Play 4.0 or 4.5 league...what would YOU do?

[SW1]

Hey everyone,

Just looking for some opinions here. I played in the Ultimate Tennis league for about 3 years or so, working my way up from 4.0 to 4.5 ( I played 4.5 during the last season I played UT).Since then I haven’t played league in about 3 years, and am looking to get back into it again.

My question: should I play UT again as a 4.5 (the one season I played 4.5, my record was 2-6, with one default and one final tiebreak win...I know, hardly stellar) or play again as a 4.0? I’m middle aged, and my movement has probably declined a little.

I know if I play at 4.5 again I’m going to take my lumps in terms of losses, but I don’t want to be “that guy” that obviously plays down just for wins.

So what would you guys do?

 

[travlerajm]

Hey everyone,

Just looking for some opinions here. I played in the Ultimate Tennis league for about 3 years or so, working my way up from 4.0 to 4.5 ( I played 4.5 during the last season I played UT).Since then I haven’t played league in about 3 years, and am looking to get back into it again.

My question: should I play UT again as a 4.5 (the one season I played 4.5, my record was 2-6, with one default and one final tiebreak win...I know, hardly stellar) or play again as a 4.0? I’m middle aged, and my movement has probably declined a little.

I know if I play at 4.5 again I’m going to take my lumps in terms of losses, but I don’t want to be “that guy” that obviously plays down just for wins.

So what would you guys do?

Play both, obviously.

It really just depends on what you enjoy more.

 

[GrassCourtFan]

Doesn’t UT automatically set your level?

 

[SW1]

Doesn’t UT automatically set your level?

I’m not sure at this point, I’ve been out of the league scene for awhile. If that’s true, then I’ll just roll with wherever UT puts me.

 

[Moveforwardalways]

UT sets your level automatically, so you don’t really have a choice to play down. I assume since you are asking that UT has you at 4.0. You could just play both.

Also, remember that UT levels do not correspond to USTA levels.

 

[SW1]

UT sets your level automatically, so you don’t really have a choice to play down. I assume since you are asking that UT has you at 4.0. You could just play both.

Also, remember that UT levels do not correspond to USTA levels.

How do the UT levels differ from the USTA levels?

 

[Moveforwardalways]

How do the UT levels differ from the USTA levels?

UT levels (at least in Atlanta anyway) are 0.5 NTRP off from USTA. In other words, UT 4.5 is equivalent to USTA 4.0, and UT 4.0 is equivalent to USTA 3.5, etc. This is because there are so many people playing up. A USTA 4.5 will dominate at the UT 4.5 level, and would not find the matches very competitive.

 

[GrassCourtFan]

It’s off by more than that at the high levels, at least. I played UT 5.5 and was mostly winning easily, whereas USTA I’m clearly 4.5.

 

[zipplock]

Like Travlerajm said, play both. You could play the 4.0 for practice and the 4.5 for the challenge.

 

[SW1]

Like Travlerajm said, play both. You could play the 4.0 for practice and the 4.5 for the challenge.

Since you put it that way zipplock, what you (and originally Travelerajm) said makes perfect sense. If UT allows it, I’ll probably go that route.

 

[Mark Bosko]

I would rather play up

 

[Moveforwardalways]

It’s off by more than that at the high levels, at least. I played UT 5.5 and was mostly winning easily, whereas USTA I’m clearly 4.5.

You are correct about higher levels. I think this is because the UT system is constantly moving people up and down divisions every cycle. So for players at the higher levels, some are by definition going to be moved up every time. For instance, every time there is a 5.5 grouping, someone will win the grouping (by definition) and move up to 6.0. However, we all know there are no true 6.0 players playing UT in Atlanta, because they are all playing tennis for a living somewhere and not meeting up at Blackburn Park on Tuesday night to play a league match.

 

[KOFS]

Play up matches are more fun.