Drama at my local club

jdubbs said:
So Saturday I go to my local club to play their social hit and giggle doubles program just to hit some serves and volleys and get ready for my Sunday match without exerting myself much. People take it serious, but it's a bit of a joke as it's usually low level.

First match, I get paired with a new guy, he's probably about a 3.5 (I'm a 4.5).
We win the toss, he just goes to the service line to serve. I don't say anything, even though I likely have a much better serve and would rather be first since I'll have more opptys to serve and win the set.
He double faults the game away and we quickly lose the next game too.

So now it's my serve. He's standing at the service line pretty far away from the net. I hit a huge serve, the opponent hits it right at his feet. Their point.

So, down 0-15, he's standing again at the service line, and I tell him to move towards the net so he has an easy shot to put away. He shakes his head and says "I don't play doubles" and I say "that's ok, I do"
We win the game easily.

We switch sides and he calls me over.
"Hey bro" he says "I don't like how you came at me. Don't disrespect me"
I say "it's just strategy, normal part of doubles, and by the way, I can come out you any way I feel like it" It got heated...he continued to argue with me, and he kept walking over to say it to my face. I said something along the lines of "what are you gonna do about it? You're free to leave" and he storms off the court.

Was I wrong, or was he being too sensitive? I hate drama, but I'm not the type to back down and doubles strategy is a part of the game.
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I'd say you were a little out of line, but not that bad. I wouldn't have been offended, but someone else might be. Sounds like this guy was oversensative too. Like many others said, tough to evaluate without actually hearing how everything was said. Playing with a new dubs partner at a casual tennis get together, I think the best you can do is make a very gentle and friendly suggestion about how they are playing. If they don't take your good advice then just let it go. Don't push.
I play quite a bit of "pick up" tennis, so I've been in this situation several times. It can be very frustrating dealing with players who know nothing about proper strategy, positioning, etc....On days like that I just try to relax and use the match to just practice my strokes.
 
ACESario said:
can I one up you here? I had a guy throw a racket at me Saturday morning in drill. This is the club 'big hitters' drill, which is an hour of some doubles points basicaly. I'm 4.0, this other guy is a 4.0 but doesnt play much competetive tennis, (he'd rather play against hte ball machine than an opponent). So its about 45 minutes into the hour, and we are on opposing sides at the net for a few points that get fed in to the baseline players with the other player at the net... both our partners are weaker players at the baseline and we were both poaching. I hit a few good shots at his feet, one past him at the T, and one past him in the alley. He did the same to me when he could. IMO this is normal doubles strategy... hit attacking shots short-to-short... basically to the net guy. I guess he was getting frustrated, but I didnt really know it at the time.
Anyhow, with our partners back. My partner hits a very deep ground stroke, his partner lobs it up so I run over and back and hit a jumping overhead and tag the guy at the net with it.. somewhere between the upper leg and lower back as he was turning around. ( I wasnt really trying to hit him... it never even entered my head to hit him on purpose, I was just hammering an over head.. then again I wasnt really trying to avoid hitting someone) so he turns around yelling with a look to kill and takes his racket back and hucks it... I could tell he was aiming for me, then at the last minute decided against it and pulled it down into the net... it hit the tape and landed on his side. After he cursed me out I told him I wasn't aiming at him, just hitting my shot... and take it easy, its just a tennis ball. I did not apologize... normally I would but after throwing a racket at me I wasnt going to do so. He told me I had been going after him all day and the last 6 shots were at him and around his feet.. Well, DUH... they were... but it wasn't a personal attack, I was just picking on the net guy and trying to win the point.
So the rest of the hour, and even in the locker room he was giving me the evil eye. I tried to talk to him, but he wouldn't listen.
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Good post. I will never understand people who get so damn angry when you hit at them. Even in the pros you see these guys get so bent out of shape. Like you said, ITS JUST A TENNIS BALL! Even going at 100mph the worst it will do is sting a little when it hits. Unless of course it catches you in the wrong place(ouch). Hitting at the net mans feet is always a smart play. And on a tough overhead even very strong players can't control where they hit it.
 
jdubbs said:
So Saturday I go to my local club to play their social hit and giggle doubles program just to hit some serves and volleys and get ready for my Sunday match without exerting myself much. People take it serious, but it's a bit of a joke as it's usually low level.

