How does one become successful at mixed?

[MRfStop]

There are several threads about mixed but here is a summary of my 8.0 match last week.

I am currently on the better of 3 18&over 8.0 mixed teams. This team is pretty strong with 4.5 ladies that played college with 3.5 guys that are decent as well. We have a good shot at making it to GA state.

Last week was my first match played on this team. My partner and I played against a 4.5 guy that hits hard but isn't the most consistent. Has a pretty nasty kick serve. His partner is very consistent and can absorb pace. During the first set I didn't DF much. A lot of the points on my serve were lost by unforced errors at the net. We won my partners every time except once in the 2nd set. We broke the ladies serve once in the first and came close to breaking the guys serve.

For me mixed is one of the hardest leagues to win and be competitive. As a 4.0 playing 8.0, what does one do to be successful at mixed?

 

[travlerajm]

There are several threads about mixed but here is a summary my 8.0 match last week.

I am currently on the better of 3 18&over 8.0 mixed teams. This team is pretty strong with 4.5 ladies that played college with 3.5 guys that decent as well. We have a good shot at making it to GA state.

Last week was my first match played on this team. My partner and I played against a 4.5 guy that hits hard but isn't the most consistent. Has a pretty nasty kick serve. His partner is very consistent and can absorb pace. During the first set I didn't DF much. A lot of the points on my serve were lost by unforced errors at the net. We won my partners every time except once in the 2nd set. We broke the ladies serve once in the first and came close to breaking the guys serve.

For me mixed is one of the hardest leagues to win and be competitive. As a 4.0 playing 8.0, what does one do to be successful at mixed?

Hang out at your local D1 college courts every day while the women’s team practices until you can successfully recruit one of the players to be your self-rated 4.0 mixed partner next year.

I know a guy who I used to dominate at 8.0, but he used this technique to improve his mixed game and knock me out of playoffs this year.

 

[dsp9753]

Need to be able to successfully exploit the weaker player. This usually means the lady but not always. If you poach on her serve returns, hit balls to her where she hits bad volleys, etc. This will cause her partner to start over playing (poaching too much or leaving the alley open) which you can then exploit.

This is generally my plan and I am usually successful in 8.0. Attack the weaker player's serve, returns, volleys, etc.
The other part is that you need to get your partner on board with hugging the net and letting go balls in the middle they don't have a solid position for. (Some players like to reach for volleys that are just slightly out of their reach. Some people can get them, some people can't. But if I know you like to go for it but usually don't hit them well, I am hitting balls up the middle to backhand volleys.)

 

[penpal]

Don't criticize or coach your partner, and refrain from outward displays of frustration.

Then again, I play MxD pretty much exclusively with my wife, so my definition of "success" might be different than what you intended .

 

[TagUrIt]

a 4.0 playing 8.0, what does one do to be successful at mixed?

I’ve noticed with a lot of doubles mixed or otherwise, that players don’t talk. Communication is the key any successful relationship. You should develop signals with your partner, you can even run plays. Even if you aren’t discussing anything, do like the pros do and whisper something to each other before the start of the point. Confidence is intimidating.

 

[Matthew ATX]

I’ve noticed with a lot of doubles mixed or otherwise, that players don’t talk. Communication is the key any successful relationship. You should develop signals with your partner, you can even run plays. Even if you aren’t discussing anything, do like the pros do and whisper something to each other before the start of the point. Confidence is intimidating.

This works on me way more often than it should. "What are they talking about? Are they going to try to poach on my return? F-that. Bring it!"
--puts down the line return into net.

 

[tennis tom]

Get Martina Hingis to partner up with--she could self-rate as a 4.0--no one would recognize her.

 

[J011yroger]

Find out what your partner does well, find ways to have her do that. Learn to serve wide to the opposing girl, make all your returns off the girl's serve. Put away balls that you can put away, but don't try to end points prematurely, learn the difference.

Be more focused on the ball and where you are hitting it than where your opponents are.

Don't aim for the lines.

J

 

[J011yroger]

Get Martina Hingis to partner up with--she could self-rate as a 4.0--no one would recognize her.

I'd recognize that forehead anywhere.

J

 

[norcal]

Hang out at your local D1 college courts every day while the women’s team practices until you can successfully recruit one of the players to be your self-rated 4.0 mixed partner next year.

I know a guy who I used to dominate at 8.0, but he used this technique to improve his mixed game and knock me out of playoffs this year.

Hmm, a 5.0 playing in an 8.0 doubles league complains about the other team sandbagging.

 

[MRfStop]

Find out what your partner does well, find ways to have her do that. Learn to serve wide to the opposing girl, make all your returns off the girl's serve. Put away balls that you can put away, but don't try to end points prematurely, learn the difference.

Be more focused on the ball and where you are hitting it than where your opponents are.

