets along with others, especially her father and the the French Federation--yah, that's a pair I want to model my game on.

Setting up those strawmen are we now? Where did I ever say that I modeled myself after Bartoli.

I just put forward a handy, recent example of someone at a high level who was returning serves. I actually noticed that Serena and Masha were doing it last week as well during warmups. The point is that it isn't a big deal whether someone does or doesn't hit returns during warmup. It is just another stroke. It is entirely permissible to warm it up. If you have a problem with it, don't hit serves to the person.

What is so funny about this thread is how it spins on and on with this contention that it is somehow illegitimate to return serves during warmup despite the fact that this is patently false. It isn't against the rules, it is commonly done when you are finished warming up your own serve and it even makes sense as part of warming up.
 
...I am of the mind that this is due to your deep seated anger issues (which you deny but keep demonstrating here).

Well there you go again, dx'ing psychological conditions over the intenet, whatever happened to the couch? And just as irrationally you think you know you can hit a forehand DTL harder then he can--based on what empirical knowledge of yours? You are sharpening your skills of PROJECTING though--nothing like virtual pyssing matches on a message board--I'm gonna' pop a few Flomaxes and shoot for the fences.

What the OP has been referring to is an opponent having some discretion and social tennis skills, not blasting shots at a woman player, who is a step up from a beginner, in a rec match, who obviously doesn't have the athletic skills to protect herself of a professional lady wrestler. A skilled player can control and win matches in such a situation, without resorting to brute force, using spin and placement instead.
 
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Nostradamus

Bionic Poster
OK, i think i got the Solution

Ok, instead of getting mad and fighting with those jerks that returns your practice serves... Here is what I decided to do. I am going to practice warmup serves only, nothing big. and if some jerk decided to returns it, I will hit a approach shot and go into the net. This way I will get grooved on my Serves as well as hitting approach shots and going into net for good position.

This will serve 2 purposes. I can still warmup my serves and send a signal that I can rip any of your returns and go to the net and put you in disadvantage.:)
 

sam_p

Professional
Well there you go again, dx'ing psychological conditions over the intenet, whatever happened to the couch? And just as irrationally you think you know you can hit a forehand DTL harder then he can--based on what empirical knowledge of yours? You are sharpening your skills of PROJECTING though--nothing like virtual pyssing matches on a message board--I'm gonna' pop a few Flomaxes and shoot for the fences.

What the OP has been referring to is an opponent having some discretion and social tennis skills, not blasting shots at a woman player, who is a step up from a beginner, in a rec match, who obviously doesn't have the athletic skills to protect herself of a professional lady wrestler. A skilled player can control and win matches in such a situation, without resorting to brute force, using spin and placement instead.

Referring to the fact that he is a lower level player when assuming that I hit with more pace than he does - a safe assumption since I am a 4.5 player and generally hit with plenty of pace.

You seem to be having a bit of a problem yourself since you seem to need to leap to the defense of the other poster and to put words in my mouth. Perhaps I should psychoanalyze you as well? The other poster's words drip with aggression, so not remotely a stretch to assume he has anger problems. Maybe you do too? Hmmmm :confused:

In addition, I am obviously (as I've said at multiple points in this thread) talking about playing with 4.5 or higher women players, who generally would be insulted if you thought they would be scared to be hit at. Generally 4.5 or 5.0 women who like to play with and against pace are the ones who play 9.0 or 10.0 mixed. They are not (again generally) upset by having the ball hit at them, they seem to rather enjoy putting it away at the feet of the net man instead.
 
SamP, yes you are right, the whole world is overwrought with aggression and you are the only calm mind left--please let us know what ashram you are playing at, I want to join you, are you at Mt. Madonna? By the sixth page of any thread, who knows or cares what the OP was about anymore--there is no rationality left at this point--nor should there be any. Anything of any import has been stated in the first page or two, Any one left standing or posting works for the government, is on SSI or is retired--I'm here to practice my typing skills. If you'd quit brain-storming here you could've be a 5.0 by now.
 

Maui19

Hall of Fame
Everywhere I've played, if you start returning someone else's warmup serves, it signals that your are through with your serve warmup and your opponent can continue to hit warm up serves as he/she sees fit. No big deal.

This thread leads me to believe there are a lot of very very fussy people playing tennis.
 

chatt_town

Hall of Fame
I like that...lol :) Good suggestion.