First match, I get paired with a new guy, he's probably about a 3.5 (I'm a 4.5).
We win the toss, he just goes to the service line to serve. I don't say anything, even though I likely have a much better serve and would rather be first since I'll have more opptys to serve and win the set.
He double faults the game away and we quickly lose the next game too.

So now it's my serve. He's standing at the service line pretty far away from the net. I hit a huge serve, the opponent hits it right at his feet. Their point.

So, down 0-15, he's standing again at the service line, and I tell him to move towards the net so he has an easy shot to put away. He shakes his head and says "I don't play doubles" and I say "that's ok, I do"
We win the game easily.

We switch sides and he calls me over.
"Hey bro" he says "I don't like how you came at me. Don't disrespect me"
I say "it's just strategy, normal part of doubles, and by the way, I can come out you any way I feel like it" It got heated...he continued to argue with me, and he kept walking over to say it to my face. I said something along the lines of "what are you gonna do about it? You're free to leave" and he storms off the court.

Was I wrong, or was he being too sensitive? I hate drama, but I'm not the type to back down and doubles strategy is a part of the game.
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baseline you newb
 
"yelling with a look to kill and takes his racket back and hucks it... I could tell he was aiming for me, then at the last minute decided against it and pulled it down into the net"

Damn, I've frustrated a few opponents with passes or drilling them, but no one ever threw a racquet at me, however I'd love it if they did!

You see, I could never bring myself to smash one of my beloved sticks, but if someone threw theirs at me I would retrieve it, promptly smash it in half, and politely return it! :twisted:
 
Some players are so ignorant and stubborn. Yo tell the guy to poach or switch sides or fake poach and they look at you offended or confused like you asked them for a $5000 loan. Some inferior players refuse to be told or asked to do anything different. They just keep playing the same old predictable stupid tennis and making the same errors.
 
Hitting the guy in the drills I sensed you might have been trying to send a message to this guy. A sort of personal battle. He certainly felt so.
 
tennis tom said:
The guys an idiot, if he doesn't play doubles why does he sign-up for a doubles mixer? If he wants to pick-up chicks, why doesn't he go to the club bar or lie around the pool?
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I see some of you have never put together a mixer.

Our club tries to get the whole club to play. We have to make money to keep the lights on so there is a charge per person. We also don't want you to quit the club due to inactivity. I've personally sat down and made 50 fone calls (just my share) to members trying to get them to a mixer.
Plus, our staff loves tennis!! We love getting people together that don't normally play each other and get them acquainted.
So keep in mind that most people at mixers are there to have fun and free beer. Be on your best behavior towards others and make it fun for those in a lower rating. Thanks!
 
jdubbs said:
So Saturday I go to my local club to play their social hit and giggle doubles program just to hit some serves and volleys and get ready for my Sunday match without exerting myself much. People take it serious, but it's a bit of a joke as it's usually low level.

First match, I get paired with a new guy, he's probably about a 3.5 (I'm a 4.5).
We win the toss, he just goes to the service line to serve. I don't say anything, even though I likely have a much better serve and would rather be first since I'll have more opptys to serve and win the set.
He double faults the game away and we quickly lose the next game too.

So now it's my serve. He's standing at the service line pretty far away from the net. I hit a huge serve, the opponent hits it right at his feet. Their point.

So, down 0-15, he's standing again at the service line, and I tell him to move towards the net so he has an easy shot to put away. He shakes his head and says "I don't play doubles" and I say "that's ok, I do"
We win the game easily.

We switch sides and he calls me over.
"Hey bro" he says "I don't like how you came at me. Don't disrespect me"
I say "it's just strategy, normal part of doubles, and by the way, I can come out you any way I feel like it" It got heated...he continued to argue with me, and he kept walking over to say it to my face. I said something along the lines of "what are you gonna do about it? You're free to leave" and he storms off the court.