Don't aim for the lines.

J

I forgot to mention that this was our first time playing with each other. The past couple of mixed leagues I have played I played with some one I had never played with before.

 

[J011yroger]

I forgot to mention that this was our first time playing with each other. The past couple of mixed leagues I have played I played with some one I had never played with before.

That's never easy.

J

 

[MathGeek]

Don't criticize or coach your partner, and refrain from outward displays of frustration.

Then again, I play MxD pretty much exclusively with my wife, so my definition of "success" might be different than what you intended .

Same boat. I try to win, but the ultimate victories come when the wife is happy.

But for non-married mixed, you need to do a better job mitigating your team's weaknesses while exploiting the weaknesses of the other team.

Playing together enough to learn what these are is important, as is being willing to communicate honestly and use non-conventional approaches to solve the puzzles presented by the task.

But ultimately shoring up the weaknesses through practice is where the real hay is most likely to be made.

Once the opponents are bringing more than a certain level of pace, my volleying skills are in the dumper. There is no amount of strategy to mitigate this weakness against opponents who can reliably bring this pace with a low UE rate. I just gotta improve on handling pace at the net.

 

[Deleted member 23235]

Hmm, a 5.0 playing in an 8.0 doubles league complains about the other team sandbagging.

well, if success at 8.0 were important to me... that's what i'd do... sandbag, and manage my rating down to 4.0 or 3.5

 

[J011yroger]

well, if success at 8.0 were important to me... that's what i'd do... sandbag, and manage my rating down to 4.0 or 3.5

8.0 would be too easy for you.

J

 

[Big Ed]

teamwork and communication are key. I'm about to start playing 7.0 mixed with my sil that is a strong 4.0. this will either bring the family closer together or bust us up lol! all kidding aside me and her both played juco tennis 25 yrs ago and she kept playing while I took a 25 yr sabbatical.
good luck,
Big Ed

 

[Traffic]

In MXD, having under rated players is the key to success? No?

teamwork and communication are key. I'm about to start playing 7.0 mixed with my sil that is a strong 4.0. this will either bring the family closer together or bust us up lol! all kidding aside me and her both played juco tennis 25 yrs ago and she kept playing while I took a 25 yr sabbatical.
good luck,
Big Ed

I play 7.0 MXD and it's quite fun with a strong 4.0 partner. Having a good serve, keeping the ball in play and strong net play = getting called out for sandbagging. But played 18+7.0MXD. Ran into better under-rated players. Man, we were outgunned...

 

[sweetrugger]

Find out what your partner does well, find ways to have her do that. Learn to serve wide to the opposing girl, make all your returns off the girl's serve. Put away balls that you can put away, but don't try to end points prematurely, learn the difference.

Be more focused on the ball and where you are hitting it than where your opponents are.

Don't aim for the lines.

J

So I would say this is my approach, but I wouldn't limit it to mixed. It's more about finding the weaker player and building around that, and building around limiting the strengths of the opposition.

If you were facing a pair where the guy was the weaker player, is your strategy the same?

 

[J011yroger]

So I would say this is my approach, but I wouldn't limit it to mixed. It's more about finding the weaker player and building around that, and building around limiting the strengths of the opposition.

If you were facing a pair where the guy was the weaker player, is your strategy the same?

A girl 1.0 higher than a guy is usually like normal doubles with one erratic opponent.

It's a tough combo to play against when done well.

J

 

[time_fly]

A lot of the points on my serve were lost by unforced errors at the net ... As a 4.0 playing 8.0, what does one do to be successful at mixed?

Not make unforced errors at the net?

 

[Dartagnan64]

Find out what your partner does well, find ways to have her do that. Learn to serve wide to the opposing girl, make all your returns off the girl's serve. Put away balls that you can put away, but don't try to end points prematurely, learn the difference.

Be more focused on the ball and where you are hitting it than where your opponents are.

Don't aim for the lines.

J

Men need to hold their serve. Women need to focus on serving to the BH's.
Hit at the weaker player as much as possible, man or woman.
Get to the net especially when serving to the woman or receiving the woman's serve.
Don't go crazy trying to do everything. Focus on doing your job and doing it well.

 

[Zman]

Find out what your partner does well, find ways to have her do that.

That's the ultimate in mixed doubles advice. In my experience, many female players believe there is only one "right" way to play, even if that way doesn't fit their strengths. So my female partners generally find it freeing to be encouraged to do what they're best at, rather than doing what they believe they're supposed to do -- for instance, sometimes I play with a partner who isn't comfortable at net and has one favored groundstroke, so I encourage her to stay at the baseline and hit that groundstroke over and over, and I'll take care of balls that don't go there. Encouraging a partner to hit her favorite shot over and over has the added benefit of keeping her happy and confident, which also plays a big role in getting the W.

