Manners on tthe Court

[mamimiz]

I was playing ladies doubles. Our ratings seemed to span from a 3.0 to a 4.0. I was the least experienced player. I wound up with the person who seemed slightly better and against the two strongest players. I suggested we mix up the teams to even the playing field. In doing so, I inadvertently insulted my original partner who was offended by my suggestion. Should I have kept my mouth shut and play with the weaker player at the risk of getting trounced?

 

[Jonesy]

There is more than meets the eye inside a tennis court than the level of the players.

 

[mamimiz]

Didn’t know I had to protect fragile egos. Just trying to play fairly

 

[Arak]

Your partner is probably way too sensitive. On the other hand, I cherish these kind of situations because funnily, we almost always beat the more experienced players, probably because they don’t take us seriously.

 

[NothingButNet]

Usually...usually...the strongest player of the four will have the most accurate insight on the levels involved, so would usually leave it to them to make that specific call.

Not the other way around.

 

[mamimiz]

That’s good advice. In this case it was fairly obvious: she missed a lot of served/ as do I!

 

[cha cha]

Stop playing with them if you can. Life is not long enough to deal with the feelings of incompetent players.
A good player will never take offence at being put on any side of the net.

 

[Deleted member 783101]

This looks like a 2004 TTW thread.

 

[fundrazer]

This looks like a 2004 TTW thread.

Weren't you in kindergarden back then?

 

[sureshs]

Usually it is done in a subtle way. When I sense a one-sided partition of players going to happen, I casually ask whether everyone is OK with the teams or want to mix it up. Sometimes I make a joke that I am the strongest player around so keep that in mind when forming the teams. Others get the hint and look at the balancing of the teams.

 

[mamimiz]

Usually it is done in a subtle way. When I sense a one-sided partition of players going to happen, I casually ask whether everyone is OK with the teams or want to mix it up. Sometimes I make a joke that I am the strongest player around so keep that in mind when forming the teams. Others get the hint and look at the balancing of the teams.

Will need to work on my social skills

 

[daggerman]

Usually it is done in a subtle way. When I sense a one-sided partition of players going to happen, I casually ask whether everyone is OK with the teams or want to mix it up. Sometimes I make a joke that I am the strongest player around so keep that in mind when forming the teams. Others get the hint and look at the balancing of the teams.

To be fair, unless one of the Big 3 is on the other side of the net, any partition of players in a match you're playing is going to be one-sided.

 

[mamimiz]

Well, it’s more like BIG 2. I hold my own

 

[Raul_SJ]

Will need to work on my social skills

Everyone is too sensitive. Just look at this whiny malcontent pro player who is "offended" by a harmless question about her clay record. Time to stop the coddling and act like adults!

 

[Mr.Lob]

Perhaps you used the wrong choice of words. These things must be done somewhat delicately. What exactly did you say to suggest changing the teams up? How do you know your original partner was insulted? What did she say.

 

[mamimiz]

When I saw the two stronger players were on the same side I said something to the effect that they are such strong players maybe we should divide them up. The original person said she took offense to that I apologized and said I meant no harm but she did not take it well. Others have done the same and I never had a problem with it, knowing I was going to play with a much better teammate.

 

[Mr.Lob]

When I saw the two stronger players were on the same side I said something to the effect that they are such strong players maybe we should divide them up. The original person said she took offense to that I apologized and said I meant no harm but she did not take it well. Others have done the same and I never had a problem with it, knowing I was going to play with a much better teammate.

I don't see a problem with what you said or did. Your original partner just a bit too sensitive. Or maybe she was just having a bad day.