Was I wrong, or was he being too sensitive? I hate drama, but I'm not the type to back down and doubles strategy is a part of the game.
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You were wrong to say "what are you going to do about it?" I don't care how much of a d*** he is, saying that is just asking for a confrontation. That's something that would get said in a bar after too many root beers....not ever on a tennis court.
 
jdubbs said:
So Saturday I go to my local club to play their social hit and giggle doubles program just to hit some serves and volleys and get ready for my Sunday match without exerting myself much. People take it serious, but it's a bit of a joke as it's usually low level.

First match, I get paired with a new guy, he's probably about a 3.5 (I'm a 4.5).
We win the toss, he just goes to the service line to serve. I don't say anything, even though I likely have a much better serve and would rather be first since I'll have more opptys to serve and win the set.
He double faults the game away and we quickly lose the next game too.

So now it's my serve. He's standing at the service line pretty far away from the net. I hit a huge serve, the opponent hits it right at his feet. Their point.

So, down 0-15, he's standing again at the service line, and I tell him to move towards the net so he has an easy shot to put away. He shakes his head and says "I don't play doubles" and I say "that's ok, I do"
We win the game easily.

We switch sides and he calls me over.
"Hey bro" he says "I don't like how you came at me. Don't disrespect me"
I say "it's just strategy, normal part of doubles, and by the way, I can come out you any way I feel like it" It got heated...he continued to argue with me, and he kept walking over to say it to my face. I said something along the lines of "what are you gonna do about it? You're free to leave" and he storms off the court.

Was I wrong, or was he being too sensitive? I hate drama, but I'm not the type to back down and doubles strategy is a part of the game.
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Oh boy!

giphy.gif


:grin:
 
jdubbs said:
So Saturday I go to my local club to play their social hit and giggle doubles program just to hit some serves and volleys and get ready for my Sunday match without exerting myself much. People take it serious, but it's a bit of a joke as it's usually low level.

First match, I get paired with a new guy, he's probably about a 3.5 (I'm a 4.5).
We win the toss, he just goes to the service line to serve. I don't say anything, even though I likely have a much better serve and would rather be first since I'll have more opptys to serve and win the set.
He double faults the game away and we quickly lose the next game too.

So now it's my serve. He's standing at the service line pretty far away from the net. I hit a huge serve, the opponent hits it right at his feet. Their point.

So, down 0-15, he's standing again at the service line, and I tell him to move towards the net so he has an easy shot to put away. He shakes his head and says "I don't play doubles" and I say "that's ok, I do"
We win the game easily.

We switch sides and he calls me over.
"Hey bro" he says "I don't like how you came at me. Don't disrespect me"
I say "it's just strategy, normal part of doubles, and by the way, I can come out you any way I feel like it" It got heated...he continued to argue with me, and he kept walking over to say it to my face. I said something along the lines of "what are you gonna do about it? You're free to leave" and he storms off the court.

Was I wrong, or was he being too sensitive? I hate drama, but I'm not the type to back down and doubles strategy is a part of the game.
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You were wrong. It was unfair of you to say nothing when your partner walked to the baseline to serve and then to hold that fact against him. The time to address the question of which player serves first is before the first serve, not after the match is over. Once in a social match, my partner said after we won the toss, "I might as well serve first and get it over with." I replied, "I love to serve! Could I please serve first?" And she said, "yes."

You could have addressed this as soon as your partner walked to the base line by suggesting that the two of you discuss strategy briefly. My guess is that he preferred to serve first because he was uncomfortable playing net and thought that you would probably be the better net player.

I have one partner who is better at net than I am, so we usually decide to have me serve first so she can work her magic at the net.
 
ttbrowne said:
I see some of you have never put together a mixer.

