NTRP (estimated) 2.5 Wall Practice (Video)

[TomT]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MmC_RonvQq4&feature=plcp

Any videos from NTRP (estimated or established) 2.5 to 3.0 rated players are welcomed. Videos from higher rated players are also welcomed in a relative instructional sense.

Comments and criticisms from knowledgeable TT posters welcomed.

This is meant to be a thread for USTA and other leagues' bottom dwellers. Those of us more or less severely competitively (and perhaps tennis fundamentally) challenged individuals who love the game in spite of our deficiencies and keep the faith that we might actually improve.

Post some videos (I'll be posting more because I just got a new camera), make some comments, have fun.

[Bowtiesarecool]

Thsi sums up pretty much the most important aspects of wall practice. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gILqU...eature=related

[TomT]

Originally Posted by Bowtiesarecool

Thsi sums up pretty much the most important aspects of wall practice. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gILqU...eature=related

Thanks, this is very instructional.
EDIT: The thing is that the wall resources available to me provide less distance than those in the instructional video. Any suggestions?

[jonnythan]

My suggestion is to play against people, not walls

[TomT]

Originally Posted by jonnythan

My suggestion is to play against people, not walls

Thank you jonnythan. I have to agree. Also, I think I actually look and play better on court against people (rather than walls). Your comment is noted and appreciated.

Post some videos.

[Bowtiesarecool]

Originally Posted by TomT

Thanks, this is very instructional.
EDIT: The thing is that the wall resources available to me provide less distance than those in the instructional video. Any suggestions?

Well, you don't have to hit at a wall that's 40 feet away. My local wall has about 15-20 feet of space tops, and it helps me focus on control as opposed to ripping hard winners. There's a drill I do as well where I stand about 5 feet from the wall and alternate FH and BH volleys without letting the ball bounce.

[TomT]

Originally Posted by Bowtiesarecool

Well, you don't have to hit at a wall that's 40 feet away. My local wall has about 15-20 feet of space tops, and it helps me focus on control as opposed to ripping hard winners. There's a drill I do as well where I stand about 5 feet from the wall and alternate FH and BH volleys without letting the ball bounce.

Thanks Bowtiesarecool. I'm familiar with that drill. 40 years ago I could do it. Now ... not so easy.

Anyway, I posted the wall video only because that was all that was available to me at the time. All the courts were taken.

Hopefully tomorrow I'll get some on court time and videos.

And please, all posters, post some videos for positive criticism and/or examples of good stuff.

[ShoeShiner]

Watch this wall drills, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mNiXrgAtjxc, a good example. May be help!

[TomT]

Originally Posted by ShoeShiner

Watch this wall drills, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mNiXrgAtjxc, a good example. May be help!

Yes it does help. Thanks ShoeShiner. I can't do it like the guy in the video, but it's always good to watch somebody who can.

[vil]

Originally Posted by jonnythan

My suggestion is to play against people, not walls

There's nothing wrong practicing against the wall. You can keep working on your shots, footwork and basically it's a great cardio work out if you really want. It's not the most ideal way but hey, even some pros do it, so it can't be that bad.

[KineticChain]

yeah was gonna say the wall is not a good way to look at NTRP levels. From this video you could be anything from a retired pro to a low level rec player.

[TomT]

Originally Posted by KineticChain

yeah was gonna say the wall is not a good way to look at NTRP levels. From this video you could be anything from a retired pro to a low level rec player.

That's encouraging. Actually, I'm a very low level rec player. My current estimate is maybe 2.5 NTRP (USTA). Thanks for the feedback. Post a video.

[TomT]

Originally Posted by vil

There's nothing wrong practicing against the wall. You can keep working on your shots, footwork and basically it's a great cardio work out if you really want. It's not the most ideal way but hey, even some pros do it, so it can't be that bad.

I agree. It seemed to provide a good foundation for Borg and a few others. But I tend to be lazy on the wall. Come to think of it, I tend to be lazy on the court. Anyway, I'll get some videos of court play soon. Post some of your own. Thanks for the feedback.

[Dreamcastin]

thanks for the post, I can tell your forehand is your better side Im hoping to post some videos on here at some point for some pointers.

[vil]

Originally Posted by TomT

I agree. It seemed to provide a good foundation for Borg and a few others. But I tend to be lazy on the wall. Come to think of it, I tend to be lazy on the court. Anyway, I'll get some videos of court play soon. Post some of your own. Thanks for the feedback.

I wasn't sure about posting this but decided to post it anyway. The video is about 2 to 3 months old and I still play with my older style. I'm trying to make my forehand more compact.
Anyway, this is what I do if I can't find any partners.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WaWj...s&feature=plcp

[Sky_Boy]

u move pretty fine for your age... BH swing path seems wrong .. it's neither a slice nor topspin drive.. if it's a slice then your not slicing the ball enough.. motion should be down to upwards.. which means point of contact starts from waist level...

[Sky_Boy]

and do u change your grip when hit your BH drive? it seems u use eastern forehand for your BH slice

[Sky_Boy]

Originally Posted by Dreamcastin

thanks for the post, I can tell your forehand is your better side Im hoping to post some videos on here at some point for some pointers.

i think that's normal.. most ppl dictate and generate more pace on their FH.. same goes for a big majority of atp pros..fh is definately their better side.. apparently it seems that quite a few wta women stronger side are their bh.. are women just better at bh than men?? lol

[Moz Fan]

Originally Posted by KineticChain

yeah was gonna say the wall is not a good way to look at NTRP levels. From this video you could be anything from a retired pro to a low level rec player.

Yeah, to me you looked higher than 2.5. I thought your technique and specifically your stroke were better than 2.5. I' ve seen legit 2.5s with not nearly as refined a swing as yours. Perhaps mobility keeps you near a 2.5 (hard to say from vid) but not your stroke.

[vil]

Originally Posted by Sky_Boy

u move pretty fine for your age... BH swing path seems wrong .. it's neither a slice nor topspin drive.. if it's a slice then your not slicing the ball enough.. motion should be down to upwards.. which means point of contact starts from waist level...

OK, this video may clarify a bit more, the way I hit the ball. (I'm closer to the camera) I said this before I'm an old school type of player and just trying to modernise my forehand. If my swing path is right or wrong I don't care, it works for me when I practice enough. My grips are forehand- eastern or SW, backhand- eastern, slice backhand- somewhere near continental.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VGQw66fWRvQ&feature=plcp