Sandbagger?
- Thread starter takl23
- Start date
I find the whole idea of sandbagging dumb.
I find those who do it dumb. Who wants to beat *worse* players? Ludicrous.
I find those who complain dumb. Do you not enjoy competition? Unless its a multilevel difference, *****ing seems quite silly.
I find peoples interpretation of the NTRP dumb. It's not supposed to be a set in stone system where you *know* a specific number. It's a rough gauge of ability to ensure people don't get stomped by more competitive players, and that competitive players don't have to deal with playing against far inferior players. I hate all the "what level am I!" and "this guy is totally a _!" and all the other threads trying to use NTRP for means other than its intention.
Tim, unless he's competitive with better 4.0 players, what's the difference? "Seemed" is not a word that exudes enough confidence to quit a team.
I find those who do it dumb. Who wants to beat *worse* players? Ludicrous.
I find those who complain dumb. Do you not enjoy competition? Unless its a multilevel difference, *****ing seems quite silly.
I find peoples interpretation of the NTRP dumb. It's not supposed to be a set in stone system where you *know* a specific number. It's a rough gauge of ability to ensure people don't get stomped by more competitive players, and that competitive players don't have to deal with playing against far inferior players. I hate all the "what level am I!" and "this guy is totally a _!" and all the other threads trying to use NTRP for means other than its intention.
Tim, unless he's competitive with better 4.0 players, what's the difference? "Seemed" is not a word that exudes enough confidence to quit a team.
I don't know what 3.5's are like where you live, but in my region (Chicago area) the line between 3.5 and 4.0 is extremely blurred. In the local leagues here, unless a guy is completely destroying people at the 3.5 level (not just by wins but by consistent lop-sided set scores) it's hard to target someone for sandbagging. Almost every 3.5 team has at least a few "borderline" or better players. You have to have guys this good to compete here.
My advise would be to enjoy the success of your team. If this guy is truly a 4.0, let the computer take care of it. Just my $.02
My advise would be to enjoy the success of your team. If this guy is truly a 4.0, let the computer take care of it. Just my $.02
I don't understand why you would quit the team because you think one player on the team is underrated. Who cares? I have gotten my ass kicked 3 times in 3.0 singles this year back in the Spring, yet everyone else thinks I'm a 3.5 when they play against me. The bottom line is that a large number of players at each level could probably hold their own at the next level up. Thats just the way it is when people are trying to make it to Nationals.
Now when the game plan for a team is to have players tank matches, then that is where I would draw the line.
I would rather lose a match than blowout my opponents. I won a mixed doubles match today 6-0, 6-1, and my opponent asked me if I was a computer-rated 3.0. Thats a subtle way to imply that I'm sandbagging. I looked him up on tennislink and he has been a 3.0 or less since 2002! How can someone not improve in 6 years of league tennis? We were playing in the #2 spot. Just 9 months ago I lost to the players that were on the #3 spot of the opposing team today.
Now when the game plan for a team is to have players tank matches, then that is where I would draw the line.
I would rather lose a match than blowout my opponents. I won a mixed doubles match today 6-0, 6-1, and my opponent asked me if I was a computer-rated 3.0. Thats a subtle way to imply that I'm sandbagging. I looked him up on tennislink and he has been a 3.0 or less since 2002! How can someone not improve in 6 years of league tennis? We were playing in the #2 spot. Just 9 months ago I lost to the players that were on the #3 spot of the opposing team today.
Cindysphinx
G.O.A.T.
If you hear anyone admitting, suggesting or encouraging anyone else to throw a few games here and there to avoid being bumped up, then you should probably find a new team.
Barring that, let the computer take care of it.
Barring that, let the computer take care of it.
takl23
Semi-Pro
I know this player will throw games to stay at this level and on this team. I don't know why this person does this. He is undefeated so far this season. I really enjoy competition, this is my first year playing USTA league tennis. I come from a golf backround where I was a teaching pro and played professionally in local events for about 5 years, and I know all about the sandbagging that goes on in golf and that always bothered me. That's why it bothers me here. I don't want to be part of a winning team in which some one cheated. I'm more looking for opinions on what you would do. I'm not trying to be a martyr here. I don't think this team overall has a chance at nationals. I'm going to play out the season and probably switch next year if this person comes back.
Cheers,
Tim
Cheers,
Tim
goober
Legend
You should told him "Why yes I am computer rated. Why are you playing up as a computer rated 2.5?"
