Cindysphinx
G.O.A.T.
I don't play a lot of social doubles (defined as anything other than instruction, tournament or league match).
I've noticed something about social doubles, however. It seems that the protocol is to rotate partners at the end of each set. This often gives you a situation where you've played three sets and each player has partnered once with the others.
The part I'm not getting is that players seem to consider it a huge feather in their caps if they won their set with each different partner. I have even had players on teams I captain offer this up as proof that they are better players than the others (and therefore deserve more play time or whatever).
Is this attitude ("I must be the best player because I was on the winning doubles team in each set!") common and legitimate?
I guess I try not to view things that way when I play social doubles. If I didn't win all three sets, there could be many reasons for this. I might have been playing my weaker receiving side. I might have been playing my personal Plan B (e.g. stay back and hit passing shots). I might have told myself I will not under any circumstances hit a lob or will not bounce anything I can touch. Maybe I will execute these plans well, or maybe I won't. My goal in social dubs is to get out of my comfort zone, see what I can and cannot execute, challenge myself, test unfamiliar skills, and have a good time.
Also, is this a gender thing? I have heard of arguments, resentment and people just getting in a snit if they are on the losing end of all three sets in social doubles. This, of course, is a reaction to all of the preening that goes on by the player who did win all three sets.
Is that simply how it's done in social dubs?
I've noticed something about social doubles, however. It seems that the protocol is to rotate partners at the end of each set. This often gives you a situation where you've played three sets and each player has partnered once with the others.
The part I'm not getting is that players seem to consider it a huge feather in their caps if they won their set with each different partner. I have even had players on teams I captain offer this up as proof that they are better players than the others (and therefore deserve more play time or whatever).
Is this attitude ("I must be the best player because I was on the winning doubles team in each set!") common and legitimate?
I guess I try not to view things that way when I play social doubles. If I didn't win all three sets, there could be many reasons for this. I might have been playing my weaker receiving side. I might have been playing my personal Plan B (e.g. stay back and hit passing shots). I might have told myself I will not under any circumstances hit a lob or will not bounce anything I can touch. Maybe I will execute these plans well, or maybe I won't. My goal in social dubs is to get out of my comfort zone, see what I can and cannot execute, challenge myself, test unfamiliar skills, and have a good time.
Also, is this a gender thing? I have heard of arguments, resentment and people just getting in a snit if they are on the losing end of all three sets in social doubles. This, of course, is a reaction to all of the preening that goes on by the player who did win all three sets.
Is that simply how it's done in social dubs?