Arrogant Tennis Troll BREAKS DOWN

#1 Amazon new release for tennis book - Essential Tennis: www.amazon.com/Essential-Tenn... Order your copy today and learn from my top 38 principles for tennis success!
------------
After posting a video on my personal channel calling out the WORST attitude in tennis (watch it here • The WORST attidue in t... , a player named Ben realized the video was describing HIM and sent me a long email explaining what led him to become a real life tennis troll. He agreed to sit down and get everything out in the open - here is our full conversation.
Get your FREE membership to ET Academy and IMPROVE your game now:
Grab 15% off Diadem racquets, strings, bags and more using this discount link: diademsports.com/discount/Ess...
------------
Follow this simple, free 7-Step checklist in your very next match for smarter, more effective play: essentialtennisvideos.com/win...
------------
Looking for the perfect practice partner, match play partner, or qualified coach in your local area? PlayYourCourt will send them directly to the court of your choice! This is the greatest resource on the planet for passionate players looking to maximize their improvement: www.playyourcourt.com/try/et/
------------
MORE HELPFUL LESSONS:
Why Your Forehand is WEAK
• Why Your Forehand is W...
Steal Roger’s Secret Strategy
• Steal Roger's Secret S...
World’s Most Annoying Tennis Opponent (and why they beat you)
• World’s most ANNOYING ...
Aim HERE For Easy Tennis Wins!
• Aim HERE for Easy Tenn...
Stop Standing HERE In Tennis (why you’re losing)
• Stop Standing HERE In ...
Stop Beating YOURSELF At Tennis!
• Stop Beating YOURSELF ...
Hit WINNERS Like Djokovic
• Hit WINNERS like Novak...
Bryan Brothers DON’T Cover This!
• Bryan Brothers DON'T c...
------------
FOLLOW US ONLINE:
Facebook:
/ essentialtennis
Instagram:
/ essentialtennis
iTunes: itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/e...
Google Play:
play.google.com/music/m/Idphv...
Twitter:
/ essentialtennis
Stitcher:
www.stitcher.com/podcast/esse...
------------
OUR PRODUCTION GEAR:
Slow Motion Camera: amzn.to/2Lw26Dx
Analysis iPad: amzn.to/2MEeFSM
Drone: amzn.to/2okeSfg
Wireless Mics: amzn.to/2NvluT8
Vlog Camera: amzn.to/2PbivQ5
Ball Machine: amzn.to/2ofFZb6
Camera Tripod: amzn.to/2PLKPJR
Phone Tripod: amzn.to/2MENc3p
------------
Essential Tennis is worldwide leader in digital tennis improvement resources. For over a decade their coaches have been publishing video, audio, and written instruction helping millions of passionate players improve at the game they love.
With content ranging from video lessons, to the first tennis podcast ever published on iTunes, to insightful long form emails giving insight into the improvement process Essential Tennis has the guidance you need to reach your goals and break through to the next level of play.
Their coaches also provide world class in person experiences including group clinics and their exclusive, Milwaukee VIP instructional package.
For more information on lessons, digital training programs, or anything else please send an email to support AT essentialtennis DOT com.
------------
If you can read this you have an impressive scrolling game.
:-)
#tennis #essentialtennis #tennislesson

[@MegaBensley]

I'm so surprised that all the comments are so positive. I was worried that I'd get absolutely ridiculed for being so arrogant and condescending. I'd like to thank everybody for their kind words. It has helped me already just to see how many other people can relate to this problem. Tonight is club training night, time for me to face my demons once again and try to grow as a player. Fingers crossed!

[@EssentialTennis]

Love that you're meeting this head on, Ben!

[@warriorzentennis]

There's a lot to take away from this one Ian, thanks for posting. The "pecking order" is a real thing that is common in my USTA leagues in Ohio. It was really hard for me to divorce myself from putting that pecking order on a pedestal and thinking I was "less than" everyone else. I nearly quit the game after losing 9 matches in a row at 3.5, but I stuck with it and have a 4.5 doubles and singles win under my belt, which means a lot to me. Looking back on my growth, I really never was out to get revenge on any opponent, the true challenge for me was facing the fear, nerves and doubt in competition to the point where I could barely walk on court. The moments where I won by conquering myself and my fear provided the feeling that I am addicted to currently. In a sense, all my opponents represented the Final Boss so to speak of tennis, where I had to walk out there despite hating myself, hating my fear but learning to see myself as the guy that can and has overcome my self imposed burdens through competition. Not sure if Ben keeps a journal, but journaling really helped my progression. Early on in my 3.5 entries, I could see this frustrated character forming who thought he was a loser, transform into a competitor ready to take on any challenge even if the odds are stacked against me. I'm really fortunate to have good friends to share my story and where we build each other up and keep challenging each other to do the inner work to get better at the game.

