Cheats never prosper ! ..........Or do they ?

[Leeston]

Hi Peeps,
It would be very interesting / mildly amusing to record all the "tricks" players have adopted to try and gain the advantage whilst at the same time stretching the rules of the game :

Here's a few to get started :

1. Serving off the hand
2. The need to re-tie up a shoe lace right at the most critical point.
3. Trying to intimidate the opponent over the "luck" you have and getting very verbal.
4. Buying long pimpled rubbers to compensate for lack of abilty.
5. Moaning about your serve cos its so good they can't handle it ( Meaning they are obviosuly in the wrong division )

What have you come across ?

[DaveR]

Time out ........... pretty barmy on its own but hey its used for various naff reasons

Over egging.......as in to friendly to the point of patronizing with a smirk

Releasing the ball out of your hand on serve late..........oops thats me !

[SammyBoy]

Cramp and totally disrupting the flow has happened to myself.

This was later admitted !

[Blocking Ace]

Although more lying than cheating, many 'players' wheel out the old line "I haven't played for [insert any time period between 3 weeks and 40years]".
:pray:
I have a fairly good memory, and have been known to expose their subterfuge when possible.

[Anth Barella]

well i occasionally tie my lace at certain times (if it is a tightish match) but from that i generally keep quiet and concetrate on my game rather than trying to put off the other guys game. i know people who do this and i am not going to name names but for them now it raley works.

[DaveR]

Nice one BA .............................did i mention i hadnt played for ermmmmmmmmmmmm 20 minutes !

[Kev]

Hmm, good topic. I have known people who have made no noise whatsoever whilst serving to suddenly develop a very loud stamp when the match got to 9 all in the fifth.

I think the strangest one happened to me about a month ago at a tournament though. The match got to about 7-5 in the final end and we both went to towel down. I looked up from my towel and my opponent was just staring at me. I was thinking 'this is a bit odd' when he suddenly shouts at me; 'Have you got the bottle? Have you got the bottle?' I realise now that my answer should have been yes as I ended up winning 12-10 but at the time I didn't know how to react so I called a timeout and had a good swear loudly about him to my team meates. It really got to me and I'm still not sure how I won the match tbh. I'm not very good at all of this mind games stuff.

[Mrs Nickerbater]

I don't play mind games, but get some satisfaction when my opponents resort to them, it usually means they've run out of ideas :)

Have come across these over the years...

Sweating the ball before serving.

Changing bats mid game [ had some guy change his spinny glued up rubbers for a combination bat with LP's] - claiming his bat was broken [apparently the same bat was broken the week before when he played a mate of mine ;) ].

Claiming edges that don't exist [just to wind you up].

Checking the scores just after you've thrown the ball up for a serve.

Holding a conversation with his mates after each point!!

Never looking like hes ready to receive serve , so you dont know when to start!!!!!

[MickM]

I don't play mind games, but get some satisfaction when my opponents resort to them, it usually means they've run out of ideas :)

Have come across these over the years...

Sweating the ball before serving.

Changing bats mid game [ had some guy change his spinny glued up rubbers for a combination bat with LP's] - claiming his bat was broken [apparently the same bat was broken the week before when he played a mate of mine ;) ].

Claiming edges that don't exist [just to wind you up].

Checking the scores just after you've thrown the ball up for a serve.

Holding a conversation with his mates after each point!!

Never looking like hes ready to receive serve , so you dont know when to start!!!!!

Thats so common checking scores just before you serve, plus the never looking ready to recieve serve i agree is downright annoying aswell as cheating.

[Anth Barella]

well i dont class that as cheating, but i class it as tactics and unspoting tactics at that

[Anth Barella]

unsporting sorry

[SteveJ]

Mind games is all the rage nowadays, seems its an acceptable part of the sport.

[Craig]

Hmm, good topic. I have known people who have made no noise whatsoever whilst serving to suddenly develop a very loud stamp when the match got to 9 all in the fifth.

I once saw a doubles match where one of the players didn't seem to have the co-ordination to stamp and serve. His partner did the stamping for him. Hilarious.

[Spongebob!]

...Roppa - you invented most of these.... no the wonder you started the thread!!!

Spongemonster!!!

[DaveR]

Me ...........ive never ever cheated in anything but a sporting way.

[Blocking Ace]

Pleased you beat that ignorant swine. Go on Kevin, name names.
And, to quote 1970s tv programmes, 'I am compiling a list'.
In fact, the huge mental list i have compiled is frightening, considering that it mainly consists of Northumberland and Sunderland league players. They moan and cheat even when 'just' practicing. Unfortunately, i realise that it's the same most places around the country. Cheating, lying, mentally-retarded, bull*****ers.
:pray:
Calm, calm. I'm calm.
Bang goes my ambassadorial role for the sport.

[Tinykin]

These are gamesmanship tactics rather than cheating:

1. Before the match your opponent says in a most sympathetic manner, "That bad shoulder of yours is still acting up, eh"

2. Notice that Neubaur users always say after you've played and won a shot " Great shot" or "I can see I'm your target practice tonight". All to ensure that you keep on trying those shots which is what he wants you to do.

