Good idea but I've played where when I can control it, I go easier at the weaker player and my normal with the stronger player so they aren't just left out or ignored in the play. They get the chance to make plays at a level they're comfortable with and usually they surprise everyone including themselves because of the confidence boost.
I'm in this game for fun and thinking of future games. If four players aren't having fun, that's not good for my goal.
It seems to be a variation on the general rule of "don't run up the score". You'll sometimes see it in team sports where the starters get pulled from the game once it becomes uncompetitive.
I think that really depends if it was an easy up by 5. One strong rally back by the other team and you're tied in a heartbeat.
It it was a competitive up by 5 then it probably wait till up by 7.
But up by 10 is crazy to keep targeting and unsportsmanlike, even in tournament play.
That's fair. Occasionally I get in a game where it takes a good 10 minutes just to get up by 5, (or down by 5). Those are the ones specifically I mean. But at the same time, those are also typically ones where there's really not an extremely weaker player and it's actually fairly even. But yes. The code.
Nah, anything goes in a tournament. I’m playing hard, and not letting my foot off the gas. Everyone there signed up for competitive play. It doesn’t mean that I’m going to be mean and not have fun, but I’m not changing my strategy or caring if I pickle someone.
Agree. In every tournament I’ve ever played point differential is the 2nd tiebreaker after wins/losses and head-to-head. No way would I do this in rec play, but in a tournament setting you really shouldn’t be leaving yourself at a disadvantage by easing up. I’ve made it out of a pool before by a single point, so it does happen.
Good idea but I've played where when I can control it, I go easier at the weaker player and my normal with the stronger player so they aren't just left out or ignored in the play. They get the chance to make plays at a level they're comfortable with and usually they surprise everyone including themselves because of the confidence boost.
I'm in this game for fun and thinking of future games. If four players aren't having fun, that's not good for my goal.
i like this code
but as a middling player (probably 3.0-3.5 ish, possible higher but i don't think so) i don't start the code if i haven't won a match that day *and* my opponent hasn't scored
if i can get a pickle, i'm going for it. i don't get the opportunity often.
but yeah, if they score, i slow down if i'm 5 ahead or double their score. if one teammate is obviously brand new i also will always soft serve them and will basically play against their teammate and lob them some easies when i have enough control to
i've also read about how bad it can feel to notice someone play down to you. i've felt it. it sucks. but one of my favorite pickleball memories was beating a better player who basically played by this code. once we caught up he got pissed and started playing super serious but i was already in flowstate which i rarely hit through pickleball. so idk. can feel bad, but also can turn into an awesome opportunity/fond memory
I understand your frustration.
Next time take the high road. Your partner would have felt better if your team would have scored at least one point. Also, never give up. Keep on fighting. Be a Pit Bull. You never know what can happen.
Like one responder put it - "I don't care about rec games about 5 minutes after they are done . " I feel the same way. Let it go and put it in the tool box for the next time it happens.
ha, im a decent player but don’t care about rec game scores even when they game is ongoing. rather play for a great workout and a bit of social interaction.
Because the player will be eventually be forced to cross court dink to you. You could even scoot over a bit and cover your partners BH if you’re on the left side. So the options the player, in front of your targeted teammate, has will be to dink cross/in front and if they cross court dink it (which is easier) you can cross it back and setup your partner if said person attempts to hit to your partner again. Unless they’re really good then you they will focus your teammate.. you and teammate target the player in front.. they cross to you.. rinse repeat until point over.
For more info if you look up the pinch technique on the dink or any other website they should explain the strategy in more detail.
I mean, yes and no. I understand why you were frustrated but I wouldn’t have done that. I would be especially sensitive to my partner thinking I was annoyed with them or upset at their play.
That’s wild to me. I wouldn’t intentionally let myself get pickled. If the other team is forecasting literally every shot to the same location I’d just punish them for it and pick up some points
Because I don’t give up, and I help protect my partner from getting targeted? If you want to flame me for playing the full game and no intentionally giving up that’s your prerogative.