BTW there are people who spend their entire tennis playing time in leagues at 3.0 or 3.5. It is not really that uncommon.
Topaz
Legend
Raiden, why do always feel it necessary to put your opponents down? Maybe, just maybe, that person has some other things going on in their life, and tennis isn't their sole focus. Maybe they play for other reasons than you. Maybe they've been injured. Maybe his goal isn't improvement, and he is happy right where he is. Maybe he has other things going on in his life and doesn't spend time looking up every 3.0 player in the league.
I know this sounds harsh, but it seems like you never have anything positive to say in your posts...it is always about how you are so good and how your opponents are so bad and how you've improved sooo much. I don't doubt that you work hard and you have improved, but your posts border on obsession IMO, and not a healthy one at that. Why is it that you play? What is your goal? Remember, as good as any of us may be, there are always plenty of people able and willing to kick our butts!
So you want to resort to personal attacks, I can go there too. Prepare to be slammed every time you say a not so positive comment. First off, this is a message board and ranting is quite common despite what you think. Second, I don't appreciate opponents questioning my rating after a match where I beat a clearly weak player. There is certainly overlap among USTA ratings anyways.
My whole point (which you obviously missed) is that I have come to the conclusion that it is pointless to cry over sandbaggers. If anything they just make the competition tougher, which in the end is better for player development.
I don't know where you get this idea that my opponents are so bad and I'm so good. I mention all the time how I get my butt whipped. Just read the Tennis Tips section once in a while. I don't know what you find obsessive about my posts. The fact that I want to share my experiences and/or ask for advice is obsessive to you? Or the fact that I am not ok being a mediocre player when I know I can be better?
Maybe I should spread the word that sharing tennis development experiences is too obsessive for Topaz.
FNALLY, There is an ignore feature here I think, so I recommend you use it if you have such a problem with me.
lostinamerica
Semi-Pro
Who cares if someone has a sandbagger? When you are better than your opponents they always think you are sandbagging. If you are the best in your league, you probably are (and probably not the only one in the league).
I know a team of sandbaggers that got outsandbagged and all they did was complain and file a grievance against every member of the team that beat them. For what it is worth, no grievance was upheld.
If you want to get to nationals, you must have ringers. If nationals is not your goal and you want to play and improve, it does not really matter what the other teams have. That gives you a glimpse of where you want to be.
I know a team of sandbaggers that got outsandbagged and all they did was complain and file a grievance against every member of the team that beat them. For what it is worth, no grievance was upheld.
If you want to get to nationals, you must have ringers. If nationals is not your goal and you want to play and improve, it does not really matter what the other teams have. That gives you a glimpse of where you want to be.
takl23
Semi-Pro
I'm not refering to other teams, I'm refering to my own. I've been thinking about it more and I don't think that I'll stay at 3.5 after this season. I've been improving enough that'll I plan on being a 4.0 by summer 2008. I'm gonna keep my mouth shut and just play and have fun and hopefully the computer bumps me up quickly!
Cheers,
Tim
Cheers,
Tim
counterpunchingrules
Rookie
all he said was he won a 3.0 match 6-0, 6-1. that in no way (to me) implies he's good, heh. maybe thats just how im reading it though :x
Diver
New User
What league do you play in?? Where is your court?
counterpunchingrules
Rookie
besides, i completely hate it when someone loses in a league and rather than saying "damn, he's good" - it's "damn, he shouldn't have been playing here"
if you lose, take the loss, go train and get better if it bugs you that much.............
if you lose, take the loss, go train and get better if it bugs you that much.............
I'm almost 20 years old and I played on a local 3.5 league team. 90% of the team was at least 45 years old and over. I played 4 years varsity in high school and when I began playing adult tournaments, I had no idea what my NTRP rating might. I joined the 3.5 team. I really had no idea what the whole concept of "sandbagging" even was. Hahaha. As I played on the team I gained friendships and was almost disappointed when I learned I got bumped to 4.0. I recall our captain always subliminally letting me know whether we needed to win my match or not. I just thought it was funny. Oh well. Maybe I'm a bad person.
I'm now on a 4.0 team this fall season and I've won 5 of my 7 matches. Go me!
I'm now on a 4.0 team this fall season and I've won 5 of my 7 matches. Go me!
Sakkijarvi
Semi-Pro
<I mention all the time how I get my butt whipped>
I have to agree, I've seen this in your posts plenty! Stay cool, use this as a chance to improve your internet mental game.
