OnTheLine
Hall of Fame
Since our mixed matches are in the late morning ... the drink of choice seems to be bloody Mary's... but post match for most.
Which type of player is the worst to play with?
- Thread starter MRfStop
- Start date
Since our mixed matches are in the late morning ... the drink of choice seems to be bloody Mary's... but post match for most.
Notorious_Junkballer
Hall of Fame
We only had time for one set and I got him 7-5. I was already trailing 0-3 with two lost service games when I decided to change my tactics, and started pushing myself.Today I'll play against another 3.0 pusher who plays a continental grip from both sides and serves with a semi-western. He can hit really hard flat first serves but his second serve varies between 10-30 mph - he just pushes it over the net with a frying pan. It'll be another tough afternoon for me, that's for sure...
I took the pace of the ball completely and made him dictate the game. He didn't like it at all..."I see you're playing extremely cautiously and only defending". Needless to say I didn't like it at all. I really should find a way to play my own game against these guys... 
Badmrfrosty
Rookie
Surprised this wasn’t mentioned but guess it falls under the jerk category.
People who never say thank you or even respond when you say “nice shot”
People who never say thank you or even respond when you say “nice shot”
TimeToPlaySets
Legend
We only had time for one set and I got him 7-5. I was already trailing 0-3 with two lost service games when I decided to change my tactics, and started pushing myself.
Dink serve is harder to return than a 4.5 serve
This guy is holding serve with a 30 mph serve.
'nuff said.
Here is what I've been doing to beat players who don't hit as hard as me (anyone under 4.5, basically, excluding 3.5 maniacs)
1) Changed to a pusher BH, basically.
Sometimes, only hitting it at 50% and lobbing BH.
Massive net clearance. 10 feet or more. Semi Lob.
High, deep, medium spin.
Totally remove the net from play.
No winners from BH, just push him back.
But, literally zero UE's from my BH the entire match.
2) Slow balls allow you to choose direction.
So, I keep kept targeting the BH.
I rather hit a weaker ball to his BH, than hard ball to FH.
3) Serve return. Steady and not overhitting.
If they sat up, I would drive it.
Otherwise, just half swing hitting high & deep to get point started.
Massive reduction of UE from me.
4) Drop shots getting better.
Drop shotting a lot a short balls.
Make him run and get tired.
5) Longer shot tolerance.
Only attack if waist-shoulder high.
With non-attacking opponent, I can just hit one more ball, and will not get punished.
Keep hitting back until I can really step in and place it where I want.
6) Not overhitting approach shots.
Also, playing the angle on approach, and not just always hitting DTL.
This is where I win a lot of points.
7) Have been drilling volleys and they are much high % now.
8) Overheads are still a moot point.
I almost never get overheads against any player.
Maybe 1 per match.
If you are dictating, and hitting deep, they will not be able to lob or moonball.
S&V-not_dead_yet
Talk Tennis Guru
I don't expect my opponent to say "thanks" but it would be nice to reciprocate.
Some opponents are so focused that they want to try and block everything out, even praise. Doesn't bother me.
tennis tom
Legend
The WORST is a player in their 70's whose been playing EVERYDAY of their life (due to being tennis privileged : oil well or pineapple plantation in the family tree, trust fund or a good alimony), never, ever hit a string, ALWAYS shanked off the frame!--this IS a skill folks that takes decades to acquire. They have a decent amount of speed left to barely make it to all your returns and know where to place the ball. You have to have all the shots to overcome this category of PUSHER. Oh did I say that they CHEAT too!?!
Notorious_Junkballer
Hall of Fame
You must have met quite a few of these former upwardly mobiles during your "career".
TimeToPlaySets
Legend
Old men are the best players in rec tennis.
They have a 6th sense from 40 years of daily tennis.
They know where the ball is going before you.
With that anticipation, they get to more balls than a flat footed 20s player.
And they never miss.
They have perfected their hacker game
Badmrfrosty
Rookie
I just prefer to socialize with people with a certain level of social grace.
TimeToPlaySets
Legend
On that note, who else always thanks the hitting partner when you're done with the session?
OnTheLine
Hall of Fame
Absolutely always.
jm1980
Talk Tennis Guru
One has to wonder why 4.5s have yet to discover this and hit dink serves instead of their normal serves.
Badmrfrosty
Rookie
What if I learn a dink groundstroke to emulate the dink serve?!?!!!!! It will be harder than 4.5 serving every shot! Also twice as powerful as 4.5 serve because they won't know which box I'm going to dink it to.
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kylebarendrick
Professional
You're right about that. There is nothing more devastating than a paceless ball in the middle of the court. That plan can take you far!
