What league?

[dak95_00]

I haven't played anything really competitive since high school 21 years ago where I was 1st singles all four years. I played intramurals in college and that wasn't competitive as I never lost a set.

Since those years, I've played and taken considerable time off too; sometimes up to 3-4 years at a time. However, the last two years I've been playing much more and multiple times a week. I don't play indoors as it is very expensive. I am still playing outside here in Columbus, OH as of last week.

I feel aside from conditioning and touch volleys that my game is pretty close to the best it has ever been. I knoiw I am more solid from the baseline than I have ever been and my mental game (biggest weakness as a kid) is very strong too as I have matured.

Lately, I have met league guys yound and old who play USTA. The young guys (25-30) want me to join there 4.5 team and the old guys (50-70) want me to join there 4.0 team.

I know it is a doubles league as there aren't singles leagues here. I don't know much about how they play or other details but I'm sure I'd have fun either way. I'm pretty sure that I'd be competitve in either league from playing against most in rec. doubles and/or singles at the public courst I frequent. The old guys are savy, wily, hit flat and paint the lines w/ weird looking wristy shots that keep me moving. The young guys have all kinds of styles too but most use power, touch, and precision while a few are unbelievably very good pushers that return all but the best of winners that usually have to be great angles from the net. Both groups do plenty to keep me on my toes and help me to improve my game.

The 4.0 group is stationed at an outdoors club that has some singles on weeknights. The 4.5 group is stationed at an indoor club I can't afford to join in the winter. In the end, the cost will be nearly the same. Maybe $100-$200 for the summer from idk March/April - August/September.

Which would you join? I want to get back to playing and having fun in a competitive environment. Whoops gotta answer the text that came in about playing today. Gotta beat the snow!

 

[dlk]

Are the leagues USTA? If so there are usually 2 singles lines & 3 doubles. So you culd play some singles. I'm much lower rated, so I don't know what you should play (4.0 or 4.5), but good luck, glad you're back into the game.

 

[J_R_B]

Sounds like 4.5 to me. If you are competitive with the young guys on the 4.5 team, then you shouldn't be playing 4.0.

 

[dizzlmcwizzl]

Assuming you mean a USTA league then the honorary thing to do would be to play 4.5 ... see if you belong and if not you will get rated down. No sandbagging please.

However, if this is not a USTA league you should play with the folks you would enjoy the most.

Personally my game is built around a big serve and power tennis. I probalbly would fit in more with the youngins you speak of but generally I enjoy the challenge of a more cerebral game. I have never enjoyed tennes as much as when I am playing with high 4.0 rated 50-60 year old tennis players. They are not afraid of my game and they play smart... something I need more exposure to.

 

[dak95_00]

Both groups play very good tennis. Both make me a better player when I play with them for different reasons.

The young guys play a variety of games like serve and volley and and smashing shots from the baseline. I like the constant adjustments I have to make and the limited weaknesses to their games. I know I have to just outplay them and force the point as most aren't won on unforced errors. I have to smash the ball from side to side or pin them deep into a corner and follow my way to the net. It is fun work them into a weak spot and try to exploit them. The old guys amaze me w/ their shots. Just when I think I've seen or hit a winner, they somehow dig the ball out and hit a surprisingly offensive shot from a spot I had them dead from. I'm amazed at how they can smash a flat shot from 3 feet behind the baseline and only 2 inches above the ground to the other side of the court giving the opponent a difficult volley. Their deception and wristy shots are also very good.

I'll probably end up deciding on the group that is more fun for me to play with weekly. In the end, I just play for exercise, fun, and I try to improve every time I get out there.