Playing against much better opposition

[Attila_the_gorilla]

EDIT: Hmmm this may actually belong in the Adult League section


Today I took part in our club championship, with one of my teammates. We played 3 pro sets (first to 8 ) against 3 other pairings and hardly won a game.
Of course we didn't expect to win, I've been plaing for about 2 years, my partner is about on my level, though we've been doing well at the lower grades.

The opposition was at a whole different level, the main difference is how hard they all hit the ball and the amount of topspin they employ.

I'm thinking we didn't play to our potential, we could have got a few more games. Personally I tried to play their game: heavy topspin. That's the direction I'd like my game to go, but against these guys I was no chance.

What would you do in a similar situation? Would you change your game and just focus on retrieving and keeping the ball in play? Or would you keep trying to play your own game even if it means shanking the ball left and right?

Essentially, would you be prepared to enter "pusher" mode to get a better result? My pride didn't allow me to do so today and I got badly burnt.

 

[richmond1210]

Like you, I am also an attacking player that uses heavy topspin. Came up against a player that was too good for me in a tounament the other day. If I tried to just push, I would get smashed because its not my game and I don't know how to play it, plus he would just outrally me anyway. So I went for my shot and I still lost pretty convicingly, 1-6 3-6. I could have won a couple more games and I came off the court reasonably happy with my performance knowing I had just been beaten by a better player. Going back to your point, I think that trying to improve your game is the way to go when playing against players far superior to you. Going into pusher mode will just mean that you will be afraid to land the killer punch when you play against a beatable opponent.

 

[Silent]

I think you have to stick with what you know but try to go for more.

Don't try the Homer Simpson approach and try to outlast your opponent by taking all the blows: you have to take the fight to your opponent.

You're at a disadvantage right from the start, so you can't simply stay in your comfort zone and expect to win. At the same time, you can't start playing a defensive game if you've never done that before.

Play your game, but go for more: be more aggressive. You may end up hitting a lot of unforced errors, but at least you know that on a good day, your game is a winning one. Being too careful might make the match last longer, but with no chance of winning.

Are you hitting returns from ear's height ? Get inside the court and time your swing to hit it on the rise: have a go-for-broke mentality. Is he returning your serves too easily ? Serve hard to the body: this is awkward for any player. Do it all-match long if needed. You can mix it up from time to time to keep him honnest.

Ask yourself: how does a top 100 player approach a top 10 match ? They just go for everything. If the ball is 1 inch short, they attack. If it's 1 mph slower, they attack. You have to attack, attack, attack. I can't stress enough the word "attack". You're basically trying to play a more advanced level of your own game.

The advantage that you have is that you have nothing to lose. If you're lucky, your opponent will not be ready for a fight, so take the opportunity and bully him into a fight he didn't expect.

To sum up: play a winning game: play shots that if they went in, would hurt him. He's better than you, your regular shots will not hurt him: find a way to hurt him. Take his time away by hitting harder and sooner and hit the open court. Stay focused and attack.

 

[MurrayMyInspiration]

Friendly match? Play your game.
Proper match? Play in a way that will allow you to get the best result possible which is usually the same answer as the above.

 

[Topspin Shot]

I respectfully disagree with Silent. If you already have an aggressive mentality, then by all means, play aggressively, but going for broke just to go for broke will not help. You're just as likely (if not more likely) to beat your opponent by frustrating him with consistency and junk than by futilely trying to hit through him.

 

[Bagumbawalla]

Basically, you have almost exactly 2 options.

1. Play the shots and the style that you feel most comfortable playing and that (hopefully) gives you the most consistant results (even if you loose). Then, afterward, review, and then work on those aspects of your game- tactics, stroke production, fitness, and so on that need improvement-- for next time.

2. Since you are going to lose, anyway, try different things out of your normal comfort zone and see if anything clicks.

An 8 game set, where you are sinking fast, really doesn't give you that much time for experimentation- I would most likely go with option #1.