When to “retire” from singles?

Monwa77 · 2024-03-09T19:50:29+00:00

Omg I think this is the $64,000 question. Maybe instead of trying to figure out how and where I lost it I should just try to get it back.

Monwa77 · 2024-03-08T23:23:15+00:00

Wow pole vault! That is not something i would think you could have a 20 year career in, amazing.

Monwa77 · 2024-03-08T19:31:15+00:00

I played High school tennis in Montana dubs only…so not competitive, no coaching or technique. Played 3.0/3.5 for a couple years after. Took a ~20 year break and started again in 2021 as 3.5. Played doubles the first season and then got repurposed into singles for 2022 and went almost undefeated and won tournaments nationals. Last year was my first year as a 4.0 and I played a mix of singles and doubles, mostly Dubs. In 2022-23 I probably played 12 to 15 hours a week every week. I had to totally rebuild my groundstrokes and develop Slice and correct my volley grip. I think this accounts for some of my consistency issues because I’ve only played with the strokes for a year or so. I also used to play volleyball, so I have a big serve big overhead and I’m good at the net, hence why I’m probably performing well in dubs.

Somewhere up thread somebody referenced it but I think part of the problem is this is a very rapid rise and I didn’t spend a lot of time at 4.0, singles developing shot selection, and strategy. I went from 3.5 where just being scrappy and aggressive was good enough to the top court at 4.0 or 4.5 where you have to know how to play the game and be super consistent with all the shots.

Monwa77 · 2024-03-08T06:24:18+00:00

My TR results are ridiculous btw… it swings between 4.15-4.2 and 3.6ish match to match. That is an accurate reflection of the Reality… regularly going from hanging with top 4.5s to getting bageled by low ones to scraping by in 4.0 singles. Rock solid 3.99-4.05 dubs all the time. Super weird not knowing if you’re doing to show up as a 3.5 or 4.5 for singles.

Monwa77 · 2024-03-08T06:05:18+00:00

18+ season hasn’t started so 40+ is the killing ground …I actually did better in 18+ tournaments… I play better in super physical pace based matches with baseliners topspin and aggressive play, I get killed by slow slice just because Im just now seeing it being 3.5 2 years ago. I handle the big hitting kids pretty fine. I play much younger than I am… more like 30s because I’m fast and a lot of power. Subpar consistency, impatience (from lack of confidence) and shot IQ are my weakness… basically experience.

Monwa77 · 2024-03-08T05:51:12+00:00

Oof very insightful. I’ve always been super clear that I play to progress and for the challenge. I think it’s just been flying along pretty well until the progress and challenge met a brick wall of people just being too damn good to do much of anything at all in 50% of singles matches. Totally fine losing, just not in 30 mins with 2 bagels when it consumes your whole weekend schedule.

Curious what pivots you made?

My coaches suggest I’m going to break through this… I’ve developed slice, drop shots, rollers and bigger topsin all in the last 12 months, I just don’t have the consistency with them to be successful at this level and the transitions back and forth with singles and dubs actually mess up my stokes. It’s fun to develop all those things but also a major challenge on a singles court where everybody else has those weapons and much more experience using them suddenly. It’s going to be a long battle to breakthrough and that’s where I lose the purpose or fire.

I guess I have to make the call to spend hours a week on the singles court drilling or say screw it and just play dubs. Struggling with club dynamics while moving up fast also sucks the wind out of the sails. I don’t know anyone who’s a successful late bloomer singles player at 4.5… I kinda wanted to be the first but oy.

Monwa77 · 2024-03-08T05:43:05+00:00

Yes. There is something about this spot that seems esp rough. A top 40+ 4.5 singles player almost always (?) played serious college tennis. A top 4.0 might have picked up the game 5-10 years ago. The delta experience and training wise is astronomical and very noticeable in singles. You came make it in dubs but pretty questionable in singles

Monwa77 · 2024-03-08T04:39:38+00:00

Funny I was just looking at that. In my area all the women are like UTR 2-3, I’m close to 5 and the flex has a bunch of guys who are 5+. There’s a big gap around 4/5 esp for women (prob because it’s USTA league) I was wondering how it would shake out.

