Explain MEP to me please

Fivehand

New User
TW is the place where you can be gone for a few weeks (or even days) and the rapid-paced culture here will have adopted a new word, saying, thread title, acronym, insult, compliment, or made-up word and suddenly it's everywhere. Essentially meme culture amongst a bunch of keyboard warrior middle aged men that may or may not play tennis. I missed the origin of MEP, but I see it about every other word here... Can somebody give me a rundown, including the history, the Latin origin, the entomology, it's application, it's development over the past weeks, and finally use it in a sentence for me? I would appreciate it greatly.
 

nochuola

Rookie
There is a Youtube channel called TennisTroll that uploads rec level match videos. The channel chooses to use nicknames for the players featured instead of using their actual names. In one of the videos, one of the players was dubbed the "Most Exhausting Player" as he plays an extremely defensive playstyle with non-conventional strokes, focusing mostly on getting every ball back and placement (many here would like to call him a pusher). "Most Exhausting Player" was then shortened to MEP. He is also known as "Green Shirt Guy" or GSG as he wore a green shirt in the original video he was featured on. We later learned that his name is actually Ben.

MEP/GSG/Ben became a very popular topic of discussion because he had an almost perfect record playing matches at the 4.5 level while many TTW poster were very confident that players can't possibly reach the 4.5 level playing the style he does (again many claiming him to be a pusher). Thus, people started to use MEP to mean high-level pusher, or extremely defensive players that mostly uses slices.
 

ChaelAZ

G.O.A.T.
MEP/GSG/Ben became a very popular topic of discussion because he had an almost perfect record playing matches at the 4.5 level while many TTW poster were very confident that players can't possibly reach the 4.5 level playing the style he does (again many claiming him to be a pusher). Thus, people started to use MEP to mean high-level pusher, or extremely defensive players that mostly uses slices.

This is the crux of the discussion, but MEP is just out living the MEP life, and b like...

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But really, the immense popularity also rose from his match play with Essential Tennis folks. It was set up ages ago and the hype dragged on forever, with a mishap of a hurt ankle to start, but then video after video of preparing to play MEP, MEP breakdowns, Mastery class MEP play style tips, and all kinds of craziness.

MEP is actually just Ben, and you can find him around here as @GSG , and is a fine fella by all accounts.
 

Rosstour

G.O.A.T.
TW is the place where you can be gone for a few weeks (or even days) and the rapid-paced culture here will have adopted a new word, saying, thread title, acronym, insult, compliment, or made-up word and suddenly it's everywhere. Essentially meme culture amongst a bunch of keyboard warrior middle aged men that may or may not play tennis. I missed the origin of MEP, but I see it about every other word here... Can somebody give me a rundown, including the history, the Latin origin, the entomology, it's application, it's development over the past weeks, and finally use it in a sentence for me? I would appreciate it greatly.

You mean "etymology". Entomology is the study of insects.
 

bitcoinoperated

Professional
But really, the immense popularity also rose from his match play with Essential Tennis folks. It was set up ages ago and the hype dragged on forever, with a mishap of a hurt ankle to start, but then video after video of preparing to play MEP, MEP breakdowns, Mastery class MEP play style tips, and all kinds of craziness.

What was the actual outcome? All the hype dragged on so long I missed it.
 

nyta2

Hall of Fame
TW is the place where you can be gone for a few weeks (or even days) and the rapid-paced culture here will have adopted a new word, saying, thread title, acronym, insult, compliment, or made-up word and suddenly it's everywhere. Essentially meme culture amongst a bunch of keyboard warrior middle aged men that may or may not play tennis. I missed the origin of MEP, but I see it about every other word here... Can somebody give me a rundown, including the history, the Latin origin, the entomology, it's application, it's development over the past weeks, and finally use it in a sentence for me? I would appreciate it greatly.
MEP is a symbol, a patron saint if you will, for all folks who win matches despite not having classically trained strokes.
* revered by every diy park player, that just loves to play the game (loop or no loop, and even if their grip has no name)
* hated by the country club crowd (who've invested $$$ in lessons for pretty picture perfect strokes and pressed white shirts)
while MEPs strokes often make headlines, what the haters often overlook is the consistency and repeatability of his shots, and his willingness and ability to run for miles to get one last ball...
 
