I Lost Again!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[cshokraii]

I lost again today in my first consolation match in a 4.0 level tournament!!! The match lasted 2hrs but the score was only 3-6 3-6! Nothing went right, no stroke, absolutely nothing. I was so tired I could barely focus on the ball or the score. I feel like the biggest loser in the world. I thought I would just come out and wipe everyone off the court even though I haven't been playing competatively in a while. I used to play college tennis at a div 1 school for heavens sake. I don't know how much more loses I can take at this level. I could never bring myself to play 3.5!! I'd rather quit tennis forever than ever stoop to that. In '95 I was playing and winning at 5.0!!! Someone give me some advice here, where and how do I get my game back?? Where do I start????

[jimiforpres]

Just try to have fun when you are playing instead of worrying so much about how well you are playing. You used to play college so you obviously have enough potential. Try scheduling some easy matches to get your confidence back.

[zhan]

lets startt from step 1...
how to hit a forehand...
turn the shoulder
jk

[ZPTennis]

If you were at one time a 5.0, then you would know how to get your game back. Thats the truth. :)

But to answer your question, it seems like you need to build up your confidence. Play some 3.5's and beat them. I know you think they are only 3.5, but right now winning is what you need.

[cshokraii]

If you were at one time a 5.0, then you would know how to get your game back. Thats the truth. :)

But to answer your question, it seems like you need to build up your confidence. Play some 3.5's and beat them. I know you think they are only 3.5, but right now winning is what you need.


I am in unchartered waters. When I was 5.0 I was 165 lbs, i'm now much bigger at 220 lbs. My strokes are there, my legs are strong, I may not be as quick but I am not that out of shape. I am just trying to figure out what to do mentally or mechanically to fix my problem. I am playing scared and defensive on crucial point. When I try to play aggressive I either miss hit the ball or shank it to the net. This never used to happen, myabe its all footwork who knows. All I know is that it sucks to be me right now

[MTChong]

The difference between a 3.5 and a 5.0 isn't just mental; something sounds off here.

Really though, just give it time; you can't expect to just come back after a layoff and be just as good. That's unrealistic

[Roforot]

[QUOTE=cshokraii...The match lasted 2hrs but the score was only 3-6 3-6! Nothing went right, no stroke, absolutely nothing. I was so tired I could barely focus on the ball or the score. [/QUOTE]


Where do you start? With endurance and fitness training? You shouldn't get tired after just 2 sets. If you'd won, I imagine you'd have another match later that day!
It may not be just playing more tennis, you may need to address your weight, diet, and add biking/swimming. Personally would avoid running/jogging to save your joints. Look at the fitness section of talk tennis.
With your skills and experience, you're right in that you should expect to dominate a 4.0 tournament.

[Trinity TC]

I thought I would just come out and wipe everyone off the court even though I haven't been playing competatively in a while.
Big mistake. You underestimated your opponents. Those 4.0s may not have the hardest serves or the best looking strokes but they know how to grind and when that doesn't work...they grind harder. They grind when they're behind...they grind when they're ahead. They aren't going to rollover on you just because you used to play Div 1. You're in their ballpark AND playing their game the first time you push your ground strokes.

You wanna beat them? You can't let your ego get in the way of crushing these 4.0s. You're in trouble the first time you think to yourself, "I'm better than them." Your ego will mess up your confidence the first time you make an error. ("...hey, I should be wiping the court with them!")

How many balls did you take on the rise? The way to beat these guys is to move in a couple of feet and take your groundies on the rise. It will give some pace to work with and the timing will be much more in your comfort zone. They sure as heck aren't going to give you any pace to work with. Let the ball drop and your in trouble because these guys hit the ball much softer than you're used to so you won't be able to feel the ball on your racquet. Sound familiar? Catch it on the rise and the ball have some weight on your racquet.

