For those who play both USTA Singles and Doubles...

[Tennis_Fever]

I am significantly better at singles, but that is probably because I am exclusively self-taught and fairly athletic. I admittingly lack Tennis IQ and am often "lost" out on a doubles court. Especially when I am paired with guys twice my age who want to lob all day long.

 

[Startzel]

Of course it's already been established that this is NOT the case here, but even if it were, it's quite likely that a competitive team would have multiple doubles players that are playing at the next-higher level... that's what makes them competitive! Willing and able singles players on the other hand are much harder to come by in the age-based leagues. However you spin it, your blanket statements are out of place and just make you look ignorant.

If a team has multiple 4.5 calibre players playing 4.0 we already know the team is cheating. Therefore the discussion is moot because we already know they're cheating.

I'm ignorant because I don't believe in cheating like you?

 

[BeyondTheTape]

Gah, I don't want to know that badly to scrape all that info from tennislink... (Norcal website for sure is better organized!)
and tennislink doesn't have stats back to 2000

You'd be surprised what the "Send to Excel" function and a formula can do : )

 

[OrangePower]

If a team has multiple 4.5 calibre players playing 4.0 we already know the team is cheating. Therefore the discussion is moot because we already know they're cheating.

I'm ignorant because I don't believe in cheating like you?

Strong 4.0 players can improve to become 4.5 caliber players, especially when on a team with other strong players and motivated to improve. Since ratings only come out once a year, it is completely legit for a computer rated 4.0 to improve and be playing at a 4.5 level before year's end.

If you don't understand that this is possible, then yes I believe that is ignorant.
Alternately if you think that this constitutes cheating, then that is delusional.

 

[dgold44]

There should be different ratings for singles vs doubles. This would solve this issue. Just stick with NTRP for singles and go to an "A, B, C" system for doubles (see ALTA in Atlanta). Problem solved.

I agree.
There are some 4.5 doubles guys who would kill me in doubles but in singles we would be pretty evenly matches.

 

[dgold44]

Singles I have far more experience and understand strategy better.

Doubles I feel like a deer stuck in headlights and have no clue what to do.

 

[dgold44]

There is also a big difference between strong 4.5 and weak 4.5 !!!

A very big difference

 

[S&V-not_dead_yet]

In my book Leander is GOAT, representing us middle-aged men worldwide

"So and so tried to play 'cat and mouse' with Paes. Unfortunately, Paes is both the cat and the mouse."

Commentator, after someone tried to outwit Paes and failed.

 

[Mongolmike]

how are you guys getting these stats? Individually counting matches?
too bad it doesn't go past 2012

Yeah, I counted individually... took 5 minutes, but I could only go back to 2012 too. I can probably dig up more, but...ehh. Gives me a snapshot.

 

[Startzel]

Strong 4.0 players can improve to become 4.5 caliber players, especially when on a team with other strong players and motivated to improve. Since ratings only come out once a year, it is completely legit for a computer rated 4.0 to improve and be playing at a 4.5 level before year's end.

If you don't understand that this is possible, then yes I believe that is ignorant.
Alternately if you think that this constitutes cheating, then that is delusional.

So this would be a one year thing right?

 

[schmke]

how are you guys getting these stats? Individually counting matches?
too bad it doesn't go past 2012

Click the "All" button and "Filter Results" and it will show results from 2012 and earlier.

 

[OrangePower]

So this would be a one year thing right?

How is that relevant to this thread? We're discussing whether there are legitimate scenarios where a captain would put in at singles a player that is actually stronger at dubs, and you're attempting to obscure.

 

[Startzel]

How is that relevant to this thread? We're discussing whether there are legitimate scenarios where a captain would put in at singles a player that is actually stronger at dubs, and you're attempting to obscure.

I'm just giving your the opportunity to own up to cheating.

Seems like having a team with a bunch of players above level would be an outlier not the norm. It's interesting you're arguing it would be the norm.

But I guess it would be the norm of you were using singles to intentionally lower a player's rating.

 

[OrangePower]

I'm just giving your the opportunity to own up to cheating.

Seems like having a team with a bunch of players above level would be an outlier not the norm. It's interesting you're arguing it would be the norm.

But I guess it would be the norm of you were using singles to intentionally lower a player's rating.

You're a riot!
I'm providing a hypothetical example of something that is legitimately possible, and your only response is to accuse my hypothetical team of getting ready to cheat in subsequent years!

 

[leech]

Just out of curiousity, I went back and checked my USTA record... although they must've changed something, because I could not go back to get 2012 when I started USTA. Anyway... last year playing all doubles with a knee I had replaced in Oct I went 4-4 :-( , but including all league, playoffs and tourneys, my lifetime USTA is:

6-2 singles 75%
42-23 doubles 65%
8-10 mixed 44%

I would like to play more singles this year since my new knee is so much better... but I probably won't because it may not be a smart thing to do... and I quit playing mixed... not because of the drama, but because I hate not ever getting to hit the ball. Most of the time the other team hits 80% to the girl... and that drives me crazy and I start to try to poach shots I shouldn't be going for.

Since I started playing USTA in 2012, here are my results:

Singles (3.5): 9-0
Singles (4.0): 4-13
Overall singles: 13-13 (50%)
Doubles (3.5): 0-0
Doubles (4.0): 6-11
Overall Men's Doubles: 6-11 (35%)
Mixed Doubles (7.0): 44-15
Mixed Doubles (8.0): 0-7
Overall Mixed Doubles: 44-22 (67%)

It shows that at 3.5, I'm pretty good at singles (9-0), but have not played any 3.5 doubles matches to compare.

At 4.0, I suck at both singles and doubles, but suck less at 4.0 doubles (35%) than at 4.0 singles (24%).

At mixed doubles, I've done real well at 7.0 (75%), but am winless in seven matches at 8.0.

Seems the difference maker for me isn't so much singles vs. doubles, but whether I'm playing 3.5/7.0 (53-15, or 78%) versus 4.0/8.0 (10-31, or 24%).

 

[dgold44]

Guys who play both S and D tend to be more balanced players in tennis

My 4.0 doubles record is probably less than 20 percent wins.
My 4.0 singles record has to be 75 percent wins.
My 4.5 singles I am a good 30 percent wins.
My 5.0 record is frozen at 0 wins and will remain 0

 

[BeyondTheTape]

4.0C here.

2015 Doubles (4 out of 5 matches on Court 1)
4-1
2015 Singles
1-0
2015 Mixed
11-2
2015 Combo
11-1

Not a bad year after all. 87% win percentage.

 

[Moveforwardalways]

Don't you get bored playing only doubles?