My strokes on camera

[tennis_balla]

Originally Posted by Consolation

If you play like you hit, I suspect you'd settle as a mid 5.0. You're consistency alone is enough to get you by pretty much any true 4.5. But...you're too inconsistent with your preparation and footwork to be beyond that. I suspect you probably play 5.0/open events and win matches here and there, but never end up winning. You have great strokes and a nice natural swing, but even on 1-2 step shots you're often late and off balance. Your reaction and first step is good, but then you're lazy. That suggests you've been there before, but for whatever reason lack motivation now. You look like a lot of former high level college players I hit with that have moved on and are in limbo land. They have the strokes and muscle memory to be much better than they are, but have lost the motivation to do what it takes to play to their ability.

If you were drunk, really tired, etc, during the video, you could easily be a competitive 5.5+ with those strokes, but honestly, I've never seen someone whose lazy/slow in casual hitting actually be consistently aggressive with their balance and movement when playing for real.

Thank you for taking the time to analyze my whole approach to the game of tennis and my work ethic from just watching a 6min video of me hitting from the baseline. I don't know, I mean maybe what you see in the video is us hitting right from the beginning of our warm up...maybe.
I apologize for not being up to your usual high standards, will try harder next time.

P.S. I will also re-watch extensively what I taped so I can find all those off balanced and late shots.

[KMV]

very nice ground strokes.. like the form on your 1hbh.. also would like to see a clip of higher intensity rallies..

i'd have you at 5.0, maybe higher..

[Consolation]

I apologize if I was off base, just saying you look like a lot of guys I hit with that are stuck in the past and are cavalier and slow because of how good they once were.

Again, just going from my experience, guys that are lazy at the beginning of warm up, are gonna be lazy later when they play. Maybe not all the time, but it will happen. If being not-lazy is something you have to warm up into, or concentrate on, then it's not something that will manifest itself consistently.

Anyway, you posted the video. Someone as good as you, who posts a video on this forum has to be looking for affirmation. So, again, I say you have a great game. My opinion, and that's all it is, is the only thing holding you back from being as good as you used to be is you.

[tennis_balla]

I'm not looking for affirmation at all. Clint Thompson has posted his videos on here, Tony as well and others. If anyone see's anything I'm open to suggestions, no worries.

I came off sarcastically because to say someone hits easy or lazy means they are lazy on court in a match is untrue. I could use Federer as an example, or Sampras but thats too easy and going right to the top, however many players are like this. Everyone has their own rhythm on court.
First time I saw Sampras warming up on a practice court at a tournament as a kid it blew my freaking mind, and not in a good way. He was walking along like he had one foot in the grave, hit a few balls, went to sit back down, re-wrapped his grip, slowly walked back to the baseline, barely moved his feet and so on but thats his rhythm even in a match he walks around slower then lets say Agassi. Thats just him. Fed is similar, however someone like Nadal is constantly hoping up and down and moving around.

However, I will agree with you on some ex-college guys. Some just aren't getting the hits or competition they're after and it bores them or they just think its good enough where their level is at now and have no intention of working hard again to keep improving their game cause they know in their area its good enough. Big fish, little pond.

[Consolation]

Originally Posted by tennis_balla

First time I saw Sampras warming up on a practice court at a tournament as a kid it blew my freaking mind, and not in a good way. He was walking along like he had one foot in the grave, hit a few balls, went to sit back down, re-wrapped his grip, slowly walked back to the baseline, barely moved his feet and so on but thats his rhythm even in a match he walks around slower then lets say Agassi. Thats just him. Fed is similar, however someone like Nadal is constantly hoping up and down and moving around.

Fair enough, but that's not what I was commenting on. Look at your video around the time when you change perspective. Look at your forehands prior to the change, before you end with the high drive. Look at the first few forehands after the perspective change compared to the several you hit in the next 20-30 seconds. Compare those well balanced coiled shots (as opposed to the others where your center is falling backwards and you pivot) to when you have to take 2-3 steps in the minute that follows.

That's what I'm talking about, and those are the kind of things I notice when I'm warming up with someone.

I've played with a lot of really good tennis players. And while in practice they can be lose, casual, and be reluctant to run balls down, on shots that require very little effort to get into the correct position/balance, they always do...always.

[Indiana Puffed]

Keep up the good work Tennis Balla, I think it can be a very positive thing to practice in a relaxed manner. It shows you are comfortable with your strokes. Some higher tempo training is advisable too but I am sure you already know and do that.