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MEP is a symbol, a patron saint if you will, for all folks who win matches despite not having classically trained strokes.
* revered by every diy park player, that just loves to play the game
* hated by the country club crowd (who've invested $$$ in lessons for pretty picture perfect strokes and pressed white shirts)
while MEPs strokes often make headlines, what the haters often overlook is the consistency and repeatability of his shots, and his willingness and ability to run for miles to get one last ball...
Not only that, MEP is a great competitor who doesn't go negative at all mentally and enjoys competing and working. Everyone could learn from him with regard to mentality.
 

pencilcheck

Hall of Fame
I heard about MEP last year due to tennistroll channel. This name only starts to get to TTW about 6-7 months after its debut
 

puppybutts

Hall of Fame
TW is the place where you can be gone for a few weeks (or even days) and the rapid-paced culture here will have adopted a new word, saying, thread title, acronym, insult, compliment, or made-up word and suddenly it's everywhere. Essentially meme culture amongst a bunch of keyboard warrior middle aged men that may or may not play tennis. I missed the origin of MEP, but I see it about every other word here... Can somebody give me a rundown, including the history, the Latin origin, the entomology, it's application, it's development over the past weeks, and finally use it in a sentence for me? I would appreciate it greatly.
complicated way to insult a forum you participate in to ask a basic question...
 

vex

Legend
If you can beat MEP congratulations you don’t have any holes in your game: mentally, physically or technique. MEP exposes flaws. Can’t hit solid overheads? You lose. Can’t volley? You lose. Can’t hit reasonably paced groundstrokes with good accuracy off no-pace balls? You lose. Can’t handle low slices? You lose. Can’t do all of the above for 2-3 hours without getting exhausted and seeing a drop in your consistency? You lose. Can’t mentally handle the inevitable mistakes you’ll make along the grind and lose your focus? You lose.

you have to be in good shape, be mentally tough and be competent at every stroke. If you aren’t, you lose
 

FiddlerDog

Hall of Fame
This is MEP. Everyone knows a MEP. Everyone has lost to a MEP. Badly.
MEP is a meme for someone who has "bad" strokes, but is an excellent player.
Dream crusher and soul harvester of rec fools who worship at the altar of "pretty strokes".
These are people who simply do not understand tennis, in any sense of the word.
MEP has superior mental game.
MEP has superior physical game.
MEP has superior tactical game.
MEP is tennis.
Most people refuse to play MEP and his fake (read: winning) tennis
Ironically, MEP is as real as tennis gets.
The clueless slo-mo Fed FH stroke polishers who never play matches are the posers.

 

Steady Eddy

Legend
MEP is a good player to copy. Get your racquet face at the correct angle to direct the ball. Don't worry about your form. If you can't aim the ball, it doesn't matter how good your form is.
 

PocketAces

New User
MEP is a good player to copy. Get your racquet face at the correct angle to direct the ball. Don't worry about your form. If you can't aim the ball, it doesn't matter how good your form is.

MEP's attributes that are worthy of emulation:
Consistency and playing the percentages
Mental unflappability
Perseverance and never quit attitude
Fitness
Anticipation
Mental focus
Strategic acumen
Humility
Kindness and compassion

MEP does a lot of things well. Let's not get carried away by claiming that his form is a model for others to aspire to...
 

FiddlerDog

Hall of Fame
Have essential tees views dropped? Did they peak with those matches?

Who cares? Do you?
The latest ET content was a master class on Ian's return to USTA doubles league play.
Learned more about doubles from one video than all other content combined.
 

heninfan99

Talk Tennis Guru
Who cares? Do you?
The latest ET content was a master class on Ian's return to USTA doubles league play.
Learned more about doubles from one video than all other content combined.
Yes, I do. They are in the video business, it is their core business. I tried to watch the usta stuff and mixed doubles but it was so boring, couldnt get through it.
 

FiddlerDog

Hall of Fame
Yes, I do. They are in the video business, it is their core business. I tried to watch the usta stuff and mixed doubles but it was so boring, couldnt get through it.

You literally get paid $20 for a 20k views video. You think that even covers expenses? The free videos are what is called a "loss leader". They are in the business of giving live tennis coaching and clinics.
But, thank you for fixating on Ian's channel. You reminded me to post this excellent analysis. Thanks!

 
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heninfan99

Talk Tennis Guru
You literally get paid $20 for a 20k views video. You think that even covers expenses? The free videos are what is called a "loss leader". They are in the business of giving live tennis coaching and clinics.
But, thank you for fixating on Ian's channel. You reminded me to post this excellent analysis. Thanks!

Really a question tennis prodigy can answer accurately but ET has two full time video editors I believe. I suspect the play your court ad revenue helps
 

Bender

G.O.A.T.

user92626

G.O.A.T.
I missed the origin of MEP, ? I would appreciate it greatly.

I heard that he was cleaning a chemistry lab in an Intermediate school and got bitten by a spider.

He got sick the next 2 weeks which everyone thought was covid. Eventually he recovered.


He also plays tennis since forever. No idea if the spider bite and the way he plays are related.