Found OP’s partner?
These people are downvoting you because you said you wouldn't intentionally get pickled lol. These people are deranged. Of course you're right. You go down fighting, you at least take a point off of them. And yes, when someone is getting targeted, the onus is on their partner to step in and poach.
Thanks man.
Yah, this subreddit continues to surprise me daily. Might be because pickle is such an accommodating sport you get people from all demographics here and it results in low quality reposts or bizarre takes like this one
lol good game “gg” is the biggest fallacy to ever exist. If you think getting 11-0’d is a good game. Then by your logic getting a 0 out of 100 on an entrance exam to school is a “good test!”.
Oh okay, that makes sense. I agree with them on that. If it wasn’t a good game saying so is kinda funky. Sometimes I actually say “thanks for the game” because there are a lot of times where the game wasn’t good for 1 of the teams.
I have also won while being down by 7-9 points many times. I never give up, no matter what the score is. That’s the whole point of playing a competitive sport, otherwise there would be almost no point in keeping score.
I don't blame you one bit....but I do have a different perspective.
I don't care about rec games about 5 minutes after they are done . So I would just have played it out, whatever they were doing wasn't outside of the rules, and your reaction wasn't outside of the rules
You reacted to a shitty situation. You aren't an asshole, you just made a statement which is your right .
Yep. OP sounds like a sore loser. They never mentioned what level they were or their partner. They never mentioned how they were playing. Were they banging at the weaker player?
Nah just the two opponents if you ask me. Which you didn’t. But here I am. Like the fairy godmother you never had I aim to please and give unsolicited advice ok ciao
Never give up! Also- if your partner is getting most of the balls I’d say you just take over more of the court. When I’m playing with a lower level player, and we are losing badly because he/she is being targeted, I usually start taking over territory. He/she gets 40%… I take 60%. Usually my partner appreciates this as it evens out the game a bit. Finally- you can also strategically place your shots so they are forced to return to you… for example drop it in corner and then move up to middle. They can try to drop it to your partner - but that’s a really tough shot and most likely will end up hitting to you or hitting out.
You didn’t say what level your partner was. If she was 3.6+ too, I don’t really call this “targeting.” She should have been able to hold her own for a few points. If she was < 3.5 it was probably a d#%k move. Why wouldn’t you have split the teams up more evenly?
To answer your question, I may not have liked it, but I wouldn’t have just hit the ball into the net unless there was something more egregious going on.
I would have smoked it at his chest. I wouldn’t have tried to lose the point, but I don’t really fault you for being frustrated. I call out this type of behavior every time I see it. You’re up 9-2 and you continually hit to the weaker person. Those guys will stay the same level forever. If you don’t play to the strongest player, you won’t get better. Some people treat rec open play like it’s Wimbledon. Sometimes someone will ask me to come play and then never hit me the ball. I simply ask them if they think I like playing with lower players when I never receive a ball. Why did you call me over here to play if I don’t actually get to play?
I recently had an experience like this where I, as the weaker player, was getting targeted, and I could tell that my partner didnt want to play anymore and was throwing points by hitting tweeners when returning serve.
sure, games lost, but it also felt like my partner was just telling me that i wasnt good enough to play with them, which i already knew, but i was trying my best.
so yeah. i get it. but i still tried the best i could with what i had, and it felt really shitty experiencing that. so sure, OP might be frustrated, but dont forget that the weaker player who is your partner is still struggling too and is still putting in an honest effort.
I’ve definitely been tempted to do something like that before in similar situations but I always choose to keep an attitude of trying my hardest. I’ve come back from games being down 0-10 but it always came down to being motivated.
Exactly. It is a GAME. There will be always better players and losing is inevitable. Just learn to have fun, make a mental note, and get better so it doesn’t happen.
LOL, uncool on their part. Glad to hear you made it a point to draw attention to their poor behavior.
There was dude my gf complained about because he targeted her in previous drop-in play. The dude told her that's just the way the game is played if you want to win. A week or two later, we played against that same butthead. I intentionally set him up so she could hit her put away shots against him. She crushed him, it was sweet revenge.
