Best of 3 sets (video)

[E46luver]

His goals are to win tennis matches.
His goals are to not let moonball serve tosser to beat him, and hold his frying pan serve so easily

Returning a weak serve by bash it long does not win.
The greatest strokes in the world will not overcome poor tactics, shot selection, and positioning

It is easier to teach a tactically 4.0 smart but ugly junker/pusher how to clean up his strokes,
but very hard to teach a 3.5 "stroke demonstrator" how to play smart tennis, and win tactically.
Most are lost causes who insist their silver bullet lies in some arcane tennis stroke technicality.
Yet, refuse to hit a rally ball or hit a slice, for example, since highlight reels do not show these shots.
"Fake" tennis is winning tennis.

Max topspin is the most overrated goal for adult learners.

 

[J011yroger]

His goals are to win tennis matches.
His goals are to not let moonball serve tosser to beat him, and hold his frying pan serve so easily

Are they though? Have you asked him?

J

 

[E46luver]

Yes, we have had private chats
Pretty strokes vs. He is interested in having a stable game that wins more points.

Here are some quotes:

Well done! Yeah watched point by point. You're playing much more solid and mature tennis now. Very good job.
Great shot tolerance, you’ve developed the skill of being patient. Smart play, knowing and feeling when to attack, very good defence.
Your friend makes a lot silly errors like me. He should ask himself the question: why did I lose?
What I saw is that he can't hit slower loopier rally balls like you do. Always wants to hit big and misses so many long, wide or into net, very unnecessary errors.

These are the words of a man who wants to focus on smart tennis with the tools he already has.
Not someone looking to change his wrist flexion angle by 2.7 degrees NorthWest

 

[J011yroger]

Yes, we have had private chats
Pretty strokes vs. He is interested in having a stable game that wins more points.

Here are some quotes:


These are the words of a man who wants to focus on smart tennis with the tools he already has.
Not someone looking to change his wrist flexion angle by 2.7 degrees NorthWest

Ah, good.

I don't know why he was asking me about his forehand then.

Confused Jolly is done.

J

 

[E46luver]

As his highly qualified 3.0 internet coach, I need to keep him on track, and sticking to my master plan.
I will have a talk with him.
As his coach, I have failed since the #1 role of a coach is to keep the student on track, big picture discipline, and eliminate shiny short-term distractions.
This is the entire purpose of IMG, in fact.

 

[J011yroger]

As his highly qualified 3.0 internet coach, I need to keep him on track, and sticking to my master plan.
I will have a talk with him.
As his coach, I have failed since the #1 role of a coach is to keep the student on track, big picture discipline, and eliminate shiny short-term distractions.
This is the entire purpose of IMG, in fact.

Are you officially a 4.0 now?

J

 

[tonylg]

Funny, all I've EVER seen the OP ask about is technique. Do I take my racquet back too far? Look at my new backhand. Does my forehand look like Roger?

If you've projected your goals onto him and made him believe he needs to become the best junk baller he can be, all good. You're obviously the right man for the job.

 

[Curious]

Funny, all I've EVER seen the OP ask about is technique. Do I take my racquet back too far? Look at my new backhand. Does my forehand look like Roger?

If you've projected your goals onto him and made him believe he needs to become the best junk baller he can be, all good. You're obviously the right man for the job.

It’s my hobby and part of my personality to think about details. But my ultimate goal is to get better and better at tennis. I enjoy the process with all the ups and downs.
I also realise this TTW stuff is mostly a waste of time. I’ll try to focus more on action than talk from now on.

 

[tonylg]

But my ultimate goal is to get better and better at tennis.

You said Mr Hightoss was beating you easily .. and now he's not.

How did you achieve that?

 

[Curious]

You said Mr Hightoss was beating you easily .. and now he's not.

How did you achieve that?

I explained few times before. By changing mentality.
Aggressiveness mostly comes from insecurity. Trying to hit big mindlessly may be because you don’t trust your shots, you try to cause damage before being damaged, you want to finish it as quickly as possible. You don’t have the patience.
There was no neutral shot in my vocabulary. Either attack or push, out of fear. I managed to change that, to a degree at least. And the results came immediately.
So the biggest breakthrough in my tennis was the achievement of the biggest skill: being able to read the meaning of each ball ie “is this a ball for me to attack, stay neutral or defend?” That’s about it.

 

[tonylg]

I explained few times before. By changing mentality.
Aggressiveness mostly comes from insecurity. Trying to hit big mindlessly may be because you don’t trust your shots, you try to cause damage before being damaged, you want to finish it as quickly as possible. You don’t have the patience.
There was no neutral shot in my vocabulary. Either attack or push, out of fear. I managed to change that, to a degree at least. And the results came immediately.
So the biggest breakthrough in my tennis was the achievement of the biggest skill: being able to read the meaning of each ball ie “is this a ball for me to attack, stay neutral or defend?” That’s about it.

My man, you overthink everything. Tennis is great because it's complex. Strategy matters, fitness matters, speed matters, patience matters, aggression matters .. but if you think being able to produce good strokes doesn't matter, you'll always be scrapping to the best sh1t player you can.

