Shortage of Players Willing to Go All The Way

[TTMR]

In my adult life, I have noticed a drastic reduction in the number of players willing to play me in best-of-five. Are people just that much busier than they used to be? Is social media taking up all their time? What gives?

 

[Daniel Andrade]

Wait, wasn't it TTPS?
You cheating readers?

 

[AlexSV]

Are you buying them a drink or dinner first? You can't just expect someone to go all the way with you without a little warm up first, maybe some mini tennis.

 

[TTMR]

Are you buying them a drink or dinner first? You can't just expect someone to go all the way with you without a little warm up first, maybe some mini tennis.

Good points. Perhaps my power baseline style has finally gone out of style, and modern players prefer more fore(court)play.

 

[derick232]

I've never know anyone to play best of 5 recreationally. I did once because the guy didn't want to accept losing in best of 3. Honestly I'd do it if more people were willing, but I think it would be hard to find.

 

[NTRP_3.75_Patrick_Rafter]

I'd prolly die on the court if I went 5 in singles.

Well, I guess I could in the winter. Body would be sore as hell the next day.

In the leagues I have been in guy hate playing singles. I want to but I'd have to work on my conditioning. I think that's probably the big thing for people along with the time commitment.

 

[Parabellum]

I would love to play best of 5 but summer in South Florida, best of 3 is even brutal during the day…

 

[Curtennis]

It’s definitely tough to find people willing to do it. But maybe it’s better that we don’t. I’d rather be able to play every day/every other day without injury then play marathons that could get me hurt.

 

[Chalkdust]

I have no interest in playing for any longer than 2hrs max.
Could I do it if I really had to?
Probably.
But, I would rather spread the hours I can allocate to tennis over more sessions vs fewer longer sessions.
Also I think longer sessions would greatly increase the risk of injury.
So pretty much downside but no upside.

 

[OnTheLine]

I am happy (and prefer) best of 3 full sets (no 10 point breaker) in singles or doubles. Pretty easy to convince someone to do it ... up to about 90F ... higher than that temp you just get no takers.

Best of 5? As an adult recreational player I just don't see the point ... I certainly don't have the time ... especially without ball kids!

 

[travlerajm]

In my adult life, I have noticed a drastic reduction in the number of players willing to play me in best-of-five. Are people just that much busier than they used to be? Is social media taking up all their time? What gives?

I’ve noticed the exact same thing.

 

[TTMR]

I am happy (and prefer) best of 3 full sets (no 10 point breaker) in singles or doubles. Pretty easy to convince someone to do it ... up to about 90F ... higher than that temp you just get no takers.

Best of 5? As an adult recreational player I just don't see the point ... I certainly don't have the time ... especially without ball kids!

The way we used to do it when we were younger was, if there was a time constraint and nobody had won in three straight sets, we'd continue the match the next time. However, I have played matches that went five sets all at once before. I miss it.

Nowadays you're lucky to find anyone willing to do a best of three with a real third set rather than a tiebreaker. Half the time, people demand no-ad scoring. People say they don't have time. For some reason people used to have the time. People used to have time for tennis club, bowling leagues, elks club, church groups, etc. Now everyone's 'too busy'. What has filled the time?

 

[travlerajm]

The way we used to do it when we were younger was, if there was a time constraint and nobody had won in three straight sets, we'd continue the match the next time. However, I have played matches that went five sets all at once before. I miss it.

Nowadays you're lucky to find anyone willing to do a best of three with a real third set rather than a tiebreaker. Half the time, people demand no-ad scoring. People say they don't have time. For some reason people used to have the time. People used to have time for tennis club, bowling leagues, elks club, church groups, etc. Now everyone's 'too busy'. What has filled the time?

Instagram, Facebook and even this forum take up a lot of time. You should really cut people some slack, because if they didn’t spend all that time posting and browsing feeds, the quality of the content on social media would suffer a drop off.

 

[OnTheLine]

The way we used to do it when we were younger was, if there was a time constraint and nobody had won in three straight sets, we'd continue the match the next time. However, I have played matches that went five sets all at once before. I miss it.

