@FiReFTW ... Ian is fast. It's in his DNA ... this was his father. They used "Matrix" to honor his daddy.
These two sure like to play against each other, god damn that ian dude is as fast as a panther around the court.
These two sure like to play against each other, god damn that ian dude is as fast as a panther around the court.
Neither of these guys look like 5.0 level players.
What is the basis of your conclusion?
My reason is that I have watched a lot of 5.0 level matches and these guys don’t look as good as the 5.0 Matches I have witnessed, especially indoors where it is much easier to look good.
There is a difference between watching a match on video and watching it live. There's also a difference between watching it live and playing.
If you want to compare apples to apples, you'd at least have to watch the ET guys live as I'm sure the ball will appear to be moving a lot faster than on video.
I've played a half dozen 5.0s and done clinics with a bunch of others and from my perspective, the 5.0 rating seems justified.
They don't show up in the UTR database so I have no #s to compare to, only my subjective view.
Well that’s fine but these guys look like 4.5 level to me.
Kevin is typical of the 5.0s in my clinic: heavy TS on both wings [he does slice more in this set than the typical 5.0, in my limited experience].
Ian builds his game around defending his BH [not easy to attack those slices] and waiting for a short ball to attack or a FH to smash, combined with some very good movement.
Kevin would probably hit me off the court while Ian would defend and I'd hit myself off the court.
Hard to hit heavy topspin on both sides when you slice the backhand most of the time.
I’ve never seen 5.0 players slice this often
and I wouldn’t even consider their forehands as heavy topspin.
Kevin hits heavy TS on his BH. Ian is the one slicing the majority of his BHs and yes, he's not hitting TS.
So that means if one slices this much one can't be a 5.0?
The fact that you haven't seen 5.0s slice this often means you just haven't seen the full range of 5.0s playing, not that the use of slice invalidates their 5.0 abilities.
Stevie Johnson, Ivo Karlovic, Steve Darcis, Roberta Vinci, Feliciano Lopez do an awful lot of BH slicing. Even that Federer guy.
Clearly, slicing does not prevent them from achieving great things; the total game has to be considered.
So Kevin's FHs all throughout the video are average or below average TS? We'll agree to disagree.
So only one of the 5.0 players hits heavy topspin on the forehand side? I never said that he hits average or below average that’s your statement. I said that they don’t hit heavy topspin that consistently.
Patel sliced quite a bit. Both are UTR 11.
Nice video. As your video shows, whether the Essential Tennis guys are 5.0 or not, the argument that someone who slices a lot cannot be a high level player, is without merit.
So only one of the 5.0 players hits heavy topspin on the forehand side? I never said that he hits average or below average that’s your statement. I said that they don’t hit heavy topspin that consistently.
You wrote "I wouldn’t even consider their forehands as heavy topspin.". How am I supposed to interpret that other than you think they hit average or less TS? You never used the word "consistently" in your original post. [Let's separate Ian and Kevin: Ian does not hit nearly as much TS as Kevin.]
I'd say when Kevin hits a TS FH, it's got more than average TS on it. In fact, it looks typical of the 5.0s that I know.
Nice video. As your video shows, whether the Essential Tennis guys are 5.0 or not, the argument that someone who slices a lot cannot be a high level player, is without merit.
They look like they're playing about my level, which is low-level 4.5 (very good at #2 singles, sometimes blown off the court at #1 singles).
Why dont u people who say whatever ntrp level at least use 3 layers of that level?
Like low 4.0, mid 4.0, high 4.0
Theres a huge span at one ntrp level that usually spans over 3utr levels, thats a hugeeeeee difference.
F. Lopez, Johnson like the slice. Slice is very nice.
Yep and that’s why they get most shots hit to their backhand side and it hurts them to not have a good topspin backhand.
So the lo 4.5 is saying that they can go even against a guy who won a few future matches????
Get reallllll
I hear you man. Once, i saw this older guy playing and i thought i can handle him easily. Soon enough, he handed me a double babel. He used to play for his country Davis Cup team.I take it back! I'm starting to think these guys might be better than 5.0 but took it easy and played what they thought was a 5.0 level for demonstration purposes for the video.![]()
Agree.Why dont u people who say whatever ntrp level at least use 3 layers of that level?
Like low 4.0, mid 4.0, high 4.0
Theres a huge span at one ntrp level that usually spans over 3utr levels, thats a hugeeeeee difference.
Yes.These guys are 5.0? Are they playing in second gear? Otherwise I’ve seen nothing to identify why they would comfortably beat a 4.5 or 4.0 player. Good footwork - yes. Good composure - yes. Safe hitting - yes. Is that all it takes?
I take it back! I'm starting to think these guys might be better than 5.0 but took it easy and played what they thought was a 5.0 level for demonstration purposes for the video.![]()
There is a bit of truth in there from what I've seen. I think they did "fix" the match with particular strokes and rallies to support the matrix play. I think even the first match series had a bit of that for entertainment and teaching purposes. I think if they really had something on the line, you'd see a different set of players.
We would see Kevin hitting a fh cc dipping passing shot?
Man, I hope so. It is kinda obvious to me there. Right?
I think everyone tends to overestimate how good they would actually look on video...
I used to be rated 5.0, but due to age and a long list of health issues in the past two years I would not be able to compete at that level. Right now, as I'm getting back in shape and playing sets with some decent high school players, I feel I could step on court at 4.5 and be very competitive. Both of these guys would almost certainly grind me out pretty easily though. I'd hold serve a few times, and they would run me to hell and back. I have no problems believing they are rated 5.0.
Man, I hope so. It is kinda obvious to me there. Right?