Giving 8.0 mixed one more try and then that's it
- Thread starter Cindysphinx
- Start date
crystal_clear
Professional
I saw some players who treat tennis as the top priority in their life in the club and they call themselves "true tennis fans" as they are willing to sacrifice other things like jobs to play tennis.
Most of my hitting crew are either young guys with no kids or 50+ with older/adult kids. The older guys are usually self employed/semi retired and arrange jobs around tennis commitments.
When I worked in the city I did the big commute, leave early home late. Now I live in a coastal town, 5 minutes to work and as a college teacher I am only at work about 20 hours per week.
Even better I am in charge of timetabling and arrange my classes around tennis commitments. eg Night tennis on Monday make sure my first class on Tuesday is not before 11am!
But I am still a declining hack, despite all the availability of time my body is the limiting factor and too many hours on the court is paid for down the line.
LeeD comes across as the typical ex surfer Peter Pan type, nothing wrong with that, I now lots of guys who are late 50s still surf very day and family commitments always came after wave, wind snow etc. Mind you they have pretty well all been divorced multiple times!
I would and have made those sacrifices for perfect waves and fresh powder but not for tennis, it just doesnt rank on the bucket list. :-|
When I worked in the city I did the big commute, leave early home late. Now I live in a coastal town, 5 minutes to work and as a college teacher I am only at work about 20 hours per week.
Even better I am in charge of timetabling and arrange my classes around tennis commitments. eg Night tennis on Monday make sure my first class on Tuesday is not before 11am!
But I am still a declining hack, despite all the availability of time my body is the limiting factor and too many hours on the court is paid for down the line.
LeeD comes across as the typical ex surfer Peter Pan type, nothing wrong with that, I now lots of guys who are late 50s still surf very day and family commitments always came after wave, wind snow etc. Mind you they have pretty well all been divorced multiple times!
I would and have made those sacrifices for perfect waves and fresh powder but not for tennis, it just doesnt rank on the bucket list. :-|
Edward DFW
Rookie
If you get to the office at 6 a.m., you get to leave around 4 p.m. And using Metro bypasses the freeway altogether.
That works for me, but can't speak for anyone else.
yeah... if you work at a job with no emergencies and do production work all day or if you are just lucky you can but when you work on putting out fires all day long getting in early just allows you to get more done... no guarantees on what time you can leave
goober
Legend
I think they need to change 8.0 mixed for just these reasons. 4.5M with the 3.5F is very prevalent especially among the best teams. But is this competitive tennis? It is way too imbalanced IMO.
I think they should change it to straight NTRP levels - i.e.3.5,4.0,4.5 with only players at that level or lower allowed to play OR change it to 6.5/7.5/8.5 levels with the woman required to be the higher rated player.
JoelDali
Talk Tennis Guru
dlk
Hall of Fame
I agree. 4.5 with 3.5 is so far different. 1/2 gap is best/most competitive.
Topaz
Legend
This was my first season at 8.0. I am a 3.5 and I got recruited just after half of the season was over. The team had two really good 4.5 guys but only one 3.5 gal with limited availability.
I've now played with both guys and won all three matches I've been out in. We've always been against 4.0/4.0 teams and have had no problem.
Take from that what you will. We have a female 4.5, male 3.5 combo on the team as well, and they've won all but one match they've played.
I've now played with both guys and won all three matches I've been out in. We've always been against 4.0/4.0 teams and have had no problem.
Take from that what you will. We have a female 4.5, male 3.5 combo on the team as well, and they've won all but one match they've played.
Angle Queen
Professional
Best realistic suggestion I've seen about mixed in awhile. I've hated my experience with Mixed enough...to give it up altogether.
JoelDali
Talk Tennis Guru
8.0 is mostly older chyx.
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Cindysphinx
G.O.A.T.
I lost all of my 8.0 matches, although with competitive scores.
The jury is out on whether I will continue with it. I guess if I move to 4.0 in November I will have no choice but to play 8.0 if I want to play mixed.
For now, I'm signing on for 7.0 senior mixed. That oughtta be interesting . . .
After playing 8.0, you may be bored silly playing 7.0 mixed.
skiracer55
Hall of Fame
Play some singles...
...is my advice. I'm not a doubles player, not these days, but I'm fine with doubles as a bread and butter item for a lot of players. Just don't forget about singles, which is cool if for only that you don't have to worry about who is supposed to hit the next ball that comes over the net...
