BEST piece of advice?
- Thread starter Heroesque
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Cindysphinx
G.O.A.T.
"Give yourself room to hit the ball."
Mazilla2219
Rookie
"Relax, Mon"
jwbarrientos
Hall of Fame
"Look at the ball"
"Court doesn't move... so... move your feet...body... to involve them in your strokes"
"Court doesn't move... so... move your feet...body... to involve them in your strokes"
Fedace
Banned
Keep your head perfectly still. Imagine a Glass of Water on top of your head as you get in position and swing at the ball. You don't want to spill a drop of that water.
One thing i like to say is this. Most of the Pros that work in local clubs are Complete Idiots. They don't have a clue. I really think only the top level USTA teaching pros have anything worth listening to. I go nuts when i listen to local pro say something stupid like NO swinging volleys,,,,,it only works for Andre Agassi...... you are not Agassi ,,,, are you ??
One thing i like to say is this. Most of the Pros that work in local clubs are Complete Idiots. They don't have a clue. I really think only the top level USTA teaching pros have anything worth listening to. I go nuts when i listen to local pro say something stupid like NO swinging volleys,,,,,it only works for Andre Agassi...... you are not Agassi ,,,, are you ??
Fedace
Banned
Right. USTA junior development pros are one of the best teaching pros out there. They were criticized for teaching consistancy first due to the fact that is producing bunch of moonballing pushers but i agree with what they are doing. and that girl in the avatar is very hot
fruitytennis1
Professional
Ditto on both the comments. Had an older friend tell me the glass of water thing.
Fedace
Banned
Only thing i don't like about these stupid comments by ignorant pros is that there are some people that actually thinks he is right and follow the bad advice. I don't say anything cause i don't want to hurt their feelings but sometimes,,i am like Oh please........:???:
SirSweetSpot
Banned
Every single page of "The Inner Game of Tennis."
plumcrazy
Rookie
I second that!!!!!!
S
sennoc
Guest
Three advices:
Do not watch. See.
Do not run. Fly.
Have fun.
Do not watch. See.
Do not run. Fly.
Have fun.
Bungalo Bill
G.O.A.T.
Come on Fedace, I expected better from you.
This is actually good advice for players that are moving with their heads bobbing up and down too much.
This is especially useful for serve and volleyers and doubles players as they make their way to the net. The point is when a player comes to net, they need to move their feet quickly but maintain a level head so their eyes don't bounce in their sockets and they lose track of the incoming ball. In a way, they need to move like long distance runners who also use the same analogy or tip for their training.
This information came about when Sampras was playing. It was noted how level Sampras head was as he came to net and how well he made his first volley. Don't know what you are getting at here.
Not true. And Complete Idiots? That is a bit farfetched dont you think? Fedace what is up with you! You aren't gonna get a coach that has helped Agassi for $40 an hour! The point is pros should teach to their level of knowledge. Depending on a new coaches background and experience, they should work with beginners and kids until their knowledge and experience grows. Most pros are knowledgable about tennis and basic fundamentals. Perhaps a few make it bad for the many (like anything else).
This is not true also. Everyone has something worth listening to if you are open to learn. Maybe a lot of it you already know.
And swinging volleys aren't good to do if a player hasn't mastered other fundamentals. I am not against a player learning how to perform a swinging volley, but if their footwork is off and it is more important to work on other things, I would say the same thing.
Based on your take above, I am not sure you took the Agassi comments in proper context. Maybe you did and maybe you didn't. If you did, I would agree with you that what was said was more insulting than helpful.
The important thing to realize is people aren't perfect. We only need to look at ourselves to understand that. Further, if you are so good at critiquing, why don't you sign up and let's see what you can do.
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I agree with Fedace a large percentage of teaching pros are worthless! Ha! That's just been my experience though and i haven't been all over the country, just about half the country. I think you really have to search to find a good one in your area and it isn't always the guy who's charging the most.
Bungalo Bill
G.O.A.T.
So you perpetuate a lie. You just disqualified your position by saying you haven't been around the entire country. And worse, I know you are far from coming remotely close to taking lessons from half the USPTA pros or PTR pros out there, can we also say your information is farfetched? I think so.
Since you folks know so much, where are you? Why aren't you out there? If it is that bad, and you are so knowledgable in critiquing coaches and the sport of tennis, where are you?
