puppybutts
Hall of Fame
You know, not just the tennis equivalent of coworkers, but people you actually hang out with off the court and know well personally.
How many of you are genuine friends with your hitting partners?
- Thread starter puppybutts
- Start date
Daniel Andrade
Hall of Fame
I used to play frequently with my best friend 7 years ago.
MaxTennis
Professional
I'm pretty close with a lot of them tbh.
Tennis has been my main way of making friends outside of college. More so than work, where it feels just more cordial than anything.
I was almost friends with my most frequent hitting partner and mentor and then it cooled off when I started to catch up to him and push him. Last year we car pooled to doubles leagues and this year he did not join and never mentioned it.
We're neighbors but now he basically crosses the street to avoid me.
We're neighbors but now he basically crosses the street to avoid me.
silverwyvern4
Semi-Pro
You should let him double bagel you as a way to make amends
We never played a game.
Daniel Andrade
Hall of Fame
age?
faded_lines
Rookie
I have a few hitting partners that I am good friends with and have known for a long time.
I also have met a lot of new hitting partners, that are just that.
I also have met a lot of new hitting partners, that are just that.
ChaelAZ
G.O.A.T.
I often go out with several of my teammates and their wives for dinner, drinks, and just hanging. They are not over for Netflix and chill, but they are really good peeps and I would even be down for that. Some are more of just general friends though, and while we talk about more than tennis we don't get together all that often outside of tennis tied stuff.
BlueB
Legend
I have coached a pretty good friend of mine, from a 0 to a hero, over a period of several years. Eventually, he was good enough to hang with me even playing sets. It was great...
Then we had a non-tennis related fallout... He now lives in a different province. No idea if he still plays tennis.
With another of my playing partners, I occasionally have lunches.
There was another chap, who was my snowsports, tennis, skateboarding and hang out buddy. Since Covid started, he pretty much lost interest in sports and completely in socializing
Two other people that I snowboard with and occasionally hang out with, I introduced to tennis and started teaching a bit. They didn't develop enough to be the hitting partners.
When I go to Europe, I play tennis with lots of my buddies. Some are good. Unfortunately, the ones that I'm closest to, are shockingly bad. We still play
Then we had a non-tennis related fallout... He now lives in a different province. No idea if he still plays tennis.
With another of my playing partners, I occasionally have lunches.
There was another chap, who was my snowsports, tennis, skateboarding and hang out buddy. Since Covid started, he pretty much lost interest in sports and completely in socializing
Two other people that I snowboard with and occasionally hang out with, I introduced to tennis and started teaching a bit. They didn't develop enough to be the hitting partners.
When I go to Europe, I play tennis with lots of my buddies. Some are good. Unfortunately, the ones that I'm closest to, are shockingly bad. We still play
silverwyvern4
Semi-Pro
You would be down to netflix and chill with your teammates and their wives?
BallBag
Professional
Team bonding.
BeyondTheTape
Semi-Pro
an unbelievable but internet believable username and avatar to kick this thread off. im wondering if this is someone's burner. well done, sir.
ChaelAZ
G.O.A.T.
Wondered who'd pick up on that. And no, we don't swing like that. Just in case anyone was actually THINKING anything.
DeeeFoo
Rookie
Most of my hitting circle were already my friends before we started playing tennis together. One of them is a close friend that I hit with since he was a beginner, and I basically hit with him for years to the point where he's now a really solid player. We still hit regularly.
I've also met a few good friends through tennis, and we're now all part of the same tennis friend group. Before covid, we would go out to eat together, have cookouts, and invite each other over for food or to play video games. They're all really good at cooking, so it's never a bad meal when they're in charge.
I've also met a few good friends through tennis, and we're now all part of the same tennis friend group. Before covid, we would go out to eat together, have cookouts, and invite each other over for food or to play video games. They're all really good at cooking, so it's never a bad meal when they're in charge.
MarinaHighTennis
Hall of Fame
I'm usually close friends with those who play tennis. Since my time is limited my hangouts are tennis hangouts and we talk/bond thru the process of playing. Friends that stopped playing I tend to not see very often besides a dinner every few months. I can't imagine once I get married/have kids and having even less time for myself in terms of friends, exercise, etc.
Are they aware?
FatHead250
Professional
I dont have any friends nor try to make any. Im only up to making friends with females.
RickySpanish
New User
I married mine
GummiiBear
Semi-Pro
My hitting partner is my roommate. While I've years more of previous experience with the sport, he's been taking lessons with the same coach I have and I'd say he's improved to be considered an intermediate-ish player now. Given that we share a bedroom, I certainly hope we're friends.
I have another person I played a couple matches against through UTR Flex, and he and I have met up to hit and play practice sets a handful of times. I hope to keep that going more regularly in the coming months. I have a teammate (USTA) who was the other singles player on our team, and she and I have played practice sets at least a couple times. That is, outside the team-informal practice sessions. Our schedules don't allow for us to play together as often as we'd both like, but that'd also be nice to keep going. I'm not sure I would go so far as to say I'm friends with either of them (yet?). The guy is ~20 years older than me and, when we hit together it feels strictly "business" (exaggerating). As for my teammate from earlier this year, she's ~10 years younger and we are probably more friendly in how we interact. But it's been weeks since we were last in contact.