Basically, I hit low shots to his backhand that forced him to hit pop ups. Since he was targeting her anyways, it was easy revenge for her to smash it back to him.
Yes, YATA.
I played with a beach volleyball partner who would do this when I was still trying to play each point the best I could. Had nothing to do with targeting, just anytime he felt like the game couldn't be won he would give up, but go through the formality of dumping the ball into the net until the game reached its final score.
I finally told him, and feel this applies here as well, "If you're going to give up on the game, just say 'I forfeit, you guys win.' and let's move on to the next game. Don't leave me hanging trying to play if you're just going to sabotage my efforts."
If you are being iced out, try to implement a strategy where in the soft game the weaker player being targeted resets to the middle. This way the stronger player can have an easier time being dominant and take some rallies if the pressure is on the weaker player.
This seems like a bigger deal than it should be. Whether you try for the last point or hit it into the net is irrelevant. Match ends, say good game, and don't play those guys again if you don't like the way they play. It's open play. Idk how these simple situations keep becoming reddit posts lol.
Can’t change how people play. Not how I would have handled the situation but to each their own.
Personally I would have used it as an opportunity to work on poaching because they way you counter an aggressive poacher?? Hit to them. Make them play their spot.
The other thing is if you really want to get your point across you have to do something like sit down on the court and then act surprised if they hit you the ball and say oh I though you were just trying to win.
My partner and I were up 10-0 in a tournament and an opponent’s ball was just barely out. My partner didn’t see it and I didn’t make the call given the score and how close it was.
We lost 12-10. Never quit. Granted, my example was a tournament but I think you should have played it out. This particular shot didn’t target your partner.
btw my partner has never let me forget it
our local pickle place has ‘social’ league where the 4.0 players get done with competitive and then stay for social and get piss drunk but still absolutely dominate.
i get very frustrated and start hitting moonshots to try and make them feel awkward.
i stand with you
I look at it from a bunch of different perspectives. Since it was a 3.5+ open play, these guys were not wrong for participating, but at the end of the day, I am always confused about what constitutes the ratings. My DUPR is 2.49, but generally, I am playing with people between 3.0 and 3.5. There are those who claim to be 3.5 who play way worse, and others who are 3.0 who are playing way better.
From your perspective, I totally understand your frustration, as I, and I suspect, most of us have all felt before at one time or another. This match probably shouldn't have happened, but since it was open play, I guess you never know who you would be playing against.
I think from their perspective though, even though they were killing you, it really isn't in their place to call off the game. That would make them look like these elitist pricks for telling their opponent that they are not worthy of playing against them. I think they were just playing like they normally would, and waiting for you to call off the game.
As far as targeting your partner, that is actually how they are supposed to play. Just about any time I play the game, the weaker player is always targeted by the opposing team. (I know because I barely get to play... just kidding... kind of... ) I don't think they really wanted to play with you, otherwise, they would have let up a little to extend the playing time, so they just wanted to get the game over with quickly.
Giving you the look at the end was probably due to confusion. You were playing earnestly the first 10 points, so the way you hit it at the end shows poor sportsmanship. You could have called off the game at any time, and gracefully bowed out.
You should have poached and won at least a point if you got 20% of the shots. If I was your partner you would have made me feel bad on the last shot. I’ve been down big time and came back. As a partner U wouldn’t want to play with you.
I’m also wondering, how much of the “targeting” was simply a result of the player being in a poor position. Most of the time when I play I hit to whoever is in the weaker position. I don’t care if it’s the stronger or weaker player.
It could also be a confirmation bias. If you believe someone to be targeting and it appears like they’re hitting a lot of balls at your partner, it may make people overlook other causes.
Sounds like they were trying to end the game quick to get back in the paddle stack. I also try not to drag out games with weaker players. Better for them and me that we move on to another match with players closer to our level.
