Turning down the "hackers" at my club

[Bdarb]

Striving four point zero here.

 

[chatt_town]

O snap....okay so you are 4.0 with a 5.0's mentality. Okay that changes everything. So let me ask you. You don't want to pay with 3.0 or 3.5's for that matter if the truth be told. So why should a 4.5 play with you?

Probably the best friend I have in tennis plays 4.0 but is actually a 3.5. He can hardly move at times. Not only will I "hit" with him. I've played several tourneys with him. We actually made it to one final and lost, but we are real good friends. He actually shares a condo with us in Destin. The dude is a lot of fun to be around. We've stayed at his home quite a bit when in ATL. He just asked me last week to play some singles with him. I said sure. So probably in the next week we are going to toss'em up. I'm going to give it to him just like I give it to everyone else because he says he wants to learn to play singles.

In return, I've learned a lot from him as he has battled cancer. I don't know the extent of it because I didn't know him at the time, but I've over the last 3 years learned a great deal about eating habits. Could I have picked it up in a book? Sure...but It was something about watching what he does that made me start looking at things different. He has also given me and my son very nice clothing that he can no longer wear. He let me borrow one of his cars to go out of town when mine caught fire and burned up and never asked for a dime in return. Only wash the car.lol My point I'm trying to make to you is this. You spend so much time trying to not mess up your 4.0 game by hitting with a 3.0 and you are missing out on the better things in life. Anyone that knows me will tell you that not only will I hit with anyone, I will travel and pay money and enter a tourney with you...if you ask. I make no promises about winning but I will play with anyone....and that is the truth. I guess as a 4.0 I realize that I'm never going to make any money playing tennis so I might as well make some friends.

At our courts, there are a couple of USTA ranked 3.5's who try to play up as often as possible. No problem, they should.
BUT, when they get on court with 3 4.0's, their first serve is much much slower than any second serve, their forehands hit flat with 8' net clearance land in short NML ( FIGURE IT OUT ) ... and they can only resort to lobbing EVERY single ROS.
You want to play tennis with them?
I'm 4.0.

 

[chatt_town]

Orange,

That explains a lot then.

There are actually three people who have posted in this thread whose identity I know and who are claiming to be a level higher than they really are.

And then a couple more I know that are being truthful and have not misrepresented themselves.

I'm not going to name any names, in order to protect the guilty

 

[Bdarb]

Haha no I'm a decent 4.0 but have played little to no usta. I can hang with any 4.0 around here but I'm not blowing 4.0 off the courts and I get a few games a set off 4.5's here.

 

[darrinbaker00]

There are actually three people who have posted in this thread whose identity I know and who are claiming to be a level higher than they really are.

And then a couple more I know that are being truthful and have not misrepresented themselves.

I'm not going to name any names, in order to protect the guilty

Have you ever played at San Pablo Park, OrangePower?

 

[LeeD]

Let's strive to get together for a hit at SanPabloPark.
While I'm mainly an AM player, MWF 3.5-4.0, weekends get a little better players, but nothing like real 4.5.
I windsurf in the afternoons, so tennis is out.
But, I've hit with Tracy, JC, Marcus, Ming (Dr. Ming), Freedom, Josh, and I can hang hitting with power, but can't move nearly well enough to beat them in set play, singles.
Some weekdays, when g/f is working late, I can show at 4 or so, especially Tuesdays and Thursdays.
I think one of you mentioned Zack, the 6'5" fellar, plays 4.5 for BerkeleyTennisClub, had a weak first flat serve. Wrong, of course. He hardly ever hit's it.

 

[Spin Doctor]

Anyone should be able to play .5 NTRP below their own level and get something out of it.

One of my regular partners is at least .5 below me, possibly a full point. I work on my approaches, net play and attacking shorter balls. I also work on technique issues which is a lot easier to do when you're getting a consistent medium paced ball instead of being under pressure the whole time.

