Question about getting bumped

[Tennis Is Magic]

I'm playing on a 3.5 team, and have played the whole year at #1 singles. I'm 1-5, but against the two best players in the flight, both my matches went to a super tie break in very close matches (First match I won 4-6 6-4 10-5, second I lost 6-7, 7-6, 9-11) with the other 4 matches I lost in competitive matches (something the lines of 6-4 6-3, you get the idea). I know I have had a rather disappointing season, but is there any chance I might get bumped up if I finish the year strong, such as winning 3 matches or so? I'd rather play 4.0 than 3.5 simply because I play better against 4.0s than 3.5s. 4.0s hit much cleaner, consistent balls, and doesn't expose my footwork and speed, which is a weak attribute compared to the rest of my game. Thank you.

- Tennis Is Magic

 

[SweetH2O]

It doesn't sound like you are ready to move up to me, but you can always play 4.0 as a 3.5 anyway. I'd say working on your weaknesses so you aren't bothered by inconsistent shots is a better plan.

Anyway, I think your last 3-4 matches have a strong bearing on your end of season rating. You have to get your dynamic rating on the high end of the range first and then win late in the season to increase it over the rating threshold. Otherwise, losing your last few matches will most likely dip your dynamic rating back into the 3.5 range even if you got it over the threshold for a while. With a 1-5 record so far, you might have to hope to not only win, but to be playing highly rated players to have a shot at getting bumped.

 

[dizzlmcwizzl]

Agreed ... you will likely get replies about how it is your performance against the actual opponents (which is certainly true) or some some sarcastic repsonse about some "holy std" scale which serves no purpose other than to bump up your post count.

But in practice the folks who get bumped are usually playing 1 singles or 1 dubs with a very strong winning percentage (say greater than 75%). What helps the cause is to play up to 4.0 and get match play there. Nothing will get you bumped faster than playing up.

 

[dcdoorknob]

You don't need to get bumped up to play up.

Also I find it hard to believe that 3.5s in your area are actually better at exposing poor footwork and speed than 4.0s

 

[Tennis Is Magic]

You don't need to get bumped up to play up.

Also I find it hard to believe that 3.5s in your area are actually better at exposing poor footwork and speed than 4.0s

I was surprised, too, but it's true. Higher level players hit cleaner balls (and more particularly, with topspin) which is what I'm more accustomed to seeing. It's very easy to hit from the baseline when someone's hitting topspin balls that bounce 3/4ths court or deeper almost every shot, and 4.0s aren't as prone to mishits as 3.5s are. Where a 4.0 might hit a clean groundstroke, a 3.5 might attempt to hit a clean groundstroke and hit a ball with no spin that skids the net and bounces on my service line, which is a very tough shot for me to get if it's not a shot my opponent has been hitting consistently as I play about 5 feet behind the baseline and hit with a SW forehand and a SW one-handed backhand. The two guys I played the best matches against were both playing 4.0 singles, and had good records, at that.

 

[dizzlmcwizzl]

I was surprised, too, but it's true. Higher level players hit cleaner balls (and more particularly, with topspin) which is what I'm more accustomed to seeing. It's very easy to hit from the baseline when someone's hitting topspin balls that bounce 3/4ths court or deeper almost every shot, and 4.0s aren't as prone to mishits as 3.5s are. Where a 4.0 might hit a clean groundstroke, a 3.5 might attempt to hit a clean groundstroke and hit a ball with no spin that skids the net and bounces on my service line, which is a very tough shot for me to get if it's not a shot my opponent has been hitting consistently as I play about 5 feet behind the baseline and hit with a SW forehand and a SW one-handed backhand. The two guys I played the best matches against were both playing 4.0 singles, and had good records, at that.

Were you playing 4.0 guys in league matches? If not, I would not be surprised if they were in fact giving you clean balls to make the game interesting for them. Around here ... 4.0 singles players would have little to no problem abusing the footwork and speed of a 1-5 3.5 singles player.

 

[Tennis Is Magic]

Were you playing 4.0 guys in league matches? If not, I would not be surprised if they were in fact giving you clean balls to make the game interesting for them. Around here ... 4.0 singles players would have little to no problem abusing the footwork and speed of a 1-5 3.5 singles player.

Yes, they were league matches (the matches I described above that went to super tiebreakers). They were playing on 4.0 teams and holding their own, as they told me.

 

[Kostas]

Put me down for the sarcastic remark about getting destroyed at your current level and wanting to play up.

 

[J_R_B]

Stranger things have happened, but I'd be shocked if you were bumped with that record.

 

[Tennis Is Magic]

Stranger things have happened, but I'd be shocked if you were bumped with that record.

I know I won't be bumped up or down at this point in the season, but with 4 matches left in the year, I was just curious if it were still possible to be bumped up if I finished the year well. I'm not particularly familiar with league play, as this is my first year.

 

[J_R_B]

I know I won't be bumped up or down at this point in the season, but with 4 matches left in the year, I was just curious if it were still possible to be bumped up if I finished the year well. I'm not particularly familiar with league play, as this is my first year.

There is a chance if you win big in all of your last 4 matches, but even with a 5-5 record, it's highly unlikely. Of course, no one can say for sure because the rating algorithm takes into account unknowns like the actual (dynamic) rating of your opponents.

 

[dizzlmcwizzl]

Yes, they were league matches (the matches I described above that went to super tiebreakers). They were playing on 4.0 teams and holding their own, as they told me.

But they were in fact 3.5's who also play up on 4.0 teams?

 

[Tennis Is Magic]

But they were in fact 3.5's who also play up on 4.0 teams?

Yes.

10char

 

[J_R_B]

But they were in fact 3.5's who also play up on 4.0 teams?

If they are 3.5 C playing up on a 4.0 team and winning, they could easily have a dynamic rating over 3.5.

 

[dizzlmcwizzl]

If they are 3.5 C playing up on a 4.0 team and winning, they could easily have a dynamic rating over 3.5.

Ceratinly true ... however there is a big difference between a 3.5 who is playing up (and may eventually be bumped) and an established player at the next level.

Getting back to the orginal post ... with a 1-5 record against players who are currently 3.5's there is almost no chance to be bumped. The OP would likely have to play up against solid 4.0s and win a couple to make that happen. I doubt since he has already played the top 3.5's in the area there is strong enough opponents left that he could dominate. What it would likely take for him are 6-1, 6-1 scores against top of level players.