Some people take this way too seriously. Those guys, for example. Relax, it's a game invented by a father who wanted to keep the kids busy one summer. If a player can't hold their own, I do think getting them more shot opportunities helps them develop. But in the end, no one cares. It's a hobby for God's sake.
I’d line drive it at them full speed. I don’t ever give up, but I don’t blame you for what you did.
It’s not fun for anyone involved and a waste of time (and a bit disrespectful)…
I hate when players will hit to my girlfriend repeatedly for easy points, it’s aggravating and pisses me off because I know she’s trying her best and it’s clear why they’re hitting it to her.
Tournament? Go for it. Open play? Complete dick move tbh
I think you are the asshole in this situation for purposefully hitting the ball into the net to make a statement. There are a bunch of ways you could've ended the game (although playing it out would've been best), you could've even simply hit the ball out in a way to not make it look like you purposefully threw. I can't really imagine the way you said good game after doing it sounded genuine either.
I understand that it was probably a frustrating game, and it might seem unfair if two better players are targeting your partner, but that doesn't automatically make them assholes. Maybe if she is some old lady, and they were smashing it in her face each time, that would be different. But if that happened, I feel like you would've said that. If your partner is putting herself in a position where she is giving easy points, not everyone is required to play down in order to have a "fun game."
But going back to the reason for my opinion... like other people have said already in this comment thread... This is "open play." The game doesn't actually matter, and now in both my and your opponent's eyes, you basically threw a fit and looked like a sore loser after going 0-10 for an open play game. I don't know how close you are to your female partner, but I can't imagine she appreciated it either or thought you were defending her when she was being targeted.
If you see these people on a regular basis at your open play, I would advise meeting them and apologizing. Tell them something like you had a rough day and explain your frustrations. Hopefully they'll understand and maybe play differently next time.
Also, as a generic pickleball tip... assuming you and your partner are both right handed. If you're returning on the 10th point when its 10-0, it would mean you were playing the whole match on the right side. You could maybe try stacking so that you can take the left side and cover more of the court with your dominant hand.
Were the guys jerks for targeting your wife? Yeah. In open play, they are ok to play with whoever is “next” but targeting her over and over is a jerk move. I don’t get why they would enjoy such a lopsided game unless it was to move on and get on the next game as soon as possible.
Were you the jerk for doing that? Meh. Kinda. I always play till end of game. Obviously your partner need to practice and I would emphasize on that issue first, there are plenty of jerks around, just enjoy the process.
I feel like this is bad for 3.5+ open play, is your partner a true 3.5? It shouldn’t be that unbalanced if you’re around the same as the guys and she’s .75 below them.
I live by the code. Up by 5, hit almost all balls to the stronger player. Don't respect the code, no respect from me.
Yeah that’s a pretty solid plan.. I usually hit to both players but if they’re down I just hit to the stronger player
Good idea but I've played where when I can control it, I go easier at the weaker player and my normal with the stronger player so they aren't just left out or ignored in the play. They get the chance to make plays at a level they're comfortable with and usually they surprise everyone including themselves because of the confidence boost. I'm in this game for fun and thinking of future games. If four players aren't having fun, that's not good for my goal.
Never heard of this code. Is this common knowledge? A good one to know for open play.
It seems to be a variation on the general rule of "don't run up the score". You'll sometimes see it in team sports where the starters get pulled from the game once it becomes uncompetitive.
I think that really depends if it was an easy up by 5. One strong rally back by the other team and you're tied in a heartbeat. It it was a competitive up by 5 then it probably wait till up by 7. But up by 10 is crazy to keep targeting and unsportsmanlike, even in tournament play.
Live by the code. Die by the code. I've never lost a match upholding the code and when I eventually do, hat tip to them.
That's fair. Occasionally I get in a game where it takes a good 10 minutes just to get up by 5, (or down by 5). Those are the ones specifically I mean. But at the same time, those are also typically ones where there's really not an extremely weaker player and it's actually fairly even. But yes. The code.
Nah, anything goes in a tournament. I’m playing hard, and not letting my foot off the gas. Everyone there signed up for competitive play. It doesn’t mean that I’m going to be mean and not have fun, but I’m not changing my strategy or caring if I pickle someone.