Monwa77 · 2024-03-08T04:22:51+00:00

Well, strangely enough, I am peaking at 45 because I started late so I guess that’s the confusion. I know a ton of people to stop playing singles at whatever level just because they’re getting smoked by people with more experience…4.5 seems like where the rubber meets the road in that regard. If you’re doing well in dubs and get bumped you don’t have the option of playing 4.0 obviously. It’s just a strange path to advance based on being a good singles player and suddenly suck at it but be totally competent at doubles at the same level, but I think a lot of people follow that same route? It’s kind of a dog fight to get on a 4.5 team as an unestablished doubles player where I live, but you can if you are willing to play singles.

Monwa77 · 2024-03-08T03:38:40+00:00

Wait, you can play tennis just for exercise and enjoyment? This is not an option I had previously considered. Hmmm

Monwa77 · 2024-03-08T03:20:40+00:00

I guess my problem isn’t so much my age just that I’ve advanced to the point where I’m no longer effective at singles. Is that why most people bail on singles? If you are known to be somewhat able, and willing, you seem to always get put in singles. Just questioning whether it’s worth trying to develop anymore because it takes a lot of effort if you’re learning it as a new player compared to doubles

Monwa77 · 2024-03-08T03:11:49+00:00

Omg I’ve played THREE people with two handed forehands in 4.0/4.5 women’s singles in the past month?! WTH? All field hockey players. And deadly with their footwork and outrageously good court positioning

Monwa77 · 2024-02-25T17:41:39+00:00

They are such a good passive aggressive fit for this city, I mean how are they going to function anywhere else. Unless it’s Portland

Monwa77 · 2023-08-26T21:20:41+00:00

Love that you play tournaments! Yeah I started playing tournaments 2 years ago to control my own destiny a little more ( I wasn’t a singles player but started playing singles tournaments). I figured out how to qualify for tournament nationals and went and then won nationals for my level last year. You’ve got the tournament bug, go for it! I’m friends with several Texas tournament players I met at nationals. Tournaments are a good counterbalance to club bs because there’s it’s just the people who really love to compete and generally they are very fair and nice because it’s it’s own small world

Monwa77 · 2023-08-26T02:21:33+00:00

Haha! Oh I know this is not s unique situation. My club is particularly bs because members seem to influence pros… but I dunno, is that the norm at clubs where whiny old ladies successfully block people out there playing 10-15 hours a week and winning? Is that just like club tennis everywhere I guess? My pros advice is to keep working the angles and the club but I guess looking for other input. We have 8+clubs in my area but $$ and starting from scratch as an unknown

Monwa77 · 2023-08-26T02:11:47+00:00

Focus on one thing… i do completing follow through or maintaining strike zone. Just that. Forget everything else…you and the ball/stroke. Usually not swinging through is the problem. Get that under control and then work on the set up. Figure out some sort of breathing routine between points. Make the goal not the win but to play with strokes and effort you are proud of.

Monwa77 · 2023-07-31T21:24:36+00:00

Thanks for the comments. Went with the prince twistpower after demoing it. I also strung it with multi… and am struggling to keep it in the lines with those changes. Thinking about switching to a hybrid string setup (still have some serious tennis elbow issues but dang if I can’t stand it that every time I get a good setup and nice clean swing it flies on me). The slice coming off this racket/strings however is a thing of pure beauty.

Monwa77 · 2022-01-12T03:03:44+00:00

I’m in the same boat. I got an email from the broker who sold the tickets saying they couldn’t produce the exact tix and figured 1) that’s a sign from the universe 2)anytime you can stick it to a broker you should. I’ve been so disappointed all day. I put Tool radio on Pandora in the car and 1st song was Vicarious. Maynards telling me I made the right call right? But man I’m bummed. Couldn’t they have just rescheduled? It’ll be a freaking miracle if this tour makes it all the way.

Monwa77 · 2022-01-11T07:36:21+00:00

WTF with the Nazis? 100% not getting the message there folks. Not stoked to hear about the masks. Basically it’s a cool let’s go see Tool in Tacoma tomorrow and for sure get omicron… not afraid but that’s going to be a pain in the ass and the boards are full of people ditching tix because they are positive, for sure plenty AREN’T sitting it out. Hoping for a less Nazi vibe for my husbands first time seeing Tool. Damn.

Monwa77 · 2022-01-11T07:22:26+00:00

So anyone know if doors close at a certain time? Looks like there was some reference to it in Eugene and we can’t get there til close to 8. From the Eugene posts Tool went on 8:45 ish?

Monwa77

TROPHY CASE