[@EssentialTennis]

Thanks so much for a great post, Warrior!

[@fsilber330]

One of the disadvantages of pickleball, in comparison to tennis, may actually be an advantage in your case, and it's that, in contrast to tennis, skill in pickleball does nothing to establish or confirm one's value as a human being.

[@warriorzentennis]

@@fsilber330 I think pickleball is a very fun recreational activity. Nothing against folks who play it, but trying to improve in tennis has been very difficult and a direct challenge to all of my personal limiting beliefs. Of course I love tennis, but the Journey through tennis means a lot more to me since I started in high school and was really struggling to find an identity away from the insecurity. The fact of the matter is that tennis is very difficult, which is why I have pursued it as a tool for my own development. I have played pickleball, and I had a blast, but there isn't enough discomfort in pickleball to be a tool for me to challenge myself.

[@RedesignYourLifeNow]

I remember the arrogance I had coming back to a game I used to love and quit a few times because of this attitude. 7 years ago, I came back as a shaky 3.0 / 3.5 player wanting more match’s in a summer singles ladder. I won 10 matches and lost 18. 17 of those losses were against guys, who I thought at the first of the match - they are not at my level. Then I folded when I did not get the ‘shot’ I wanted 😂 or they broke down my game. Punch in the gut and a huge wake-up call to my attitude. Next summer as a 3.5 player now, I won 17 games and lost 10. Lost 1 with this old attitude. Now, as a 4.0 singles player & 4.5 doubles player, I respect my opponent 97% of the time and when I do slip into the old attitude, then I lose or make a match significantly longer and more painful 😂. The main reason I have improved my game in singles & doubles is finding their weakness and exploit them. If they hate lobs, I lob. Dislike spin, I spin. Bad fitness, I make them run. Second serve is bad, I try to crush it, without putting it out. I respect their game now. I focus on the overall game, less on my technique and more on a strategy that could allow me to win. The ‘tude’ needs to go. 15 finals, on various levels & age divisions in these last 7 years is because I had to throw my ego out and focus on what is in front of me in those tournaments & finals. The slicers, The lobbers, The shankers, The big servers (with no backhands). I won a tournament with a forehand slice because I lost feeling in my forehand in the first set. I said to myself, ‘do the slice because people dislike it’ so I could win. 6-7, 6-3, (10-4) Sometimes I lose, sometimes I won in those finals. All because of the continued focus on shutting down that bad attitude and be flexible with my techniques 😂.

[@mikeshelagh]

This may have been one of the best videos ever for me. Learned so much and saw a good deal of myself in this conversation. Thank you Ian and Ben for opening yourselves up and sharing.

[@EssentialTennis]

So glad to hear that!

[@josenoya-InspirationNation]

Loved this Ian and Ben. Yes just got back into tennis at the age of 50, played at school when I was 16 so over 30 years ago. This conversation has been so useful and I just need to focus on enjoying my game but still with the intention to win. Totally agree there are players that don’t have great technique but know how to win, that’s my next learning and just enjoying it. Yes Inner Game if Tennis is superb, as was is winning ugly tool got a lot from both books worth a read. These conversations are so important so please keep having them, our own growth is so important and everyone is on their own journey and we must try and stop comparing. The question is are you growing from each match and what did you learn about yourself? What went well and what would make it even better next time? Loved this thanks Ben and Ian, keep putting the good out into the world through this type discussion🎾

[@jackjohnson2101]

Watched the whole thing. Very interesting.

[@giacomomineo73]

Thanks for sharing this.

[@ltrotter636]

Great conversation, thanks for being so transparent. I'm learning the difference between being a tennis hobbyist and being someone who is passionate about tennis. Hobbies should be fun and leisurely, and you can get good at them. In the pursuit of tennis as a "passion," (sometimes for reasons you haven't even figured out yet!) you're forced -- by default -- to face things about yourself, grow and develop as you work to reach a desired level of proficiency. It's great that you're strong enough to go through this process of understanding to become better! Kudos to you! Maybe we all need to be passionate about something to be challenged in this way.

[@ariwibowom1984]

When I started to play again 10 years ago, I played mostly with older people (50s and above) and I was in the 30s. The older people have more dimension at play (drop, slice, slice volley, etc). So, I learned to respect all players.