 

[OrangePower]

Have you ever played at San Pablo Park, OrangePower?

I have, but not that often over the last few years. I used to live in Berkeley about ten years ago, and used to play there every so often. Now I live further east, and play at various places in north and south diablo. I still have some buddies who play at Harbor Bay, and they have an ongoing rivalry with San Pablo (at least at the 4.5 level), and I've gone to spectate a few matches here and there.

 

[Tennisguy3000]

You should play them to your utmost ability and destroy them if you have that ability, that's treating your opposition with respect. Never game an opposition as that will break your game and they won't respect you for showing off. If you're that much better they're unlikely to play you again. If you think you're that much better then use it as a practice of put away shots and aggression. The only issue is when players who are distinctly lower standard and shown so repeatedly want to constantly want to play you and can't read that your not interested. Then you're better off saying that you where anticipating playing against X & Y, maybe another time.

I think we have a winner /\

Its great when higher level players come out and rip it up... but if they are of a much lower level it won't be much fun for them anymore & they will eventually... get it and not ask you to play much anymore ;-)

 

[KineticChain]

I think we have a winner /\

Its great when higher level players come out and rip it up... but if they are of a much lower level it won't be much fun for them anymore & they will eventually... get it and not ask you to play much anymore ;-)

Not true. Some people do not have a social compass and/or are new to the game and don't care how good you are. They just see you as a person that likes tennis, just like themselves. Although I suppose that might be a good tactic.. just be an a** and hit winners and high bouncing heavy balls on every shot until they leave.

 

[Tennisguy3000]

Not true. Some people do not have a social compass and/or are new to the game and don't care how good you are. They just see you as a person that likes tennis, just like themselves. Although I suppose that might be a good tactic.. just be an a** and hit winners and high bouncing heavy balls on every shot until they leave.

Just to clarify... I wasn't suggesting that he be an *** about it lol. Just play his game (not kill them) & the newer players will (hopefully) get it and realize that he is just on another level. But yeah... I know what you mean regarding some people not having a "social compass".

I dont expect much other than some good hits with multiple levels on a social night. Find a local ladder or league and go at it! Hope you find some good games.

 

[LeeD]

Lots of replies from the lower level guys.
NO, lower level guys never get it. They always ask better player's to hit and play.
I am a bad 4.0. I do NOT ask 4.5's to hit or play, unless they don't have a partner around.
I HAVE asked League 4.0's if I could join in on their 3 person hits. Nope, every time. However, after having hit with at least one of them once, they always say I can join them.....after I got refused because they didn't know how it hit.
If there are no other courts availible, I'll ALWAYS ask a 3.5 to join in at hit, whether we have 2 or 3 already. Begrudgingly, yes, but always.

 

[Steady Eddy]

I think some of this is about it not being fun to hit with weaker players, but a lot of it has to do with pecking order, i.e. weaker players 'should know-their-place.' It's just one of the unwritten codes of tennis.

I don't belong to a club, so I'm not really into this stuff.

 

[LeeD]

OK, I'll mention WHY I hate to hit with 3.5 weak hitters, or even weak hitting 4.0's.
1. I can beat them using my right hand, and I have already. I"m lefty.
2. My ankles are bad enough I cannot run, from pain.
3. My left knee is bad if I play lots of tennis or windsurf in rough water.
4. My rotator cuffs are soo bad, needing surgery 11 years ago, that some days, I cannot reach my face to shave or brush my teeth with my left hand.
5. I USED to play much better than I do now.
6. What's the point of playing tennis, with absolutely NO joy except the joy derived from simple "participation"?
7. I've been playing tennis since 1974, simple "participation" does nothing for me.

 

[Steady Eddy]

Just my opinion. You don't have to hit with anyone you don't want to hit with. But from your arguments, it sounds like you don't want to hit with anyone.

