USTA, T2, ALTA level discrepancies

[Dishiki]

I was always under the assumption that the level you played in T2, ultimate tennis, was about half a level lower than USTA. So a 4.0 league is 3.5 USTA competition. I've been playing 4.0 leagues with mixed results. I also played on an A5 men's ALTA team the last two seasons with a 5-8 record at lines 2-4.

A friend asked me to join their 3.5 USTA team. They made it to city finals last year and wanted to shore up their team a bit. I agreed and self-rated myself 3.5. The competition has been suspect. I've only played doublkes but we are 5-0 with a 70% game. Yesterday we played line 1 against two computer rated 3.0s. It wasn't an enjoyable experience at all. We double bageled them in 37 minutes.

I'm just hoping I don't get disqualified. The other matches were all line 1 against 3.5 computer players. Scores were:

6-2 7-6
4-6 6-1 6-1
6-4 6-1
6-3 6-4

I don't think that should get me disqualified. I just wish the leagues lined up better. 4.0 in T2 was tougher competition. Just wondering what fellow Atlantans are experiencing in regards to level discrepancy across leagues.

 

[Sreeram]

I played 3.0 ultimate tennis some 6 months back. Just for fun I played a 3.5 USTA tournament, I lost my first match but in 3rd set tie break. The guy who won me, beat everyone else easily to get into the finals. So I think I am a 3.5 USTA. Also i played in midtown athletic club for sometime and I was invited by their team to play 3.5 ULTA team, but I dint play as I am busy on weekends mostly.
I have won few USTA 3.5 players who are also part of this forum. I think 3.5 ultimate tennis is same as 3.5 USTA.

 

[bcart1991]

ALTA is a crapshoot, as it's based on team level, not individual.

USTA will have sandbaggers here and there, but should be relatively consistent.

I have not played T2 or any other flex league.

 

[dcdoorknob]

Don't live in Atlanta, never played Alta.

That said, with the USTA's bump ups both of the past 2 years, I'd say 3.0-4.0 levels are all noticeably weaker than they were 2 years ago. This apparently by design, and it's not a bad thing really imo, but I would say any conceptions you have about USTA levels that where formed pre-2010 are likely in need of at least a slight adjustment.

 

[SweetH2O]

I don't think that should get me disqualified. I just wish the leagues lined up better. 4.0 in T2 was tougher competition. Just wondering what fellow Atlantans are experiencing in regards to level discrepancy across leagues.

I've found, over the past year and a half, that at 3.5 and 4.0, it matches up pretty well between Ultimate Tennis, T2 and USTA. It gets out of whack in the higher and lower ends of the spectrum but the middle range has matched up for me.

I'm not sure why you are surprised that 4.0 in T2 is tougher than 3.5 USTA. Seems like that should be by definition. And then also disappointed that you double bageled some 3.0s? Play 4.0 USTA and you'll probably have mixed results just like in T2 4.0. So it seems the levels line up just fine.

Your matches will be seen as competitive by the USTA computer so I don't think you'll be disqualified. But I'd expect to be bumped at the end of the season, or you should bump yourself up and play 4.0.

 

[Dishiki]

I was surprised because i had been told that there was about a half level spread. Of course that was by a guy that played 6.0- ultimate tennis.

I was disappointed that we ran into 3.0s. I didn't realize it until I looked up their names after the match. Our line 2 won 6-1 6-0 and they forfeited 3s. It's disappointing expecting to go out and have a fun competetive match and you run into a whole team of 3.0s playing up.

 

[philxor]

After playing about 3 years in the three different leagues here is where I see things.

I play 4.5- in k-swiss and 4.0 (qualify for 4.0 low in Atlanta) in USTA and I consider them comparable. I would consider 4.5 players in k-swiss to be a middle-high 4.0 in USTA, although I know guys playing 4.0 in USTA who do well at 5.0 in k-swiss... Most of the guys rated at 4.5 in USTA play at 5.5+ in k-swiss.

ALTA like said before is a crapshoot. I play B-1 in ALTA but most of the guys I end up playing at 4.5- are between A-6 and A-3.

 

[bcart1991]

Latest NetNews has a pic of a local C-1 (I think) Ladies City Champion team and I recognize TWO ladies we won City with at A-5 a few years ago.

Good times.

 

[obtn]

I just played a guy who is a computer rated 4.5 in a USTA tournament, and he plays 5.5 in k-swiss.

To be honest, I think it's really ALL a crap-shoot... there may be some consistency, but there is always a standard deviation of players from what the average is at that level.

I think I am a prime example of this, since I recently got a lot better, but am forced to play at my previous level of k-swiss unless I take a few years off. Since you can only move up so fast, I've been moving up every season until I get to a level that actually suits me.

This is one of the reasons the Tencap rating system is so much better, since it takes into account every match and dynamically adjusts your rating as you play.

 

[obtn]

Oh, I forgot to mention, I also played a guy who plays 4.5- in T2 in that same tournament (computer rated 4.0 USTA), and he actually BEAT the 5.5 k-swiss guy, 6-4 6-2.

For reference, I lost to the 5.5 guy 3-6 4-6 and the 4.5- guy 4-6 6-7, so obviously my rating isn't right either.

 

[AtomicForehand]

I play a lot of T2. The ladies' daytime leagues are a good .5 NTRP level tougher than the same level of USTA. (In other words, a 3.0 T2 league is more equivalent to 3.5 USTA.) The evening T2 leagues are more similar in level to USTA though.

ALTA is a crapshoot. Our team that just won City had everything from low A to low C players on it.

 

[gprodger]

ratings

I play a lot of T2. The ladies' daytime leagues are a good .5 NTRP level tougher than the same level of USTA. (In other words, a 3.0 T2 league is more equivalent to 3.5 USTA.) The evening T2 leagues are more similar in level to USTA though.

ALTA is a crapshoot. Our team that just won City had everything from low A to low C players on it.

I play league tennis at 3.5. Ultimate tennis, alta and usta do not take in consideration age. I'm 66 and I'm playing people who are bigger, stronger, youger [20 years+] than me and should oulast me in endurance.

I just played in a usta sanctioned over 65 tournament and found in the two matches I played closer to my playing ability than league tennis. The last person has played for 4 years and has 8 tennis tag on his bag. A tag is a form showing he has won the leagues he's played. He also can hit his forehand with accuracy and over power you. The only thing I see that is lacking is a 100 mph serve with placement.