Sakki
I have to agree, I've seen this in your posts plenty! Stay cool, use this as a chance to improve your internet mental game.
Sakki
XkwizitOvrhed
New User
Yup, seems like it's OK for certain posters to get on here and "share" their tennis development stories ad nauseum yet when noobs or non-regs have an opinion, problem, whine or rant it's time for an attack, whether philosophically or personal.
saram
Legend
The entire rating scheme is flawed. I just played in the Combo state championships and one could not tell the higher from lower rated player on almost all courts. If there is truly a difference between a 3.5 and 4.0 in your area, then you live in a segretated part of the nation as almost all other areas, one could never tell by watching...
Cindysphinx
G.O.A.T.
Yes, this is quite true. In fact, I fully expect to top out at 3.5 if I can stay healthy long enough to get there. Getting to 4.0 is completely out of the question. If I live long enough, I imagine someone will come along and say, "Lordie, that woman has been a 3.5 for *six years.* Isn't she ever going to get her act together and move up?"
I don't know anything about Raiden's opponent (the one who stalled out), but there are lots of reasons why people stall out in their progress up the USTA ratings ladder. I know plenty of women who took many years to move from 3.0 to 3.5. There's a huge range of ability at 3.0, so being able to dominate isn't so easy absent a whole bunch of instruction *and* practice. Which requires time and money.
If I had started when I was a few decades younger, maybe things would be different, as it is easier to progress in this demanding sport when you are younger. What can you do?
Hey, we all top out at some USTA level or another. And there will always be those who say "Sheez, how come you're content to be [fill in the rating level of your choosing]?" The answer is: "'Cause this is all I've got!"
You know, my husband attended the NY Marathon this weekend (he didn't run, he supported some friends who ran). He said he saw a graphic that showed the distribution of times of all of the male runners. The times were all over the map, as you'd expect. Then the graphic showed the times of the runners adjusted for age (I don't know how this adjustment was made, but it was made). The bell curve shrank dramatically, and the times of the geezers matched up nicely with the times of the young pups once age was considered. I don't know how old Raiden's opponent was, but I do know this: age matters in athletic pursuits. A lot.
Cindy -- whose friends are planning to train and run the Dublin Marathon in a year and who is Not Not Not going to run a marathon
tennis-n-sc
Professional
Everyone reaches a level and remains there. Maybe they have attained their comfort level and have no desire to go up; maybe they have reached the utmost level of their abilities; maybe they don't have the time to devote to getting better. None of the reasons are as important as just having fun and enjoying life. Know what, you'll reach your limit as well and in many aspects of life. It is just the natural order of things. Being the best you can be doesn't mean you'll be the best.
Oh, one more thing. After hopefully reaching your potential, guess what direction you are looking at. Be nice to the people you meet on your way up the ladder of life. You'll likely meet them again on your way down the ladder.
Everyone reaches a level and remains there. Maybe they have attained their comfort level and have no desire to go up; maybe they have reached the utmost level of their abilities; maybe they don't have the time to devote to getting better. None of the reasons are as important as just having fun and enjoying life. Know what, you'll reach your limit as well and in many aspects of life. It is just the natural order of things. Being the best you can be doesn't mean you'll be the best.
Oh, one more thing. After hopefully reaching your potential, guess what direction you are looking at. Be nice to the people you meet on your way up the ladder of life. You'll likely meet them again on your way down the ladder.
Thats fine that the guy is content with his level of play. The reason I made that statement is because the guy has the nerve to question my rating as if he's a top-of-the-level player and therefore I must be above level. When in fact he's still on the weaker end. I mean it literally took him 2-3 tosses every time he served which was very aggravating. I am not even exaggerating about that and came very close to complaining to an official about it. If I think a player is above level, I might mention it to people I talk to about the match, but I will never tell the opponent or imply to him that I think he's above level.
Oh I'm always nice to players I meet in person. I just like to rant on the board.
Did your husband see Lance Armstrong or Katie Holmes who happened to be running?
I ran the Baltimore half-marathon this year (I'm doing the full next year). And what i found interesting was that I finished ranked in the top 400s out of over 5000 runners, yet I was not even good enough to be a local-class runner.
I play on USTA 3.5 mens teams in the Northern Illinois and Chicago districts. My home court is the Vaughan Athletic Center in Aurora.
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