 

[LeeD]

Another 3.5 hoping to hit with 4.0's?
Just HOW many of you guys are out there?
Certainly must be the majority.
And the few 4.5's who claim they love to hit with 3.5's, well, it's your choice.

 

[bluegrasser]

Maybe take the lower seat and help the lower level players, but ahh you'd have to check your ego at the door. You'd probably find it rewarding - just a simpletons take.

 

[LeeD]

Not just a simpleton, but spoken like a true lower level player.
While YOU, a 4.5, may hit with all the 3.5's and beginners you want, JDubbs and I will let you do your thing, while we just say NO thank you, to 3.5's.

 

[bluegrasser]

Not just a simpleton, but spoken like a true lower level player.
While YOU, a 4.5, may hit with all the 3.5's and beginners you want, JDubbs and I will let you do your thing, while we just say NO thank you, to 3.5's.

Oh then I bow the knee..

 

[chatt_town]

Dude,

Again, from what you are basically saying here. You are one good loss away from being bumped down to 3.5 yourself. With all the issues you are saying you have, I'm just trying to figure out what is hitting with even a strong 4.0 going to do for your game? You sound like a many of the players I've mowed down by chipping balls to them. I've even seen it on the board. They call them "hackers" or "pusher" yet they can't beat them. They have a 1000 excuses of why they can't or don't play with them. I play with a wide range variety depending on whom I'm playing. Sounds like you may at one time could change your game up but now your health issues have forced you to be able to play one speed which is you like for buys to drill the ball to you so you can **** and unload back as opposed to having to use the bum knee and whatever else you have going on.

This to me is even more reason why you should look at it more social. You've been playing since 74? So...you certainly aren't looking to move up it appears but yet maintain the 4.0 level from what it sounds. As a fellow 4.0 I can tell you that you will run into a wide range of players. I run into the guys that bang it from corner to corner and then I run into the guys that have a wide variety of shots and make you play the whole court. So that explains why you may be having trouble winning at this point. I think If I were you, I'd be making friends at the 3.5 level. Sounds like you are on a course that will have you there in the next year or two if you play more usta.

OK, I'll mention WHY I hate to hit with 3.5 weak hitters, or even weak hitting 4.0's.
1. I can beat them using my right hand, and I have already. I"m lefty.
2. My ankles are bad enough I cannot run, from pain.
3. My left knee is bad if I play lots of tennis or windsurf in rough water.
4. My rotator cuffs are soo bad, needing surgery 11 years ago, that some days, I cannot reach my face to shave or brush my teeth with my left hand.
5. I USED to play much better than I do now.
6. What's the point of playing tennis, with absolutely NO joy except the joy derived from simple "participation"?
7. I've been playing tennis since 1974, simple "participation" does nothing for me.

 

[LeeD]

Good thoughts, be being an oldtimer, the easier way to beat me is to bounce balls chin high at me, allowing me to make the mistake.
Old farts are used to conti grip underspin shots, can handle them better than high bouncing balls from the kids.

 

[chatt_town]

nah...when I see a guy in knee wraps, elbow protectors & $h*t....and they have 10 or 15 years on me...I employ the "stick and move" game.lol That's where I basically serve balls in the middle of he court(assuming you can't burn me with winners all the time) and the get you in a running match. It tends to wear most people down by the end of the first set. Younger guys that may or may not work. Depends on how smart they are. If they know how to play then it's all out 4.5 tennis.lol This is where I just close my eyes like Novak and spray winners hopefully. I'm not going to allow someone to do to me what I do others.lol

I played amateur baseball and the thinking by pitchers was always to throw what batters couldn't hit and the good junk ballers or "pushers" as would be called in tennis are many times the most successful. Greg Maddox or Tom Glavin would be considered "pushers" in baseball but they were known to put a many of batters in serious slumps for weeks.