Our club tries to get the whole club to play. We have to make money to keep the lights on so there is a charge per person. We also don't want you to quit the club due to inactivity. I've personally sat down and made 50 fone calls (just my share) to members trying to get them to a mixer.
Plus, our staff loves tennis!! We love getting people together that don't normally play each other and get them acquainted.
So keep in mind that most people at mixers are there to have fun and free beer. Be on your best behavior towards others and make it fun for those in a lower rating. Thanks!
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I didn't think free beer and good behavior went well together? :shock:

Sounds like fun though. Wish our club would do something like that. :-)
 
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Also, once you deduced that he was uncomfortable playing net, you essentially told him to do it anyway. If he can't play net and double-faulted an entire game away, he is probably not even a 3.5 player, and his ground strokes are probably all he has. Demanding that he use normal doubles strategy and play net won't automatically make him proficient. You are the more experienced player, so it is up to you to use some creativity in your strategy rather than insisting that he use skills he doesn't have.
 
Nostradamus said:
ONE question, If you hit a HUGE serve, how is it that opponents were able to hit a return right at your partner's feet even if he was standing on the service like ??? just curious
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Even a blind squirrel finds an acorn every now and again.
 
jdubbs said:
Mine was measured at 98mph last month, so indoor on fast courts, it's relatively huge, especially against some 3.5's.
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No joke, saw a guy hit a forehand 95 mph. Nearly 30 yrs ago. With a T-2000. Served 108 mph. With a T-2000.
 
Avles said:
As you describe it, with no access to tone, context, etc., it sounds to me like your comments were appropriate.

On the other hand, if you feel like you're slumming by playing these matches (which is what your "bit of a joke" paragraph makes it sound like), then maybe your superior attitude came across when you were giving advice... there's no way for us to know really.
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That was my first reaction - but really, what he said would have to be done in an awfully jovial way to not be annoying and even from the OP's tone here - it's evident he doesn't have the social skills to mask his air of superiority.

His actions were ridiculous....he claims he doesn't take it seriously (which nobody should at social doubles with random partners), then in the 2nd game he's already giving out advice - NOT in a sugar-coated way - to a player he knows full well is 2 levels below him.

I've played and coached open players and world-class juniors. When I go to things like this, I DO NOT give out unsolicited advice - certainly not during match play and not across the court where others can hear it.

If you're an accomplished player, very often - lesser players will even ask you for advice before/after play. In the meantime, suck it up and be a gentleman and good-sport....sure you're 3.5 partner will make ALL KINDS of errors...he even admitted he doesn't know doubles....let him. It's supposed to be fun....don't try to be the court boss...it makes absolutely no difference who wins.

Sorry OP, but to be quite frank, you were a first class D-bag here...if you don't want to be. Don't give out advice, smile if you lose the point due to your lesser partner, and say "tough one" when they hit it as his feet. If you talk about the match IN PRIVATE later, then say "one thing I notice is you're fairly far back when I'm serving...one my first serve, if we're getting weak returns, it's a good idea to play further up so you have a much easier put-away volley...."

THAT is what you should have done - being a helpful, nice, more advanced player.

Unfortunately...tennis specializes in D-bags...and legends-in-their-own-mind players....and this stuff seems "normal" to some...
 
Ronaldo said:
No joke, saw a guy hit a forehand 95 mph. Nearly 30 yrs ago. With a T-2000. Served 108 mph. With a T-2000.
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I have hit 117mph with something similar - but worse to the t2000 - which I bought for 2 dollars...and I've gone 121mph with wood. I really don't get more than about 10mph difference out of any racquet...from wood to the stiffest widebody once I adjust.
 
Orange said:
You were wrong. It was unfair of you to say nothing when your partner walked to the baseline to serve and then to hold that fact against him. The time to address the question of which player serves first is before the first serve, not after the match is over. Once in a social match, my partner said after we won the toss, "I might as well serve first and get it over with." I replied, "I love to serve! Could I please serve first?" And she said, "yes."

You could have addressed this as soon as your partner walked to the base line by suggesting that the two of you discuss strategy briefly. My guess is that he preferred to serve first because he was uncomfortable playing net and thought that you would probably be the better net player.