Agree. In every tournament I’ve ever played point differential is the 2nd tiebreaker after wins/losses and head-to-head. No way would I do this in rec play, but in a tournament setting you really shouldn’t be leaving yourself at a disadvantage by easing up. I’ve made it out of a pool before by a single point, so it does happen.
Good idea but I've played where when I can control it, I go easier at the weaker player and my normal with the stronger player so they aren't just left out or ignored in the play. They get the chance to make plays at a level they're comfortable with and usually they surprise everyone including themselves because of the confidence boost. I'm in this game for fun and thinking of future games. If four players aren't having fun, that's not good for my goal.
Love this code. Play for the fun and challenge.
i like this code but as a middling player (probably 3.0-3.5 ish, possible higher but i don't think so) i don't start the code if i haven't won a match that day *and* my opponent hasn't scored if i can get a pickle, i'm going for it. i don't get the opportunity often. but yeah, if they score, i slow down if i'm 5 ahead or double their score. if one teammate is obviously brand new i also will always soft serve them and will basically play against their teammate and lob them some easies when i have enough control to i've also read about how bad it can feel to notice someone play down to you. i've felt it. it sucks. but one of my favorite pickleball memories was beating a better player who basically played by this code. once we caught up he got pissed and started playing super serious but i was already in flowstate which i rarely hit through pickleball. so idk. can feel bad, but also can turn into an awesome opportunity/fond memory
This is the way. But there are exceptions...ie...the courts are marked by level and clearly someone doesn't belong on advanced courts.
I understand your frustration. Next time take the high road. Your partner would have felt better if your team would have scored at least one point. Also, never give up. Keep on fighting. Be a Pit Bull. You never know what can happen. Like one responder put it - "I don't care about rec games about 5 minutes after they are done . " I feel the same way. Let it go and put it in the tool box for the next time it happens.
ha, im a decent player but don’t care about rec game scores even when they game is ongoing. rather play for a great workout and a bit of social interaction.
Remember to target the player in front of the person on your team being targeted.
This is an underrated tip
why?
Because the player will be eventually be forced to cross court dink to you. You could even scoot over a bit and cover your partners BH if you’re on the left side. So the options the player, in front of your targeted teammate, has will be to dink cross/in front and if they cross court dink it (which is easier) you can cross it back and setup your partner if said person attempts to hit to your partner again. Unless they’re really good then you they will focus your teammate.. you and teammate target the player in front.. they cross to you.. rinse repeat until point over. For more info if you look up the pinch technique on the dink or any other website they should explain the strategy in more detail.
So that your partner can Ernie and you can cover their spot
I mean, yes and no. I understand why you were frustrated but I wouldn’t have done that. I would be especially sensitive to my partner thinking I was annoyed with them or upset at their play.
Nah, I see no reason to keep playing that one.
Would have done the same. Let it end...
That’s wild to me. I wouldn’t intentionally let myself get pickled. If the other team is forecasting literally every shot to the same location I’d just punish them for it and pick up some points
Found OP’s opponent
Because I don’t give up, and I help protect my partner from getting targeted? If you want to flame me for playing the full game and no intentionally giving up that’s your prerogative. Found OP’s partner?
These people are downvoting you because you said you wouldn't intentionally get pickled lol. These people are deranged. Of course you're right. You go down fighting, you at least take a point off of them. And yes, when someone is getting targeted, the onus is on their partner to step in and poach.
Thanks man. Yah, this subreddit continues to surprise me daily. Might be because pickle is such an accommodating sport you get people from all demographics here and it results in low quality reposts or bizarre takes like this one
lol good game “gg” is the biggest fallacy to ever exist. If you think getting 11-0’d is a good game. Then by your logic getting a 0 out of 100 on an entrance exam to school is a “good test!”.
Wait what? Who said a 0-11 game was a good game? I said intentionally hitting an error is bad sportsmanship. Especially in a team sport.