Ok, instead of getting mad and fighting with those jerks that returns your practice serves... Here is what I decided to do. I am going to practice warmup serves only, nothing big. and if some jerk decided to returns it, I will hit a approach shot and go into the net. This way I will get grooved on my Serves as well as hitting approach shots and going into net for good position.

This will serve 2 purposes. I can still warmup my serves and send a signal that I can rip any of your returns and go to the net and put you in disadvantage.:)
 

chatt_town

Hall of Fame
lol...now that was funny. lol

SamP, yes you are right, the whole world is overwrought with aggression and you are the only calm mind left--please let us know what ashram you are playing at, I want to join you, are you at Mt. Madonna? By the sixth page of any thread, who knows or cares what the OP was about anymore--there is no rationality left at this point--nor should there be any. Anything of any import has been stated in the first page or two, Any one left standing or posting works for the government, is on SSI or is retired--I'm here to practice my typing skills. If you'd quit brain-storming here you could've be a 5.0 by now.
 

sam_p

Professional
SamP, yes you are right, the whole world is overwrought with aggression and you are the only calm mind left--please let us know what ashram you are playing at, I want to join you, are you at Mt. Madonna? By the sixth page of any thread, who knows or cares what the OP was about anymore--there is no rationality left at this point--nor should there be any. Anything of any import has been stated in the first page or two, Any one left standing or posting works for the government, is on SSI or is retired--I'm here to practice my typing skills. If you'd quit brain-storming here you could've be a 5.0 by now.

Namaste...I play at 14,000 ft in a Tibetan Buddhist monastery in Nepal on a court made if ice.
 

chatt_town

Hall of Fame
awwww here we go with the insults because I don't agree with your little 4.5 analysis. I understand clearly...you don't know what the f'k you're talking about or you're delusional....see how easy that was. How about this.....How about you keep playing the way you play and I keep playing the way I play and agree to disagree opposed to insulting each other. Deal?


Don't read much do you? Or is it simply a comprehension problem?
 

chatt_town

Hall of Fame
<chatt does is bryan bros impersonation running and jumping and chest bumping Tennis Tom>


That'll teach'em....tell'em again Tom.....You betta ask somebody there Sammy.


Well there you go again, dx'ing psychological conditions over the intenet, whatever happened to the couch? And just as irrationally you think you know you can hit a forehand DTL harder then he can--based on what empirical knowledge of yours? You are sharpening your skills of PROJECTING though--nothing like virtual pyssing matches on a message board--I'm gonna' pop a few Flomaxes and shoot for the fences.

What the OP has been referring to is an opponent having some discretion and social tennis skills, not blasting shots at a woman player, who is a step up from a beginner, in a rec match, who obviously doesn't have the athletic skills to protect herself of a professional lady wrestler. A skilled player can control and win matches in such a situation, without resorting to brute force, using spin and placement instead.
 

sam_p

Professional
awwww here we go with the insults because I don't agree with your little 4.5 analysis. I understand clearly...you don't know what the f'k you're talking about or you're delusional....see how easy that was. How about this.....How about you keep playing the way you play and I keep playing the way I play and agree to disagree opposed to insulting each other. Deal?

Hmmmm, very belligerent and childish to insult me in the same post and then ask me for a favor...
 
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chatt_town

Hall of Fame
Dude...don't flatter yourself...you made too many assumptions. About half the tourneys I play during the year are played at 4.5....you're not talking to some 3.0 head case. I just don't see a need to try and one up you with the level of play. That's why I asked you what difference it made. It really doesn't once you get to 4.0. You are expected to as they say in boxing(protect yourself at all times). We just have a difference of opinion. The guys at 4.5 are better players but the attitude is quite the same when it comes to balls being directed at you as a player..especially men. You don't gripe about getting tagged in the chest with a volley or knees etc...Even if you did get tagged elswhere you pretty much have to blame yourself or your partner. The person hitting the ball is never at fault for your partner leaving a hanging curve ball if you will or you moving like a turtle and not getting out of the way.

I and you have the right to the entire court and as you said or tried to put it as nice as you said..."coming my way to get the point" ....okay...whatever...that's the way it's played most of the time but there is the every now and then ball that really gets pelted at you because people think you made a bad call or any number of reasons. If you're telling us you've never experienced that at 4.5...then you are not being honest here. You can play on my words all you want but I will stand by the fact that if you are disrespectful then you whatever you get you asked for it. Your level of disrespect will determine on what you get and many players agree with that no matter what level you're playing.


