Tennis sensation
Legend
That was evil.:twisted::twisted:
When you've been hit, do you get angry or get even?
- Thread starter Angle Queen
- Start date
That was evil.:twisted::twisted:
T1000
Legend
If I get I'm mad at myself for either giving them an easy shot or messing up (out of position, slow reactions, etc.) I don't care that they hit me, part of the game. I do care though if the guy hits my partner in mixed, you just don't hit girls. Guy did this at the end of his service game and won the game off it by hitting my partner at point blank range, could've put the ball anywhere else. Next point I'm serving and he's at the net, he felt how hard I could serve.
maverick66
Hall of Fame
That and tennis players are sensitive little girls.
If you get hit more than likely it was your fault or your partners fault. If you hit a floater to a net person and are just standing there you are gonna get pegged. Either get out of the way or get your racket up to protect your face.
Exactly! I haven't been "taught" doubles tactics since high school, but it was drilled into our heads that if you hit somebody it's your point! Aim for the feet -- if you hit them, great; if you miss, they still have a tough volley to make.
We play a little game here called "thumper." Two people start about halfway up in the service box (across the net from one another) and start volleying. You get a point by hitting the opponent. It teaches you that if you put up a weak sitter, you'd better protect yourself! This game can be expanded to doubles, as well.
So I guess what I'm saying, in response to the OP, is that if you get hit in doubles, there are two people to blame: (1) yourself, and (2) your partner. If you can't handle the fire, get outta the kitchen and retreat to the baseline!
dizzlmcwizzl
Hall of Fame
As opposed to talking tough behind the anonymity of the internet.
dizzlmcwizzl
Hall of Fame
I agree ... take every shot you can at the feet of your opponent. That is a smart play everytime regardless of gender.
However, that does not give you permission to go out of your way to hit a ball at the body of a defensless player. When you do this, I take that as permission to do the same.
dizzlmcwizzl
Hall of Fame
I really enjoy it and personally I never target women when the correct play is to hit it elsewhere. And if the the correct play does go in her direction the ball will be near her feet.
Unfortunately, there are some players that will try and take advantage and unecessarily pick on the weaker player. Prefering instead to hit every ball to the weak player on the court regardless of court position. Fortunately these people often are weak players themselves, frequently lose and are attempting to conceal their own deficiencies. In these cases it is not fun but not every match is.
I have truthfully enjoyed mixed and in 9 out of 10 matches I have a great time. I enjoy it more than adult men's tennis on average.
Matador position
rosewall4ever
Semi-Pro
its fair game..esp in mixed. in the AO mark woodbridge commented on attacking the female. obviously not intentionally to hurt her but to get the error. like hitting at the opponents feet during net exchanges, hitting wide to unbalance her, but also sometimes hit at the female so as to jam her.
generally its a fact that if you come to the net you are expected to defend your side. if you are not competent or find that the OP are stronger at net then stay back and make the OP defend their position.
if i get hit i shrug it off and say it was a good shot and knuckle down. trying to get revenge is bad sportsmanship
generally its a fact that if you come to the net you are expected to defend your side. if you are not competent or find that the OP are stronger at net then stay back and make the OP defend their position.
if i get hit i shrug it off and say it was a good shot and knuckle down. trying to get revenge is bad sportsmanship
This is an interesting topic. I think you have to look at each situation and make a judgement call. In general, I feel like you should always hit to the open court, and not try to hit people. If everyone is at the net in a doubles match, try to hit at the opponents feet. Often, a soft ball that lands at their feet will be harder for them to handle. But a hard shot into the body or at someone’s feet is certainly legit if everyone is close to the same level.
