pro tennis realistic goal? please set me straight

[Limpinhitter]

Originally Posted by tennishotdog

Im in my mid-twenties. Played tennis for roughly 5 years now, on and off(mostly because of school). I've never taken paid lessons; taught myself and learned the game and techniques mostly with tips, wisdom and knowledge from the always helpful and insightful TT forum members, the good old WWW and Youtube.

Im not tall, big or strong but I used to play basketball, soccer and hockey in my teens so I think Im pretty athletic and have good hand-eye coordination. My playing level is probably around the 3.5 to 4.0 mark as I've been told but have never played in any tournaments before so I've no idea how I'd measure up.

I have seen some 4.0 and 5.0 tournament matches and I like to think I could hang with them, just on stroke production and technique though. I haven't had many match experiences either since I only just hit the wall or rally to hone the proper technique and form and get the fundamentals down first.

Anyhoo, my ultimate goal in tennis is to compete at the Open level(5.5+) and maybe one day become a professional tennis player. Is this a realistic goal or just a pipe dream? Is it even a possibility to get to that level for someone like me?

Assuming you have the natural talent to be a world class player, the years it would take for you to develop the skill needed to be a world class player (complete devotion to tennis with world class coaching and training and the sacrifice of all other aspects of your life), would put you way past the age of your athletic prime.

[gmatheis]

go pro? not a chance

Pros start as small children and could probably beat you by the time they are 12 yrs old (perhaps sooner)

get to open level tennis - it COULD be in the realm of possiblity, but why don't you post a video and lets go from there.

[tennishotdog]

whoa I left for a few hours and this thread is already two pages. thank you all for the dose of reality. I guess I didnt know what I was smoking when these thoughts went through my head.

I think my goal now is to just get to the highest level I possibly can and go from there. Of course I never dreamt of becoming a real pro playing on the ATP tour, that is just next to impossible.

I just thought that maybe if I worked really hard on the proper techniques and fundamentals then maybe I could have a chance to compete at the Open level and maybe get into some pro tourney and get an ATP point. Once my body is no longer able or if I get bored then I can become a teaching pro and say that I was a former pro hehe.

My plan now is to just practice whenever I can and take some lessons to improve my footwork. Next year i'll definitely play some tourneys to get match experience.

As promised here are some videos of me hitting. Unfortunately I could only hit with the wall which doesnt show much. Criticisms and suggestions from everyone are highly appreciated as always.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yZfel...eature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-WYpPXpYgz8

some serves
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AhXpx...eature=related

[dozu]

you know as hackish as your game is, I actually see some Fed like moves there.

[tennishotdog]

thanks dozu I do try to model my forehand strokes after federer. its so effortless with power when Im in position and could time it right, but most of the time I cant, the stroke is just very hard to pull off consistently for some reason which I think the proper footwork will help with.

[TennisCoachFLA]

Originally Posted by tennishotdog

Im in my mid-twenties. Played tennis for roughly 5 years now, on and off(mostly because of school). I've never taken paid lessons; taught myself and learned the game and techniques mostly with tips, wisdom and knowledge from the always helpful and insightful TT forum members, the good old WWW and Youtube.

Im not tall, big or strong but I used to play basketball, soccer and hockey in my teens so I think Im pretty athletic and have good hand-eye coordination. My playing level is probably around the 3.5 to 4.0 mark as I've been told but have never played in any tournaments before so I've no idea how I'd measure up.

I have seen some 4.0 and 5.0 tournament matches and I like to think I could hang with them, just on stroke production and technique though. I haven't had many match experiences either since I only just hit the wall or rally to hone the proper technique and form and get the fundamentals down first.

Anyhoo, my ultimate goal in tennis is to compete at the Open level(5.5+) and maybe one day become a professional tennis player. Is this a realistic goal or just a pipe dream? Is it even a possibility to get to that level for someone like me?

You said you played hockey, basketball, and soccer as a teen.

How come you think you could go pro in tennis yet would not even dream that you could go pro in any of those other sports?

[Devilito]

Sell all your stuff, take out bank loans, max out your credit cards and borrow money from friends and family. Spend it all on lessons and save enough so you can travel on tour until you get a high enough ranking to get major sponsorships and to bring in the cash flow from your tournament winnings. You’re going all the way champ!

[LeeD]

Methinks post 26 hit the nail on the head exactly.

[Tennis_Monk]

Sure you can make it as a pro. One thing that pro's dont have
and you have is the wealth of tips in this forum. If you can read them all you will know how to play, what strategy to adopt to beat the likes of Nadal/Djoker/Federer.
I can hook you up with a low level tennis tournament director and we will get a you a wild card. Your name is on the draw and no matter who you play your first match, you are a Pro.
If you can execute on tips and cause an upset, we at TW will be talking about you and before you know we will have a GOAT thead for you.

[LeeD]

Just got on a computer that does Utube.
Wow, lots more work than I thought, imagined, or even could possibly be aware of.

[tennishotdog]

Originally Posted by TennisCoachFLA

You said you played hockey, basketball, and soccer as a teen.

How come you think you could go pro in tennis yet would not even dream that you could go pro in any of those other sports?

as you can see from the video of my physique, I was always the shortest and smallest guy on any team. I did dream that I could play professional basketball but I was way too short so I got cut by the highschool team. Hockey, same thing, all the bigger kids would easily knock me over, hit harder, shoot harder, skate faster, stronger on the puck. I was pretty crafty with the ball in soccer but I just couldn't kick as hard, run as fast and have the endurance as the bigger and more fitter kids. But I did play all those sports which helped with the athleticism.