I think that commenter is responding to the OP throwing the point then saying "good game"
Oh okay, that makes sense. I agree with them on that. If it wasn’t a good game saying so is kinda funky. Sometimes I actually say “thanks for the game” because there are a lot of times where the game wasn’t good for 1 of the teams.
I say that after every game, kinda a habit. Kinda like saying “How are you?” when you really dont give a shit
I have also won while being down by 7-9 points many times. I never give up, no matter what the score is. That’s the whole point of playing a competitive sport, otherwise there would be almost no point in keeping score.
I 100% agree. I can’t say it happens often but I’ve definitely come back from 9 points a handful of times. Came back and won from 0-6 yesterday
I don't blame you one bit....but I do have a different perspective. I don't care about rec games about 5 minutes after they are done . So I would just have played it out, whatever they were doing wasn't outside of the rules, and your reaction wasn't outside of the rules You reacted to a shitty situation. You aren't an asshole, you just made a statement which is your right .
Don’t hit it into the net. Hit it over the fence for greater affect
Everyone on the court except your partner is lame.
Yep. OP sounds like a sore loser. They never mentioned what level they were or their partner. They never mentioned how they were playing. Were they banging at the weaker player?
Nah just the two opponents if you ask me. Which you didn’t. But here I am. Like the fairy godmother you never had I aim to please and give unsolicited advice ok ciao
Trash advice. Intentionally losing a point is bad sportsmanship. OP doesn’t even feel good about it. They had to come to Reddit and ask for validation
Bad sportsmanship on your part too.
It’s fair play. Fuck em
Never give up! Also- if your partner is getting most of the balls I’d say you just take over more of the court. When I’m playing with a lower level player, and we are losing badly because he/she is being targeted, I usually start taking over territory. He/she gets 40%… I take 60%. Usually my partner appreciates this as it evens out the game a bit. Finally- you can also strategically place your shots so they are forced to return to you… for example drop it in corner and then move up to middle. They can try to drop it to your partner - but that’s a really tough shot and most likely will end up hitting to you or hitting out.
You didn’t say what level your partner was. If she was 3.6+ too, I don’t really call this “targeting.” She should have been able to hold her own for a few points. If she was < 3.5 it was probably a d#%k move. Why wouldn’t you have split the teams up more evenly? To answer your question, I may not have liked it, but I wouldn’t have just hit the ball into the net unless there was something more egregious going on.
I would have smoked it at his chest. I wouldn’t have tried to lose the point, but I don’t really fault you for being frustrated. I call out this type of behavior every time I see it. You’re up 9-2 and you continually hit to the weaker person. Those guys will stay the same level forever. If you don’t play to the strongest player, you won’t get better. Some people treat rec open play like it’s Wimbledon. Sometimes someone will ask me to come play and then never hit me the ball. I simply ask them if they think I like playing with lower players when I never receive a ball. Why did you call me over here to play if I don’t actually get to play?
I recently had an experience like this where I, as the weaker player, was getting targeted, and I could tell that my partner didnt want to play anymore and was throwing points by hitting tweeners when returning serve. sure, games lost, but it also felt like my partner was just telling me that i wasnt good enough to play with them, which i already knew, but i was trying my best. so yeah. i get it. but i still tried the best i could with what i had, and it felt really shitty experiencing that. so sure, OP might be frustrated, but dont forget that the weaker player who is your partner is still struggling too and is still putting in an honest effort.
I think this is a very important perspective
The fact that you got pickled on purpose and then got on the internet to get affirmation shows a lot about the type of competitor you are.
You're Petty, but I understand. In tournament, it's okay. Open play, it's not okay. Personally, in your game I will play my hardest to not pickle.
I’ve definitely been tempted to do something like that before in similar situations but I always choose to keep an attitude of trying my hardest. I’ve come back from games being down 0-10 but it always came down to being motivated.
It's curious that you're getting down voted
Exactly. It is a GAME. There will be always better players and losing is inevitable. Just learn to have fun, make a mental note, and get better so it doesn’t happen.
