Complicated question about level...

[speedplay]

Here we go again with another topic regarding levels

Not sure how to formulate this question so you guys understand it, but I'll give it a go:

On a scale 1-20, me and my team mates are rated as 10. This means that when ever we play against each other, we are fairly evenly matched. How wever, when we face other players at the same level, I have a higher winning average then they do. When we face lesser players, I often win easier then they do and it's more unlikely that I lose to a lesser player then them. Against slightly better players (11-13) I probably win slightly more then they do, but this is where it is getting confusing for me, cause against some of these players, I lose BIG, while my team mates are able to put up a fight. Against players stronger then that, 13 and up, my team mates always seems to put up a fight, while I'm left with out a chance of winning. This goes regardless of the style of our opponents.

Now, all of my team mates have played TT in their youth and I'm thinking this might be the reason? Or, could it be because my team mates are all offensive players, while I'm defending more, so perhaps they are not actually closer to winning these matches, they just happen to get a couple of points more then I do, due to their style?

[RebornTTEvnglist]

Sounds like its more about style than level. Its really hard without seeing you and your teammates play against some of these players to get a good grasp of where things are at though. I know in my Thursday league my partner and I are similar level to each other (in terms of playing each other), yet he wins so much more than I do against other players. A lot of this comes down to style. He has a more conventional loop style and it seems to get over other players more. While these players will succumb to my LP blocks followed by Inverted smash put-aways somewhat, they tend to be able to shut me down more by playing careful shots (not loose) to my BH only, where I have less attack potential. He doesn't have this weakness as much (although if opponents work out his weaknesses he is just as beatable as me, which is probably why I can beat him as much or more than he beats me because I have worked his game out more due to more practice with him).

I suggest something similar is going on with you in that players below, around and just above your level may not have the experience against anti and getting through your defence. Whereas slightly higher, and presumably more experienced players, are more adept at dealing with your style of play, which has more inherent weaknesses than your teammates more conventional play which takes time to work out individual weaknesses. In which time your teammates make up some points. Lower level players are more used to playing their style, so are more comfortable against them than you!

As I said hard to assess not having seen the play involved, so I am making lots of assumptions and generalisations here. If you think I'm wrong, then I probably am as you have the closer knowledge on things.

[Der Echte]

Here we go again with another topic regarding levels

Not sure how to formulate this question so you guys understand it, but I'll give it a go:

On a scale 1-20, me and my team mates are rated as 10. This means that when ever we play against each other, we are fairly evenly matched. How wever, when we face other players at the same level, I have a higher winning average then they do. When we face lesser players, I often win easier then they do and it's more unlikely that I lose to a lesser player then them. Against slightly better players (11-13) I probably win slightly more then they do, but this is where it is getting confusing for me, cause against some of these players, I lose BIG, while my team mates are able to put up a fight. Against players stronger then that, 13 and up, my team mates always seems to put up a fight, while I'm left with out a chance of winning. This goes regardless of the style of our opponents.

Now, all of my team mates have played TT in their youth and I'm thinking this might be the reason? Or, could it be because my team mates are all offensive players, while I'm defending more, so perhaps they are not actually closer to winning these matches, they just happen to get a couple of points more then I do, due to their style?

Bold letter hold the answer for you. Your level is determined by how you fare against a wide variety of players below/at/above your level. Losing by 5 points or 2 is still al loss against such and such player. stay focused on your results. How you fare against such and such and improve/lose more points might be an indicator of momentum over a time leading to a different level.

Bases soley on your description, your teammates you describe are around 10-11 you are around 11-12. Whatever that relates to.

[speedplay]

Some food for thoughts here, but I think it is strange that people should have more difficulties against the more conventional styles then they have against "our" style.

I'm thinking it might be that the conventional attackers take higher risks then I do, so against the lower level players, they sometime have to pay the price for these risks, which is why the don't win as big as me. Against the higher level players, they might take more risks and sometimes get rewarded for them, by getting closer to them in the scoreline, while I play a low risk game and the less skilled players makes the mistakes, giving me a big victory, while the more skilled players control their offense and wait for me to make a mistake.

Der_Echte, I wish I was better then my team mates, and the league results gives me a slight advantage, but they seem to fare better then me in Tournaments and to be fair, they probably win more against me then I win against them. How ever, this comes down to them knowing my style and have been able to adjust.


Speaking of style and level, perhaps I should take up coaching instead? We had a guy joining the club 6 months ago and back when he joined, I could white wash him 1/5 sets and he never really got close to grab a set off me. Since tthen, I've helped him as much as I could, seeing how this would benefit me as well, and now we almost play on even level against each other. I still fare better against other opponents then he does, but he have learnt how to play againstme really well. Now, before any of you thinks I'm losing to a noob This guy have played a lot of TT before, but decided to come back to the game recently. Still wonders if I helped him to much

[Der Echte]

Your results against a varied field over time will give you the answer to your $50,000 question.

If you are winning more agaisnt similar rated players than your mates, you are higher. Simple. Doesn't matter if Player X uses you to wipe the floor, you win against Player A, B, C, Y, & Z.

[speedplay]

Your results against a varied field over time will give you the answer to your $50,000 question.

If you are winning more agaisnt similar rated players than your mates, you are higher. Simple. Doesn't matter if Player X uses you to wipe the floor, you win against Player A, B, C, Y, & Z.

Fair enough, but what is it that gives them better results against better player's? I think it is something about having the basic right, which they have due to their playing experience from early ages, but that I miss since I started late.

[pingpongrob]

Fair enough, but what is it that gives them better results against better player's? I think it is something about having the basic right, which they have due to their playing experience from early ages, but that I miss since I started late.

Speedplay, the way I see it, the lower level players just dont understand spin well, thats why you beat them easier, whereas when they play them the spin is more or less even.
As you start playing a higher level player, their understanding of spin becomes better, and there is less deception - they still make mistakes. but infact they are calculated mistakes instead of guesse's.

When your team mates play the better players, again it is more or less the same spin, no deception, just good placement & consistency.
I'm sure its a little more complicated than the way I explained it, but I think you will understand.

As supachop once said to me, Frictionless pips was easy for him to play, yet I found it a total nightmare at the time. Yet against players that had inverted both side's I played like a star - my brain was so confussed at the time, I had no chance of figuring it out. I still struggle with some pimple players - yet the double inverted is generally no problems so I get close scores.