Nowadays you're lucky to find anyone willing to do a best of three with a real third set rather than a tiebreaker. Half the time, people demand no-ad scoring. People say they don't have time. For some reason people used to have the time. People used to have time for tennis club, bowling leagues, elks club, church groups, etc. Now everyone's 'too busy'. What has filled the time?

Even knowing that you are a bit trolling .... "too busy" that darn job, those great kids, the household that needs attention, the meals that need to be cooked, ones' elders who need to be cared for ... and at my age the lengthy pre-tennis and post-tennis routine to keep this body-held-together-by-duct-tape functioning ... have to factor in that time as well.

I have no problem regularly playing a full 3rd set ... most of my circle are happy to do so. Obviously not league matches. I know almost no one that even inquires to play no ad.

 

[S&V-not_dead_yet]

My reason is simple: I couldn't last 5 sets of singles. 3 is my limit.

 

[TTMR]

Even knowing that you are a bit trolling .... "too busy" that darn job, those great kids, the household that needs attention, the meals that need to be cooked, ones' elders who need to be cared for ... and at my age the lengthy pre-tennis and post-tennis routine to keep this body-held-together-by-duct-tape functioning ... have to factor in that time as well.

I have no problem regularly playing a full 3rd set ... most of my circle are happy to do so. Obviously not league matches. I know almost no one that even inquires to play no ad.

I grant that, but people still had bowling leagues, elks club and so on while being employed, having kids and elders to look after, a household to maintain and meals to be cooked. So what is the time vacuum we have now that we didn't before?

 

[OnTheLine]

I grant that, but people still had bowling leagues, elks club and so on while being employed, having kids and elders to look after, a household to maintain and meals to be cooked. So what is the time vacuum we have now that we didn't before?

You are mentioning things that last roughly 1.5-2 hours. About the same as 2 sets and a tie breaker.

Few things in the grand-days-of-old were longer than 2 hours

 

[5sets]

Lol, darn partners won’t put out

 

[socallefty]

I grant that, but people still had bowling leagues, elks club and so on while being employed, having kids and elders to look after, a household to maintain and meals to be cooked. So what is the time vacuum we have now that we didn't before?

Probably during the days you were talking about, men worked in the day and did their hobbies or group activities in the evening. Meanwhile the women were stuck at home taking care of the household chores, kids, elders etc. without any suooort form their spouse - the women certainly didn’t have the time for 5-set tennis matches and bowling leagues in those days of demarcated roles. Now, almost every household is relying on two incomes and everyone including many men pitch in to take care of the household, kids, elders etc. outside of working hours. Also, kids have more organized extra-curricular activities outside of school and again, young parents are occupied driving them everywhere. Also, it is easy to stay home today and be entertained by hundreds of channels of cable TV and the internet.

Can’t believe I’m taking the time to post a serious answer to one of your troll threads.

 

[McLovin]

Can’t believe I’m taking the time to post a serious answer to one of your troll threads.

Yeah, I read this as a humblebrag: I’m so scary athletic and fit that no one can stay on the court with me for best of 5…

In all seriousness…best of 5 recreational tennis?

 

[onehandbh]

In my adult life, I have noticed a drastic reduction in the number of players willing to play me in best-of-five. Are people just that much busier than they used to be? Is social media taking up all their time? What gives?

Where you at? I'll play you best-of-nine.
No tiebreaks. Play out the sets. Ad scoring.

My only requirement is that the court has a restroom nearby as I am very regular when it comes to bowel movements.

 

[TTMR]

Where you at? I'll play you best-of-nine.
No tiebreaks. Play out the sets. Ad scoring.

My only requirement is that the court has a restroom nearby as I am very regular when it comes to bowel movements.

Unplumbed outhouse or bring your own port-o-potty.

 

[onehandbh]

Unplumbed outhouse or bring your own port-o-potty.

No problem. Let's do it. I'll just bring small shovel to dig a hole.