[@nTo-vlog]

Latihan tenis lawan bapak-bapak mmg bakal bikin kita makin konsisten ...

[@mitchellsewell275]

Awesome insights and riveting conversation. While it focussed on tennis, the lessons are applicable across many life arenas. Thank you!

[@pablosanfrancisconeanere-b2251]

Congratulations to both Ben on his discovery and newfound path, and to you Ian for continuing to show the importance of this. I hope this video gets widely viewed. 👏 I come from a past of growing up playing as a kid as well, and have been guilty of the “worse than me” cries of frustration at a loss before. Technique is the “obvious” thing to try to improve for most of us simply because we can so easily contrast it, measure it, compare it, etc… and we also have the pros that we all try to use as “models” to copy. But this is at best a misguided detour to take in the journey to being a better and more complete player, and at worst the deathblow to any future improvement. The video says it so well, the depth and breadth of tennis goes far beyond what it initially appears to be. Personally I think fitness and mental fortitude both rank higher than technique. A fitter and more tenacious player will beat beautiful technique any day if it comes with any deficiency in those other two. For clarity, I include consistency as being part of the mental fortitude/tenacious aspect of the game; people that won’t give up and always “find a way” have to be consistent… and those are the ones that will win the most matches.

[@tbranc1]

As I am working through and building my own mental toughness, i have found this conversation helpful.

[@EssentialTennis]

Great to hear!

[@thedizzyexplorer]

Gratifying to hear this as an overweight mid-30s woman only been playing a year. I have been on the receiving end of these comments at our club despite regularly beating guys with youth, fitness, and/or training on their side. When these players lose, they think they just had a bad day...not aware that their receiving skills aren't as hot as their shot making, they don't practice approaching, or their net game, etc. I have even been congratulated, not sincerely for winning but patronizingly for coming to the net at all! I am not a genius, I've just picked up some things from the 60 year olds who beat me 6-0 each week.

[@EssentialTennis]

Don't let it get you down!

[@ntnnot]

Good stuff!

[@RCShufty]

Witnessed this first hand this week during an intra-club social competition where the better players had to play doubles with newer players, it didnt go well. I really feel for those new players because that was me 2-3 years ago.

[@yonexfan12]

Very good content and congrats to Ben for being a thoughtful human being! More of this would be refreshing content.

[@watcher687]

I feel like this is still an unsolved problem despite all the talk and reasoning.

[@tombailey4458]

I totally can relate. Honestly I can get so upset when I lose a match, especially when I feel I should be able to win. The thing is, I am upset not because of Tennis per se' but a million underlying reasons that Tennis brought to the surface.

[@EssentialTennis]

YES, so well said

[@JiraiyaSama86]

Even more so recently, I've found that it's really unnecessary to think of oneself as a better player. Especially during a match. If one were to really try to articulate it, what does that even mean? The player hits harder? Has better technique? Better strategy? When we go out on the court, it's whatever situation that's in front of us that we have to deal with. Our ability to identify and deal with it properly. Thinking about how good you are can truly be a sword used against you when you're losing. That's why I respect Rafa's approach a lot. As he said, it doesn't matter who's in front of him. He takes them all very seriously.

[@EssentialTennis]

Very well said!

[@dr.faustus9024]

It means 'being better at keeping the ball in play while making it hard for the opponent to keep the ball in play' . The thing is that there are a lot of ways to achieve this, technique being just one of them.

[@JiraiyaSama86]

@@dr.faustus9024 The context was being a better player than the other player.

[@-Munditimum-]

Way to go Ben. It is very commendable that you have chosen the journey of self awareness firstly and secondly you are working to make permanent changes. Thank you Ian and Essential Tennis for addressing this topic. I think most still don't take the mental part of not just a game but life in general seriously enough to modify their observations, reactions and then lessons learnt. This can enhance their level of experiences towards being truly enjoyable, not to mention valuable for future character development. Cheers and have a weekend everyone. M

[@EssentialTennis]

❤

[@icefalcon2243]

Most of the players that I meet at the parks where I live have a dickish attitude for no reason. I think there’s a little bit of that elite/entitled snobbish thing that is synonymous with tennis in general. I have to watch that I’m not doing the same. I really try to be nice and open, asking questions that they us don’t hear to try breaking the ice. Lots of people all wound up out there just tense for no good reason. This should be fun 🎾

[@Kenzie_Hill]

