fallout from the bump-ups

[ibeeskeef]

I realized this weekend what the real fallout is from the new USTA ratings. I am a 4.0 player in SC and have been rated such for 3 years now. Basically, I was bumped up before the major shift happened this past year. I would not say I am the strongest player in the league by any means but I would consider myself in the upper 4.0 rankings of our league. I even beat some of the guys last season that were casualties of the new ratings and were bumped to 4.5.

With all of that said, I played my first 4.0 singles match of the season this past weekend and bingo, I hit a pusher. It took me a good set to adjust to the lack of pace and aggression of my opponent. I ended up dropping the first set 6-4 to an opponent I should have been able to defeat 6-2 or so. I did win the second set 6-1 and won the third set breaker 10-3 so I was able to adjust but the fact still remained, I played a straight-up pusher.

My captain reminded me about the ratings shift and I fear I am going to run into a lot more pushers that I left behind in the 3.5 ranks a few years ago. Has anyone else run into this yet?

 

[rudester]

Pushers are part of the game, sometimes they are the hardest to beat, but i think you are rated at your level because you have figured out ways to beat these type players, as you have demonstrated. Pushers are not fun to play, but really you need to get over the fun factor and just beat them.

 

[MissJennieB]

Pushers are part of the game, sometimes they are the hardest to beat, but i think you are rated at your level because you have figured out ways to beat these type players, as you have demonstrated. Pushers are not fun to play, but really you need to get over the fun factor and just beat them.

I agree, there will be pushers at every level. I ran into pushers last year at 3.5, and will run into more this year at 4.0. What's most frustrating is that they take you out of your aggressive game, keeping every ball in play and wait until you make a mistake. When I play against them I try not to go for winners every time and focus more on placement and set-up, and expect for the ball to come back so I have to be quick on my feet.

 

[bodieq]

I don't know if it's necessarily a fallout from the new rating-adjustment scheme. As someone else already mentioned, there's pushers at every level...the only difference is when moving up in NTRP levels those higher-rated "pushers" can absorb heaver pace, anticipate better, and move better...but still throw effective junk.

Playing net against those guys can alleviate a lot of headache.

 

[all3ofus]

I realized this weekend what the real fallout is from the new USTA ratings. I am a 4.0 player in SC and have been rated such for 3 years now. Basically, I was bumped up before the major shift happened this past year. I would not say I am the strongest player in the league by any means but I would consider myself in the upper 4.0 rankings of our league. I even beat some of the guys last season that were casualties of the new ratings and were bumped to 4.5.

With all of that said, I played my first 4.0 singles match of the season this past weekend and bingo, I hit a pusher. It took me a good set to adjust to the lack of pace and aggression of my opponent. I ended up dropping the first set 6-4 to an opponent I should have been able to defeat 6-2 or so. I did win the second set 6-1 and won the third set breaker 10-3 so I was able to adjust but the fact still remained, I played a straight-up pusher.

My captain reminded me about the ratings shift and I fear I am going to run into a lot more pushers that I left behind in the 3.5 ranks a few years ago. Has anyone else run into this yet?

This is something my coach told me and I will tell you..Any time you end up playing a pusher/dinker or whatever they call themselves just think of 2 words. "all-day". What I mean by this is, that you have, and will, hit the ball back all day long if you have to. You will basically become the mirror image of that person your playing. I add a few variety shots especially if they cannot move very quickly. So next time, think "I got all day to keep hitting the ball back" and add a drop shot or an angle volley which really kills them.

 

[HayWarD510s]

I know some great 4.5-5.0 pushers!ha

 

[Kostas]

So "fallout" is defined by you as having to play a specific type of player? eh....lol

 

[82300sd]

If you're an upper 4.0, and have beat 4.0s last year who were bumped to 4.5s this year, but you can't be a low 4.0 pusher? Maybe it's an upper 4.0 pusher?