I have one partner who is better at net than I am, so we usually decide to have me serve first so she can work her magic at the net.
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Indeed...I really doubt a 3.5 who came for "hit and giggles" doubles, who double-faults and freely admits he doesn't play doubles walked back out of arrogance - he was likely nervous and/or just not thinking about it, since he doesn't play doubles and got teamed up with a much better player - who also has a condescending attitude and will shortly be giving him blunt instructions in front of everyone and saying things like 'it's OK, I do"....because he thinks he can come at him "any way he wants".

Ugly, ugly stuff from the OP
 
g4driver said:
Maybe you meant that as you don't play social tennis with anyone 3.5 or less.

Two 4.5 friends on my 7.5 team actually called me and asked to play on my 7.5 team. I didn't want to bother two 4.5 guys, but both guys love to play and since their 9.5 teams didn't happen, they only had 8.5, so they called me.

One of the 4.5's was on two mixed teams with me and he will be bumped to 5.0 in a less than a month. Both guys played college tennis and both were willing to help two 3.0 guys learn more about tennis from guys with a lot of experience.

Thankfully, both of those 4.5 guys gave something positive back and the soon to be minted 5.0 will gladly play 8.5 with a 3.5 next year.
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LOL, I hope this post is sarcasm. This is some funny stuff! Unless your team is actually comprised of Andre Agassi's and Pete Sampras', I'm not sure there is actually such thing as 7.0+, according to the NTRP system. Collegiate players are around 6. So I'm left wondering if you were, in fact, playing with tennis gods.
 
penguyen17 said:
LOL, I hope this post is sarcasm. This is some funny stuff! Unless your team is actually comprised of Andre Agassi's and Pete Sampras', I'm not sure there is actually such thing as 7.0+, according to the NTRP system. Collegiate players are around 6. So I'm left wondering if you were, in fact, playing with tennis gods.
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i think hes talking about combined ratings

2 4.5=9.0 doubles
 
encylopedia said:
Indeed...I really doubt a 3.5 who came for "hit and giggles" doubles, who double-faults and freely admits he doesn't play doubles walked back out of arrogance - he was likely nervous and/or just not thinking about it, since he doesn't play doubles and got teamed up with a much better player - who also has a condescending attitude and will shortly be giving him blunt instructions in front of everyone and saying things like 'it's OK, I do"....because he thinks he can come at him "any way he wants".

Ugly, ugly stuff from the OP
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From a new user, this is pretty ugly of yourself. Why don't you hang around for a few months before you start attacking people.

Really, quite poor form to do it within your first month. Just some friendly advice.
 
jdubbs said:
So Saturday I go to my local club to play their social hit and giggle doubles program just to hit some serves and volleys and get ready for my Sunday match without exerting myself much. People take it serious, but it's a bit of a joke as it's usually low level.
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You pretty much answered your own question in the first paragraph. It's a social mix in, and a low level one at that. If you go in there people telling how to play and where to stand, people won't like it, you're going to alienate yourself pretty quickly, waste your own time, as well as ending up in situations like the one you describe.
 
Am I the only person reading the encyclopedia-judubbs exhange the same way I envision the jdubbs situation in real life.

En: "jdubbs, you should post better."

Jd: "I don't post well"

En: "That's ok, I do."

Jd: "Bro, I don't like the way you came at me."
 
Funny. I had an almost identical but opposite experience about a year ago.

Got paired up with a guy to play doubles. We are both 3.5. His serve was pretty strong and I am very aggressive at net so on the first point I position myself just about dead center in the service box, maybe even a bit closer to the net. After the first point he tells me to move over next to the alley because I am in his way???

I am kinda speechless but, hey, it's his serve and it's just a club league so I comply. He annoys me the rest of the match with some other stuff.

The fun part is this was a doubles/singles league where you play singles against your doubles partner the second hour or the evening.

Oh the pummeling I gave this guy when we played singles. Didn't say a word to him either.
 
Sox Fan said:
Funny. I had an almost identical but opposite experience about a year ago.

Got paired up with a guy to play doubles. We are both 3.5. His serve was pretty strong and I am very aggressive at net so on the first point I position myself just about dead center in the service box, maybe even a bit closer to the net. After the first point he tells me to move over next to the alley because I am in his way???
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That is quite common. The server is nervous about hitting his partner and wants a clearer field of vision. It is not to be taken as trying to prevent you from positioning yourself.
 
