Should I have been upset?

[Dartagnan64]

TRY to understand. Allowing something is not encouraging something.

"and all sports descend from war". That is SO true. And you're stupid for saying it sarcastically. Boxing, probably the most war-like sport, if you can call it a sport, ironically, you learn to EVADE a TENNIS ball. Shouldn't TENNIS players learn to evade a tennis ball?

So you are suggesting that as the reflexes slow with age, players should just quite playing tennis because of these lack of evasion skills. Sorry pops, it's pickleball for you. Can't dodge the head hunters any more.

In the end if I have to resort to drop serving and head hunting old guys with bad knees in order to win a tennis match, I'd never be able to look myself in the mirror at night. It's weaksauce. Beat them with serves to the corners, good passing shots and overheads at their feet.

You too will be older someday and realize it's not such a bad thing to play tennis with nice folks that will not abuse your handicaps.

 

[S&V-not_dead_yet]

unless i'm actively challenging a shot (ie. racquet is down near the ground as that's where a high % aggressive volley usually goes)

I actually brought this up in a post a while back: I thought the best position to be in when I'm at net and about to get pounded is with the racquet down [assuming I'm not going to bail]. The reasoning is two-fold:

- Everyone has been taught to hit at the opponent's feet so having one's racquet down means it's in the higher % position
- It's easier to raise my racquet to get a high shot than lower my racquet to get a low shot because I simultaneously have to open my racquet face which is difficult to do while lowering the racquet

I actually learned this concept from volleyball: the best diggers have their arms down, not their hands raised to their face. it takes a while to get used to the fact that you're going to get six-packed [hit in the face] occasionally; those that don't learn never make it past the intermediate level.

 

[LGQ7]

it takes a while to get used to the fact that you're going to get six-packed [hit in the face] occasionally; those that don't learn never make it past the intermediate level.

I'm glad there are people from other sports. That is part of the game isn't it? You assume the risk of getting hit by the ball. Do you ever complain that it was "intentional"?

 

[S&V-not_dead_yet]

I'm glad there are people from other sports. That is part of the game isn't it? You assume the risk of getting hit by the ball. Do you ever complain that it was "intentional"?

No, although there were times when the other team went head-hunting. But playing the middle back position means any ball at your head is out [the line digger doesn't have that luxury] so, as a consequence, I rarely got smacked.

 

[Bluefan75]

So you are suggesting that as the reflexes slow with age, players should just quite playing tennis because of these lack of evasion skills. Sorry pops, it's pickleball for you. Can't dodge the head hunters any more.

In the end if I have to resort to drop serving and head hunting old guys with bad knees in order to win a tennis match, I'd never be able to look myself in the mirror at night. It's weaksauce. Beat them with serves to the corners, good passing shots and overheads at their feet.

You too will be older someday and realize it's not such a bad thing to play tennis with nice folks that will not abuse your handicaps.

No kidding. Like I said, come at me all you want. But a guy with a rocket forehand firing at a 70 year old who can barely bend down to get the ball....

but internet tough guy's gonna internet tough guy...

 

[Tennisplyr]

just curious, how did you determine if they were actually head hunting?
ie. "I'm gonna knock your head off" vs. bad volleyer - is sometimes a fine line
but yeah, i agree i always attack the feet because at the very least it's a higher % play than head hunting.

also, if there's a sitter, and i see opponent winding up i either:
a) turn away and concede the point
b) hide behind my racquet

unless i'm actively challenging a shot (ie. racquet is down near the ground as that's where a high % aggressive volley usually goes)... so there's zero chance of ever getting hit in the face... so i typically welcome head hunters.

I've seen this guy do it many times before. For what it's worth I saw Jack Sock being shot at point blank range and he just got out of the way of it....he gave his opponent some dirty look! If it's a macho, ego thing enjoy yourself, I prefer not to get injured.

 

[Deleted member 23235]

I've seen this guy do it many times before. For what it's worth I saw Jack Sock being shot at point blank range and he just got out of the way of it....he gave his opponent some dirty look! If it's a macho, ego thing enjoy yourself, I prefer not to get injured.

yah, some folks don't understand social etiquette... it's like they're tennis autistic.
i used to suffer from that (i've learned since then)... back when i first learned a fh and needed to show it off to my fellow 3.5's.

when i'm getting crushed at net, or can't handle the pace, etc.... i just move back or concede the point.
i do think it's silly that some folks demand you play a certain way to compensate for their skills (ie. the world should change for me, vs. me change for the world)

so there's ego happening all around (the dbag that needs to headhunt, and the net guy that won't yield)

 

[mucat]

Some folks care about winning way too much, they should play against 5 years old, they will win a lot.

 

[LGQ7]

Some folks care about winning way too much, they should play against 5 years old, they will win a lot.

Your statement is mathematically naive. A difference in 800 Elo rating points, your win counts for nothing.

 

[Jonboy]

I played with an old guy recently. He was a demon at the net. I'd pound the balls in deep and he'd finish them off with an intercept. Kept making me laugh as he could place it on a dime.

I think with the OP's scenario, if its a social game, hitting people aint social. If its a comeptitive league match , then the old timer needs to step up or step out.

 

[tennis tom]

I've played with some dinosaurs who've played everyday for 60 years and there reflexes are so good from tennis, that you CANNOT hit them--they move like bull-fighters on the court to get out of the way. Now, if you're partner puts up a dying quail setter and your a racquet's distance away from the net, all bets are off--duck and cover, turn sideways or turn your back to make for a smaller target--unless your profile is wider then your backside. If your opponent exhibits some heavy weaponry in the match and a propensity to hit at you, be on high alert and pay ATTENTION and you could turn that body shot into a winner. I was in a social match a few days ago where someone hit hard at me at the net--it glanced off my racket and he apologized for going at me--I told him no need to apologize, I nearly made a winner out of it, keep hitting at me!--this was done in friendly banter. He hit at me again at a lesser pace. I said, hit it a little more medium-hard, that one was "too slow"--he hit me a medium body shot and I hit a volley back--this was a little game within a game. Usually if someone hits hard at me early in a match, I'm not paying full attention and if I get hit, it's a ricochet off my own racket and not a direct hit from my opponent--it's a wake-up call to not get hit in the eye and have to ice it and go to the eye doc the next day.

 

[NLBwell]

OP, your partner knows how to play tennis and can hit the ball pretty decently. It doesn't sound like he was at such a low level that he was in danger of being hurt by the speed of the ball. Adjust to the opponent's tactics. If you think they are jerks, then just don't have a beer with them afterwards.