Even though these were what I would consider rec baseball leagues, I had no problem catching up to the 92 mph fastballs when I did see them. It was the guys with the wicked sliders and diving curve balls that gave most guys problems. So that's why I'm a real big fan of "hacking" the ball if the other guy can't get to it and I don't care what the other hackers in the stands think.lol

Good thoughts, be being an oldtimer, the easier way to beat me is to bounce balls chin high at me, allowing me to make the mistake.
Old farts are used to conti grip underspin shots, can handle them better than high bouncing balls from the kids.

 

[Mr.Lob]

Even though these were what I would consider rec baseball leagues, I had no problem catching up to the 92 mph fastballs when I did see them. It was the guys with the wicked sliders and diving curve balls that gave most guys problems. So that's why I'm a real big fan of "hacking" the ball if the other guy can't get to it and I don't care what the other hackers in the stands think.lol

Just a lowly 3.5 here, hoping to make the jump to 4.0 one of these days. Asked a couple 4.0s to hit a few months back, both had valid "excuses" I suppose. Another 4.0 that I do hit with,"takes it easy" on me. Looking to find someone to hit with is tough. Fast feeds at club only take you so far.

Your comment above reminded me of a doubles match about a month ago. My first serve, usually flat and fast, was repeatedly being block floated back to the baseline by a particular opponent. Even my best serves down the "T" he'd manage to get a raquet on it, and float a high one back that bounced near the baseline. Once I took off about 20-30mph off pace, with a little spin... not heavy, the guy started having some problems and started to mishit. Love to hit that big first serve, usually do better dialing it down and going for higher first serve percentage.

 

[LeeD]

Yeah, me too...love to hit the big flat serve, but I win more points more often using a slower slice serve that goes in more often.
BUT, it's still worth the pain to hit the flat serve, and the rewards it CAN garnish is worth the letdown it often gives me.
Chatt Towns strategy is often muted by first strike tennis from a less than mobile player.
When you can't run fast, you hit harder and target the sidelines more....and sooner.

 

[Steady Eddy]

Another 3.5 hoping to hit with 4.0's?
Just HOW many of you guys are out there?
Certainly must be the majority.
And the few 4.5's who claim they love to hit with 3.5's, well, it's your choice.

Actually I don't enjoy hitting with 4.0 players. They hit too hard. I like to hit with weaker players. And then when we decide to play a set, I also enjoy being able to win.

 

[LeeD]

Dude, I was kidding.
I'd much rather hit with stronger players, so when they ask to play a set, I lose to them no matter how hard I try. Unfortunately, this doesn't happen nearly enough.
Reality is, I hit with weaker players, and when I ask them to play a set, it matters little if I use my right hand or my left hand in the results. Yes, I have to try MUCH harder using my right hand.

 

[Tennisguy3000]

LeeD I see you post on peoples videos calling them 4.0's when I see a 3.5's hitting the ball. Do you have a hitting video of you at your current 4.0 level? Curious to see it if you have one (not your serve only video ;-)

 

[LeeD]

No video.
I live on less than 600 a month, for the past 10 years.
Have no computer, no phone, but do have a 30 buck BestBuy boom box.
My car is a 1979 FordEcoVan, with a shot motor of maybe 300,000 miles.
I am real at 4.0. I've beaten two different former top 4 NorCal 4.0's, within two years of them being top 5, and we've played more than 7 sets, each of them.
I've beaten 8 out of the 12 members of AlbertPark's (SanRafael) state winning 4.0 team, never lost a set to any of them.
I can play pretty even in doubles with most of SanPabloPark's current 4.0 team, meaning League 4.0, comprised mainly of lower level 4.5 players. Doubles because most of that team is under 40, while I"m 65.

 

[OrangePower]

I can play pretty even in doubles with most of SanPabloPark's current 4.0 team, meaning League 4.0, comprised mainly of lower level 4.5 players.

I was following you up to this part.

San Pablo's 4.0 team is comprised mainly of 4.0 players, with a few 3.5s thrown in. I'm just looking at the team page - I don't know any of these players myself. But how do you figure it is comprised of lower level 4.5s?

