Players who need subs for their weekly matches have been instructed to find their own replacements. That’s fair… and the method for doing so is pretty simple:
HOW TO FIND A SUB:
1. Take a look at the matches for the night that you are playing and send out an email to anyone within 20 ranking spots (up or down) from yourself, who’s also playiing that same night. They’re most likely to take the match since they are already there.
2. If that doesn’t produce results, THEN you locate anyone who is within 20 spots of yourself and email them. (That’s 40 guys)
3. And if that doesn’t work, THEN AND ONLY THEN you ask the entire TCC list. — (i.e. the Duke Rules).
WHY WON’T PEOPLE SUB FOR ME?
1. They have a life outside of paddle…. unlikely.
2. They are ranked far below your match and don’t think they can rise to the challenge… never happens.
3. They are ranked far ahead of you and think your match sucks.
A word of wisdom from a 20’s ranked player:
Every guy in the club wants to be better. If you are a stud, everyone wants to play against you. It improves THEIR game.
And when you’re the stud, playing in a match where you are expected to win (with any player) makes you a better A-player. This improves YOUR game… or can’t you carry a match?
Lastly, if you’re a lower ranked player, get in as many matches against stronger players as you can. You will be forced to improve. You’ll learn quickly which shots of yours don’t hold up and what parts of your game are actually pretty good. Your ranking may take a hit for awhile, but trust me, it will eventually rise much higher than you expect.
NOTE: And if you’re 3-time TCC Champion David Brock, never serve him green eggs and ham — try placing it to his body so that he can’t drive return.
My defense, ranked in order
1. I was at the club march 3, 4, 5, 9, 10, 11, 13
2. I will be at the club march 18, 19, 21, 27.
3. Did play or will play 2-3 matches many of these days
4. I’m fucking exhausted, and ready for golf season
5. I’m ranked 25 spots ahead of you, thus you broke protocol per above. (but in the next match, so I get it)
6. I’m ranked 31 spots ahead of the lowest ranked player on the court
7. I have 3 kids 4 or younger and bed time is 8pm
8. I just wanted to write a rhyme
9. Maybe your match stinks, maybe I have 8 other reasons for not playing.
Note per your note: There’s literally nowhere you can put a serve so that I won’t be able to drive it. So, if I am driving it (I won’t be)… Just make your serve, stay back, and fight for the net from there. Hit good deep lobs over my backhand when I’m in the ad court, over my partner when I’m in the deuce. This moves my partner off the net or puts me off balance if I take a backhand overhead (I shouldn’t but eventually will), providing a drive opportunity for you if we hit a weak overhead. The lob over my backhand in the deuce also can create confusion between my partner and I, potentially putting us both out of position, at which point you can attack a weak overhead.
You can try a paltry backhand drive after I’ve served it into your body from the ad side, but hitting decisively into the net wins you nothing. The word on you is that you, is that they wait to make you mad so that you lose your cool and start forcing everything. I cannot argue with your three Club Championships and recent Fall Classic victory… but the point of the article was to entice our best players to get in matches with the rest of us heathens because it makes us ALL better. #UniteAmericabyPlayingPaddle
Oh, and as far as the kids go, try having four… then pop off.