What would you do?

[mamedium]

Hi,
Last week me and my practice partner were in the middle of the usual practice, a guy came over and wanted to challenge our table. He insisted that he wanted to play either one of us. We politely asked if he could challenge a different table as we were working on some drills and having no interest in playing any match. He refused and got pissed, saying "why, because I am not good enough? Why do you guys take this so seriously?". He went on and on, standing right next to our table and making everyone look.

My and my friends are around 2250 -2300 and the guy is probably at best 1200 (we saw him hitting earlier). I understand that lower levels like to play higher players, but most of the time, if the level difference is too big, I personally would just leave the higher players alone, let them practice and do their thing while looking for a more appropriate table.

We ended up asking him to play a match and he left shortly after losing 0-11.

Just want to hear your opinion how would you politely refuse someone when they insist to play you?

 

[NetProphet]

Sorry, I had to laugh at the scoreline 😂
I think you handled it perfectly and it seems he was a bit out of touch with how things should work.
Explaining politely that you were working with drills should have been enough so it's on him after that. As for asking you why you take it so seriously, that was him being rude so you were nicer than I might have been by letting him play a game.
If you really didn't want to play and school him with a bagel you could possibly have explained that you were preparing for a league match but honestly, for me, talking with someone like that is more difficult and unrewarding than just playing the match so I wouldn't have done anything differently 🤷‍♂️

 

[lightspin]

A lot of clubs in my city charge by the hour to play. You are essentially renting the table for the hour. So if that happened to me I would say "My friend and I arranged beforehand to practice. Maybe when we are done I will hit with you." If they became rude, I would say "Look, I paid for the table for the hour and will use it however I see fit."

There was another club where I coached at where we had to pay a percentage of the lesson to the owner of the club. We were forbidden to practice with lower ranked players because we might be arranging a lesson and being paid under the table so to speak. In this case I would say "I am a coach and am not allowed to hit with you. If you want to hit, then call the owner of the club and arrange a lesson."

The problem comes in when you pay by the month or don't pay at all. Then you have to abide by the club rules, whatever they are. In any case, I would just tell the guy if he could wait, I will play with him later. If he were a jerk about it, I would just say I am too tired to play and sit down. If you want to practice with better players be cooperative and most likely they will play with you. The best way to make sure no one better than you practices with you is to be rude and demanding,

 

[Lazer]

Hi,
Last week me and my practice partner were in the middle of the usual practice, a guy came over and wanted to challenge our table. He insisted that he wanted to play either one of us. We politely asked if he could challenge a different table as we were working on some drills and having no interest in playing any match. He refused and got pissed, saying "why, because I am not good enough? Why do you guys take this so seriously?". He went on and on, standing right next to our table and making everyone look.

My and my friends are around 2250 -2300 and the guy is probably at best 1200 (we saw him hitting earlier). I understand that lower levels like to play higher players, but most of the time, if the level difference is too big, I personally would just leave the higher players alone, let them practice and do their thing while looking for a more appropriate table.

We ended up asking him to play a match and he left shortly after losing 0-11.

Just want to hear your opinion how would you politely refuse someone when they insist to play you?

I would politely say that we could play a match after the training is done. No way I would interrupt a training session regardless of the challenger skills…

Cheers
L-zr

 

[lodro]

I understand that lower levels like to play higher players, but most of the time, if the level difference is too big, I personally would just leave the higher players alone, let them practice and do their thing

Sounds about right to me.
I often get paired up with the top players in doubles but I would not ask a top player for a match. We do have the kind of players in our clubs that you describe and I feel a bit sorry for them.

After setting up tables etc. we often have 20-30 minutes just warming up and when I see a top player looking around for a "victim" I might go over and ask :" Are you feeling lucky, punk" ? This will always give me a good hit-up but when I see another top player arrive and ready to play I leave them to it.

 

[blahness]

Hi,
Last week me and my practice partner were in the middle of the usual practice, a guy came over and wanted to challenge our table. He insisted that he wanted to play either one of us. We politely asked if he could challenge a different table as we were working on some drills and having no interest in playing any match. He refused and got pissed, saying "why, because I am not good enough? Why do you guys take this so seriously?". He went on and on, standing right next to our table and making everyone look.