...is my advice. I'm not a doubles player, not these days, but I'm fine with doubles as a bread and butter item for a lot of players. Just don't forget about singles, which is cool if for only that you don't have to worry about who is supposed to hit the next ball that comes over the net...
Cindysphinx
G.O.A.T.
I suspect my singles career is over before it starts.
I played a singles ladder, with middling results. I didn't win much.
But I got soooo much better with my groundstrokes. This is helping me a lot in doubles.
Alas, I don't think I will get to play any singles this spring. Our team is very large so I will likely only get 2-3 matches, and it is hard to justify putting myself in at singles when I might botch the job. We shall see.
I played a singles ladder, with middling results. I didn't win much.
But I got soooo much better with my groundstrokes. This is helping me a lot in doubles.
Alas, I don't think I will get to play any singles this spring. Our team is very large so I will likely only get 2-3 matches, and it is hard to justify putting myself in at singles when I might botch the job. We shall see.
skiracer55
Hall of Fame
Just remember...
...your tennis experience is NOT limited to USTA leagues and ladders. This is not a jail break...you, too, can go out and play tennis with anyone you want, just for the fun of it...and it ain't all about results, either. If it floats your boat on a tennis court, my advice is, just do it...
...your tennis experience is NOT limited to USTA leagues and ladders. This is not a jail break...you, too, can go out and play tennis with anyone you want, just for the fun of it...and it ain't all about results, either. If it floats your boat on a tennis court, my advice is, just do it...
Spokewench
Semi-Pro
I am better at doubles than singles, but I really like to play singles. I like the movement; I like the fact that i don't have to deal with personalities (only my own and occasionally a games player as an opponent). I like that it is all me. I have no one to blame and no one to have to please either.
So, I probably play more doubles than singles cause no one wants to play singles, but I'm playing singles in tournaments just because I can! I don't win much, but I like it!
So, I probably play more doubles than singles cause no one wants to play singles, but I'm playing singles in tournaments just because I can! I don't win much, but I like it!
Cindysphinx
G.O.A.T.
Ah, but you assume singles is fun.
I have now played at least 15 singles matches since November. I detest it much less than I used to. I no longer am so nervous that my knees are knocking. This is an improvement.
Still, I cannot say I find singles to be "fun." It is more fun than having my teeth cleaned, but that is setting the bar awfully low.
I still haven't figured out why I feel that way. I think there are several reasons.
First, I feel ripped off when I play singles. If I take some risk and hit a good aggressive serve, this will be floated back to me. In singles, I still have to do something. In dubs, my net player will take care of it.
Second, my comfort zone is still the net, but I spend half my time i singles wondering what it is going to take to get to net.
Third, I am aggressive on a tennis court. This pays big dividends in doubles. In singles? Not so much. In singles, all I hear are warnings about not going for too much, giving my opponents a chance to miss. How dull is that? Nope, I want to hit winners.
So. If needed to play singles, I suppose I can. But if you told me to pick whether to play singles or dubs, I would pick dubs every time. It's way more fun.
skiracer55
Hall of Fame
Fair enough...
...but look back at what I said about life on a tennis court not being limited to USTA Leagues and such. I plan to play about 8 or so Men's Open tournaments this summer, which will be both a fun and a pressure situation, but I get ready for all that good stuff by playing two hours a day worth of run and gun tennis with my hitting partners. Yep, I'm all for going for winners in singles, playing aggressively, and all that good stuff.
So I do!...because I don't have a bunch of teammates on the sideline going "Don't swing out! Push your way to success! Give your opponent another chance to take gas, and we can take home a $19.95 trophy somebody bought at Wal-mart!" We all have jobs, families, tons of other constraints in our lives. Once we step on a tennis court...well, IMHO, it's our right to have it our way...
...but look back at what I said about life on a tennis court not being limited to USTA Leagues and such. I plan to play about 8 or so Men's Open tournaments this summer, which will be both a fun and a pressure situation, but I get ready for all that good stuff by playing two hours a day worth of run and gun tennis with my hitting partners. Yep, I'm all for going for winners in singles, playing aggressively, and all that good stuff.
So I do!...because I don't have a bunch of teammates on the sideline going "Don't swing out! Push your way to success! Give your opponent another chance to take gas, and we can take home a $19.95 trophy somebody bought at Wal-mart!" We all have jobs, families, tons of other constraints in our lives. Once we step on a tennis court...well, IMHO, it's our right to have it our way...