OnTheLine
Hall of Fame
Some truth to this ... aside from comparing it to the difficulty of a 4.5 level serve ... I can do the dumbest things to a low paceless ball at the T ... really really stupid things.
kylebarendrick
Professional
Actually lots of truth at low levels. Better players end points on those balls.
Sent from my Pixel 2 using Tapatalk
OnTheLine
Hall of Fame
Yup.
I am on that edge between being a lower level and a somewhat better player ... teeter tottering from game to game, match to match .... end a lot of points on those balls and do stupid things other times because I know I can/should end the point on it.
That being said, have seen plenty of 4.0 and 4.5s botch that same ball, likely for the same reason.
But perhaps your definition of better player is only 5.0 and higher ....
kylebarendrick
Professional
Generally (and of course this is a generalization), I've seen 4.0s as the players that start to be able to handle them reliably. 4.5s moreso. Anyone can screw up any shot once in a while.
I'm a borderline 3.5/4.0 myself and have held computer ratings at both levels
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Badmrfrosty
Rookie
Haha I thought these comments about devastating middle of court sitters harder to return than 4.5 serve was sarcasm. Well done internet. You got me this time.
It goes without saying that people who are rude/jerks are going to be the worst. If I limit my criticism to a more "style-istic" viewpoint though... it's people who play a very unorthodox game. Because when they play unusual shots or are in odd positions I can't anticipate those things happening.
I'd rather have someone who plays a consistent, more typical game who might not technically be as good of a player. Because I can anticipate what they're going to do and take the appropriate actions based off it. Funny enough, that's the same answer for an opponent.
I'd rather have someone who plays a consistent, more typical game who might not technically be as good of a player. Because I can anticipate what they're going to do and take the appropriate actions based off it. Funny enough, that's the same answer for an opponent.
TennisLBC
Professional
There are two types of players I don't like playing with in Dubs:
- The Horrible Lines Caller. I get that sometimes we miss calls; but I hate playing with people that make bad calls then get an attitude when the other team makes a questionable call. In league play, after two blatantly bad calls by my partner, I start overruling their calls. And I let the captain know I am not a good fit for this player.
- Cold fish. I don't expect a player to be as pumped as me, but I do except them to be a teammate and that we encourage each other.
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I’m a 3.5 player, and I can honestly say when I play singles or doubles, I will be put in full effort and I’m always a team player. I prefer to play against players that are better me, so that I can learn something and improve. I hate playing against a rude player that is obviously better then me and makes it very known through their attitude and not their play, even though we end up on like 7-5 6-4, so not a clear win.
chatt_town
Hall of Fame
Exactly, the pros do it...well except for Nadal.lol
chatt_town
Hall of Fame
Tom,
I was just going to add a like...but this is halarious.lol dude you are too funny.
chatt_town
Hall of Fame
I disagree...what you did is great. Many people that do certain things don't like it being done to them. So you should learn to change your tactics and not all the time force what you want. Sometimes what you are forcing is what they want. You see what happened to Coco...she tried to force the big ball on Osaka and Osaka ate her for lunch because that's what she wanted to do.We only had time for one set and I got him 7-5. I was already trailing 0-3 with two lost service games when I decided to change my tactics, and started pushing myself.
WYK
Hall of Fame
We have wine mixers several times a year at one of my local clubs. Never had more fun. I never recall the scores. Can't even say if I have ever won a game.
As for peaves - regardless of the level of play, it bothers me when my doubles partner won't come to net; drunk or not.
Morch Us
Hall of Fame
And yes at rec levels folks rarely try to get on to the opponents head just to win. But at competitive levels where win matters a lot more than anything else, saying "nice shot" is also a way to get in the opponents head. ANYTHING to derail a focused player.
Notorious_Junkballer
Hall of Fame
A match day today, against the same 3.5 pusher I beat last time by pushing and only defending myself. Today the result won't count for me so I'll try to play my own game again, in other words, I won't back down and will be all over the place. Just added some extra SW to my racquet in form of six grams of lead tape at noon. It will help me hit more relaxed with a decent plow.
S&V-not_dead_yet
Talk Tennis Guru
@Shroud would say "If 6g is good, 60g must be better!"
Remember: moderately aggressive swings to big targets. Don't view any one shot as the putaway but something to get you into even better position so he coughs up a shorty.
Badmrfrosty
Rookie
If someone saying nice shot derails you or your focus. You are a mental midget.
Class isn’t for everyone.
Shroud
G.O.A.T.
If 6g is good, 60g must be better!!
S&V-not_dead_yet
Talk Tennis Guru
Otherwise known as the "pre-match excuse", laying the groundwork.
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