My and my friends are around 2250 -2300 and the guy is probably at best 1200 (we saw him hitting earlier). I understand that lower levels like to play higher players, but most of the time, if the level difference is too big, I personally would just leave the higher players alone, let them practice and do their thing while looking for a more appropriate table.

We ended up asking him to play a match and he left shortly after losing 0-11.

Just want to hear your opinion how would you politely refuse someone when they insist to play you?

I would also focus hard and beat him 11-0 too (and have actually done that lol). No mercy for ppl like these.

 

[Tony's Table Tennis]

playing with him and beating him 11-0 is very nice
however, if you are not playing on a match table, and on a practice table (some clubs have tables where you have to play match), I would tell him, I'm not here to play matches and if he continue to harass you, I would call the club management.

unfortunately you always have stubborn people who want to challenge up.
if it isn't the player who want to challenge up, then it could be the parents of the player wanting to see how they kid fair against strong player.
I once had a mom asking me if her son can play a match against LYJ, I said, never going to happen. (this was when we were arranging a meet up for the kid to meet his idol). I said, it serves no purpose for both LYJ and your son.
the thought process of some is just.... doesn't make sense.

 

[Tyce]

I'm sometimes on the other side of the bagel here, but if I want a knock with one of the good players I will wait around and keep my trap shut. Well maybe some friendly chatter to make myself known.

But when I do get that chance... I honestly don't want a match, I want to play some free ball and end up in a topspin vs topspin drill or something. Maybe work on something I'm having trouble with. I usually end up with a tip or two that help me improve, along with a few balls to feel what they are saying.

Why would I want to expose myself to a guaranteed loss I'd learn almost nothing from?

 

[Gozo Zyreruna]

Hi,
Last week me and my practice partner were in the middle of the usual practice, a guy came over and wanted to challenge our table. He insisted that he wanted to play either one of us. We politely asked if he could challenge a different table as we were working on some drills and having no interest in playing any match. He refused and got pissed, saying "why, because I am not good enough? Why do you guys take this so seriously?". He went on and on, standing right next to our table and making everyone look.

My and my friends are around 2250 -2300 and the guy is probably at best 1200 (we saw him hitting earlier). I understand that lower levels like to play higher players, but most of the time, if the level difference is too big, I personally would just leave the higher players alone, let them practice and do their thing while looking for a more appropriate table.

We ended up asking him to play a match and he left shortly after losing 0-11.

Just want to hear your opinion how would you politely refuse someone when they insist to play you?

0-11, problem solved.

 

[NetProphet]

playing with him and beating him 11-0 is very nice
however, if you are not playing on a match table, and on a practice table (some clubs have tables where you have to play match), I would tell him, I'm not here to play matches and if he continue to harass you, I would call the club management.

unfortunately you always have stubborn people who want to challenge up.
if it isn't the player who want to challenge up, then it could be the parents of the player wanting to see how they kid fair against strong player.
I once had a mom asking me if her son can play a match against LYJ, I said, never going to happen. (this was when we were arranging a meet up for the kid to meet his idol). I said, it serves no purpose for both LYJ and your son.
the thought process of some is just.... doesn't make sense.

In fairness I love this Mom for asking!
That would be some story for the kid 'if' it had somehow happened. I'd imagine LYJ would have said yes as he seems like such a nice guy, some memory if he had got to rally with him 😁
But I saw the phots and obviously I understand why it didn't happen too, was a busy and packed house that day!

 

[Tony's Table Tennis]

In fairness I love this Mom for asking!
That would be some story for the kid 'if' it had somehow happened. I'd imagine LYJ would have said yes as he seems like such a nice guy, some memory if he had got to rally with him 😁
But I saw the phots and obviously I understand why it didn't happen too, was a busy and packed house that day!

if LYJ said yes to one, then he must say yes to others.
This is why they need to be control and thank goodness, you are not the one protecting him lol.

from the kids side or mom, of course you will think it is great, but this won't be a win-win,
put it this way, playing table tennis with a star is not normal, this isn't a take a photo or autograph request which is more common. The mom wanted to play a match.... not 1 min rally....

once you get into star level, you would understand and I would believe most people do not understand the challenges stars actually have and this i why, I am also training our stars - on how to handle PRs. This includes getting away from social medias and spotlights.

PS. this kid didn't want to, the mom wanted to.