Referring to the fact that he is a lower level player when assuming that I hit with more pace than he does - a safe assumption since I am a 4.5 player and generally hit with plenty of pace.

You seem to be having a bit of a problem yourself since you seem to need to leap to the defense of the other poster and to put words in my mouth. Perhaps I should psychoanalyze you as well? The other poster's words drip with aggression, so not remotely a stretch to assume he has anger problems. Maybe you do too? Hmmmm :confused:

In addition, I am obviously (as I've said at multiple points in this thread) talking about playing with 4.5 or higher women players, who generally would be insulted if you thought they would be scared to be hit at. Generally 4.5 or 5.0 women who like to play with and against pace are the ones who play 9.0 or 10.0 mixed. They are not (again generally) upset by having the ball hit at them, they seem to rather enjoy putting it away at the feet of the net man instead.
 

sam_p

Professional
Dude...don't flatter yourself...you made too many assumptions. About half the tourneys I play during the year are played at 4.5....you're not talking to some 3.0 head case. I just don't see a need to try and one up you with the level of play. That's why I asked you what difference it made. It really doesn't once you get to 4.0. You are expected to as they say in boxing(protect yourself at all times). We just have a difference of opinion. The guys at 4.5 are better players but the attitude is quite the same when it comes to balls being directed at you as a player..especially men. You don't gripe about getting tagged in the chest with a volley or knees etc...Even if you did get tagged elswhere you pretty much have to blame yourself or your partner. The person hitting the ball is never at fault for your partner leaving a hanging curve ball if you will or you moving like a turtle and not getting out of the way.

I and you have the right to the entire court and as you said or tried to put it as nice as you said..."coming my way to get the point" ....okay...whatever...that's the way it's played most of the time but there is the every now and then ball that really gets pelted at you because people think you made a bad call or any number of reasons. If you're telling us you've never experienced that at 4.5...then you are not being honest here. You can play on my words all you want but I will stand by the fact that if you are disrespectful then you whatever you get you asked for it. Your level of disrespect will determine on what you get and many players agree with that no matter what level you're playing.

So basically you completely agree with me, good to know.

Oh, and if you are playing competitive mixed with a 3.0 woman as a 4.0, then you are playing 7.0 and should be ashamed of yourself, unless you're trying to pick up dates.
 

chatt_town

Hall of Fame
ahhhh as you have pretty much the whole thread....You've made some assumptions...I haven't played 7.0 mixed in about 6 years. If you had been paying attention you would have saw that way back when as you were spewing venom on the board everywhere. I have no need to pick up dates dude. The wife and I dish out beatings at 8.5 tourneys(Just won one this past Memorial weekend) and A1 alta.

Let me ask you though. Your experience seems to be that you can only pick up dates at 7.0...is that because the women at 4.5 saw you as cowardly and don't want to date a guy that doesn't protect his woman? You opened yourself up for that dude.....sorry..I told you I have fun every chance I get. lol You done....or you want some more?



So basically you completely agree with me, good to know.

Oh, and if you are playing competitive mixed with a 3.0 woman as a 4.0, then you are playing 7.0 and should be ashamed of yourself, unless you're trying to pick up dates.
 

chatt_town

Hall of Fame
Balls? Tom, it's clear that he doesn't have any balls. You heard him...you can light his woman up like a Christmas Tree and he'll just continue to read scripture after scripture from the Bible and pray while asking her to get back behind the baseline.


What kind of balls do they use up there? Do you use cleats or ice skates?
 
I played a doubles match on Saturday where one of my opponents was crushing my warm up serves back. I did the craziest thing, ignored it, and just kept warming up serves. Groundbreaking huh...
 

chatt_town

Hall of Fame
Gun,

It was fun...it always is. It's also fun to see the cowards that come out. At least Sam directs his insults or whatever at someone and not the indirect cowardly stuff that shows up every now and then. It's bad when one is a coward on the internet...so you know they are defenseless on the court. :)

You guys are hillarious.

10 pages on why its so terrible to warm up a particular shot. Its possibly going to be the first shot I hit in the match and one im going to play on around 50% of the points. Only thing I'm trying to acheive in the warm-up is a little info about my oponent and the playing surface. I want to know how the ball rises of the surface.

Done.
 
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