If you could give ONE piece of advice...

[qwertre]

If you could give one piece of advice to a young player (say high school) who wants to continue with tennis (perhaps play college ball), what would it be? Keep in mind these qualifications
--only ONE
--this hypothetical youngster would follow your advice to the letter, with any downfalls that could come with it
--try not to make it "serve well," or "don't miss"

 

[Relinquis]

Get good grades.

 

[frenzy]

Pay attention to decent warm up, it saves you a lot of misery

 

[slowfox]

Play your game.

 

[luvforty]

Get good grades.

this one.......

 

[atatu]

If you could give one piece of advice to a young player (say high school) who wants to continue with tennis (perhaps play college ball), what would it be? Keep in mind these qualifications
--only ONE
--this hypothetical youngster would follow your advice to the letter, with any downfalls that could come with it
--try not to make it "serve well," or "don't miss"

Once you commit yourself, stick with it and don't get discouraged.

I was one of those kids who thought all the other players were so much better than me and I figured I would never catch them. That was a mistake, I should have just stuck with it and took my losses and improved. In my 20's, after college, I worked hard and played every day and started beating all those former phenoms. By then, it was too late.

 

[qwertre]

Nice, but I was thinking a little more "game-related."

 

[goran_ace]

I know you said only one thing, but it was hard for me to pick between these two so I'll mention both:

(1.) Play as many matches as you can. You can't spend all your time hitting fed balls or against a wall. Practice matches are ok, but at some point you have to get that exposure to the pressures of playing a real live match. If you aren't playing outside of the high school season (i.e. USTA tournaments), you better start asap. You have to get match-tough, you have to get match experience under your belt. As far as practice matches go, play against people of different levels and ages and learn to adapt your game.

(2.) In football coaches talk about things like being an every down player and playing through the whistle. I'd like to see more teenagers take this kind of attitude onto the tennis court. Play every point like it counts. That means don't waste points on low percentage shots. That means don't give up on the point before it has truly ended. Don't dwell on what happened on the last point good or bad; that point is over and let's focus on the next one. Strive to maintain your intensity. You put in that kind of work and you will be rewarded in the long run. Effort can be a great equalizer. I've seen a lot of talented kids who were lazy and would routinely lose to players who were just willing to outwork them. I've seen kids lose matches before the first point was played because they thought they had no chance so they'd tank.

 

[xAceofSpadesx]

1. You can never hit the ball too early.
2. If all else fails, swing harder.

 

[5263]

If you could give one piece of advice to a young player (say high school) who wants to continue with tennis (perhaps play college ball), what would it be? Keep in mind these qualifications
--only ONE
--this hypothetical youngster would follow your advice to the letter, with any downfalls that could come with it
--try not to make it "serve well," or "don't miss"

To understand that you rally to get shorter, weak balls from the BL, and should
execute on a high level when you have earned that shorter, weak ball.
Learn that and all the things to master those issues.

 

[luvforty]

If you could give one piece of advice to a young player (say high school) who wants to continue with tennis (perhaps play college ball), what would it be? Keep in mind these qualifications
--only ONE
--this hypothetical youngster would follow your advice to the letter, with any downfalls that could come with it
--try not to make it "serve well," or "don't miss"

what is the purpose of this ONE advice? for him to play better tennis? or have better college experience? or better future career?

 

[qwertre]

what is the purpose of this ONE advice? for him to play better tennis? or have better college experience? or better future career?

If you've got responses for all of those, why not put them in? I was originally thinking just for game purposes, but it's not as if it really matters.

 

[luvforty]

If you've got responses for all of those, why not put them in? I was originally thinking just for game purposes, but it's not as if it really matters.

hm ok -

just a general comment that college tennis will be a great experience, and also a character builder for his future career - lots of successful people have college/pro competition backgrounds..

as for the tennis itself, if there were a universal piece of advice that fits everybody, everybody would be already doing it lol.

 

[max]

Get good grades.

For some reason it pains me to say this, but this really IS the advice. Learn how to force yourself to do things you don't want to do.

 

[watungga]

Treat the ball like its your favorite doll. Swing on it like asking your opponent not to hurt your ball. When its hit back to you, check if there's some damage to the ball before whacking it back. Do all these with just your telescopic eye and racquet.

 

[morandi]

Make sure you train your mind as much as you train your body.
A big part of winning in tennis is mental.

 

[chatt_town]

Ditto....you won't be playing much tennis without good grades.

QUOTE=Relinquis;7092630]Get good grades.[/QUOTE]

 

[Headshotterer]

focus on every single ball, focus on impact, not where it goes

 

[DeShaun]

Isolating a particular stroke in practice is usually good for its development, but when you are developing your overall approach to playing and are finding 'your game,' take some time to get to know yourself and what it is really that makes you happy about playing; and then develop your strengths so that they will cover your weaknesses when you are eventually playing your game, as opposed to isolating your weaknesses for particularized development.

So, building your strengths into weapons can obviate your need to face down your weaknesses in match play.

 

[anubis]

Footwork. The best strokes in the world won't win you matches if you aren't where you physically need to be in relation to the ball.

If you're waiting for the ball to come to you, then you're likely doing something wrong. YOU have to GO TO THE BALL.

 

[CoachingMastery]

Learn all you can about the game.

The idea of understanding the game to the point of mastery is a goal that carries over into grades, goal setting, even relationships and overall success. Because the concept of seeking understanding in anything carries over into all aspects of life. You learn to self-critique, you learn to evaluate, you learn how to handle failure and success because if you are sincerely looking to understand the game of tennis, all aspects of failure and success are contributions to this ultimate goal...not the other way around. You won't look at failure or success as the goal...so they won't hinder your development...only contribute to the ultimate goal.

A person who is sincere about this goal won't let others deter them.

And, through this understanding, all potential will be determined by this goal. Understanding the game will give the student the "why" and the "How" of doing things. (Not just the "how"...which is what players who are only 'success-oriented' tend to look for.)

 

[dman72]

Find a frame you like and stick with it. Buy one or 2 more of the same frame and STOP!!

Not the only piece of advice a new player can use, but one that everybody on the racquet forum especially needs to learn. I've got about 18 frames so spoken from experience. Give yourself a short time period, find a frame and resolve to never buy anything except that frame again for at least 5 years.

If you are having problems with certain strokes or opponents and you aren't playing with an aluminum racquet from 1989, it's not the racquet.

 

[double barrels]

everytime you play someone ask them what they think your weakest and strongest part of your game is

 

[the hack]

aggressive feet make aggressive player