Get out there and work on everything. That's the actual beauty of the sport.

 

[Curious]

but if you think being able to produce good strokes doesn't matter,

You’re saying this to me??

 

[tonylg]

You’re saying this to me??

Nah, I'm just talking to myself.

Have a good day.

 

[Curious]

Nah, I'm just talking to myself.

Have a good day.

Yup. You, too.

 

[E46luver]

I explained few times before. By changing mentality.
Aggressiveness mostly comes from insecurity. Trying to hit big mindlessly may be because you don’t trust your shots, you try to cause damage before being damaged, you want to finish it as quickly as possible. You don’t have the patience.
There was no neutral shot in my vocabulary. Either attack or push, out of fear. I managed to change that, to a degree at least. And the results came immediately.
So the biggest breakthrough in my tennis was the achievement of the biggest skill: being able to read the meaning of each ball ie “is this a ball for me to attack, stay neutral or defend?” That’s about it.

This is a huge step forward.
Shot selection pushed you forward, not stroke refinement.

You have redefined what it means to be a better player.
Very mature thinking and very few get past it and remain in "3.5 hell"
3.0 thinks hitting harder = better player.
4.0 knows that shot tolerance = better player.

Here is another tip for insecurity.
2 years ago, I hit everything as hard as I could.
All my 3.0 and 3.5 peers worshiped at the altar of ATP powwwaaa !
If you hit softly, you would get no respect, and not invited to play.

Then I played USTA 4.0 and why 4.0 crushes 3.5 by reducing errors and playing within your reliable ability.
Now, I hit lots of shots softly, lots of defense, slices, lobs.
No one can call me a pusher since I also pound the ball when its apppropriate.
Once you show power, you can hit 90% of fluff, and no one can call you a pusher.
Pusher who can crush, but shows restraint = smart player
Crush every ball = laughing stock

 

[Curious]

This is a huge step forward.
Shot selection pushed you forward, not stroke refinement.

You have redefined what it means to be a better player.
Very mature thinking and very few get past it and remain in "3.5 hell"
3.0 thinks hitting harder = better player.
4.0 knows that shot tolerance is king.

Here is another tip for insecurity.
2 years ago, I hit everything as hard as I could.
All my 3.0 and 3.5 peers worshiped at the altar of ATP powwwaaa !
If you hit softly, you would get no respect, and not invited to play.

Then I played USTA 4.0 and why 4.0 crushes 3.5 by reducing errors and playing within your reliable ability.
Now, I hit lots of shots softly, lots of defense, slices, lobs.
No one can call me a pusher since I also pound the ball when its apppropriate.
Once you show power, you can hit 90% of fluff, and no one can call you a pusher.
Pusher who can crush, but shows restraint = smart player
Crush every ball = laughing stock

Words of wisdom.

 

[ptuanminh]

I agree that shot selection plays important role. But saying that working on shots doesn't improve your playing ability is totally wrong. I spent 90% of my tennis time working on shots and I improve a lot.

 

[Curious]

I agree that shot selection plays important role. But saying that working on shots doesn't improve your playing ability is totally wrong. I spent 90% of my tennis time working on shots and I improve a lot.

Sure, you need to be able to hit the ball well. The interesting thing though is that it’s not that hard to do once you get over the obsession of hitting big!

 

[ptuanminh]

Sure, you need to be able to hit the ball well. The interesting thing though is that it’s not that hard to do once you get over the obsession of hitting big!

I think everyone's development is different. i train with this college kid, he hits really hard with consistency but not enough in pressure situations. Once he learns to put to put topspin on, i can't beat him.
If we don't have a good coach, we gotta find our way. Though, looks like you've got a coach already .

 

[E46luver]

Curious already has better strokes than you.

 

[ptuanminh]

Curious already has better strokes than you.

Then his strokes must be better than yours for sure. because mine is better than yours.

 

[StringSnapper]

Then his strokes must be better than yours for sure. because mine is better than yours.

Do you hit a slice forehand and 2hbh?

 

[ptuanminh]

Do you hit a slice forehand and 2hbh?

2hbh, yes. slice forehand, not my thing. Why?

 

[pencilcheck]

Asking the right question at the right stage help improve oneself tremendously

 

[E46luver]

@ptuanminh
You are a 4.0 and I deeply respect your work ethic and achievements in tennis.
Can you tell us how you developed your backhand?

 

[ptuanminh]

Thanks i guess. Its nothing high level. I dont have coaching so i don't want to say the wrong thing.
But, something coaches will probably agree with me is: move fast and get low.

 

[heninfan99]

The world needs all kinds of different people, as long as they aren't bothering me, or hurting anyone they can do whatever they want as far as I am concerned.

Generally I find that people who try to convince you that their way is best (be it a thing, a technique, a methodology, whatever) are the most insecure.

J

Jolly goes full libertarian, will he run for office?

 

[J011yroger]

Jolly goes full libertarian, will he run for office?

J