Hi Ben! The x factor could be... 1. Gamemanship (talking, tapping racket, grunting, stalling) 2. Mental game (letting frustrations take over, distractions, losing control) 3. Reputation of a player (playing to your level or worried that oponent is better/worse)

[@rickbonner6252]

Thanks to you both. I was a top ranked in Az and ended up running tennis academies in Az and WI also head men's coach at WSU. My attitude as a player was what is the worst thing that could maybe I don't play up to my standards. My kids are still going to love me. Maybe not my youngest, leaving the house to go play he would tell me daddy win me some money 😂. Fast forward to today, I've had many injuries couple of the worst being blowing out my hip and shoulder. What once gave me so much joy now gives me anxiety. My strokes are still strong the intangibles are a mystery

[@EssentialTennis]

Hope you find your joy in the game again, Rick!

[@rickbonner6252]

Thanks ❤ I sure the fight is with my ego

[@carriemariovillarreal570]

I'm an old guy which I think impacts my point of view, but I almost never think of wins and losses anymore. What is important to me is the enjoyment of the match and let's face it, some players (win or lose to them) just play a style or pace that isn't fun to play. We all know these people who play with 150in racket strung at 22# who barely swing and dink, dunk and lob all over the place. It isn't fun even when you beat them.

[@kintaro79]

As someone who went through a similar journey to Ben (high level school / uni tennis then coming back at age 40 after a long break), such a resonant topic. Learning how to lose with grace to “worse” players is really hard at first. For me the key was in identifying what “bad” shots made me uncomfortable and making myself comfortable or coming up handling strategies. E.G. push opponent who does a lot of defensive lobbing? Ok get comfortable with shuffling back and smashing. They’ll either start trying to get closer to the baseline (and miss more) or they’ll stop doing it and play a more “standard” game where maybe you have the advantage. As long as no rules are being broken your opponent is free to play however they want, accept that and adapt!

[@Saskobest]

I can relate to this and also compare it to other activities and sports where the "unorthodox" technique or choices are also considered "weak","worse" etc. For example i am 1600 elo in chess online(Rapid/Blitz) and i play around my elo against opponents that play "textbook" oppenings etc, but when i play against some1 who plays weird couple of first moves i struggle and i lose more often than not. I think all of us need to think outside the box and be capable to adapt

[@EssentialTennis]

Love that example!

[@virtualyme7659]

I think this is a topic in every tennis community that should be addressed whenever it comes up. We're all out there trying to enjoy a game and trying to improve. But when it comes to winning matches it's not about how you look it's about the results. ☮️

[@EssentialTennis]

Well said

[@whatevs1700]

I have a similar story, and had a similar time off. It is a blow to the ego playing against funky players when they can break you down with weird spins and lobs and drop shots… especially when you are no longer the fit young lad you once were. I always play better against better players and worse against the funky players with bad technique… but I forced myself at the beginning to play a lower grade so that I could learn to consistently beat the funky players. I found that I could pretty much always come out with a win in the end… but I would torture myself all the way through it. These days I focus on being consistent with my swings and adding margin with spin… instead of trying to crush them… I work on applying consistent pressure and ultimately they can’t keep up… it’s still not a fun way to win a match but it is satisfying to know they can’t break me down anymore… I don’t let them lure me into low percentage shots… I actually think focussing on sound technique is the best way to keep your game grounded when playing against funky players… when they start drawing errors with extreme lack of pace… you need to focus on the basics to reign it in a bit.

[@asbestomolesto]

Some notes regarding this AMAZING video: 1) THANK YOU Ben for your insight - I hope to see you here for some other content! I have a similar story - good players in my twenties, then stopped, then back into tennis at 45yo. I'm 55yo and I'm still learning and I'm STILL LOSING MATCHES against "worse players than me" :) But now... 2) I realized and accepted the fact that, if I lose, my opponent was simply better than me :) It's a fact: he win, he was better. :) 3) Why training sessions are always with clean feed balls? I mean, we train technique in a certain way - movements, footwork, but the ball always come in a "normal" way, maybe flat, topspin, backspin, but always "normal". What if we start training our skills... with junk / unpredictable balls? 4) I once had a friend of mine, a very good player, refuse to play in our social club tournament because he was out of tennis for some months and he literally didn't wanted to lose matches "against worse player than him". Very sad attitude (and toxic, imho) GREAT VIDEO :) Greetings from Italy!