However, in situations where there is a big gap between the player’s levels, there is no reason to “hit at” the lower level person. I saw something this past weekend in a mixed match that I thought was ridiculous and totally uncalled for. It was an 8.0 mixed match. One team was a young 4.0 guy (30-ish)and a pretty athletic younger 4.0 women. They played against a 4.5 husband / 3.5 wife team. The 3.5 women is about 60 years old, very thin, not especially athletic, and it was obvious she could be overpowered. The 4.5 husband had been pulled out wide behind the baseline and had thrown up a short, defensive shot. So he was out of the picture pretty much. The 3.5 wife stood on her side of the court in the middle of the service box. The young 4.0 opponent man had the short ball and 80% of the court to hit into. All he had to do was hit a medium paced overhead in between the husband/wife. Well, he slammed an overhead right at the 3.5’s women at about head level. She had turned her back giving him the shot, and he hit her on the back of her neck or on top of her shoulder. Then he actually laughed! Give me a break. Was that really necessary? I wouldn’t do that and I’m a woman. How can a young guy feel good about hitting a 60 year old woman? The ball wasn’t even hit at her feet, it was almost head high. Where is common sense and good judgement?
However, in situations where there is a big gap between the player’s levels, there is no reason to “hit at” the lower level person. I saw something this past weekend in a mixed match that I thought was ridiculous and totally uncalled for. It was an 8.0 mixed match. One team was a young 4.0 guy (30-ish)and a pretty athletic younger 4.0 women. They played against a 4.5 husband / 3.5 wife team. The 3.5 women is about 60 years old, very thin, not especially athletic, and it was obvious she could be overpowered. The 4.5 husband had been pulled out wide behind the baseline and had thrown up a short, defensive shot. So he was out of the picture pretty much. The 3.5 wife stood on her side of the court in the middle of the service box. The young 4.0 opponent man had the short ball and 80% of the court to hit into. All he had to do was hit a medium paced overhead in between the husband/wife. Well, he slammed an overhead right at the 3.5’s women at about head level. She had turned her back giving him the shot, and he hit her on the back of her neck or on top of her shoulder. Then he actually laughed! Give me a break. Was that really necessary? I wouldn’t do that and I’m a woman. How can a young guy feel good about hitting a 60 year old woman? The ball wasn’t even hit at her feet, it was almost head high. Where is common sense and good judgement?
dominikk1985
Legend
If you have been hit by a baseball you don't mind beeing hit by a tennisbal anymore
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OrangePower
Legend
This is part of the problem with mixed, and why I've never felt comfortable playing it competitively:
Playing 4.5 men's dubs, if I get a good look at a 2nd serve, I will sometimes try to rip it down the line right at the opposing net player. The intent is not to hit the guy - even if I hit it perfectly, 4.5 guys are good enough to make a play at the ball or at a minimum get out of the way of the ball. But there definitely is an intimidation factor - whether I win the point or not, I am letting the guy know that I am going to take shots down the line, that he has to watch the line and not get too comfortable with looking for the poach, and that he'd better back a few steps off the net on second serves. All this reduces his ability to be effective at the net.
Now imagine I am playing 8.0 mixed and the net player is a 3.5 woman. And let's say I play exactly the same shot down the line as I would in 4.5 mens, but the 3.5 woman is not quick enough to block the ball or duck, and is not savvy enough to be standing a few steps back from the net. And say I hit her. That was certainly not my intent, and I would feel bad. And if her partner was the OP he would be giving me 'the look'. But, why should I change my shot selection to accomodate my opponents' weaknesses? So it's a lose-lose proposition.
Playing 4.5 men's dubs, if I get a good look at a 2nd serve, I will sometimes try to rip it down the line right at the opposing net player. The intent is not to hit the guy - even if I hit it perfectly, 4.5 guys are good enough to make a play at the ball or at a minimum get out of the way of the ball. But there definitely is an intimidation factor - whether I win the point or not, I am letting the guy know that I am going to take shots down the line, that he has to watch the line and not get too comfortable with looking for the poach, and that he'd better back a few steps off the net on second serves. All this reduces his ability to be effective at the net.
Now imagine I am playing 8.0 mixed and the net player is a 3.5 woman. And let's say I play exactly the same shot down the line as I would in 4.5 mens, but the 3.5 woman is not quick enough to block the ball or duck, and is not savvy enough to be standing a few steps back from the net. And say I hit her. That was certainly not my intent, and I would feel bad. And if her partner was the OP he would be giving me 'the look'. But, why should I change my shot selection to accomodate my opponents' weaknesses? So it's a lose-lose proposition.
maverick66
Hall of Fame
Didnt see it as tough talk more an observation. But it proved my point seems it got your panties in a bunch.