I was just going to start a thread about giving up Mixed doubles.
Cindy, I have come to terms that I'm no good at 8.0 doubles. The attitudes, the cattiness(sp?), I can't deal with anymore. It has become a mental thing with me, and this will be my last year at playing mixed.
I concentrate on my singles and my doubles.
Cindy, I have come to terms that I'm no good at 8.0 doubles. The attitudes, the cattiness(sp?), I can't deal with anymore. It has become a mental thing with me, and this will be my last year at playing mixed.
I concentrate on my singles and my doubles.
Cindysphinx
G.O.A.T.
I'll say the same thing, Ksteph. I'm no good at 8.0 mixed.
Return of serve is my weakest shot, and you have to have a great return to play 8.0 mixed. So that's a problem.
The other problem is mental. I struggle when I am the weakest player on the court because I feel I should defer to my partner. That makes everything about my game tentative. I don't step up. Because I am normally an aggressive player, everything feels off.
So we will see. If I feel overburdened with too many teams in the future, 8.0 will be the first to go.
johndagolfer
Professional
See cattiness!!!
Do you see that a lot in mixed where the man will try to dominate his side of the court?
Cindysphinx
G.O.A.T.
See cattiness!!!
I don't feel like my partners try to dominate (e.g. ball hog). When there is a questionable ball (overhead up the middle), I think it makes sense for my male partner to take it because his overhead is more powerful. For the most part, my partners want me to step up and finish points. They are thrilled when I S&V, hit finishing volleys etc.
Trouble is, I don't do it enough because I feel tentative. The balls are coming much faster than I am used to, and it takes a full set of tennis before I feel comfortable. It would help *a lot* if my team practiced, but it doesn't.
Cindysphinx
G.O.A.T.
I don't have a slice return. I try to hit a groundie. I try to slice from time to time, but my slice return is even worse. At least if I connect with my regular return it will be a decent ball.
skiracer55
Hall of Fame
A slice return...
...especially on the backhand, is a bread and butter shot. I you don't have it, pick it up as quickly as possible. How do you do that? I have this theory, yet unproven, that there are two keys shots that every tennis player needs to master:
- Overhead. If you can hit an overhead, with consistency, pace, spin, and direction, you can serve, because all a serve is is an overhead where you get to hit the lob. Every player, regardless of level, ought to go out and hit at least 100 overheads, once or twice a week, against a ball machine or a hitting partner. But most never do...
- Backhand volley. If you have a backhand volley, you also have a backhand half-volley, a service return, and a slice groundstroke. If you think you have a backhand volley, but you can't hit a slice off the ground, then you don't really have a backhand volley. Go back to the basics of the volley:
Athletic stance, weight over the balls of the feet, body column flexed, Continental grip, read the ball off the opponent's racket, turn the shoulders, move to the contact point, step in (don't swing). Hit 200 of those every practice sesssion, and you'll immediately have a slice backhand...
...especially on the backhand, is a bread and butter shot. I you don't have it, pick it up as quickly as possible. How do you do that? I have this theory, yet unproven, that there are two keys shots that every tennis player needs to master:
- Overhead. If you can hit an overhead, with consistency, pace, spin, and direction, you can serve, because all a serve is is an overhead where you get to hit the lob. Every player, regardless of level, ought to go out and hit at least 100 overheads, once or twice a week, against a ball machine or a hitting partner. But most never do...
- Backhand volley. If you have a backhand volley, you also have a backhand half-volley, a service return, and a slice groundstroke. If you think you have a backhand volley, but you can't hit a slice off the ground, then you don't really have a backhand volley. Go back to the basics of the volley:
Athletic stance, weight over the balls of the feet, body column flexed, Continental grip, read the ball off the opponent's racket, turn the shoulders, move to the contact point, step in (don't swing). Hit 200 of those every practice sesssion, and you'll immediately have a slice backhand...
NoSkillzAndy
Rookie
I'm considering joining an 8.0 mixed team this summer. It's been a really long time since I've played in a mixed league. Do you guys have any tips? Not just on how to win but on how to make it enjoyable for everyone on the court? I don't want to be the jerk-face who pushes his partner out of the way on over-heads or who repeatedly slams balls at the opposing 3.5 woman...
Zoinks, taking every overhead is what the 4.5 is supposed to do and smart 3.5 should know this.