[@whatab0utb0b]

I've only watched the first 10 minutes, but just have to comment bc Ben is me almost to a T. I was a good junior player that did well in USTA and high school tennis. Looked down at players that didnt rip topspin forehands with western grips. I'll never forget an early round of the state championships my senior year playing against a kid that "didnt even deserve to be on the court with me". He stood completely upright to "paddle" the ball back, sliced a little on his forehand and backhands but it just sat there and spun with no pace, frying pan grip to tap over his serves, but he was a backboard that got everything back....and he beat me in 3 sets. It broke me, I didnt play tennis AT ALL for years after that. I was so disillusioned with the game. "How could I lose to a kid like that".....the arrogance I had. Now almost 25 years later to the day, I'm not gonna lie, that experience it still bugs me, but I hope I've learned something from it. Getting back into the game I see a lot of club players with a similar playstyle but I don't look down on them, I respect their understanding of their own personal strengths and weaknesses, but now know how to counter them. Hoping to continue my tennis journey and pass on some knowledge to the high school kids I'm helping and teach some lessons in humility along the way. Thanks Ian and Ben!

[@EssentialTennis]

Thank you so much for sharing your story! Good for you for learning from that pain and frustration!

[@Saskobest]

it happened to Medvedev and Simon too, Zverev or Kyrgious said it at some interview that when they were juniors no1 thought higly at Medvedev due to his tennique , they all thought he wouldnt make it and yet there he is right behind Novak,Alcaraz and Sinner for the past 2 years

[@sardinhanabrasa]

Thanks Ben!

[@EssentialTennis]

He's the man!

[@bradbixel9816]

Yeah, loved this content! Just survived my 55th winter here on planet earth and still playing competitive 4.0 tennis. I still match up poorly with fast, defensive players who consistently feed me an uncomfortable ball--whether that's speed, location, angle, height, depth, spin, or just the shot-disguise that unconventional technique lends itself so well to. If you play the game long enough you learn that pretty strokes don't mean much and are in fact much easier to read than their "janky" counterparts :) These days I've lost a lot of speed and explosiveness (always working to recover those assets but whatever... ) so my main tools against these players are a decent swing volley and overhead, and good approach shots/volleys. I still much prefer playing hard-hitting players who feed me pace, but I can sometimes win out against good pusher/grinders when I win the mental battle with myself--not forcing it (being willing to put on my darned hard hat and get to work). Defensive players tend to be uncomfortable playing offensively which should create a sense of calm because you aren't being attacked (at least not in the traditional hard pounding top-spinny sense). Thus calmed you can relax in just playing high safe deepish middle until a good opportunity presents itself to create (and recognize!) an opportunity to be offensive yourself. It helps me to embrace the mindset that every tennis shot they hit that goes in is a great shot! I've also sometimes discovered players who play like a wall for the first three, or five balls of every point do still have a shot tolerance out there somewhere. Maybe they fall apart on ball 6? It happens. Lastly, practicing with these players helps tremendously as does training in the short, mid, and back court with high no-pace balls. I just wrote a lot. Obviously, I've suffered greatly at the hands of these speedy defensive giants, and I want big serves, pretty forehands, and deft volleys to triumph in the end--LOL!

[@HeavyTopspin]

As someone who was self-taught and had an extremely unorthodox game when playing HS tennis in the 80s, I absolutely LOVED it when people would say these sorts of things after losing to me. My usual response was "guess you need to get better then, huh?" Wasn't a pusher, but had an inside-out serve and hit with a lot more topspin than was normal at the time. Fortunately I cleaned up my game after resuming play in my 30s, otherwise I'd have artificial elbow and shoulder joints by now.

[@EssentialTennis]

Good for you, Heavy!

[@Kailan19]

Good on ya Ben!

[@EssentialTennis]

💯 So proud of Ben!

[@Riverrattie87]

Hahahah totally relatable. I have a good relationship with my coach but have never been a competitive or exceptional player. I’d rate myself a 3.0 - 3.5 player on a good day, but I have a very odd way of playing in matches and slice way more than I should. Anyway, my coach will always ask me to play against his up and coming / younger prodigy students who had awesome technique and obviously play the game better than me. Why? Because I would also beat them in a match despite my obviously more inferior skillset, and the coach uses this as an experience for the students, that just because they “play” better and have a better technique, that does not automatically make them a better match player. Mindset, tactics, understanding what works and doesn’t work against an opponent is equally if not more important in a match than the technique itself. It made them more humble to learn and never underestimate your opponents in a match.

[@EssentialTennis]

Love that!! Smart coach.

[@nTo-vlog]

So you are the pusher whom the coach would tell his students to beat..? Just kidding... you should be proud of yourself!