 

[President]

LeeD, when I come to the Bay Area this June for my summer internship we are definitely going to film your game extensively for all the world to see! Also will need video of you throwing footballs/tennisballs.

 

[LeeD]

Sure, I ask more than 20 guys here on TW to hit, only 4 have.
OrangePower kinda under exxagerates a few things. He says Zack (No.1 for Berkeley Tennis Club), a 6'5" 225 lbs. guy, doesn't have a big first serve. Big as in 130. It has concussion, is WAAAY faster than anyone else on that 4.5 team, is way faster than anyone on SanPablo's 4.5 team, and both those teams have at least 2 other guys around 6'4" tall.
Yes, it's 25 mph faster than mine.
If you watch the lowly 4.0 team hit around warming up, you would think they are Open level players, compared to the "4.0"'s posted on the videos of this forum. They hit 1/3rd again harder, they are younger, fitter, quicker, can easily hit 5 shots HARD in a row.
Compared to typical "4.0" on this site, they are at least one full level better. Can they beat a moonballing 4.0? Good question, they play 4.0.
I think there are 2 different SanPabloPark teams playing 4.0.

 

[OrangePower]

Sure, I ask more than 20 guys here on TW to hit, only 4 have.
OrangePower kinda under exxagerates a few things. He says Zack (No.1 for Berkeley Tennis Club), a 6'5" 225 lbs. guy, doesn't have a big first serve. Big as in 130. It has concussion, is WAAAY faster than anyone else on that 4.5 team, is way faster than anyone on SanPablo's 4.5 team, and both those teams have at least 2 other guys around 6'4" tall.
Yes, it's 25 mph faster than mine.
If you watch the lowly 4.0 team hit around warming up, you would think they are Open level players, compared to the "4.0"'s posted on the videos of this forum. They hit 1/3rd again harder, they are younger, fitter, quicker, can easily hit 5 shots HARD in a row.
Compared to typical "4.0" on this site, they are at least one full level better. Can they beat a moonballing 4.0? Good question, they play 4.0.
I think there are 2 different SanPabloPark teams playing 4.0.

Only one San Pablo 4.0 team.

Dude, I don't under or over exaggerate. It is what it is. USTA computer-rated 4.0 means 4.0, not 4.5 because it's "league 4.0". And when I give serve speed estimates for people I know, my numbers are pretty darn close, since I can compare to myself and other 4.5s on my team that have all been timed with a radar gun.

Anyway, I think what you are really saying is that you are a TT 4.0/4.5, seeing as most TT ratings are inflated (whether deliberately or not). In which case I have no argument with you

 

[LeeD]

You ARE entitled to your opinion.
Whether I"m a 4.0. You can only know if you play against me, or watch me play.
RobFL, a nationally ranked 4.5 said "LeeD can play his dubs"...
Shroud has hit with me once, played doubles against me once.
PapaMango, a singles 4.0, has played with and against me in doubles.
Alex who posted my serving vid has hit and played "1/2" court singles with me.
Focus42 has played 2 sets against me.
Those are the only guys on here who have played tennis with me.

 

[arche3]

RobFL, a nationally ranked 4.5 said "LeeD can play his dubs"...
Shroud has hit with me once, played doubles against me once.
PapaMango, a singles 4.0, has played with and against me in doubles.
Alex who posted my serving vid has hit and played "1/2" court singles with me.
Focus42 has played 2 sets against me.
.

You should put the quoted text in your ttw signature. You have posted it enough times.

