My video clips thread

[Wuppy]

Originally Posted by TomT

While I agree with you and others that in person lessons can certainly help, I don't think it's the deciding factor in producing steady improvement. There's a wealth of tennis instructional videos on the internet. One can engineer a practice program, without a personal tennis instructor or coach, that will produce steady improvements in one's game.

I would agree, if the dude hadn't spent years developing really bad form. Developing good habits from no habits at all can be done by oneself if done systematically; but breaking bad habits can't, IMHO.

[jakemcclain32]

Originally Posted by MayDay

That tennis location looks very familiar...

...is this the very same Jake McClain that posted similar thread last year? The Jake McClain that is also trying to be an actor and trying to get a deal to produce a reality show on himself as an "aspiring tennis player"?

I think the last TT video I saw of Jake McClain was some diatribe about him not going to give up after losing a 3.0/3.5 tournament.

Ah, here is the old blog: http://tt.tennis-warehouse.com/showthread.php?t=389054

OMG: http://tt.tennis-warehouse.com/showthread.php?t=396807
http://tt.tennis-warehouse.com/showthread.php?t=405873
http://tt.tennis-warehouse.com/showthread.php?t=396807

Too bad all the old videos are gone.

I have to get myself some popcorn.

Yup, one in the same.

Here's the thing though. This will be a lot different. I've worked hard in the last year to work on breaking bad habits, and become an actual player.

Believe it or not, this is a lot different version of me than last year. The only thing that is the same, for the most part, is the answer that I am going to go as far as my body will let me, and my skills allow me. But this year, I'm a lot more realistic what it will take. You very well might see another double bagel on video, or you never will, but I know everything will come with the territory from here on out.

[tennis tom]

guys gotta' dream

[Power Player]

Originally Posted by TomT

Have you ever spent a two year period doing tennis? Like 6 to 8 hours per day? We used to hit at least 200 volleys and overheads per day. We would ralley for an hour. Take some time off, then ralley for an hour, and so on. The guys I hung with were serious tennis bums. Nobody had to work. We all had money. We were all in our 20's and quite athletic.

Yes. It was called Junior tennis in FLorida, and I did it for years. I sincerely doubt you were 5.0 after 2 years. Just being honest. Miracles happen, but 5.0 is a very high level of play.

[samarai]

Besides just focusing on the tennis, you should also incorporate some cardio and strength training into your workout routine. Started jogging about 3 months ago and added some strength training and its amazing how thats helped my tennis game. I can usually outlast most opponents on the court.This is only at the 3.5 to 4.0 level though.

[jakemcclain32]

Originally Posted by samarai

Besides just focusing on the tennis, you should also incorporate some cardio and strength training into your workout routine. Started jogging about 3 months ago and added some strength training and its amazing how thats helped my tennis game. I can usually outlast most opponents on the court.This is only at the 3.5 to 4.0 level though.

I have. Was 207 and now 196. Feel great.

[TomT]

Originally Posted by Power Player

Yes. It was called Junior tennis in FLorida, and I did it for years. I sincerely doubt you were 5.0 after 2 years. Just being honest. Miracles happen, but 5.0 is a very high level of play.

You're probably right. I don't really know, and was just estimating from current players and what they say their ratings are.

Since returning to tennis, I haven't played or seen in person any current players who are 5.0. (Well, there's one guy I hit with a couple times who, although good, I think might have been inflating his rating. )

Somewhere back in this thread I did say that my consistent level of play was probably closer to 4.5. My main reference point is a guy who I actually played a match against who's apparently a firmly established 4.0 and in a position to go to the next level. He beat me, but I'm quite sure it would have been the other way around if I was able to play like I did in my 20's -- which I can't now, and probably never will be able to again due to movement issues.

You were fortunate in having that instruction and practice as a junior.

[TomT]

Originally Posted by Wuppy

I would agree, if the dude hadn't spent years developing really bad form. Developing good habits from no habits at all can be done by oneself if done systematically; but breaking bad habits can't, IMHO.

Point taken. You might well be right about needing personal instruction to break bad habits.

[Power Player]

I grew up in a tennis hotbed and my family loves the game.

That being said, I played a lot of other sports and established a music career, so my tennis game got put on the backburner and never fully developed.