I have another person I played a couple matches against through UTR Flex, and he and I have met up to hit and play practice sets a handful of times. I hope to keep that going more regularly in the coming months. I have a teammate (USTA) who was the other singles player on our team, and she and I have played practice sets at least a couple times. That is, outside the team-informal practice sessions. Our schedules don't allow for us to play together as often as we'd both like, but that'd also be nice to keep going. I'm not sure I would go so far as to say I'm friends with either of them (yet?). The guy is ~20 years older than me and, when we hit together it feels strictly "business" (exaggerating). As for my teammate from earlier this year, she's ~10 years younger and we are probably more friendly in how we interact. But it's been weeks since we were last in contact.
Pandora Mikado
Semi-Pro
Most of my best friends have come through tennis.
HBK4life
Hall of Fame
On the flip side. Are their people that you won’t play with? I have one. Constantly tried to hit me in doubles. The final straw was a ball going out and he takes a swinging f hand volley at me. I dropped my hands a bit as the ball was sailing. I got them up in time to deflect it a bit. That was that. Anytime I am asked to play in a group with that person it’s a quick no for me.
CosmosMpower
Hall of Fame
Yep primary hitting partner has been a very good friend since high school (20+ years)
That is my attitude too. Men are a waste of time.
ElChivoEspañol
Hall of Fame
The sport is full of petty people like this, it's sad to witness.
FedLIKEnot
Professional
This is a funny question I was just speaking with a hitting partner about this. While we regularly check in on things outside of tennis we are the equivalent to tennis co-workers, it does seems more than half of our club are friends. Superficially friends of course. As some have mentioned tennis is a petty, fickle thing. I remember there was a huge blowup in 2018 when someone made a districts or bust sort of team and omitted more than half of their "friends" who they'd played with in the past. Needless to say they are not exactly friends anymore. So to me what is the point.
I have a ton of amazing acquaintances I have met through tennis, and that is good enough for me. Besides in my professional life I have to be charismatic and charming which I am good at, but it doesn't come naturally to me and I would just rather not have to do that any more than what is required. Haha.
I have a ton of amazing acquaintances I have met through tennis, and that is good enough for me. Besides in my professional life I have to be charismatic and charming which I am good at, but it doesn't come naturally to me and I would just rather not have to do that any more than what is required. Haha.
Matthew Lee
Professional
as a college student all of my hitting partners are basically my closest friends. hell, I live with 2 of them in my house.
FiddlerDog
Hall of Fame
I can't imagine people like this exist.
If my hitting partner gets better, I am stoked!
In fact, I am always trying to help my hitting partners get better.
Share match feedback, offer to video matches, etc.
toby55555
Hall of Fame
Same, recently got sick of an unnecessary movement in my main hitting partner's service action that was holding him back; I videoed him and helped him correct; now he's as likely to beat me as not which makes games so much better.
Zodd
Hall of Fame
This reminded me of the Seinfeld episode with the Elaine neighbor
heftylefty
Hall of Fame
I've made a very good friend who started as a weekend hitting buddy about 16 years ago. He's a great guy.
guanzishou
G.O.A.T.
A few of my hitting partners are very close to me because we came from the same cultural background.
Yes, he's much older than me too. I buy him food n bring balls since he's like a super duper ball machine. He was probably a 5.5-6.0 back in the day.
He rallies with me to work on his strokes, and I focus on mine. We both can hit many balls back and forth. But he can kill me anytime lol.
For other guys on the same level, then nah. I scheme on how to beat them lol. Work hard n improve my game. They're my benchmarks.
If we became buddy buddies, then I'd be too 'nice' on the court. I can't be nice to people who I wanna blast to smithereens.
If I win, they win, I win, then we both win. We're both getting better.
If I lose, they win, I win, I win, I win. Then only I'm getting better. Onto the next partner/opponent.
If they still wanna play, then ok, I don't deny them unless they whine n ****.
For guys who can barely run, yeah I hang out with them. It's more relaxed. Work on smashing no pace/junk balls with them too.
He rallies with me to work on his strokes, and I focus on mine. We both can hit many balls back and forth. But he can kill me anytime lol.
For other guys on the same level, then nah. I scheme on how to beat them lol. Work hard n improve my game. They're my benchmarks.
If we became buddy buddies, then I'd be too 'nice' on the court. I can't be nice to people who I wanna blast to smithereens.
If I win, they win, I win, then we both win. We're both getting better.
If I lose, they win, I win, I win, I win. Then only I'm getting better. Onto the next partner/opponent.
If they still wanna play, then ok, I don't deny them unless they whine n ****.
For guys who can barely run, yeah I hang out with them. It's more relaxed. Work on smashing no pace/junk balls with them too.
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