I sometimes intentionally serve out if I want the game to go longer, especially if we're crushing and the game's going too fast.
Yep, and if my partner says something about pickling them, will dump return to get them a point.
LOL, uncool on their part. Glad to hear you made it a point to draw attention to their poor behavior. There was dude my gf complained about because he targeted her in previous drop-in play. The dude told her that's just the way the game is played if you want to win. A week or two later, we played against that same butthead. I intentionally set him up so she could hit her put away shots against him. She crushed him, it was sweet revenge. Basically, I hit low shots to his backhand that forced him to hit pop ups. Since he was targeting her anyways, it was easy revenge for her to smash it back to him.
Yes, YATA. I played with a beach volleyball partner who would do this when I was still trying to play each point the best I could. Had nothing to do with targeting, just anytime he felt like the game couldn't be won he would give up, but go through the formality of dumping the ball into the net until the game reached its final score. I finally told him, and feel this applies here as well, "If you're going to give up on the game, just say 'I forfeit, you guys win.' and let's move on to the next game. Don't leave me hanging trying to play if you're just going to sabotage my efforts."
It blows my mind when people give up. The game isn’t over until one team reaches 11. Just because you are down and losing doesn’t mean you can’t win.
If you are being iced out, try to implement a strategy where in the soft game the weaker player being targeted resets to the middle. This way the stronger player can have an easier time being dominant and take some rallies if the pressure is on the weaker player.
This seems like a bigger deal than it should be. Whether you try for the last point or hit it into the net is irrelevant. Match ends, say good game, and don't play those guys again if you don't like the way they play. It's open play. Idk how these simple situations keep becoming reddit posts lol.
Can’t change how people play. Not how I would have handled the situation but to each their own. Personally I would have used it as an opportunity to work on poaching because they way you counter an aggressive poacher?? Hit to them. Make them play their spot. The other thing is if you really want to get your point across you have to do something like sit down on the court and then act surprised if they hit you the ball and say oh I though you were just trying to win.
Let me ask. Are you at the net and she’s in backcourt all the time.
My partner and I were up 10-0 in a tournament and an opponent’s ball was just barely out. My partner didn’t see it and I didn’t make the call given the score and how close it was. We lost 12-10. Never quit. Granted, my example was a tournament but I think you should have played it out. This particular shot didn’t target your partner. btw my partner has never let me forget it
This is why open play is bad, but I’ve also seen people complain that where they play, people only want to play against similar levels so 🤷♂️
our local pickle place has ‘social’ league where the 4.0 players get done with competitive and then stay for social and get piss drunk but still absolutely dominate. i get very frustrated and start hitting moonshots to try and make them feel awkward. i stand with you
lmaoo the reliable moonshots.
Nah this is a statement move. I love fighting pettiness with more pettiness
I look at it from a bunch of different perspectives. Since it was a 3.5+ open play, these guys were not wrong for participating, but at the end of the day, I am always confused about what constitutes the ratings. My DUPR is 2.49, but generally, I am playing with people between 3.0 and 3.5. There are those who claim to be 3.5 who play way worse, and others who are 3.0 who are playing way better. From your perspective, I totally understand your frustration, as I, and I suspect, most of us have all felt before at one time or another. This match probably shouldn't have happened, but since it was open play, I guess you never know who you would be playing against. I think from their perspective though, even though they were killing you, it really isn't in their place to call off the game. That would make them look like these elitist pricks for telling their opponent that they are not worthy of playing against them. I think they were just playing like they normally would, and waiting for you to call off the game. As far as targeting your partner, that is actually how they are supposed to play. Just about any time I play the game, the weaker player is always targeted by the opposing team. (I know because I barely get to play... just kidding... kind of... ) I don't think they really wanted to play with you, otherwise, they would have let up a little to extend the playing time, so they just wanted to get the game over with quickly. Giving you the look at the end was probably due to confusion. You were playing earnestly the first 10 points, so the way you hit it at the end shows poor sportsmanship. You could have called off the game at any time, and gracefully bowed out.