Go ahead. There is no rule against hitting at the net player. I wouldnt mind it especially if you were missing in the process of your revenge peg. If you do that you are giving me free points because you are butt hurt over getting hit with a little yellow ball.
I am all for fair treatment but given the choice of the guy or girl I will nail the guy first. Not to say I havnt hit a girl with a ball in mixed but she cried and it was sad.
I have a sad story.
I'm playing a friendly doubles match, and the guy on the other side of the court is a relatively new player. I'm at the net and he's around the service line (maybe my partner was serving?). I get an easy volley and pop it (NOT blast it, just a solid pop) his way, around belly level.
He ducks and tries to get the racket on it with a squash-type shot. He misses. Ball hits him in the eye.
Talk about feeling bad for hitting somebody. Luckily, there's no permanent damage.
I'm playing a friendly doubles match, and the guy on the other side of the court is a relatively new player. I'm at the net and he's around the service line (maybe my partner was serving?). I get an easy volley and pop it (NOT blast it, just a solid pop) his way, around belly level.
He ducks and tries to get the racket on it with a squash-type shot. He misses. Ball hits him in the eye.
Talk about feeling bad for hitting somebody. Luckily, there's no permanent damage.
Why not hit a dipper at the net player (3.5 woman's) feet. She probably can't volley it if it has a huge amount of spin, and you win the point without hitting her.
I do understand that it is an adjustment for men to play mixed, especially with combined ratings. But the way I look at it, if you are a 4.5 you should have the control and shot variety to win points off lower level female players without hitting them or scaring them.
DeShaun
Banned
Get angry initially if they looked to have had other angles and the intention of hitting at me. Then maybe I forgo from my back court trying to pass them on a wing of theirs at net in favor of aiming a flat bullet towards their upper trunk, neck, or face...yeah, I will do this if you tagged me violently when many other angles were open to you than the one angle which led directly to my chest when we were facing one another across the net at a distance of three meters apart, yeah, I will tag you, if I have a good reason for suspecting that you did not try hard enough to avoid tagging me.
I have had people hit me and laugh (off a very weak shot from my partner). Better to have the last laugh by not getting hurt - i.e., adopt the matador position and show your side to the opponent. Or start backing off from the net at once with your racquet covering your face when you got some time. There is no point in getting hurt (I wear glasses), probably permanently, and then arguing about whether you should get even, what the etiquette is, etc. You are not Mike or Bob Bryan - you don't do this for money, so just protect yourself.
Cindysphinx
G.O.A.T.
I understand what Catfish is saying -- we all have to use common sense.
But really. If you are a woman playing 8.0 mixed, you know exactly what you signed up for. The last time I looked at my 8.0 female teammates, all of them seemed to have both eyes intact and were not covered in bruises. So they appear not to be defenseless.
Fellas, take your shots, fer cryin' out loud. Use common sense. Don't aim your overheads at anyone's body or head, and don't celebrate if you do hit someone.
Honestly, I wonder if some of this reluctance to play normally in mixed has its roots in lack of skill or lack of confidence. In other words, if you aren't confident of your ability to hit your pass down the line and win the point against the woman, you can just say that you didn't take the shot because you "didn't want to hurt the li'l lady." The truth, however, could be that you lack the control to go for this shot.
Am I right?
Yes.............
OrangePower
Legend
Because there will be some folks like perhaps the OP that will take offense if their 3.5 women partner is nailed in this way. And some 3.5 women who take to the court expecting the opposing man to hold back in such situations.
Not all, perhaps not even most, but some.
OrangePower
Legend
Why should I have to adjust my game to suit my opponents' weaknesses?
When I hit directly at the opposing net player, the objective is not just to win the point. It's also to cause that player to step back from the net in future and to protect the line more. So it is a strategic play and not just a tactical play.
Again, I'm not trying to actually hit the opposing player, and my expectation is that they are skilled enough to avoid being hit. But unfortunately that is not always the case in mixed. (Not always, because many 3.5 women who are used to playing 8.0 mixed know what to expect and can handle it)
OrangePower
Legend
If all 3.5 ladies (and their partners) had the same attitude as you and Topaz, then there would be no issue.
