Struggling at 3.5 but doing good at 4.0

[dvikasmishra]

Hi,

I am playing two strong teams, one is strong 3.5 and other is very good 4.0 team. I am losing my matches at 3.5 level ( 1-3) but won matches with 4.0 team (3-0). I am not a weak link at 4.0 team by any standards.

My technique, as most of 4.0 have, not perfect but reasonably good.

I don't know what is going on. Any similar experiences?

 

[Austinthecity]

Perhaps it's the pressure of playing someone you know you should beat (3.5). You're playing tentative and trying to get shots in instead of swinging out.

However at 4.0 when you know it's more evenly matched or you're outmatched, you're swinging out on the ball because you're playing with a "nothing to lose" mentality.

 

[raiden031]

I'm going to guess that you're playing doubles, right? If you have a lame 3.5 partner and a good 4.0 partner, then it makes sense that you would have more success at 4.0. If your partner sucks then you are always going to struggle, even if you are above level.

 

[FedererUberAlles]

Maybe you're getting a lot of junk balls at the 3.5 level, but you're getting consistent depth of shot at 4.0. When I play someone who sucks I play a lot worse than when I play someone who's my level or better, and I mean it is very noticeable

 

[polski]

Last 4.0 tourney I played, I barely beat a 3.5 pusher/moonballer in the 1st round before winning the next 2 rounds over a former NAIA college player and a legit 4.0 (that is getting bumped up).

I struggle with pusher tennis and just don't enjoy it so I don't practice against it. That can bite me in a tournament or league match every now and then.

 

[nickarnold2000]

Last 4.0 tourney I played, I barely beat a 3.5 pusher/moonballer in the 1st round before winning the next 2 rounds over a former NAIA college player and a legit 4.0 (that is getting bumped up).

I struggle with pusher tennis and just don't enjoy it so I don't practice against it. That can bite me in a tournament or league match every now and then.

I used to have the same problem with pushers so had to improve my game because I would always have to play them in tournaments. Now, it's lots of fun playing them and I get lots of serve-volley, hitting drop shots and overhead practice!
Hitting heavy topspin moon balls still bothers higher level players; it's a good skill to have.

 

[LeeD]

I'm with poster #4.
I can easily loose to a strongwilled pusher at the 4.5 or B level.
I can usually hang right with any 5.5 or A player...not necesarily beat them every time, but hang with.....
Different game, line calls, distractions, gamesmanships, all besides the hitting.

 

[polski]

I used to have the same problem with pushers so had to improve my game because I would always have to play them in tournaments. Now, it's lots of fun playing them and I get lots of serve-volley, hitting drop shots and overhead practice!
Hitting heavy topspin moon balls still bothers higher level players; it's a good skill to have.

I just don't have the patience to play pushers. I like to hit the ball with some pace & I like players that will hit the ball too. I'd much rather lose points by getting winners hit by me or being forced into an error by shot-making. Losing because I make unforced errors because of my opponent's backspin lob from a chopping swing is just no fun.

Kudos to you for your diligence...you're a smarter player than I. I just choose to play up to 4.5 or with college players for practice rather than deal with the junkballers.

That being said, a good junkballer usually has a room full of trophies. Heck, Fabrice Santoro lasted 20 years on tour doing it.

 

[nickarnold2000]

I just don't have the patience to play pushers. I like to hit the ball with some pace & I like players that will hit the ball too. I'd much rather lose points by getting winners hit by me or being forced into an error by shot-making. Losing because I make unforced errors because of my opponent's backspin lob from a chopping swing is just no fun.

Kudos to you for your diligence...you're a smarter player than I. I just choose to play up to 4.5 or with college players for practice rather than deal with the junkballers.

That being said, a good junkballer usually has a room full of trophies. Heck, Fabrice Santoro lasted 20 years on tour doing it.

I certainly admit that I enjoy playing higher level players who don't junk ball everything. But I hate losing to that kind of pusher player even more so when the occasion arises(which isn't often these days +4.5) I really go after those guys with a vengeance! :twisted:

 

[keepurpowderdry]

I'm with poster #4.
I can easily loose to a strongwilled pusher at the 4.5 or B level.
I can usually hang right with any 5.5 or A player...not necesarily beat them every time, but hang with.....
Different game, line calls, distractions, gamesmanships, all besides the hitting.

Thats exactly me !!! maybe if I / we would switch up to a lighter flexible racquet with a set up of Ashaway kevlar in a 102 square inch head at low 40s we could have a better weapon to counter the pusher. Cause i find it mentaly tiring to lug my yonex 001 mid all over the court ! Maybe that might help a little???

I play with my group that consists of pushers and then some semi hard hitters and all we do is play doubles. It is very hard to get into rythum when you have one guy hiting 8 feet net clearance with tones of all kinds of spins and then you have another guy hitting 8 inch clearance at 80 miles an hour .. it's like timing whats timing

 

[ttbrowne]

I lose interest in playing junk ballers. Plus I do well when I'm not thinking so much hence some 4.0 players hit the ball harder and I handle that better. I don't win against 4.0's but I'm more competitive and having more fun.

 

[a10best]

yup, you get those dinkers and no-pace shots returns at lower levels. This is normally the case.
Eventually, you will need to beat those types of players. They do have weaknesses,not only in pace or depth but also certain shots on the run, mid-court, returning low sliced shots, or believe or not, against serve and volley players.
Just put them away quickly.