Got back from Meiklejohn 4 day seniors tourney. Entered 3 doubles and 3 singles events.
Sandbagging in LA area is fierce, many drop 300 or more points for the tourney as there is big money given the divisions compared to other big tourneys, some events paid cash for places 5-8 (quarterfinals losers).
My 3600 and 4200 doubles, by rating opponents were matched OK or were higher, but in real terms, both players collectively were another 300 points higher... that is simply too much to even compete, so the results showed it.
The draw doubles you get blindly paired with another player to make the overall rating kinda similar. So... typical, you have 1900 to 2200 players signing up, then you get paired with a 1000ish level player who cannot spell the word push without a 70% error rate or serve legally clumsily... most of these types are just 60-80 yr old players who never get a chance to team up with good players at their community center.. so it is a public service to just shut up and play.
My assigned partner never won a thing in his life and on paper, looked at my rating and the first opponents and had no hope. However, he generally kept ball on table with poor quality and it was enough, we got by and won 3-0 by reasons that would defy logic. Combined with our bye, that got us into quarters to face Scoobie Doo Tsos… you are not gunna give that crap high ball to him without it getting killed into the next county, nor can you serve long without penalty. 0-3 GTFO was the correct and deserved result.
Still, it was enough to get a match check... something this gent NEVER got in his entire life in the sport. He was taking pics with all my friends like he was a Millennial teenager. Dude was giddy to the extreme... but what the heck, he signed up to have fun, meet people and have a crack at playing. It worked out beyond his dreams, so it was a plus.
My singles, I lost O50 to a retriever after leading 7-3 in the 5th, I was attacking strong with high percentage on 3rd ball, but dude got gt back some balls weird and high, no way to track the bounce and I missed easy chances, he got inspired and played out his ass countering my openers ripping a couple. He improved around 100 points last tourney and he shoulda gotten more points. He played O2000 that day and I played 2000 level and he edged me, I got what I deserved, he got hat he deserved.
In U2200, I played a Korean guy who is rated just under 2000 and plays way better, typical. Could only compete in 3rd and put on a real lively show for spectators, but lost. maybe I play him another 3 times I will have 50/50 chance, but not 1st match.
In U2050, I played a local Vietnamese O40 dude with the STANDARD issue Chinese coach robo-kid recommended setup - VISCARIA with H3/T05. Dude was a Ma Long video game hardcore dude, tried to flip nearly every serve, tried to power loop anything long. I allowed him many points just to see what his serves are like and what he does with each ball, even if I could win game one, I wasn't worried, what I learned was valuable - that I could do pretty much what I want if I avoid a few things.
I upped the low tight short underspin serve game and dude could not flip the first 4, then could not push the next 3. Look of expression on his face was priceless, exactly what Der_Echte looks like when playing vs ttd member erm.
Won next 2 easily before backing off on 4th game and got serious again after allowing him to make deuce from a 9-3 lead. Dude leaving the court was not happy and still did not know what was really happening. On his serve, he either served long and I punished it, or on his short dead serve I pushed heavy half long, angled to side, quick to his body or short... and kept changing my grip pressure and bat angle to make different spins.
I never had a match vs a player near my rating (he was 60 points lower rated) where I felt like I controlled the match like this.
That one match and the draw doubles made my weekend.
I lost in second round in 5th to a lefty control player 40 points higher rated... maybe I play him next time I win, but he was better today. I put on a show that match too right in front of the stands for spectators. TT is an entertainment business and players should perform their magic acts for spectators.
I umpired many matches to get a front row seat for these matches. Good idea, no?