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cha cha

Professional
Oh wow. 2500 dollars so someone who can't teach himself how to play tennis can teach you how to play tennis.
 

cha cha

Professional
Uncle Toni is surely a 3.5 pusher yet he coached a young bull to great success
Uncle Toni is 60 years old. He does not play tennis. And I am sure he did not look like the waving inflatable tube guy on court when he was younger.
Event the creep that is Patrick Mouratoglou can hit a decent ball.
 

ChrisG

Professional
Uncle Toni is 60 years old. He does not play tennis. And I am sure he did not look like the waving inflatable tube guy on court when he was younger.
Event the creep that is Patrick Mouratoglou can hit a decent ball.
:-D:-D The guy from essential tennis has an annoying attitude for sure, and his Asian friend is even creepier, but I think you can teach something very effectively without being a master at it. There’s a long list in every sport of ex athletes who are very bad coaches
 

cha cha

Professional
:-D:-D The guy from essential tennis has an annoying attitude for sure, and his Asian friend is even creepier, but I think you can teach something very effectively without being a master at it. There’s a long list in every sport of ex athletes who are very bad coaches
Yes, Mark is extremely irritating, but at least he can actually play tennis.
I have no doubt that the elusive coach who cannot hit a tennis ball exists, but the institution of someone spending 30 years on court yet still looking like Bambi on ice doing so is simply laughable.
I could literally teach myself to play left-handed in the same amount of time Ian has devoted to making videos explaining how he has been content with not being able to hit a backhand for 30 years.
 
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ChrisG

Professional
For sure the coach needs to play some proper tennis, and I think the guy from Essential tennis does. Of course he has flaws like all rec player but didn’t he play college tennis though?
 

FiddlerDog

Hall of Fame
Oh wow. 2500 dollars so someone who can't teach himself how to play tennis can teach you how to play tennis.

Ian played in the NCAA finals. He is more qualified that 90% of coaches out there.
Also, his coaching mastery speaks for itself, if you ever watch him teach a student. Next level coaching.
There is a line a mile long to get his coaching, so the market speaks for itself.
 

cha cha

Professional
This is the one thing I am yet to understand.
I have come to terms with the fact that you have no talent or joy to speak of, but why you devote so much of your life to brown nosing this guy still baffles me.
Please explain it to me, so I can block you in peace.
 

heninfan99

Talk Tennis Guru
Ian played in the NCAA finals. He is more qualified that 90% of coaches out there.
Also, his coaching mastery speaks for itself, if you ever watch him teach a student. Next level coaching.
There is a line a mile long to get his coaching, so the market speaks for itself.
Someone's lying somewhere. He says he's 4.5 yet he crushes another 4.5(MEP) in singles indicating a full level difference. I assume he's a 5.0 pretending to be lower for content reasons but then again 4.5 is the basement level rating to be a passable hands-on coach. A good level for weekend warriors who picked up the game as adults but a stinker level for a former college player.
 

travlerajm

Talk Tennis Guru
Someone's lying somewhere. He says he's 4.5 yet he crushes another 4.5(MEP) in singles indicating a full level difference. I assume he's a 5.0 pretending to be lower for content reasons but then again 4.5 is the basement level rating to be a passable hands-on coach. A good level for weekend warriors who picked up the game as adults but a stinker level for a former college player.
He’s 5.0 or 4.5, depending on which serves his business interests best in the moment.
 
This is the one thing I am yet to understand.
I have come to terms with the fact that you have no talent or joy to speak of, but why you devote so much of your life to brown nosing this guy still baffles me.
Please explain it to me, so I can block you in peace.

In a less forceful tone, I was wondering the same thing, there is an unexplainable devotion here. I understand if someone likes his videos, but the uber-praising is intriguing.
Someone's lying somewhere. He says he's 4.5 yet he crushes another 4.5(MEP) in singles indicating a full level difference. I assume he's a 5.0 pretending to be lower for content reasons but then again 4.5 is the basement level rating to be a passable hands-on coach. A good level for weekend warriors who picked up the game as adults but a stinker level for a former college player.
He is an average 4.5. Look, I know it short circuits people, but many high 4.0 in TX could beat MEP and a whole lot of the 4.0 singles guys at the TN sectionals on the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd teams could also, which therefore leads me to a great portion of the 4.0s at the Southern Sectionals could also beat MEP. Were all these guys sandbagging? No, but it's part of the ratings strangeness in big cities, they are self rate 4.0s heading toward computer rated 4.0s because they are beating each other up at the 4.0 level instead of 4.5. Anyway, I digress.
He’s 5.0 or 4.5, depending on which serves his business interests best in the moment.
4.5 only never a 5.0. Like I've said before, 5.0 will have division 1 players in their 20s in it, a warp speed difference in level between Ian and the people he plays in USTA and on video. The older ncaa div 1 and nationally ranked div 2 guys are mulling about in 4.5 either sandbagging or not taking it too seriously.
 
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