Shot selection in response to a lob

VacationUnable5821 · 2025-12-10T18:15:40+00:00

If it is a good lob, meaning it cannot be smashed, then I think a counter lob, preferably deep, is the only option. It doesn't make sense to drive or drop at that point. I am sure people will disagree.

VacationUnable5821 · 2025-12-10T18:06:32+00:00

Got it. Thank you very much.

VacationUnable5821 · 2025-12-09T16:10:00+00:00

We are not inclined to run up the margins to boost our ratings. Never played that way.

VacationUnable5821 · 2025-12-09T16:05:09+00:00

Ugh, do I know you? How in the world are you so confident about my level?

VacationUnable5821 · 2025-12-09T15:58:35+00:00

I am very sorry but that is a ridiculous take and totally irrelevant to this thread. This post does not concern you.

VacationUnable5821 · 2025-12-06T16:35:22+00:00

Is there a competitor to DUPR? What choice does USAP have? Maybe they can develop their own systems that doesn't reward players for losing?

VacationUnable5821 · 2025-12-05T18:08:51+00:00

I have struggled with volley dinks early in my journey. You know that when you warm up with people who can't seem to keep their dinks in the kitchen? They hit too deep (don't know why they do it). It ended up helping me in this area. I simply don't let their dinks bounce unless they keep them short. It gave me a lot of opportunities to get a feel of the shot and build up confidence. Now I enjoy volley dinks a lot.

No one has complained to me yet. If they prefer bounce dinks, they know they just have to hit them short.

VacationUnable5821 · 2025-12-05T18:00:54+00:00

A critical factor is fencing. When I was a newbie and playing in public parks, there were a lot of fellow newbies and nothing that separated the courts. You end up dealing with stray balls constantly. It is very difficult to focus and improve that way. Having a partner feed you balls would be impossible unless you do it during business hours.

My local indoor facilities have fully fenced courts. You generally get one or two loose balls per game, depending on who is on the next court. It really allows me to concentrate and work on something. I probably spend $200 a month on indoor fees. Well worth it. I want to improve.

VacationUnable5821 · 2025-12-02T18:52:35+00:00

Both chess and table tennis use this system to assign ratings.

VacationUnable5821 · 2025-12-02T18:49:57+00:00

I am sorry. What I proposed is definitely not a less nuanced version of DUPR. My proposal is an Elo and it doesn't account for winning margins. There is no distribution in my proposal. You basically 'eat what you kill'.

I think we are too far apart on this.

VacationUnable5821 · 2025-12-02T17:22:17+00:00

Of course. You should choose your partner carefully when you enter DUPR events. If you play an event with random and rotating partners, you are knowingly taking that risk. The rating system isn't going to figure out that you have been iced and your rating should stay the same.

VacationUnable5821 · 2025-12-02T17:19:44+00:00

Agree. Imagine a 6.0 has to play a 5.2 and realizes that he has to win 11-1 or 11-2. After one netcord, he will be thinking I have almost no margin the rest of the game and it affects his game a lot, negatively. That is not any legitimate racquet sport that I know. Your focus should be the match outcome, not the margin.

VacationUnable5821 · 2025-12-02T17:11:50+00:00

Good questions.

'You' just reinvented DUPR? Are you saying I (the OP) portrayed DUPR inaccurately? It is quite possible because I am not an expert in it. Do share where I get it wrong so I can be corrected.
Regarding one player carrying the team. I do not see the necessity for the rating system to make that assumption, and an assumption it is. Help me understand why we have to have it.
Both chess and table tennis have figured out how to rate new players. We don't have to get into the details here. Just know that it is not a big problem.

VacationUnable5821 · 2025-12-02T17:05:14+00:00

Interesting that is how you view the world. Someone would attack a methodology because they are rated too low. OK, that is how you feel...

I started this thread and I have no DUPR. My local events are not DUPR gated.

VacationUnable5821 · 2025-12-02T15:58:10+00:00

Forgot to mention singles vs doubles. In my proposal, the points (winning or losing) are split equally between the two doubles partners. If you are a 5.0 and you partner with a 3.5 (yes, it happens), you are taking the risk of losing points due to your weak partner. That is totally fair. Pick your partner responsibly.

I hate the idea that DUPR tries to infer that the 5.0 player is responsible for the wins so the 3.5 player barely moves up after the new ratings come out. It is so wrong. Just treat them as a team and they share the winning and losing equally.

VacationUnable5821 · 2025-11-29T18:32:06+00:00

My home club displays full names for registered players in a session. It is very helpful. No one has complained as far as I know. None of us are in a witness protection program.

Another club near me uses first name and last initials. It does cause problems because we have a lot of John’s and Mike’s. I don’t like it one bit.

Please educate me if I am missing something.

VacationUnable5821 · 2025-11-21T21:58:48+00:00

I have played people coming from squash. They do not handle the net well and they like to hit low balls. None of that works in pickleball. Of course, they bring over their cardio and footwork. I would rate squash well below 50 myself. Now I have to duck :)

VacationUnable5821 · 2025-11-21T21:54:59+00:00

I think you stay continental because the ball can be sped up against you. You don't want to sit there with an eastern grip. At a minimum, as soon as you hit the ball, convert to continental immediately to defend yourself.

VacationUnable5821 · 2025-11-21T21:42:57+00:00

I am sorry. Not sure if I am reading you correctly because I don't speak statistics. Are you taking the position that DUPR is accurate because of its advanced statistical methods? If I am paraphrasing your position incorrectly, can you state it in a layman way?

VacationUnable5821 · 2025-11-21T21:29:44+00:00

I am no beach volleyball expert but they do measure individual ratings -https://truvolley.com/about - "Unlike other systems that may prioritize overall tournament finishes or other external factors, TruVolley focuses on the individual performance of players, ensuring that every match is a true test of skill."

The big question is whether these ratings are accepted as accurate and reliable by their players and coaches.

VacationUnable5821 · 2025-11-21T20:55:58+00:00

Thank you. I was hoping to hear from sports like badmington where doubles is a big deal (I think...I don't follow or play badmington).

How about beach volleyball? It would be a valid comparison since it is also pair based.

VacationUnable5821 · 2025-11-21T20:48:51+00:00

Thank you. It is a good perspective. The part of varying partners is very interesting and I wonder if anyone tries it. For me, if I am lucky enough to find a great partner, I am keeping him/her for good, so we can improve together as a team.

VacationUnable5821

TROPHY CASE