How to approach handicapped games?

[d3nium]

I'm in a summer league featuring a wide variety of players of different abilities and levels.

In some matches, I'm having to give away 5/6/7 starts up to 11.

How would you approach these kind of matches? Just play as usual? I'm always scared of making mistakes, and i tend to go bit negative, any mental tips?

 

[Ghostzen]

Stay positive 100% in mindset to claw the points back

Play your game but with a bit more safety. You still need to win points your way. Spin is your friend in these matches. A heavy serve, heavy push and deep heavy topspin tend to be "safe" ways of winning points instead of going for broke when there could be more errors.

Once you are level the key is to finish. Headspace tends to be I'm now even again I've won. So keep focused to finish the match the way it started.

What kind of level are the players you are giving the points away to roughly?

Love these kind of matches myself.

 

[Sedis]

Play your normal game, if you play defensively the chances are the player with the head start will be more comfortable with this type of strategy and is more likely to get some points, as well as increasing their chances of getting a lucky net or edge due to the longer rallies.

 

[KM1976]

For a Handicapped game, if I know the player (strengths and weaknesses) then I will first try to match my strength against his weakness to level the score. Let say I started with 0-3, then first 3 points, I will play on my strength. Next, 2 points, I will try to match my strength against my opponents strength and see how it goes. However, the idea here is to pick up cues and not to give freebees. Based on these the remaining course of the game will be decided for me.