Faux pas to challenge league players to play for $20?

lockbox · May 26, 2017

So it's probably not common, but I'm in a new league and I find that most people are not as good as they say they are. I'm about a 4.0 and have been thinking of challenging people to a best-of 3 set match for $20.

What are everyone's thoughts? I really don't mind paying if I get beat by someone who can obviously play and, if I run up against someone who isn't very good, it incentives me to play them nonetheless for the money.

Thoughts?

OrangePower · May 26, 2017

lockbox said:
So it's probably not common, but I'm in a new league and I find that most people are not as good as they say they are. I'm about a 4.0 and have been thinking of challenging people to a best-of 3 set match for $20.

What are everyone's thoughts? I really don't mind paying if I get beat by someone who can obviously play and, if I run up against someone who isn't very good, it incentives me to play them nonetheless for the money.

Thoughts?

I know some players who like to play for money, or beer, or whatever.
Nothing wrong with it as long as all parties are down for it.

LGQ7 · May 26, 2017

Pool hustling is a lost art. Bring it back!

lockbox · May 26, 2017

LGQ7 said:
Pool hustling is a lost art. Bring it back!

The irony is that I do enjoy a good pool game too. I'm just tired of all the 3.5's that think they're 4.0 (or, god forbid, 4.5). I'd almost rather be in a position to play a decent 4.0/4.5 and have to pay than win the money and waste the time/effort on the match against a 3.5.

OrangePower · May 26, 2017

lockbox said:
The irony is that I do enjoy a good pool game too. I'm just tired of all the 3.5's that think they're 4.0 (or, god forbid, 4.5). I'd almost rather be in a position to play a decent 4.0/4.5 and have to pay than win the money and waste the time/effort on the match against a 3.5.

Very easy to tell what level a player is really at, regardless of what they claim to be.
All you have to do is ask them for their USTA computer rating.

Deleted member 23235 · May 26, 2017

lockbox said:
So it's probably not common, but I'm in a new league and I find that most people are not as good as they say they are. I'm about a 4.0 and have been thinking of challenging people to a best-of 3 set match for $20.

What are everyone's thoughts? I really don't mind paying if I get beat by someone who can obviously play and, if I run up against someone who isn't very good, it incentives me to play them nonetheless for the money.

Thoughts?

gosh, that's never happened to me before

i like the idea of playing for something, eliminate the BS'ers trying to play up. but then it gets messy with line calls and cheating.

S&V-not_dead_yet · May 26, 2017

lockbox said:
So it's probably not common, but I'm in a new league and I find that most people are not as good as they say they are. I'm about a 4.0 and have been thinking of challenging people to a best-of 3 set match for $20.

What are everyone's thoughts? I really don't mind paying if I get beat by someone who can obviously play and, if I run up against someone who isn't very good, it incentives me to play them nonetheless for the money.

Thoughts?

What do you hope to gain from betting money on matches [aside from money]? Do you hope to reduce the # of people who say they are better than they actually are?

Moveforwardalways · May 26, 2017

Time to really put it on the line. Instead of money, the loser chops off a finger. Then you will really find out who is a 4.0 and who is a poser.

S&V-not_dead_yet · May 26, 2017

Moveforwardalways said:
Time to really put it on the line. Instead of money, the loser chops off a finger.

"I do not mean to pry...but you don't by any chance happen to have six fingers on your right hand?" - Inigo Montoya

"Do you always begin conversations like this?" - The Man in Black, *The Princess Bride*

Deleted member 23235 · May 26, 2017

lol, never played tennis for money, but there was a guy that always bugged me to play... talking trash, saying i was afraid, etc,...

so i bet him 10 hill sprints (he was overweight).

so i dinked and lobbed him to make him run... won. he welched on the bet in front of his public park peers. but at least he never asked me to play again

stapletonj · May 27, 2017

common in golf, not common in tennis.

personally, dont like to gamble or play for money either one.........

S&V-not_dead_yet · May 27, 2017

stapletonj said:
common in golf, not common in tennis.

personally, dont like to gamble or play for money either one.........

It's common in golf because you're playing in a foursome of presumably good friends. It's good-natured and usually involves multiple bets [ie best tee shot, hole winner, etc].

What OP is talking about is completely different: challenging a complete stranger because he thinks the stranger isn't as good as he says he is.

@lockbox: you may find yourself gaining unwanted notoriety in your new league.

stapletonj · May 28, 2017

s and v, you are right.... but I have seen a lot of golf "hustlers" (I live on a course)

kaninfaan · May 28, 2017

The United States Of America is the first nation who managed to go from barbarism to decadence without passing through civilization.
- George Bernard Shaw

user92626 · May 30, 2017

You'd need to find like minded individuals and form a group of at least 3! Playing for anything without a referee is doomed due to cheating or at least mistrust. It sucks the fun out of it fast.

I tend to play for lunches and the highest (rare) is paying for 3, 4 people, around $50. There are always the few same men who are willing to play but they negotiate a tough deal which makes it very hard to win. Frankly, I'm more of a fair guy who tells them to start at something and then adjust until a match is balanced but even that is a tough sell. With people who do not play for a stake, you can never convince them.

Btw, you never can find people of exact level as yours. You'd be lucky to find 1, extremely lucky if he hangs around to play you often.

J011yroger · May 30, 2017

I've told people I would play them for $10 or $20 per game.

J

Faux pas to challenge league players to play for $20?

lockbox

Rookie

OrangePower

Legend

LGQ7

Hall of Fame

lockbox

Rookie

OrangePower

Legend

Deleted member 23235

Guest

S&V-not_dead_yet

Talk Tennis Guru

Moveforwardalways

Hall of Fame

S&V-not_dead_yet

Talk Tennis Guru

Deleted member 23235

Guest

stapletonj

Hall of Fame

S&V-not_dead_yet

Talk Tennis Guru

stapletonj

Hall of Fame

kaninfaan

Rookie

user92626

G.O.A.T.

J011yroger

Talk Tennis Guru

Similar threads