3. Favourite saying is "Unlucky!" when you've just missed usually because he has disguised a shot or serve. This encourages you to think that you're having one those "unlucky" nights rather than misreading the ball.

[DaveR]

Number 2 is deffinitely my Fav.............he does it without fail

Number three i have to say im a culprit i do say unlucky or your playing well after i beat the person concerned, its good for moral...................unfortunately not theirs !

[Anth Barella]

Hmm, good topic. I have known people who have made no noise whatsoever whilst serving to suddenly develop a very loud stamp when the match got to 9 all in the fifth.

I think the strangest one happened to me about a month ago at a tournament though. The match got to about 7-5 in the final end and we both went to towel down. I looked up from my towel and my opponent was just staring at me. I was thinking 'this is a bit odd' when he suddenly shouts at me; 'Have you got the bottle? Have you got the bottle?' I realise now that my answer should have been yes as I ended up winning 12-10 but at the time I didn't know how to react so I called a timeout and had a good swear loudly about him to my team meates. It really got to me and I'm still not sure how I won the match tbh. I'm not very good at all of this mind games stuff.


yeah i remember that, he was really being a "tosser" and earned the nickname John the-nob-avolta (becasue he looked like him), you did well there kev and at least you will know what to do the next time.

[DaveR]

Have you got the bottle Kev !

Tell him straight........................your a northern fellow and courtesy is our middle name !

[Anth Barella]

it was rather amusing to listen to kevin just ripping this man to bits, i was nearly on the floor laughing but i had to try and calm him down to win the match

[Kev]

it was rather amusing to listen to kevin just ripping this man to bits, i was nearly on the floor laughing but i had to try and calm him down to win the match

Yes I think its fair to say that I didn't react with my usual grace and professionalism. I did help me to calm down a bit though!

Pleased you beat that ignorant swine. Go on Kevin, name names.
And, to quote 1970s tv programmes, 'I am compiling a list'.
In fact, the huge mental list i have compiled is frightening, considering that it mainly consists of Northumberland and Sunderland league players. They moan and cheat even when 'just' practicing.

I don't think I should name him, I've calmed down by this stage (a couple of months after the event) and regained my sensible head. At the time I wanted the whole world to know how much I hated him!:taz: As for this list of Sunderland and Northumberland players...

[Kev]

Darn it that should read 'IT did help me to calm down a bit though!'

[DaveR]

The thing we must always do is not get drawn into feeling hatred towards someone who is maybe just playing a few mind games, by that i mean no nastiness involved whatsoever, wwhen the line is crossed then so be it.

The sport as every other sport would be in a sorry state if we didnt have characters within it to make things interesting, it simply would not do if everyone was laid back with nothing to say at all...............or would it ?



Ps i await the list !

[Anth Barella]

yeah me too

[DaveR]

Ive heard your on it !

lol

[Blocking Ace]

No, he's not on it. But, the computer scrolling device might be sent into meltdown by its length.
:pray:

[MickM]

This means one of two things, either Kev is very well liked or just doesnt like the Northumberland and Sunderland players lol

[Kev]

Kev is very well liked

I think this is the message we should take away from this discussion!

[SammyBoy]

I think you better not print the list on site lol

Although would be interesting!

[DaveR]

I think he should deffinitely put this list on the site.................ill view it first to see where i am ! heheheh

[Spongebob!]

You'll be number one jevige..!!!

[DaveR]

Thats whats worrying me, although i can think of a few that could beat me into the number one slot ..........................my list is being compiled also

..............................

[MickM]

I knew a guy who had a book of names with a tactic against the name of the particular player, nowadays he uses a little pocket PC times are changing but the basics remain the same, a win is a win.

[Anth Barella]

I can see dave being top like and me not that far behind lol, infact i wud like to see a lot of peoples as a bit of fun and not take anything personally. I might even have a list
But youll never find out lol Soon

[Highside]

Well this is getting interesting, lists of players who we maybe dislike playing could be a better term then less likely to cause any bad feeling, after all we all have players that are not suited to our certain styles?

[Powerhouse]

Hi Peeps,
It would be very interesting / mildly amusing to record all the "tricks" players have adopted to try and gain the advantage whilst at the same time stretching the rules of the game :

Here's a few to get started :

1. Serving off the hand
2. The need to re-tie up a shoe lace right at the most critical point.
3. Trying to intimidate the opponent over the "luck" you have and getting very verbal.
4. Buying long pimpled rubbers to compensate for lack of abilty.
5. Moaning about your serve cos its so good they can't handle it ( Meaning they are obviosuly in the wrong division )

What have you come across ?

Back to topic,

I take a major dislike to anyone who keeps reinforcing the fact they havnt played for a while.

The second would be the players who constantly mention the word sorry for no apparent reason.

My final would be the players who consistantly turn up late or do not support team members in the current match they are playing in, or even watching if they happen to be part of the team.

[Mr Wilko]

kicking ball to barriers or tucking laces into shoes or if really close call time out when they are about to serve just to get them thinking a bit more!!!! its not just a physical game but also a mental one !!! haha

[Powerhouse]

Its a mental one where some are concerned, i play in the West of the UK and we have some godd barrier kickers here too............some reach the 6 foot mark !