worst advice you've ever heard a profesional give....?

[brijoel]

thought this would be an interesting change of pace and even remedy a few misconceptions others might have heard....

the restrictions are.....there are none. doesnt matter if it was said specifically to you or heard a pro saying it to someone else.

the goofiest thing ive ever happened only a few days ago as i passed by a court with a private lesson in progress. the pro hit a feed that was too far out of reach for the girl to hit a clean forehand (she was damn good too, and it was his goof in hitting it too far). she reached out and sliced the ball quite cleanly crosscourt. the pro stops the drill and scolds her for slicing the ball, telling her she should NEVER slice the ball off her forehand wing.

to me that is by far the dumbest thing ive heard in a while, especially since i've done that plenty of times to switch it up and come in to net behind, and i've never had an issue with it either and usually proves to be a valuable shot for me.


preach your story to the choir here.... :roll:

[kreative]

...during a baseline rally...."you should be standing in the green" (green = no man's land)

[@wright]

Don't improve your weaker side, just work on setting up your stronger shot, because your weaker side will never be as strong.

[dozu]

there are lots of half-assed "pros" out there.... but such is life... I can't blame someone just trying to make a buck.

[Camilio Pascual]

Bill Tilden saying one should ALWAYS keep one's eye on the ball. Maybe he was misquoted and said he keeps his eyes on the balls. And maybe that wasn't about tennis!

[Bungalo Bill]

I heard someone say that when you serve you should try to "bend" your wrist and not snap it. He didnt like the term snap as he felt it misled people on it. Boy did this pro pay the price for mentioning that one! LOL :)

[Frank Silbermann]

In the mid 1970s I took a phys. ed. course in college called "Advanced Tennis." The instructer insisted that the grip to use for hitting cannonball (flat) serves was the western. I even lost points on the true/false written final for answering "false" to that. (All the books I had read recommended a grip somewhere from continental to eastern backhand for _all_ serves.)

At the time, I tried to copy Guillermo Vilas' backhand grip, which was a bit different than the Bobby Riggs / Jack Kramer backhand grip that was shown in all the textbooks (but which maybe two pros still used). The "proper" grip was to put both the index knuckle and the bony heel of the hand squarely on the top horizontal bevel. My grip had the heel a bit further back, and the index knuckle a bit further forward. When I expressed reluctance to change my grip, he snottily said, "Well, if you don't want to change it now, you can change it later when it prevents you from improving."

The guy was arrogant in his ignorance. Unfortunately, his type was replaced by teachers who refused to give any advice about grips or form ("Whatever works for you.")

It seemed to me that a teacher ought to be able to take a pupil with any acceptable grip, and improve his form within the style dictated by that grip.

[VTL]

I was watching UW play against UCLA in Seattle, and right before UCLA guy could serve, his coach started to give him technical, wordy advice... like "toss the ball higher and above the head" kind of stuff. The player then commited 2 double faults in a row. If you read "The Inner Game of Tennis" then you'd know why.

Also I'd think that would be pretty embarassing in my option if someone had to tell me how to serve in a middle of the match.. especally at the college level.

[Lambro]

the concept of "rushing the net" Stupid. Rushing in is the last thing you want to do. You will get there just take it easy

You need to establish rhythm from your serve as you come into the court say 2 steps, then do a stutter step - this will allow you to see where the return is going and make your final directional adjustment.

If you rush in you have to slow down when you hit the ball, instead of controlled accelleration through your shot. You will probably also have troublle keeping your racquet head in front of you.

[Cypo]

Lambro - you're dead on. The worst feeling is when your at the net physically, but mentally you're strewn all over the court. I never made the connection to "net rushing " before.

[kevhen]

Before I read the original post, I was going to tell the same story. I saw a high school girl hit a slice forehand when she was stretched out and her instructor scolded her for doing that. Now the instructor is a 4.5 level player with a great topspin forehand and slice backhand but scolding players for hitting forehand slice is absurd. There are plenty of defensive moments in a match where low slice is the best shot to get you back in the point instead of hitting a weak topspin shot that sets up for your opponent to putaway. I hate instructors who think everyone has to play the way they do.