Unfortunately, that is not the case in my experience.
And for example, the OP that started this thread took offense at the opposing male player hitting right at his female partner.
I do not play any different when I play 4.5 mens and (on the relatively few occasions) when I play 8.0 mixed. But I get some looks thrown my way in mixed that I don't get in mens (and it's not because of my rugged good looks).
kylebarendrick
Professional
If you are playing a competetive match, then both players should expect to have balls hit in their direction. If they are trying to command the net, then they both need to be ready for hard shots to drive them away from the net.
I play a lot of mixed with my wife, and she'd be the first to agree with Cindy that most men aren't afraid to launch it her way and she always needs to be ready for it. No hard feelings are involved, it is part of the game.
You can generally tell when someone is hitting hard in the direction of the net player strategically versus maliciously. As someone said earlier in this thread, I'll just say "nice shot" and move on.
This may sound bad, but you may want to try hitting at your opponents during practices (everyone should agree on this first). I am used to my friends trying to hit me and know how to deal with it. If you get used to it in practice then it is one less thing that your match opponents can do to get under your skin.
I play a lot of mixed with my wife, and she'd be the first to agree with Cindy that most men aren't afraid to launch it her way and she always needs to be ready for it. No hard feelings are involved, it is part of the game.
You can generally tell when someone is hitting hard in the direction of the net player strategically versus maliciously. As someone said earlier in this thread, I'll just say "nice shot" and move on.
This may sound bad, but you may want to try hitting at your opponents during practices (everyone should agree on this first). I am used to my friends trying to hit me and know how to deal with it. If you get used to it in practice then it is one less thing that your match opponents can do to get under your skin.
Some of you need to do more drills where you are at the net and players are hitting passing shots as hard as they can (even serving from the baseline to a net player).
We do this all the time during our clinic and I have gotten hit countless times (even in the groin). Once you get hit a few times, you just learn to shake it off and keep playing. Getting hit is part of playing the game, in my opinion.
We do this all the time during our clinic and I have gotten hit countless times (even in the groin). Once you get hit a few times, you just learn to shake it off and keep playing. Getting hit is part of playing the game, in my opinion.
Cindysphinx
G.O.A.T.
Women who believe they can volley or protect themselves (that is, play doubles) don't mind being hit at. They try to win the point, and they often do.
Women who can't volley well sometimes object. And by objecting, they get some men to change how they play so that their weakness at net is no longer a liability.
You guys who back off are being played, IMHO.
OrangePower
Legend
I completely agree. And that's why I said it is sometimes lose-lose. Because of those women who can't volley well and sometimes object. As a guy, if you back off, you are being played. But if you don't back off, you are made to feel like a headhunter - which even if unfounded, does not make for a pleasant match.
By the way I don't mean to pick on the ladies. It's not a gender thing really, it's a skill differential thing. A 3.5 woman to a 4.5 man is about a three rating level difference. If you are going to have players on the same court with such a gap in levels, especially if some of them are not used to playing against much stronger players, you're going to have some moments.
dizzlmcwizzl
Hall of Fame
My problem is not when they hit it near, around or towards my partner. Both my 7.0 and 8.0 partners enjoy being at the net and would prefer to be there rather than engaged at the baseline. Neither partner has ever complained, ever.
However I object when given a choice of hitting the ball in many places for a clean winner the opposing man took a shot at my partner from point blank range ... he hit the ball flat and as hard as any ball of the evening.
Given this set of circumstances my plan of attack was to be a more agressive player, hit the ball hard and in a place where the opponent would have difficulty playing an agressive return at my partner ..... right at him.
Now it seems to me that biggest objection I have heard stems from the fact that I did it on purpose and told them I was going to do so ... then proceeded to do exactly what I said I would. Would it have been different if I had just turned up the agression, hit the exact same shots and was not open about my intentions.
Or perhaps it would have been better to take the same approach and decide the best place to hit the ball was hard in a location his female could not play it ... right at her. Which incidently he was doing, and I do not need to do in order to win.