 

[J011yroger]

That's the ultimate in mixed doubles advice. In my experience, many female players believe there is only one "right" way to play, even if that way doesn't fit their strengths. So my female partners generally find it freeing to be encouraged to do what they're best at, rather than doing what they believe they're supposed to do -- for instance, sometimes I play with a partner who isn't comfortable at net and has one favored groundstroke, so I encourage her to stay at the baseline and hit that groundstroke over and over, and I'll take care of balls that don't go there. Encouraging a partner to hit her favorite shot over and over has the added benefit of keeping her happy and confident, which also plays a big role in getting the W.

Mixed is the place where you can throw the traditional doubles advice out the window.

J

 

[Big Ed]

In MXD, having under rated players is the key to success? No?


I play 7.0 MXD and it's quite fun with a strong 4.0 partner. Having a good serve, keeping the ball in play and strong net play = getting called out for sandbagging. But played 18+7.0MXD. Ran into better under-rated players. Man, we were outgunned...

I hear ya traffic. I've already been called out as to whether I'm a 3.0,didn't wanna self rate too high just in case , in my opening league matches. so, I'm fully aware of the "talk" folk do. my sil just got bumped to 4.0 after yrs of 3.5,how she stayed there is anybodys guess for so long, ranking. so, she shot me a text and asked if I wanted to play with her in mixed 7.0 combo and maybe we could make a run for state champ. y'all know my answer. I just have one question for her. why now when she gets bumped up to 4.0? was she afraid she would get bumped playing with me and we win? a lot of strategy in this rating thing I see.
Big Ed

 

[brettatk]

Well except that mixed doesn't count towards your rating unless you only play mixed.

 

[J011yroger]

Well except that mixed doesn't count towards your rating unless you only play mixed.

Plot twist, what if they based your rating on what league you played the most matches in?

J

 

[Big Ed]

Well except that mixed doesn't count towards your rating unless you only play mixed.

sweet I wasn't aware of that lil rule. like I said alott strategy. and no she plays on 6+ teams mostly lady double but does play higher level mixed with some 4.5 guys. I'm stepping up to play with some 3.5 guys as well this yr in guys league. I'm sure it won't be long till I get bumped to 3.5 anyway so might as well have some more competitive fun. I was "recruited" due to my 3.0 rating but it wasn't too challenging to me but still had much fun.
Big Ed

 

[brettatk]

Plot twist, what if they based your rating on what league you played the most matches in?

J

That would be interesting. Most people who play combo/mixed/trilevel play a lot more matches in those leagues than in the regular 18+, 40+, 55+ etc leagues. I would think participation would drop for those leagues if results were to be counted. Around here one of the biggest reasons people manage their rating is so they can play combo/mixed/trilevel at a lower level and dominate at State and beyond.

 

[Big Ed]

yeah I'm playing 40+ but she still plays with the 18+ and 40+ teams. my wheels aren't as good as they used to be and I don't have anything to prove to the young bucks. I know I'd get out there and act like I was 18 and mess around and tear something up. been there done that in racquetball 6 yrs ago.
Big Ed

 

[Dartagnan64]

Mixed is the place where you can throw the traditional doubles advice out the window.

J

I'm not sure what "traditional advice" is for doubles. Everybody seems to have their own views on how doubles "should" be played.

I find with a confident female partner that "Art of Doubles" strategies work particularly well. Of course to do that both partners must be confident hitting overheads and taking balls in the mid court out of the air. If that is not the case then "Art of Doubles" strategies become useless. But I find that often women hit midcourt balls out the air more confidently than some men (albeit most men hit overheads more confidently than women).

What I find in mixed is that it is different from men's doubles and from women's doubles so both partners need to throw away preconceived notions on how doubles "should" be played. The NML moonball rallies pervasive in women's dubs fails. The Hard serve-aggressive poach style of men's dubs fails. Managing that fusion is what makes mixed it's own beast.

 

[J011yroger]

That would be interesting. Most people who play combo/mixed/trilevel play a lot more matches in those leagues than in the regular 18+, 40+, 55+ etc leagues. I would think participation would drop for those leagues if results were to be counted. Around here one of the biggest reasons people manage their rating is so they can play combo/mixed/trilevel at a lower level and dominate at State and beyond.

Just another great idea by Jolly!

J

 

[J011yroger]

I'm not sure what "traditional advice" is for doubles. Everybody seems to have their own views on how doubles "should" be played.

I find with a confident female partner that "Art of Doubles" strategies work particularly well. Of course to do that both partners must be confident hitting overheads and taking balls in the mid court out of the air. If that is not the case then "Art of Doubles" strategies become useless. But I find that often women hit midcourt balls out the air more confidently than some men (albeit most men hit overheads more confidently than women).