On a slightly different note, in a thread I made recently I thanked you for sharing your knowledge of the Spanish Training Method drills. Gutted the youtube links went down. Just this week I, along with my regular practice partner, utilised the hand fed X drill. Was good fun, but a learning cruve. Even feeding at a reasonable pace, height and depth took lots of practice! I hope we can keep at this drill for some time to come, I've no doubt footwork and recovery will improve at a high rate. Once we get good we will use some of the other drills.

What drills to you tend to use in practice?

[Hominator]

Originally Posted by tennis_balla

Yea sorry I don't yet understand the concept of editing my clips to show only the good parts. Will try harder next time.

I'm too old for college, turned 30 in September

Which Yonex are you using?

[lonux]

That forehand reminds me of my own... although mine is a bit more pushy for sure.

Very nice. If I might ask, are you a counter-puncher?

[tiochaota]

at most 2.5? gosh im a negative 7.0

[Bud]

Are you using a continental grip on the BH side?

[crystal_clear]

Nice form~

This court looks familiar to me...Did you hit with a coach?

[tennis_balla]

Originally Posted by Indiana Puffed

What drills to you tend to use in practice?

When I'm coaching I use the regular X pattern (deep forehand, short forehand, deep backhand, short backhand) a lot along with one called Approach and Volley or a variation of it Approach and 2 Volleys the most as well as a few hand fed drills depending on the person I'm coaching. They are in this video...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SjbXWfACf2M

The one right at the start at the video, first few seconds is also great and can be done with a racket in hand like Pato is doing or hand fed. Again depends on the skill level of the individual you are coaching.
He's making him move back, and starting in front of the bucket but you can reverse it and make the player start behind the bucket and make them move forward.

Also, the ones I love a lot are the hitting the ball straight down, getting an awkward bounce and having the player adjust and move their feet up and back, side to side to learn how to get into position. Tough drill, you can see it done starting at 10secs into the video, hitting the ball straight into the court, then bumping up a short one so the player has to move forward, etc. Killer drill, and great on the footwork and strokes. They do it with overheads from the baseline as well you can see.

Just be careful you keep the player in control and they are still within their limit, then slowly over time as they get more comfortable and learn to move better, start increasing the intensity and difficulty of the drills. Last thing you want is them to develop bad habits and have them flailing around like a windmill cause they can't keep up.

Originally Posted by Hominator

Which Yonex are you using?

Yonex RDiS 100 Mid

Originally Posted by lonux

If I might ask, are you a counter-puncher?

I'm 6'4, counter-punching isn't be the best tactic for me.

Originally Posted by Bud

Are you using a continental grip on the BH side?

It's slightly closed, if I'd stick my arm out and look at it head on I'd be pointing around 1 o'clock or so with the top of the frame (hope that makes sense) but the grip varies slightly depending on the ball. Contact higher up around shoulder level I'll close it a tad more. My slice grip is continental.

I never noticed my racket being kinda open like that on take back, djokovicfan mentioned it also. Maybe its just the camera angle from the back, the camera was somewhat close cause it looks normal to me from the second angle taken head on. I guess its just the way I bring the racket back, I dunno sub conscious I guess

[JackB1]

great consistent strokes! What is your level? I would guess at least 4.0 and as high as over 5.0, but without seeing some match play or more demanding shots, it's hard to tell. You hit the ball so easily and effortlessly and thats a great thing. You look like you could rally for a long time and easily wait for your opponent to make a mistake. Only criticism is that you could be a little more deliberate in your footwork and bend you knees more and wind and unwind your shoulders/hips more into the shot.

[LeeD]

At 6'4", better NOT to react to opponent's shots, but rather go for your own forcing shots and winners.
Sure, tennisballa can tighten up, but then he's be playing on the Tour.

[bradsm01]

Hey tennis balla - in the video, by the way nice strokes, definitely 5.0 at least, are you hitting at the Midtown Athletic Club right off Windy Hills in Marietta, GA ? I was a member a few years ago.

[bhupaes]

Very nice strokes, tennis balla. Obviously you are a high level, open class player (5.0 to 5.5). Congratulations on your achievement!

[Stiver]

Originally Posted by arche3

Id say 3.5 at most

Haha bull ****. Inevitably someone gives the guy an incredibly low ball rating.

[Stiver]

Disregard my last post. I didn't realize he was joking, lol me bad.

[DevilsChildXD]

So Goood!! T_T

[gameboy]

Definitely a balla! Great strokes, pleasure to watch.