[@Riverrattie87]

@@nTo-vlog hahaha proud to show the young ones there are more than one way to win a match 😂

[@richarderyan]

Sometimes I ask my coaches at my club, what do I do when I get frustrated, they say "that's the mental game" and I don't get any more details or instructions haha. I play pretty well when relaxed but it doesn't take much for me to get frustrated and lose my head.

[@EssentialTennis]

Hope you can find the guidance you're looking for!

[@JiraiyaSama86]

There's nothing wrong with wanting to be valued. There are a few questions that should also be asked, though. What do you want to be valued for and why? Why do you want to be valued? Who should you want it from and why? Those are just to start with. If the reason that one wants to be valued is self oriented, give it up. If the reason is to serve others, ok.

[@jvcelt]

me, too. thank u

[@EssentialTennis]

Welcome 😊

[@matthewwalsh974]

Absolute legend for putting himself out there like this. Very insightful guy... It's amazing that these defensive style players can cause us to have a full existential crisis hahaha 😂😂

[@Invesre]

I have a friend that Has exacly this problem to the point its getting really annoying each time he loses against someone who doesnt have better strokes. Also he often quits tennis like few times per year because he loses to "noobs" :p

[@alastairtheduke]

I can definitely relate to Ben.

[@EssentialTennis]

❤

[@TennisHacker]

That took some big cojones for Ben to come on and talk so openly. Great video on an important topic.

[@EssentialTennis]

Huge ones!

[@gumby535]

The fact that he was anxious to talk to you tells me he is too tightly wound. I think you hit the nail on the head with the advice to let go of EGO and focus on GRATITUDE is key! If he does this, pressure will be taken off. He will play looser, have more fun and stop obsessing on mistakes.

[@2dacloud]

When a ball lands on the line it changes trajectory and you can tell that it’s on the line. I feel like it’s okay to get mad when your opponent (the c**t) calls your ace on the line wide.

[@EssentialTennis]

What does getting mad accomplish?

[@martinireland6670]

great video gents.😎

[@EssentialTennis]

Glad you enjoyed it

[@TennisWithHaku]

49:15 I think Ian just called me crazy. Rude 😂

[@EssentialTennis]

Yup....in the BEST way possible! 😆

[@ariurip3751]

He should play MEP

[@EssentialTennis]

😅

[@jackloughridge7617]

You sure he isn’t south african?

[@whatevs1700]

Yes… that accent doesn’t sound too English… I thought South African too.

[@MegaBensley]

Hi, someone else made the same comment below. I used to work for Standard Bank, a South African Bank, in their London office. There were a lot of Saffas there and I was living with a mate from Zimbabwe at the time too. Afterwards I spent a lot of time in Australia. My English accent is very mixed up these days. But it's true, I was born and grew up in England.

[@christopherhunter8324]

I've been guilty

[@kdoublec973]

Similar story

[@EssentialTennis]

Thanks for watching!

[@tennisone6376]

you look youger without the beard mate!

[@EssentialTennis]

Definitely.

[@weyman4317]

Ben sounds South African rather than English?

[@MegaBensley]

Wow, good ear youve got there, I worked for a South African Bank for a good few years after uni (only english guy there pretty much so I picked up their twang I guess) and I've been travelling for many years now so my accent is totally mixed these days, but I really am from England 😊

[@fsilber330]

Why can't people simply accept that the better tennis player is not necessarily the ones who win, and that there are ways, if you master them, to beat players who are better than you. (Just look at M.E.P. -- a 3.0-level tennis player who defeats not only everyone else at his level, but also everyone at the 3.5 level, 4.0 level and at least half the 4.5-level players.) Maybe then players would be so frustrated, angry and humiliated when they lose a tennis match to a lower-level tennis player.

[@liamcrawford817]

I am the person who is on the receiving end of players comments haha. I have a decent technique and can play good tennis, but there are 4-5 ‘better’ players than me at my club. I say ‘better’, I beat them more than I lose to them, but on the eye, they hit better strokes and have more power. I do believe I am the best tactician at my club, and I will run myself into the ground during a match, attributes that just don’t get you any credit (not that I need it!) The only problem this has caused me in the past is other players getting in teams ahead of me, based on shotmaking and how they look in practice. Eventually though, captains recognise what I can bring and they see my results. Great conversation, I feel miles better after hearing this!

[@EssentialTennis]

So glad hearing this conversation was helpful! Be proud of your skills and abilities, Liam!