I really like the part where robFL says "leeD can play his dubs. "
Was that an exact quote or did he say "doubles? "

 

[LeeD]

Pretty much an exact quote, but I read it ONCE, and it was last summer.
People are always questioning if I can play tennis. I quote that because RobFL is a real USTA 4.5 player.
I showed at the courts, him already hitting with Papa Mango. They look OK, a little short on depth, but strong hitting and movement off both wings. I intended to just watch from outside the fence, but they saw me and invited me to join.
I joined, hit a few, and one of the local strong 3.5 doubles guy shows up and asks if we need a 4th. He's the best of the MWF 10-2 pickup doubles crowd.
We played 3 sets, me on the winning team of all 3, we rotated partners so everyone got to play with and against everyone else.
3.5 guy was by far the weakest.
PapaMango is a singles player, so awkward in doubles.
RobFL can poach really quick, but his serve is average, and his returns predictable.
I had by far the Alpha serve, my volleys weak that day, my returns all chips and slices.

 

[arche3]

Waiting for papamango and robFL to verify claims above.

 

[tennis_ocd]

Pretty much an exact quote, but I read it ONCE, and it was last summer.
People are always questioning if I can play tennis. I quote that because RobFL is a real USTA 4.5 player.
I showed at the courts, him already hitting with Papa Mango. They look OK, a little short on depth, but strong hitting and movement off both wings. I intended to just watch from outside the fence, but they saw me and invited me to join.
I joined, hit a few, and one of the local strong 3.5 doubles guy shows up and asks if we need a 4th. He's the best of the MWF 10-2 pickup doubles crowd.
We played 3 sets, me on the winning team of all 3, we rotated partners so everyone got to play with and against everyone else.
3.5 guy was by far the weakest.
PapaMango is a singles player, so awkward in doubles.
RobFL can poach really quick, but his serve is average, and his returns predictable.
I had by far the Alpha serve, my volleys weak that day, my returns all chips and slices.

You appear to lack confidence so I wanted to point out that you (and your weak volleys) teamed with the 3.5 to beat the national real 4.5 and 4.0 team.

 

[LeeD]

PapaMango has only posted recently on the travel section.
Same with RobFL, still looking for 4.5's to hit with in various locations.
Shroud still posts.
Alex and Focus42 don't any more.
Confidence. I would bet on me and the 3.5 because I know the 3.5 can play smart doubles, while I can dominate with strong shots, obviously not volleys.
The 4.0 is a strong SINGLES player, so he's susceptible to shots at his feet due to poor court positioning.
I can almost hit thru the 4.5, if my shots are going. Certainly, when serving or facing his weaker 2nd serve, I can tee off and take him off his aggressive game.
His volleys are superb after his first serve, and his return location is excellent, a little slow and high, but we know the cure for that.

 

[LeeD]

Hey!
We should play TOday.
I just pulled my back on the left lower side. I cannot reach my feet for shoes or reach the ground to pick up weeds.
NOW, you can prove I'm a 3.0 who hit's 40 mph serves.

 

[arche3]

Still waiting for papa and rb

 

[sovertennis]

You don't need to charge people to hit with you, thats a bit presumptuous in my opinion. You COULD tell them sure, but I can't pay for the court. I would think that they would not do this. If they do, hey, free tennis..

I'll generally hit with any decent player once, even though I could claim that as a teaching pro I'd only do so in the context of a lesson, but that's come back to bite a couple of times recently. A new guy in town was referred to me by the manager (he call himself a pro, but exaggerates) of the local indoor facility (where I don't teach, but am a member). I happened to see the guy taking a lesson, and his groundstrokes were good--solid 4.0 level. So I tell him, sure, I'll hit but hold him off until we can go outside. So we do. Turns out he can hit 4-5 balls before either going for too big a shot or just falling apart. His serve it pathetic, so we play a few rally games to 11 (all of which I win easily) then call it a day. He says "So you're a teaching pro?" I tell him yes. He says "I'm going to have to take a lot more lessons at the club to compete with you" and then we say good bye. A week or so later, I'm giving a lesson to a good 3.5 guy at the outdoor courts and the guy shows up. I say hello and ask him who he's hitting with. He says he's on his way to the indoor courts to take a lesson, and would I like to hit with him on the weekend? Trying to hide my incredulity, I tell him that I'll be away.