[TomT]

Originally Posted by Power Player

I grew up in a tennis hotbed and my family loves the game.

That being said, I played a lot of other sports and established a music career, so my tennis game got put on the backburner and never fully developed.

Even though your tennis got sidetracked, I'll bet you have a very nice all around game given that junior tennis. Is that the case?

Also off-topic, but I'm just curious. What instrument(s), what sort of music do you do?

[Power Player]

Yeah, Im just retooling my serve and everything else is pretty solid for a baseliner who likes to attack net sometimes.

I play everything. Whatever I get paid for really. I have literally played on almost every genre of record besides polka.

[TomT]

Originally Posted by Power Player

Yeah, Im just retooling my serve and everything else is pretty solid for a baseliner who likes to attack net sometimes.

Sorry I didn't acknowledge your reply yesterday, but had to go. Since jakemcclain32 began the thread with a serving video, maybe the moderators will allow me to ask what you're doing to retool your serve, and why you feel the need to do it.

Originally Posted by Power Player

I play everything. Whatever I get paid for really. I have literally played on almost every genre of record besides polka.

That's great. Music and tennis are my main hobbies now.

Ok, no more off-topic posts from me.

[BigGriff]

I support the above see a teaching pro statements. I didn't get my serve issues corrected until I had a college player buddy of mine to help me correct my technique.

On the TW message board: A so called expert could possibly be a 12 year old...

Honestly, a tennis clinic or a few lessons focusing on your serve could do wonders for your game.

[mykoh]

Originally Posted by TeflonTom

Oh indubitably, old chap. I personally am not totally au fait with the process of intensive online training and learning so I cannot speak with absolute authority on that matter. In lieu of my own experience in the area I am perfectly happy to accept your learned opinion that such an approach may render adequate - nay, good - results for a student of the gentle art of lawn tennis.

My prima facie observation, tentatively advanced though it was, is that the best course of action may potentially be to contact a coach and obtain some face-to-face instruction. I do feel that the given the young student's current circumstances, he would obtain a great deal of benefit from such personalised training. He will almost certainly advance much more quickly, and also has a greater chance of avoiding common pitfalls and the inadvertent further ingraining of bad habits.

Such an arrangement has the added advantage of ensuring that any advice comes from a reputable and verifiable source.

By no means did I wish to denigrate the admirable efforts of this forum's learned residents, nor the commitment or current ability of the upstanding young gentleman who commenced this online discussion.

I wish to humbly, unreservedly, sincerely and without unction render my apologies to you and anyone else who may have been offended by my uncouth, uneducated, underhanded, unrefined and unedifying utterances. Undoubtedly I hope you do not find my pleadings, protestations and prostrations preposterous.

peace out, mr. t.

sorry, but this is just hilarious.

in the meantime jake, have you tried imitating how the pros do it? i've tried copying fed's pre serve routine and rhythm, as well as the monfils serve. experiment and have fun!

[jakemcclain32]

Well after a little time, I have an update.

I actually took time off to heal from my hip flexor problem and just practiced serving on my condo's courts. Practiced the toss, practiced follow through, and the whole motion. It's all I had since I was healing.

So I healed and decided to play a tournament in Acworth. Was hoping to ease back in and play 3.0, but no one signed up. Anyway, I get 3.5.

Longer story short, I lost first set 6-0, as in many of my 3.5 matches. Serve wasn't bad, but I was rusty as hell anyway. Didn't hurt that the guy had lots of spin either.

Second set was the story though. Do you ever go through that time in your life where something just clicks? It just happened to me today. I fell behind 3-0 in the second set, and 15-40, when it all started to click. My serve started to hit the spots, and I won my first game. Down 40-15 on his serve and broke him. Won my third service game easily and it was 3-3. He won his next service game, and I won mine to make it 4-4.

All good things must come to an end though. I had break point on his serve, and went to the net after hitting a forehand...and whiffed on the volley. He took the game, and broke me to win 6-4.

I'm very happy today though. That was the first time I could say my serve gave someone serious difficulty. I was getting decent power on it, and actually placed it. No aces, but that will come. I will build on this, and I thank you guys for the comments and tips. I'll put in another video soon since I'm healed up.