Sox Fan said:
Funny. I had an almost identical but opposite experience about a year ago.

Got paired up with a guy to play doubles. We are both 3.5. His serve was pretty strong and I am very aggressive at net so on the first point I position myself just about dead center in the service box, maybe even a bit closer to the net. After the first point he tells me to move over next to the alley because I am in his way???

I am kinda speechless but, hey, it's his serve and it's just a club league so I comply. He annoys me the rest of the match with some other stuff.

The fun part is this was a doubles/singles league where you play singles against your doubles partner the second hour or the evening.

Oh the pummeling I gave this guy when we played singles. Didn't say a word to him either.
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I play 3.5-4.0 doubles ladder league. Like to play the net and poach. I'm usually a step or two away from center towards alley. I don't trust most of the guys hitting behind me to stand in the middle. Don't care to have my partners be too centered when I'm serving. Almost took a guy's left ear off one time.
 
Mr.Lob said:
I play 3.5-4.0 doubles ladder league. Like to play the net and poach. I'm usually a step or two away from center towards alley. I don't trust most of the guys hitting behind me to stand in the middle. Don't care to have my partners be too centered when I'm serving. Almost took a guy's left ear off one time.
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Wow, usually aim for the right ear
 
We all have experienced someone given us advice in tennis at some point regardless of our level.
I think we are human, right, some more sensitive then others, some more forthcoming or willing to except these tips, advice but the method or the timing, or in tennis , the location on the court of how someone offers or shares this advice that can upset the recipient sometimes. Sometimes people have bad days and are not in a good mood for even a look towards them they will rip you a new one.
I've been to a few mixers, Ive been that newbee, was nervous, excited, hoping to make some friends, find a few hitting partners, but didn't want to suck among the crowd, to be whispered at the club, so I can sense the op teammate was having some stressor that day or evening and your comments good intentions or not didn't sit well with him. Just my thoughts again.
When I have been to these mixers , it was more relaxed, more social, suppose to meet, greet,play a little competitive depending on the group but it was suppose to fun and then enjoy a few drinks.
It sounds like this guy was very very nervous, and not familiar with doubles can be a stressor for someone. He was also probably worried people might talk about his game and that multiplied his nervousness.
We all know being a 3.5 doesn't mean he's a 3.5. We see this at every level, someone who skills aren't ready for that level and will struggle to play but alas they are in that level.
He could a true 3.0 player who self rated at 3.5' or unlucky bump up to 3.5, I don't know as I wasn't there but if you are not going to play with this guy normally I personally would have asked once I see he's my partner, do you play doubles? If so what side do you like to play ?' Are you a net guy ? If he's singles guy would you like to play baseline more since your playing singles ? I don't know how much time you had to meet with this guy before walking on the court.
Tennis players are normally competitive people and I know even in social games some people don't want to lose. If it's social, I can work on my game, going for my shots it's for fun and not worry about a partner if i sense it's going to be one of those matches.
Good news is, he probably won't be playing with you again and he might feel a little embarrassed as well from the situation, I can't answer that for him but I guess league captains deal with this weekly with all the drama, egos, silverbacks, newbees, league vets, hypersensitive individuals out there.
 
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I play club hit and giggle round robins just to be social, and some doubles pairings can be frustrating! But I find even a little friendly direction to your partner on positioning is a waste of time. If you try to move to them where they should be, they quickly get out of any comfort zone they may have and it just gets worse. I just grin and bear it and move on. Actually had a poorer play give me direction in one round robin this past summer. We had never played together, and I was stunned that he would tell me what side I should take and where I should be standing. He went quiet as our one set match went on and we lost as I recall.
 
jdubbs said:
So Saturday I go to my local club to play their social hit and giggle doubles program just to hit some serves and volleys and get ready for my Sunday match without exerting myself much. People take it serious, but it's a bit of a joke as it's usually low level.