Or better still should I have let this attempt to itimidate my partner go unchecked give him a "good shot" and try to win by turning to lobs, drop shots and sharp angled winners.
These shots are not my strength ... power is my strength and when pressed I will hit it hard, and given the choice of attacking the woman or the man I will choose the right shot first and the man second before purposely target the woman.
However I object when given a choice of hitting the ball in many places for a clean winner the opposing man took a shot at my partner from point blank range ... he hit the ball flat and as hard as any ball of the evening.
Given this set of circumstances my plan of attack was to be a more agressive player, hit the ball hard and in a place where the opponent would have difficulty playing an agressive return at my partner ..... right at him.
Now it seems to me that biggest objection I have heard stems from the fact that I did it on purpose and told them I was going to do so ... then proceeded to do exactly what I said I would. Would it have been different if I had just turned up the agression, hit the exact same shots and was not open about my intentions.
Or perhaps it would have been better to take the same approach and decide the best place to hit the ball was hard in a location his female could not play it ... right at her. Which incidently he was doing, and I do not need to do in order to win.
Or better still should I have let this attempt to itimidate my partner go unchecked give him a "good shot" and try to win by turning to lobs, drop shots and sharp angled winners.
These shots are not my strength ... power is my strength and when pressed I will hit it hard, and given the choice of attacking the woman or the man I will choose the right shot first and the man second before purposely target the woman.
Most of the time you don't need to adjust how you play. I'm just saying that sometimes, if you are playing a 60 year old 3.5 woman, why not adjust a little and win with controlled spin rather than scaring the woman? The guy I saw hit a 60 year old 3.5 woman in the neck / shoulder area. That's ridiculous and not using common sense.
I play mostly 9.0 and some 10.0 mixed. I'd rather be at the net than the baseline. I not trying to brag, but I volley better than some of the 4.5 men that I play 9.0 with. So it's not a gender thing. In 9.0 and 10.0 there usually isn't anyone on the court that's going to bat an eye at anything thrown at them. But in 8.0 mixed, I think that the 4.0 and 4.5 men shouldn't hit overheads at a 3.5 woman's body when they have open court to hit into. If they don't have open court, then hit at the woman's feet. I've found when you play a 4.5 man and a 3.5 woman, it can be very effective to hit behind the man since he is often trying to cover extra court toward the woman.
forehandshanker
Rookie
I agree. It's part of the game that if you're at net (be it singles or doubles), it's a valid tactic to drill hard passing shot right at the net player (though a low dipping pass is much better). You're not intentionally trying to hurt the net player. You're testing their reflex volleys.
The old school guy in me thinks that if you do peg the player, you ought to raise your racquet in apology just as you would if you won a point off a shank or a net cord. This keeps the match from becoming a head hunting contest.
Hewex
Semi-Pro
I've been hit a lot. If you play doubles or do drills it is bound to happen. I've also won points where the person had an open court and chose to hit it at me. Somehow the racquet got on the ball and it ended up on his side of the net. When that happens, I enjoy those points as much as any. If I have a chance to hit it at someone or into an open court, it is a no brainer. I've set the point up to create an open court. I don't play points to create a chance to hit it at someone.
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Cindysphinx
G.O.A.T.
Nobody should be hitting overheads at the bodies of other players in rec tennis. No argument there.
Is it objectionable for a guy to take a sitter at the service line and blast it toward my feet or body? Honestly? No. I mean, gee whiz. I have *eyes.* I can see my opponent coiling up to rip his shot. If I feel I am too close or otherwise not equipped to deal, I will bail.
What often happens in that particular situation is that the guy tries to hit a hard flat shot from the service line and nets it or blasts it way long. I am very good at ducking and then asking my partner, "Did that land in?"
fruitytennis1
Professional
Hs tennis anything goes.
I was in a lose situation at 1 dubs. After having 3 overheads hit me within the first 3 games i did not hesistate to serve a first serve (AT) the guy doing this nonsense.
