I am playing a 4.5 NTRP Men's Indoor Tournament Next Weekend in Fremont California and I was wondering if there are any suggestions on playing effective indoor tennis. I have had only one indoor experience and that was in Tacoma Washington. I know the ball is quite louder and it seems like play is a little faster. My coach told me that I should plan on serve and volleying. Any thoughts on indoor tennis? I was rated a 4.5 this year but I mainly play Men's Opens. I lost to the number one 5.0 player in Nor Cal in 3 sets and several D1 college 5.0 and 5.5 players in close matches last year so hopefully I'll do well in the 4.5's.
Indoor Tennis
- Thread starter jdawg02
- Start date
Geezer Guy
Hall of Fame
Sometimes the courts are a bit faster indoors, but not always. If you can get in a couple practice matches on the courts ahead of time, it will help.
If you're like most of us, you will serve much better indoors. No wind, no sun, perfect toss every time.
I don't know where you're playing, but often indoor courts are packed pretty close together with a net hanging between them. It's not hard to kick a serve out wide and into the net before your opponent can get a racquet on it. It's not necessarily the gentlemanly thing to do, but it's certainly not illegal or unethical.
I play indoors a lot, and often we just pick a side and play straight through the whole set. No breaks to change sides or get a drink. If you're not in great shape, insist on changing sides after odd games. This will give you a breather. If you think you're in better shape than your opponent, just play straight through.
Good luck.
If you're like most of us, you will serve much better indoors. No wind, no sun, perfect toss every time.
I don't know where you're playing, but often indoor courts are packed pretty close together with a net hanging between them. It's not hard to kick a serve out wide and into the net before your opponent can get a racquet on it. It's not necessarily the gentlemanly thing to do, but it's certainly not illegal or unethical.
I play indoors a lot, and often we just pick a side and play straight through the whole set. No breaks to change sides or get a drink. If you're not in great shape, insist on changing sides after odd games. This will give you a breather. If you think you're in better shape than your opponent, just play straight through.
Good luck.
Cindysphinx
G.O.A.T.
Also be mindful that some indoor courts are a little tight behind the baseline. Consider handling balls lobbed to you by taking them on the rise. Also, topspin lobs are often difficult for opponents for this reason if they forget there's not enough space to back up and play them as they descend a second time.
Indy Tennis
Semi-Pro
Let me get this straight... you are a 4.5 player and compete level with D1 college players and don't have indoor experience?
That has to be a first.
I guess being from the Mid-West it's hard to imagine playing at that level without playing indoors.
That has to be a first.
I guess being from the Mid-West it's hard to imagine playing at that level without playing indoors.
I live in California lol... Indoor tournaments are rare here.
Indy Tennis
Semi-Pro
You are so lucky.
Even though my game is better suited to indoors, I wish I never had to play inside.
Even though my game is better suited to indoors, I wish I never had to play inside.
Get a practice or two indoors before playing the tournament. I don't worry about the speed of the courts. My biggest problem playing indoors is the lighting. Most clubs I have played in do not have great lights & it can seem a bit dim, making the ball hard topick up at times. I also lose the ball in the lights for a split second. As others have said, you normally serve well indoors as there is no wind and the temperature is controlled. Good luck
Supernatural_Serve
Professional
Indoor issues:
Ceiling Height and Hanging Lights: Lobs will occasionally hit them
Lighting - Some indoor lights are unnatural and cause glare - my biggest issue with indoors
Side and Backcourt Distances - as mentioned earlier, some have barriers closer than you would think
Surfaces - They are more consistent and flat with no drainage or run-off concerns. Very very flat
Surface Gunk - Plenty of indoor courts get ball machine ball fuzz all over them and there isn't any wind to remove them, watch for fuzzy courts if they aren't cleaned frequently.
Lost Balls - They go behind the curtains, and then there are 10 balls to sort through behind the curtain to find your Penn 1 hanging with the rest of the balls left laying around in the spider webs
Fans - Some fans are very loud indoors and if you are on a court next to one (the end courts) usually, then you have the occasional distraction of them firing up
Other Court Noise/Echos - Its simply noisier indoors and someone (on some or your court) will call "out" and you won't know where it came from. This issue is less distracting outdoors. Sounds are more directional.
Seating - There are usually seats/bench to sit on. Outdoors, they often don't have seats, just a fence to lean on. So, expect a seat to sit on during changeovers.
Bathroom breaks - I don't know. It seems people take more of these in indoor matches as a stall tactic since there is a bathroom nearby.
Time - People reserve courts indoors and pay money, so its usually the case that when the buzzer rings, its time to leave someone is walking onto your court. People are less forgiving about you using their precious court time they paid a fortune for.
So be on time and get off on time.
Ceiling Height and Hanging Lights: Lobs will occasionally hit them
Lighting - Some indoor lights are unnatural and cause glare - my biggest issue with indoors
Side and Backcourt Distances - as mentioned earlier, some have barriers closer than you would think
Surfaces - They are more consistent and flat with no drainage or run-off concerns. Very very flat
Surface Gunk - Plenty of indoor courts get ball machine ball fuzz all over them and there isn't any wind to remove them, watch for fuzzy courts if they aren't cleaned frequently.
Lost Balls - They go behind the curtains, and then there are 10 balls to sort through behind the curtain to find your Penn 1 hanging with the rest of the balls left laying around in the spider webs
Fans - Some fans are very loud indoors and if you are on a court next to one (the end courts) usually, then you have the occasional distraction of them firing up
Other Court Noise/Echos - Its simply noisier indoors and someone (on some or your court) will call "out" and you won't know where it came from. This issue is less distracting outdoors. Sounds are more directional.
Seating - There are usually seats/bench to sit on. Outdoors, they often don't have seats, just a fence to lean on. So, expect a seat to sit on during changeovers.
Bathroom breaks - I don't know. It seems people take more of these in indoor matches as a stall tactic since there is a bathroom nearby.
Time - People reserve courts indoors and pay money, so its usually the case that when the buzzer rings, its time to leave someone is walking onto your court. People are less forgiving about you using their precious court time they paid a fortune for.
So be on time and get off on time.
tennismike33
Semi-Pro
Off the subject a little I am considering coming out at the end of May and play in the clay court tournament in Indy, have you ever played it before?
Please send off an email to tennismike33@comcast.net
tennismike33
Semi-Pro
You notice a lot more than I do and I play almost exclusively indoors.
I think the best thing of playing indoors is it is a controlled environment and you can prepare for it. Personally given the choice I would prefer to play indoors.
PERCEPTION: If you find your ball is landing out a lot, understand that the depth perception inside is a lot different from playing outside.
Supernatural_Serve
Professional
That's an important point. I think it has to do with the fact that outdoor courts always slope a little and it does affect your perception of the flight of the ball, its clearance over the net, and its bounce.
Whereas indoors you see the true flight of the ball consistently.
Indy Tennis
Semi-Pro
TennisMike
That's a great clay court tournament at the Indianapolis Racquet Club. It's the former site of the U.S. Clay Court Championships in the 1960 and '70s.
I played in it one year, but we had a miserably rainy weekend and I played all my matches indoors on hard courts!
Let me know if you decide to come to Indy. If I'm in town I'll hit with you to get you warmed up for the tournament.
tennismike33
Semi-Pro
Thank you for the invitation, greatly appreciate it, send me an email and we can stay in contact!!!
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