As for repeatedly slaming balls at the 3.5 female. 3.5 females do not play mxd 8.0's unless they have quick hands at then net. I think I have met a grand total of two 3.5 singles specialist out there in the 8.0's. Instead of our normal isolate the 3.5 in a chumpy rally and either get a UE or crush the weak shot we (4.0's) had to attack like crazy.
Also, fun and League 8.0 mxd are two very different beasts.
goober
Legend
NoSkillzAndy
Rookie
I'm not sure? I thought it was normal for 3.5's & 4.5's to pair up in 8.0 league... I could play 9.0 I guess, but from what I've seen they usually seem to have an abundance of 4.5 guys to go around, so I figured it would be easier to get on an 8.0 team.
3.5 F + 4.5 M is the strongest combo. Pre bump there were oodles of 3.5 female doubles players to go around.
My advice to a 4.5. If you want to play good dubs 9.0 is where you want to be. If you play 8.0's never -ever- get frustrated with your pard no matter what and try to put her in situations where she is hitting money shots.
My advice to a 4.5. If you want to play good dubs 9.0 is where you want to be. If you play 8.0's never -ever- get frustrated with your pard no matter what and try to put her in situations where she is hitting money shots.
Cindysphinx
G.O.A.T.
Agreed. Take the overheads, and play ad court if your partner likes deuce. You can then cover 75% of the overheads. I can put away an overhead if opposing net player doesn't back up and gives me a target, but not otherwise.
One tip. I don't like it when my partners try trick shots. Like, one guy kept hitting droppers to the opposing male player. So unless the dropper was perfect he would run up and fire at me at net from point blank range. Could we maybe instead hit a deep shot that keeps the opponents off the net and is deep so maybe I could poach some?
Cindysphinx
G.O.A.T.
Bump!!
Well, well, well. Two years have passed since I started this thread. I didn't quit mixed 8.0 after all. Instead, I worked on my service return, improved my FH, and specialized in deuce court.
And tonight, I had one of my very best wins in 8.0 mixed. On Court One, at that!
I was partnered with a nice, young guy who I hadn't played with before. He is a delightful 4.0, but probably middle of the pack because he plays so infrequently. Opponents were middle of the pack 4.0s.
We started off falling behind when I got broken due to lame, sloppy, pathetic play on my part. We caught up and went to a tiebreak. Fought off a match point to take the set tiebreak. Rolled through the second set at 6-1.
I'm finally getting the hang of mixed. The key to returning serve is to take no backswing and move forward through the return. If I can stay off my back foot, I can get enough returns in play for us to win.
It feels really good. I'm glad I hung in there.
Well, well, well. Two years have passed since I started this thread. I didn't quit mixed 8.0 after all. Instead, I worked on my service return, improved my FH, and specialized in deuce court.
And tonight, I had one of my very best wins in 8.0 mixed. On Court One, at that!
I was partnered with a nice, young guy who I hadn't played with before. He is a delightful 4.0, but probably middle of the pack because he plays so infrequently. Opponents were middle of the pack 4.0s.
We started off falling behind when I got broken due to lame, sloppy, pathetic play on my part. We caught up and went to a tiebreak. Fought off a match point to take the set tiebreak. Rolled through the second set at 6-1.
I'm finally getting the hang of mixed. The key to returning serve is to take no backswing and move forward through the return. If I can stay off my back foot, I can get enough returns in play for us to win.
It feels really good. I'm glad I hung in there.
chatt_town
Hall of Fame
Cindy,
I think all of us go through that to some degree. I think it's how you handle it dictates where you should go? It sounds like you enjoy it enough that you don't mind learning. I say the best way to learn is to be in the fire.
I remember when me and the wife were in our first few years of playing. A lot of the jar head guys were gassing her up like men do women. "you should play 9.0 with such and such". She did and won. Playing with a coach who was an open player and she was a 3.5. My take on that was simply this. You can keep doing that and never learn how to play as he was also serving everyone off the court and he was cutting off any returns when she served. So she never had to hit a volley and very rarely did a ball come her way because the coach was controling the entire court....but she was winning at the 9.0 level briefly.