I was in a lose situation at 1 dubs. After having 3 overheads hit me within the first 3 games i did not hesistate to serve a first serve (AT) the guy doing this nonsense.
ilikephobo
Semi-Pro
only when its by my doubles partner.
equinox
Hall of Fame
i think he's being forced to play mixed with a weak partner against two guys..
dizzlmcwizzl
Hall of Fame
If by hog the net you mean play the middle, poach a lot and be overly agressive then how could this be considered the same thing? By the very definition an overly agressive player will do his best not to be where you think he will be, so how could you aim at him.
If you hit someone by accident there is no harm no foul. If someone poaches into your crosscourt drive and catches one ... it is on him (or her)
Angle Queen
Professional
Sorry, Orange. Perhaps things have been lost in the time lapse. I was hit during ladies doubles play...and not complaining about getting hit in either single-gendered play...or mixed. I was merely asking about reactions to getting hit...in general.
I tend to play "up"...I play ladies...I play mixed (both 7.0 and 8.0). Have been hit in all the aforementioned. NONE bother me. I generally think...it's MY fault (regardless) of what kind of shot my partner has hit. I've been playing long enough...to know better, no matter what's been sent across the net.
Kind of interested, and slightly pleased, that this thread has been bumped.
The situation happened just today: a sitter...to me...in ladies. Against a (much weaker, IMHO) net/opponent. Did I get hit earlier in the match? Kind of...but it was a bounce-up that caught me...although I got a racket on it and it was no big deal. Did I hit it at her? Absolutely NOT. But at her feet? Absolutely!
Glad everyone is at least thinking about it. This is a "thinking" person's game, after all!
OrangePower
Legend
My apologies... When I said OP I was thinking the person who revived this thread for the last go-round, not the original OP
I completely agree with the bolded part, and if everyone had the same outlook then... well, we wouldn't need threads like this!
equinox
Hall of Fame
imho 98% of the time a player is at the net they're fair game for pegging.
return of serves, short groundie, stray kicker = peg.
high volley, smash = peg.
hitting in anger or outside of a point = low act. no peg.
being pegged is normal when playing aggressive doubles.
if don't get pegged once during a match then you're not taking your chances.
to people who don't agree.. i say use your racquet, change your positioning, remember it's a bloody tennis ball not a bullet.
return of serves, short groundie, stray kicker = peg.
high volley, smash = peg.
hitting in anger or outside of a point = low act. no peg.
being pegged is normal when playing aggressive doubles.
if don't get pegged once during a match then you're not taking your chances.
to people who don't agree.. i say use your racquet, change your positioning, remember it's a bloody tennis ball not a bullet.
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Cindysphinx
G.O.A.T.
My 4.5 mixed partner hit the opposing 3.5 woman with an overhead smash last night.
It's not as bad as it sounds. One of them hit a high lob to us, and my partner took it from no-man's land. The woman had backpedaled from the net to the baseline, although I personally think she should have backed up a bit more (she was in no-man's land). Partner blasted the ball, and opposing male popped up another defensive lob. Partner smashed this ball also, from behind service line. It went directly toward her body, and her attempt to block it missed. So it nailed her in the torso after the bounce.
He apologized, she said no problem. Her partner didn't retaliate or change how he played.
Instead, after the match he gave me a 30-minute lesson on my FH. It really helped, too. I can't wait to try out this new and improved FH next time I play!!
dizzlmcwizzl
Hall of Fame
I was the OB (original bumpee) to whom I think your comments were adressed.
I want to be clear about one thing ... I know that people will get hit all the time. I have hit and been hit without any anger or retaliation. I agree with anyone that says if you or your partner get hit then that is part of tennis and deal with it or get off the court.
However, my problem has been and will continue to be when a player chooses to avoid a better shot in an attempt to take a cheap shot at my partner.
The original bump happened when given a slate of other choices to win the point the opponent chose instead to hit the hardest shot he hit all night directly at my partner from close range ... all while I was pulled off the court and the middle of the court was wide open. He then did something similiar very soon thereafter. Now I told them what I thought and then did the same thing to him. I offer no apologies given the circumstances.
Totai
Professional
Haha! too good. beware of the lethal sureshs 3rd ball