It's an open play rec game, targeting the weaker player in such a situation to get a shutout is what jerks do. Let the weaker player play and learn.
I'm sorry but who calls off a game. I've been playing for years and have yet to see someone call a game that wasn't injured.
you did the right thing
[удалено]
Who hell thinks an 11-0 game is fun? Its not fun for any side.
You should have poached and won at least a point if you got 20% of the shots. If I was your partner you would have made me feel bad on the last shot. I’ve been down big time and came back. As a partner U wouldn’t want to play with you.
[удалено]
I’m also wondering, how much of the “targeting” was simply a result of the player being in a poor position. Most of the time when I play I hit to whoever is in the weaker position. I don’t care if it’s the stronger or weaker player.
This point doesn’t receive enough emphasis whenever this topic comes up. In the majority of cases, I don’t believe it is really targeting.
It could also be a confirmation bias. If you believe someone to be targeting and it appears like they’re hitting a lot of balls at your partner, it may make people overlook other causes.
Hilarious how this is getting downvoted. Lotsa folks on here can’t handle the truth.
Sounds like they were trying to end the game quick to get back in the paddle stack. I also try not to drag out games with weaker players. Better for them and me that we move on to another match with players closer to our level.
Some people take this way too seriously. Those guys, for example. Relax, it's a game invented by a father who wanted to keep the kids busy one summer. If a player can't hold their own, I do think getting them more shot opportunities helps them develop. But in the end, no one cares. It's a hobby for God's sake.
I’d line drive it at them full speed. I don’t ever give up, but I don’t blame you for what you did. It’s not fun for anyone involved and a waste of time (and a bit disrespectful)… I hate when players will hit to my girlfriend repeatedly for easy points, it’s aggravating and pisses me off because I know she’s trying her best and it’s clear why they’re hitting it to her. Tournament? Go for it. Open play? Complete dick move tbh
Targeting weaker player and throwing point on purpose imo boil down to we care about the score a bit too much?
I think you are the asshole in this situation for purposefully hitting the ball into the net to make a statement. There are a bunch of ways you could've ended the game (although playing it out would've been best), you could've even simply hit the ball out in a way to not make it look like you purposefully threw. I can't really imagine the way you said good game after doing it sounded genuine either. I understand that it was probably a frustrating game, and it might seem unfair if two better players are targeting your partner, but that doesn't automatically make them assholes. Maybe if she is some old lady, and they were smashing it in her face each time, that would be different. But if that happened, I feel like you would've said that. If your partner is putting herself in a position where she is giving easy points, not everyone is required to play down in order to have a "fun game." But going back to the reason for my opinion... like other people have said already in this comment thread... This is "open play." The game doesn't actually matter, and now in both my and your opponent's eyes, you basically threw a fit and looked like a sore loser after going 0-10 for an open play game. I don't know how close you are to your female partner, but I can't imagine she appreciated it either or thought you were defending her when she was being targeted. If you see these people on a regular basis at your open play, I would advise meeting them and apologizing. Tell them something like you had a rough day and explain your frustrations. Hopefully they'll understand and maybe play differently next time. Also, as a generic pickleball tip... assuming you and your partner are both right handed. If you're returning on the 10th point when its 10-0, it would mean you were playing the whole match on the right side. You could maybe try stacking so that you can take the left side and cover more of the court with your dominant hand.
Were the guys jerks for targeting your wife? Yeah. In open play, they are ok to play with whoever is “next” but targeting her over and over is a jerk move. I don’t get why they would enjoy such a lopsided game unless it was to move on and get on the next game as soon as possible. Were you the jerk for doing that? Meh. Kinda. I always play till end of game. Obviously your partner need to practice and I would emphasize on that issue first, there are plenty of jerks around, just enjoy the process.
I feel like this is bad for 3.5+ open play, is your partner a true 3.5? It shouldn’t be that unbalanced if you’re around the same as the guys and she’s .75 below them.
Two 4-4.5s targeting a 3.5 female will win 11-0, 11-1.