What I find in mixed is that it is different from men's doubles and from women's doubles so both partners need to throw away preconceived notions on how doubles "should" be played. The NML moonball rallies pervasive in women's dubs fails. The Hard serve-aggressive poach style of men's dubs fails. Managing that fusion is what makes mixed it's own beast.

I like the art of doubles an awful lot, but the positioning and shot selection don't hold up in 9.0 IMO.

J

 

[Traffic]

I hear ya traffic. I've already been called out as to whether I'm a 3.0,didn't wanna self rate too high just in case , in my opening league matches. so, I'm fully aware of the "talk" folk do. my sil just got bumped to 4.0 after yrs of 3.5,how she stayed there is anybodys guess for so long, ranking. so, she shot me a text and asked if I wanted to play with her in mixed 7.0 combo and maybe we could make a run for state champ. y'all know my answer. I just have one question for her. why now when she gets bumped up to 4.0? was she afraid she would get bumped playing with me and we win? a lot of strategy in this rating thing I see.
Big Ed

Well, except as a 3.5/3.0, you're giving up ratings to play 7.0 and you can't play 6.0 together. Now that she is 4.0, she is no longer under-rated. But maybe she just wants to go out there and have some fun.

At 7.0, it is still instinct to hit to the female. If she is more consistent than you are, then they've got a battle on their hands. Eventually there will be a weak ball coughed up or possibly a shot in your direction. You need to put it back into play smartly or put it away if there is an opening. After a few of those rallies where "YOU" put the ball away, they will try to avoid you. Though the real reason is your partner softened up the opponents and set you up. In so doing, they never exploit your weakness which is the inconsistency of a 3.0 player. That is the advantage the 3.0M/4.0F combo has; deception.

 

[Big Ed]

Well, except as a 3.5/3.0, you're giving up ratings to play 7.0 and you can't play 6.0 together. Now that she is 4.0, she is no longer under-rated. But maybe she just wants to go out there and have some fun.

At 7.0, it is still instinct to hit to the female. If she is more consistent than you are, then they've got a battle on their hands. Eventually there will be a weak ball coughed up or possibly a shot in your direction. You need to put it back into play smartly or put it away if there is an opening. After a few of those rallies where "YOU" put the ball away, they will try to avoid you. Though the real reason is your partner softened up the opponents and set you up. In so doing, they never exploit your weakness which is the inconsistency of a 3.0 player. That is the advantage the 3.0M/4.0F combo has; deception.

absolutely my thoughts exactly traffic. she is well known in the metro area that we will be competing in and I on the other hand am a relative,literally, unknown due to me competing 90 miles away from the metro Jackson area. I'm ready to get it going just to see what happens as the old "oh just hit to the weaker female" thought won't hold water here. she is probably,we haven't hit too much together as of yet as we ourselves live 90 miles from each other, more consistent than me but I am thinking that I can make the put aways better than she can. but, like I said this is purely conjecture on my part as we haven't ever played competitively together. all I know is she is well sought after in mixed dubs and I'm a sleeper so to speak.
Big Ed

 

[MRfStop]

That would be interesting. Most people who play combo/mixed/trilevel play a lot more matches in those leagues than in the regular 18+, 40+, 55+ etc leagues. I would think participation would drop for those leagues if results were to be counted. Around here one of the biggest reasons people manage their rating is so they can play combo/mixed/trilevel at a lower level and dominate at State and beyond.

@brettatk what is mixed like where you're at? I'm assuming its pretty high level with true 4.0 rated ladies to play with? Here it's pretty rare to see a 4.0 lady that shouldn't really be a 3.5.

 

[brettatk]

@brettatk what is mixed like where you're at? I'm assuming its pretty high level with true 4.0 rated ladies to play with? Here it's pretty rare to see a 4.0 lady that shouldn't really be a 3.5.

I have never played USTA Mixed. But I've looked at rosters of people I know that do play. 8.0 would be tough around here. 90% of the guys on a State bound 4.0 mixed team should be playing at the 4.5 level. The women are about the same. The top women usually have history at 4.5 but have been bumped back down to 4.0. So for a team playing straight up 4.0, they are going to be playing against an Atlanta team that is more like in the 8.75 range at least.

 

[Dartagnan64]

I like the art of doubles an awful lot, but the positioning and shot selection don't hold up in 9.0 IMO.

J

That may very well be. I don't play mixed at that level. Most of the mixed I play with are strong 3.5's/weak 4.0's for both genders. So basically 7.0-8.0 range. Art of Doubles positioning works very well at that level but it isn't the only way to win.

The problem I find is getting partners that are religious about the positioning aspect of the Art of Doubles. Too many ladies hang back too far and too many men get too tight to the net. Ladies get destroyed in that position by topspin groundstrokes and the men get lobbed. If you can truly get the CC person at the service line and the net guy mid service box, that is a wall that's hard to penetrate.