But tennis is different, of course it's nice to be big tall and strong, but its not like those other sports where those physical attributes are absolutely necessary for success at high levels. Tennis I think is more about technique, speed and quickness, tactics and anticipation and of course the mental aspect. You dont need to be big and strong to hit the ball hard, thats why I think proper technique and fundamentals are so important therefore spent most of my time and energy on.

[Timbo's hopeless slice]

Lad, I am a coach, I've been a coach a long time, and I still play a reasonable 5.0+ game. I say this not to brag, but so you might listen to me when I tell you this.

Finish school, get a job and enjoy tennis as a hobby.

There is NO CHANCE of you playing on the pro tour starting this late. Your whole game needs to be rebuilt from the ground up to have any chance of reaching even 5.0 which is a long way from the pros.

Forget it, ok?

[tennishotdog]

Originally Posted by rkelley

I'll be a bit more optimistic . . .

If you're willing to spend the time and learn proper technique, and this means focused practice several times a week (year round), not hacking around with some buddies on the weekend, and assuming you have an average level of athletism and you're in decent shape, you ought to be able to get up to 5.0 to 5.5 level eventually. Dave Smith preaches this and it makes sense to me. The folks I see who haven't achieved that level, and that is most folks admittedly (including me), usually have flaws in various aspects of their strokes and/or don't have the time to spend to get them grooved to the point where they're consistent enough in match situations. If you're willing to work and spend the time to get those strokes really solid, then 5.0 to 5.5 should be doable.

A coach would be really, really helpful in making this happen.

how did I miss such a good post. thank you
yes I totally agree with this approach. A coach would definitely help me out alot.

[Timbo's hopeless slice]

but you seem to miss the point, 5.0 is just barely possible for you.

and planets away from the pro tour....


I would also point out that the always gracious rkelly posted that without the benefit of having seen you hit.

[tennishotdog]

Originally Posted by Timbo's hopeless slice

Lad, I am a coach, I've been a coach a long time, and I still play a reasonable 5.0+ game. I say this not to brag, but so you might listen to me when I tell you this.

Finish school, get a job and enjoy tennis as a hobby.

There is NO CHANCE of you playing on the pro tour starting this late. Your whole game needs to be rebuilt from the ground up to have any chance of reaching even 5.0 which is a long way from the pros.

Forget it, ok?

Well its not like im giving up school for this, I can do both but I know my priorities. If my game needs to be rebuilt then so be it, that's actually what Im in the process of doing right now, im fine tuning the stroke mechanics and getting down the fundamentals so that it doesnt break down in a match situation which I saw much of even from 5.0 players.

I dont think 5.0+ is that big of a leap from what I've seen at the local tourney. I was able to squeak by this older guy who plays 4.5 and 5.0, granted it was just a practice set but I could see that my groundstrokes gave him lots of trouble and he says I just needed more experience playing the right shot and points and not go for winners every chance I get.

[HunterST]

Originally Posted by tennishotdog

Well its not like im giving up school for this, I can do both but I know my priorities. If my game needs to be rebuilt then so be it, that's actually what Im in the process of doing right now, im fine tuning the stroke mechanics and getting down the fundamentals so that it doesnt break down in a match situation which I saw much of even from 5.0 players.

I dont think 5.0+ is that big of a leap from what I've seen at the local tourney. I was able to squeak by this older guy who plays 4.5 and 5.0, granted it was just a practice set but I could see that my groundstrokes gave him lots of trouble and he says I just needed more experience playing the right shot and points and not go for winners every chance I get.

Not to be a jerk, but there's really no way you beat a 4.5 or 5.0 player right now. I'm not saying you're making it up, but maybe the guy you played with was inflating his level a bit. 4.5 and 5.0 are very high levels of tennis and you're not there yet. Only like 2 percent of tennis players are.

That's not to say you couldn't get there. You just need a good instructor and a ton of time playing and hitting.

P.S.

I just clicked on your video and the first thing I saw was that your forehand swing is way too flat. Sometimes you're hitting DOWN on the shot. Try to hit up on the ball.

[FedExpress 333]

Absolutely not, there is nooooo way.

[Power Player]

Originally Posted by dennis10is

Read the posts here and you'll find out that middle aged men with little training in tennis, largely self-taught, are confident that they know what is wrong with the top pros. So, as you can deduce, tennis is a simple sport to master. I would say, two years of reading the tips here would be sufficient for you to be a 5.5+

Do not be deceived by the false modesty by the members here. Read some more posts and you will find little modesty actually exist.

****LOL****

[Disgruntled Worker]

To the OP, the NTRP ranking is kind of ambiguous. Most of the naysayers on this forum really have NO IDEA what a "5.0 player" is because it's ALL subjective! If these people were really qualified to be giving you advice on becoming a pro, why aren't THEY playing on tour?

[tennishotdog]

Originally Posted by HunterST

Not to be a jerk, but there's really no way you beat a 4.5 or 5.0 player right now. I'm not saying you're making it up, but maybe the guy you played with was inflating his level a bit. 4.5 and 5.0 are very high levels of tennis and you're not there yet. Only like 2 percent of tennis players are.

That's not to say you couldn't get there. You just need a good instructor and a ton of time playing and hitting.

P.S.

I just clicked on your video and the first thing I saw was that your forehand swing is way too flat. Sometimes you're hitting DOWN on the shot. Try to hit up on the ball.

Yeh maybe he just plays them but probably not get past the first round, so hes probably inflating his actual level.

I agree about my forehand swing it is very, very flat, most of the balls i hit barely clears the net by a few centimeters. im still experimenting with the proper grip, right now my grip is the classic eastern grip so the swing path is very horizonal, im experimenting with the modified eastern grip like federer has so that the racket swings more vertically ala windshield wiper but this change in grip caused a change in my swing path that is preventing me from executing the stroke smoothly, but im working on it for sure. thanks.