Practice for two days with a 5.5 player and get your rhythm back. Get them to feed you some floaty, soft mid court shots at the end of practice and work on getting back the feel on hitting the ball on the rise. These 4.0 guys are tough if you don't punish the medium pace stuff that they throw at you...and you will end up really hating yourself.;)

[Slice Approach]

I think you are expecting too much from yourself too soon. I would concentrate first on fitness. You are carrying 55 more pounds than you were when you played 5.0. It is alot harder to get in proper position to hit the ball, including the shuffle steps, if you are heavier. The mechanics of your strokes may be good but if you aren't in position then it really doesn't matter.

Don't quit. If you really want to get back to playing high level tennis you can do it. In the end it may be more rewarding because you had to work for it.

[cshokraii]

I can actually say that in the past I used to have so much more variety and game. When I played in the 5.0 level it was in the mid 90's in southwest VA!! Maybe the competition wasnt' what it is here now in 2006?? I can actually say that because the guys I used to beat were not that much better than the guys I played this past weekend at 4.0!! I feel that if I can get some more matches in me and get my fitness back I can gain enough confidence to beat people again. I have to start from scratch

[ZPTennis]

Well in Florida, I can definitely say that a 5.0 level from 5 years ago is now the same as a 4.5 level now.

[Roforot]

I think you are expecting too much from yourself too soon. I would concentrate first on fitness. You are carrying 55 more pounds than you were when you played 5.0. It is alot harder to get in proper position to hit the ball, including the shuffle steps, if you are heavier. The mechanics of your strokes may be good but if you aren't in position then it really doesn't matter.

Don't quit. If you really want to get back to playing high level tennis you can do it. In the end it may be more rewarding because you had to work for it.

Good observation, I missed the 55 lb. weight gain... Is tennis intended to help w/ the weight loss? In that case, have to focus on having fun and not worry whether you're a 4.0 or 3.5 division.

[Trinity TC]

I can actually say that in the past I used to have so much more variety and game. When I played in the 5.0 level it was in the mid 90's in southwest VA!! Maybe the competition wasnt' what it is here now in 2006?? I can actually say that because the guys I used to beat were not that much better than the guys I played this past weekend at 4.0!! I feel that if I can get some more matches in me and get my fitness back I can gain enough confidence to beat people again. I have to start from scratch
Great...you're not quitting! You're not starting from scratch. Be patient and your old game will click in ALL AT ONCE. These losses are motivation for the future. Don't forget...you were only a couple of set points from probably making it through a couple of rounds in that tournament! As a bonus...you will probably drop some of that excess poundage by the end of the season!8-)

[cshokraii]

I think I lost about 5 lbs after just playing 2 matches!! Anyways, i'm going to do some anarobic excercises to help me with sprinting. I'm good at aerobic exercise, i have run a 1/2 marathon and a triathlon before but it's totally different than sprinting around a tennis court in 95 degree heat.

[cshokraii]

since I started playing again off and on in 2000, I can honestly say that I have had a losing record in matches. Not one of those players would I consider better than me skill wise. If I played and practiced with them on a team for about 6 weeks I would be their #1 or 2 player. I think this past weekend got to me for a couple reasons. First, I hadn't played or practiced on clay in 5 years. It's so much different than being on a hard court. My nerves were very evident the first match and I never was able to get comfortable serving or returning serve. The second match was 100% conditioning. I felt like I was in slow motion and couldn't get out of my own way. In the end i'm not as devastated as I was a couple days ago. I am the type of person who likes to beat the guys that beat me so i'm going to train, lose about 15 more lbs and hit it again and hopefully i'll play these guys again. Next time it will be a different ending!

[Trinity TC]

First, I hadn't played or practiced on clay in 5 years. It's so much different than being on a hard court...
Ahhh...that explains everything. One day you''ll be able to look back at that tournament...and chuckle.:)

[iplaythementalgame]

If you want to try a different way to play that will make the game more fun for you and just maybe help you play better, go to my web site http://www.maxtennis.com. If you like what you see there and think that this is direction you want to go, then get my book Tennis: Play the Mental Game that is found there. The concepts in this book work.