That's not the end. The next day I get an email from another guy, also referred to me by the manager at the indoor facility, who wants to play. He includes a brief and glowing bio, which says that he's rated in the top ten in his USTA 70+ section, and that he's played with the other guy, and beat him, hence he presumes that he and I would be compatible.

As my mother was fond of saying, no good deed goes unpunished.

 

[chatt_town]

What's up Mr. Lob. yea bro, let me tell you. What you did is mostly the difference in say 3.5 and 4.0. Despite what many 4.0's will tell you about not wanting to hit with you. This is the reality. Most 4.0's are better than 3.5's because we allow 3.5's to do things to kill themselves. If I had to guess, I'd say about 60 percent of the time if not more, I allow players to beat themselves. I did it last night in a doubles match. We beat these guys like 2 and 1 and they were raving about how well we played. All I did was spend serves into the middle of the box and trot in to the net...in which case 95 percent of the serves were returned but off the fence. I wouldn't get away with this playing 4.5 as they would at very least make me volley(which I do very well) but they would have made me do it. These guys just hit balls off the fence or into the net trying to hit it through or passed me. That my friend imo is the only difference in 3.5 and 4.0.

If I were you, what I would do is find you a fellow 3.5 partner that has the guts to do it and enter some of your 4.0 leagues and start whipping their @sses. Then you will start seeing 4.0's come to you and ask you to hit. They are now just hoping you don't figure out the only difference between you and them is they are willing to hit balls in the court while again many 3.5's are trying to prove they can play with 4.0's and hitting balls off the fence and in the net.

A friend of mine and I did that some years ago. I've not had problem since then finding teams to play with. 4.5...now that is a different story. I do beat up on the lower level 4.5's but I can do nothing with the top of 4.5 division.

Just a lowly 3.5 here, hoping to make the jump to 4.0 one of these days. Asked a couple 4.0s to hit a few months back, both had valid "excuses" I suppose. Another 4.0 that I do hit with,"takes it easy" on me. Looking to find someone to hit with is tough. Fast feeds at club only take you so far.

Your comment above reminded me of a doubles match about a month ago. My first serve, usually flat and fast, was repeatedly being block floated back to the baseline by a particular opponent. Even my best serves down the "T" he'd manage to get a raquet on it, and float a high one back that bounced near the baseline. Once I took off about 20-30mph off pace, with a little spin... not heavy, the guy started having some problems and started to mishit. Love to hit that big first serve, usually do better dialing it down and going for higher first serve percentage.

 

[LeeD]

Almost every 3.5 around here is super consistent and very weak hitting. I do know a few who try to hit 4.0 level shots, can at times, then hit the fence on every 3, just as advertised.
Of the weak hitting 3.5's, I can beat most of them using my right hand, righty serve, 1hbh, not 2 hands. Most, because I haven't played ALL of them with my right hand.
THAT is why I try to stay away from those pickup sets.
OTOH, I do play with most of them because they are nice guys, there are no real 4.0+ players in the mornings (not enough to make up doubles), and any practice is better than NO practice.
I just haven't in the past 3 weeks.

 

[chatt_town]

What exactly does this(bold) mean?

Yeah, me too...love to hit the big flat serve, but I win more points more often using a slower slice serve that goes in more often.
BUT, it's still worth the pain to hit the flat serve, and the rewards it CAN garnish is worth the letdown it often gives me.
Chatt Towns strategy is often muted by first strike tennis from a less than mobile player.
When you can't run fast, you hit harder and target the sidelines more....and sooner.

 

[chatt_town]

Well...Let me address the ranking thing just a little. I was at an alta match with my wife and they just so happen to be playing a aged usta tourney at the facility. Well these guys are going on and on how this one lefty was ranked in the top 20 in the nation in the 45's. I just watched and pretty much concluded that the guy has a bunch of money and time on his hands. There was absolutely nothing about his game that would make you think he was that good. He was average at best. Maybe on a good day a descent 4.0. He didn't move well at all and no one 3.5 and above would have trouble returning his serve. He was over weight and didn't move well.