 

[FuzzyYellowBalls]

In my college days I found a shortage of women willing to go all the way, rim shot.

 

[TTMR]

My reason is simple: I couldn't last 5 sets of singles. 3 is my limit.

Time to start S&V, my friend. Practice what you preach.

 

[S&V-not_dead_yet]

Time to start S&V, my friend. Practice what you preach.

That's with S&V!

 

[silentkman]

The way we used to do it when we were younger was, if there was a time constraint and nobody had won in three straight sets, we'd continue the match the next time. However, I have played matches that went five sets all at once before. I miss it.

Nowadays you're lucky to find anyone willing to do a best of three with a real third set rather than a tiebreaker. Half the time, people demand no-ad scoring. People say they don't have time. For some reason people used to have the time. People used to have time for tennis club, bowling leagues, elks club, church groups, etc. Now everyone's 'too busy'. What has filled the time?

I've never played anyone that wanted no ad scoring. That is a tournament requirement sometimes.

 

[silentkman]

I grant that, but people still had bowling leagues, elks club and so on while being employed, having kids and elders to look after, a household to maintain and meals to be cooked. So what is the time vacuum we have now that we didn't before?

Even the pros play Bo5 at the most 25% of the time. I'm sure you can find someone to meet that quota.

 

[Jst21121]

In my adult life, I have noticed a drastic reduction in the number of players willing to play me in best-of-five. Are people just that much busier than they used to be? Is social media taking up all their time? What gives?

People have priorities outside tennis…You know kids, wife, family, cooking, cleaning, working.

i am always down for best out of five, but that’s because I do Ironman triathlons so I am in shape. I wake up at 4 either bike run or swim, I go during my lunch and swim or run. On weekends I wake up at 5-6 and do the above but for longer lengths.

i train as much as having a part time job…but I try to do all the training out of sight of the wife. Before they are awake and when I’m at work. When I come home it’s 100%dad duties.

that being said-going tennis in a 5 set match requires endurance and rec tennis isn’t something that people will prioritize outside of their work and family life to put in 10+ hours a week in conditioning and in addition to wake up at 4-5 am to run around the neighborhood so you can condition yourself for a 5 set 3.0 ntrp usta match is sorta silly.

 

[S&V-not_dead_yet]

People have priorities outside tennis…You know kids, wife, family, cooking, cleaning, working.

You omitted "posting on tennis forums".

i am always down for best out of five, but that’s because I do Ironman triathlons so I am in shape. I wake up at 4 either bike run or swim, I go during my lunch and swim or run. On weekends I wake up at 5-6 and do the above but for longer lengths.

i train as much as having a part time job…but I try to do all the training out of sight of the wife. Before they are awake and when I’m at work. When I come home it’s 100%dad duties.

that being said-going tennis in a 5 set match requires endurance and rec tennis isn’t something that people will prioritize outside of their work and family life to put in 10+ hours a week in conditioning and in addition to wake up at 4-5 am to run around the neighborhood so you can condition yourself for a 5 set 3.0 ntrp usta match is sorta silly.

Dang, you are in great shape. If anyone can do Bo5, it's you. Me? I'll stick with my measly two sets and be happy.

 

[sureshs]

1 hour singles or 2 hours doubles is my limit these days. I can play longer physically, but mentally I get bored and start thinking about eating.

 

[sureshs]

I grant that, but people still had bowling leagues, elks club and so on while being employed, having kids and elders to look after, a household to maintain and meals to be cooked. So what is the time vacuum we have now that we didn't before?

Much of that employment was meh. Very little tension or actual work, more pretense. With computers, all that changed.

 

[AVSH]

"Started out with a PD in the first set, went to Clash by set 5. I lost because the clash had lost tension sitting in the bag"
I can see it now

 

[Jono123]

In my adult life, I have noticed a drastic reduction in the number of players willing to play me in best-of-five. Are people just that much busier than they used to be? Is social media taking up all their time? What gives?

Why not play a full set?