What to do... 10-0
Discussion
Tevia Sapire Asked 15 years ago
Hi pingskills
I recently played a very easy match in the mixed doubles senior inter regionals. In the final game we were up 10-0 and 2-0 in games. I was recieving serve. The serves were quite high and had very little spin so if I wanted to, I could kill the ball anywhere on the table, especially since they had to serve to my forehand.
My partner asked if we should give them 1 point just to be nice and not make them feel bad by losing 11-0 or not stuff about and take the match immediately.
What would you guys do in this situation. In my family there are a lot of VERY competitive sportsmen and they would definately not give them that point.
In the end i decided i would let the luck of the draw handle it(kind of)... so i hit the serve as hard as possible with no spin and if it went in then sorry for them but if it went out then they can have the point. I did sort of not aim for the table just to make sure it looks like I tried to get it in. Anyway I missed and then hit a winner off the serve at 10-1. The croud cheered for them when I missed because it was sort of a miracle.
Alois Rosario Answered 15 years ago
Hi Tevia,
This is an interesting one. I think it always depends on the situation.
If it is a social match then it is probably good to give them a point.
If it is a competitive match against a reasonable level player they may take it as being patronising to be given a point. Personally I would want my opponent to try their best and beat me 11 - 0 if they could.
I think you had a good solution.
Thoughts on this question (4)
Become a free member to post a comment about this question.
Douglas Hill Posted 15 years ago
In a senior mixed doubles competition I would have started adjusting my game well before 11-0/2-0. Usually, in my experience, a score this lopsided happens because one or both of the partners can't handle heavy spin on the serve, so I start giving predictable spin on serves to that opponent. It gets the ball into play, so we can feel we're playing points, not just harvesting points. I do vary the placement. I serve with focused attention, not with a casual condescension. Once the ball is in play, I play hard. Of course, if my partner wasn't OK with this I wouldn't do it.
I'm not a top player, nor ever will be, so I may not be a good model. As I was growing up, my family emphasized competition within a framework of sportsmanship.
Ji-Soo Woo Posted 15 years ago
I agree with Alois.
Even if I were playing Timo Boll and was down 0-11, 0-11 and 0-10 in the final set, I'd want him to finish me off to the best of his ability.
I hate division 1 players who play "nice" with you. When they start playing in a condenscending manner, it makes it hard for you to play your best too.
Anyway, you learn more from your losses, and if you really lose that badly, you've probably got a LOT of lessons to take away!
Douglas Hill Posted 15 years ago
Jean Balthazar Posted 9 years ago
This was a "Pingskillers Question Of The Day" in one of the shows : https://www.pingskills.com/table-tennis-blog/ask-the-coach-show-30-shattering-balls