The only thing I could figure is he plays so many tourneys and collects the points, but having a ranking imo doesn't mean you're good. It just means you play a lot of tourneys. I ran through some 4.0's at a tourney a few years back where there were like 32 guys. I lost in the semis to what most would call a pusher. I ran into him at the wrong end of the tourney. May have beaten him at the beginning but didn't have the energy at that time of year to be sticking and moving. Seems like that was like my 5 match in 3 days and would have had to play a 6th. After what I experienced and seeing the guy a few weeks ago, I wouldn't put too much into these rankings.

I'll generally hit with any decent player once, even though I could claim that as a teaching pro I'd only do so in the context of a lesson, but that's come back to bite a couple of times recently. A new guy in town was referred to me by the manager (he call himself a pro, but exaggerates) of the local indoor facility (where I don't teach, but am a member). I happened to see the guy taking a lesson, and his groundstrokes were good--solid 4.0 level. So I tell him, sure, I'll hit but hold him off until we can go outside. So we do. Turns out he can hit 4-5 balls before either going for too big a shot or just falling apart. His serve it pathetic, so we play a few rally games to 11 (all of which I win easily) then call it a day. He says "So you're a teaching pro?" I tell him yes. He says "I'm going to have to take a lot more lessons at the club to compete with you" and then we say good bye. A week or so later, I'm giving a lesson to a good 3.5 guy at the outdoor courts and the guy shows up. I say hello and ask him who he's hitting with. He says he's on his way to the indoor courts to take a lesson, and would I like to hit with him on the weekend? Trying to hide my incredulity, I tell him that I'll be away.

That's not the end. The next day I get an email from another guy, also referred to me by the manager at the indoor facility, who wants to play. He includes a brief and glowing bio, which says that he's rated in the top ten in his USTA 70+ section, and that he's played with the other guy, and beat him, hence he presumes that he and I would be compatible.

As my mother was fond of saying, no good deed goes unpunished.

 

[sovertennis]

After what I experienced and seeing the guy a few weeks ago, I wouldn't put too much into these rankings.

That's my point. That, and he's 70+, ie he's got 25 years on me.

(Am now awaiting attack from LeeD for presuming advancing age means decreasing ability. Will try to withstand).

 

[LeeD]

Chatt Town, refering to your post 122.
What? You don't think getting old kills your tennis game?
Ask Roddick. Ask Safin. Ask McEnroe. Ask every player who ever got old, causing his tennis to DEcline.
Ask any Open level player from the '60's. They all got old, barely play 4.0 now.

 

[chatt_town]

lmao.....good luck.

That's my point. That, and he's 70+, ie he's got 25 years on me.

(Am now awaiting attack from LeeD for presuming advancing age means decreasing ability. Will try to withstand).

 

[LeeD]

I think it's pretty safe to say, if you consider the opponent a "hacker", you think you are at least a level better player than him.
As such, any strategy is a winning strategy.

 

[chatt_town]

No, I didn't under the post. That's why I asked. I agree with what you said. I think I said something about a guy that happened to here. Having said that though. Do you not see now where it is more beneficial to you to make friends as opposed to being worried about hitting with weaker players? You yourself have basically admitted you are aging...and basically on the way down...so why not hit with the players you will be playing against anyway in a few years if not next...


p.s...o you were talking about post 122. Yea....I think getting older effects your game, but what does that have to do with what we're talking about?

Chatt Town, refering to your post 122.
What? You don't think getting old kills your tennis game?
Ask Roddick. Ask Safin. Ask McEnroe. Ask every player who ever got old, causing his tennis to DEcline.
Ask any Open level player from the '60's. They all got old, barely play 4.0 now.