First match, I get paired with a new guy, he's probably about a 3.5 (I'm a 4.5).
We win the toss, he just goes to the service line to serve. I don't say anything, even though I likely have a much better serve and would rather be first since I'll have more opptys to serve and win the set.
He double faults the game away and we quickly lose the next game too.

So now it's my serve. He's standing at the service line pretty far away from the net. I hit a huge serve, the opponent hits it right at his feet. Their point.

So, down 0-15, he's standing again at the service line, and I tell him to move towards the net so he has an easy shot to put away. He shakes his head and says "I don't play doubles" and I say "that's ok, I do"
We win the game easily.

We switch sides and he calls me over.
"Hey bro" he says "I don't like how you came at me. Don't disrespect me"
I say "it's just strategy, normal part of doubles, and by the way, I can come out you any way I feel like it" It got heated...he continued to argue with me, and he kept walking over to say it to my face. I said something along the lines of "what are you gonna do about it? You're free to leave" and he storms off the court.

Was I wrong, or was he being too sensitive? I hate drama, but I'm not the type to back down and doubles strategy is a part of the game.
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I've been in this situation a lot of times. Not the confrontations but the different type of social play situations.

Bottom line is that I think you're just wasting your time telling low level players how to play. In my experience, they don't listen, they don't learn, and they don't want to hear it. In any event, that isn't the point of the session and its not why people tend to go to these sessions.

Very, very occasionally (and I'm talking about twice in 5 years), I might give someone a tip at these sessions, but I only do that afterwards, when it's obvious that there's something wrong and they're frustrated eg. them not using a conti grip when serving. And even then, I tread with a light touch and only when I've met them a few times....

Also, there are social play situations and social play situations. Some I go are actually a good standard with team players using them as practise sessions. Sessions as bad as you describe, I simply don't bother going to anymore - they're simply a waste of time.
 
tennisdad65 said:
To the OP:
1) zip it in social doubles.
2) 'huge serves' are not generally slammed to your partners feet.
Click to expand...

Busted! OP sound like a total d***wad BTW. The fact that he would behave that way, and then tell a story about it on line (while embellishing his amazing tennis prowess) takes it to the next level of d***wadishness. Well done. A real TW classic.
 
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There is no way to judge this without actually seeing it, but it takes two to tango. You should probably have just let it be after seeing that he wasn't going to move. Or talked to him on a changeover and brought up, in a nice way, positioning.

I highly doubt you asked nicely and this guy just blew up.

Like I said, takes two to tango.
 
Funny. I've been the lower ranked player in these situations a few times. I am not opposed to suggestions (actually I almost always play up so I can get good tips and help), but I know there is attitude that drives it for some players. Doesn't change my game, but I do tend to be more encouraging when they miss. Saying things like, "Ooooo, close man. You'll get the next one". Or, "Com'on partner, you'll get it." I smile a lot too, just to help.
 
Reps and exercise

I think I'd have whispered in the opponents' ear that you had an inexperienced 3.5 with a lot of attitude and ask them to mix you in to get your reps. They're probably there for reps too. Can't put too much emphasis on winning in those formats.
 
Perrotoro said:
I think I'd have whispered in the opponents' ear that you had an inexperienced 3.5 with a lot of attitude and ask them to mix you in to get your reps. They're probably there for reps too. Can't put too much emphasis on winning in those formats.
Click to expand...

That is rude. No way.
 
First day at my club I volleyed with a 19 year old man ... is that a 'kid', young man? who knows.

On that day we were given a gift bag which included a can of balls which I opened. I was hitting with someone, that person left, and he asked if he could warm up with me.

Ok, we're hitting, he's having some trouble, and in five minutes hits all three balls out into the adjacent woods. "See ya later." he says.

"Do you have any balls?" I say (no pun at the moment) as he walks off - with his gift bag. "No." he says.

No drama, just chutzpah.
 
I go to social tennis sessions at my club quite a bit. I find its best not to give advice unless requested. Some people, even though you are right, can get really narky and you'll only come across as a know it all. If you have to give it, wrap it in a complement first....
 
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