I guess the point I'm trying to make to you is although the other woman may have won the match last night, she is learning nothing of how to play tennis it seems. When she has to play with someone who is not so great she will suffer big time. My wife had to eventually had to come back and learn how to play when she played with me. My serve was horrible and she had to learn how to volley. She also learned how to put away overheads as I was not going to yell get out of the way everytime someone through up a short lob on her side. So we learned how to beat folks down at the 8.0 level. We are currently playing 8.5 and doing pretty good. She is a legit 4.5 now because she played with men like myself that wasn't open players dominating the whole court. So the thing you have to decide is do I want to get better or do I want to win now. You can't always do both at the same time.
I think all of us go through that to some degree. I think it's how you handle it dictates where you should go? It sounds like you enjoy it enough that you don't mind learning. I say the best way to learn is to be in the fire.
I remember when me and the wife were in our first few years of playing. A lot of the jar head guys were gassing her up like men do women. "you should play 9.0 with such and such". She did and won. Playing with a coach who was an open player and she was a 3.5. My take on that was simply this. You can keep doing that and never learn how to play as he was also serving everyone off the court and he was cutting off any returns when she served. So she never had to hit a volley and very rarely did a ball come her way because the coach was controling the entire court....but she was winning at the 9.0 level briefly.
I guess the point I'm trying to make to you is although the other woman may have won the match last night, she is learning nothing of how to play tennis it seems. When she has to play with someone who is not so great she will suffer big time. My wife had to eventually had to come back and learn how to play when she played with me. My serve was horrible and she had to learn how to volley. She also learned how to put away overheads as I was not going to yell get out of the way everytime someone through up a short lob on her side. So we learned how to beat folks down at the 8.0 level. We are currently playing 8.5 and doing pretty good. She is a legit 4.5 now because she played with men like myself that wasn't open players dominating the whole court. So the thing you have to decide is do I want to get better or do I want to win now. You can't always do both at the same time.
That, and moving forward, are the keys to returning any decent serve IMO. As the serve speeds increase, those keys become more important.
Wicked4hand
Rookie
I enjoy playing mix and helping my game...since i have to cover my female patner I become more agresive at the net and start moving my legs.
chatt_town
Hall of Fame
This is good stuff here. I'd like to also add this. If you are returning from the deuce court, it helps if you put your left foot back as to face the server...well I found it easier to catch up to big servers. I've never understood people that basically face the net person and then expect to be able to catch up to the serve and then also get it past the net person.
I'm also on my toes as soon as the toss is thrown in the air and then just bounce left or right. It makes a big difference.chatt_town
Hall of Fame
Cindy,
lol....You say fun but it almost looks like you are looking for the least amount of work.lol Hitting winners in singles is much more I think possible in singles than doubles. Doubles it seems you are more dependent on your partner. As you indicated if a ball is floating it normally will be taken care of by the partner or at least you hope so. I actually like all 3 but they are nothing alike. Mixed, singles and doubles. They are so different and you have to take a different mentality to each one. So don't get down...just work harder.
lol....You say fun but it almost looks like you are looking for the least amount of work.lol Hitting winners in singles is much more I think possible in singles than doubles. Doubles it seems you are more dependent on your partner. As you indicated if a ball is floating it normally will be taken care of by the partner or at least you hope so.
I actually like all 3 but they are nothing alike. Mixed, singles and doubles. They are so different and you have to take a different mentality to each one. So don't get down...just work harder.
Cindysphinx
G.O.A.T.
This is good stuff here. I'd like to also add this. If you are returning from the deuce court, it helps if you put your left foot back as to face the server...well I found it easier to catch up to big servers. I've never understood people that basically face the net person and then expect to be able to catch up to the serve and then also get it past the net person.
I'll try this tip about having the left foot face the server. I think I'm oriented correctly, but this will be a good way to check. Thanks!
skiracer55
Hall of Fame
All of the above...
...and what they said. But...didn't you recently say you were "Free at last" from obsessing about results, and so forth? That's not necessarily inconsistent with not wanting to play 8.0 Mixed Doubles...or any other event...but seriously, what's going on here?
...and what they said. But...didn't you recently say you were "Free at last" from obsessing about results, and so forth? That's not necessarily inconsistent with not wanting to play 8.0 Mixed Doubles...or any other event...but seriously, what's going on here?
Cindysphinx
G.O.A.T.
This was an old thread.
The old Cindy was ready to quit because 8.0 mixed is so difficult.
The new Cindy is happy with her game and plays 8.0 mixed because . . . well, why not?
The old Cindy was ready to quit because 8.0 mixed is so difficult.
The new Cindy is happy with her game and plays 8.0 mixed because . . . well, why not?