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Rambler124
Rookie
From Tennessee I see. I'm originally from that area. I know several pros in that area who are MORE than worth what they charge. I'd put any out of money on the guys I know in the Knoxville area who know how to teach and have the experience to back it up. Memphis area I know little about and the Nashville area I'm sure has its fair share of solid pros. You guys are friggin brutal. These broad generalizations made by you and Fedace are just hogwash.
This is not how they teach hitting a forehand anymore... but it is how I learned to play.
This wasn't actually tennis advice, but it helped me with my tennis game quite a bit.
When I was playing doubles in badminton with a friend, he hit some really amazing shots, and I was completely astounded. When I asked him how he did that stuff, he just replied "Just hit the ball..."
No advice can improve every aspect of your game, but this piece of advice has helped me stay loose and concentrated whenever I play either badminton or tennis. The game is after all quite simple: hit the ball over the net inside the lines one more time than the opponent and you win!
When I was playing doubles in badminton with a friend, he hit some really amazing shots, and I was completely astounded. When I asked him how he did that stuff, he just replied "Just hit the ball..."
No advice can improve every aspect of your game, but this piece of advice has helped me stay loose and concentrated whenever I play either badminton or tennis. The game is after all quite simple: hit the ball over the net inside the lines one more time than the opponent and you win!
mawashi
Hall of Fame
BB you sure you're taking to the same person? Fedace n logic is an oxymoron :lol:!
"Play every point like it's match point"!
mawashi
Mhmm, that's what my coach says too
"If your opponent can hit three, you just have to hit four"
ilikephobo
Semi-Pro
"keep playing"
Bungalo Bill
G.O.A.T.
sruckauf
Professional
I'm higher than 3.5 now, but best piece of advice I was given when I was playing 3.5 leagues:
"Every point, hit 3 medium paced, conservatively placed balls before going for any winners or getting aggressive. Most people at this level can't carry on point that long point after point, so you'll beat 75% of 3.5 players by just playing a consistent rally game."
And he was right.
"Every point, hit 3 medium paced, conservatively placed balls before going for any winners or getting aggressive. Most people at this level can't carry on point that long point after point, so you'll beat 75% of 3.5 players by just playing a consistent rally game."
And he was right.
You are right i don't take lessons or advice from people who don't know what they are talking about. Ha Ha. Plus you don't have to take from somebody to know they are worthless, you can just look at their students, talk to their students, or even just hang around and listen while they are teaching. Fact is there are more crappy instructors then there are good ones. Ha And i'm not one of those people who think you have to be an exceptional player to be a good instructor either. Many times the best instructors aren't such great players.
Mick
Legend
this is probably why a lot of 3.5 players fear the pushers, they can get everything back for a long time !
Roy125
Professional
You actually gave up on tennis at a point?
sruckauf
Professional
this is probably why a lot of 3.5 players fear the pushers, they can get everything back for a long time !
So true! Pushers and junkballers are challenging at that level, because the balls they give you have no pace which trips up a lot of people. They haven't mastered how to best use their feet and legs to consistently and safely put those kinds of balls away.
darthpwner
Banned
Shuttlecock
darthpwner
Banned
Get one break of serve per set, or if it gets into the tiebreaker, get one more minibreak than your opponent. Works best for huge servers with no other game.
off topic but how does a new player know whether or not a club pro is a complete idiot or not? By being new to tennis, one can easily be dazzled with b.s. Are there things to look for or certain questions to ask?
Bungalo Bill
G.O.A.T.
Dont get suckered into this kind of thinking. You will be second guessing yourself from this day forward. It is obvious Fedace is a bit tainted so I would just take it with a grain of salt.
The truth is, you can learn from a lot of people. When you reach a plateau you can then move forward. The best way to know is to know what your goals are and the timeframe to do it in.
If you have reached your goals with someone then it is perhaps time to reset new goals or move on.
If you are new to tennis, then you really just need a coach that teaches fundamentals and there are plenty of them that know how to do that.
Also, not every coach is right for you. Some communicate differently and you need to find the coach that you best connect with. When you become an advanced player, then it is time to really think about your coach.
There are a lot of good coaches out there that will provide you with plenty of good advice and instruction.
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Find one that does more than just tell you to move your feet.
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