Give me one piece of advice to help me win tonight.

[Tennisguy3000]

Arthur Ashe has some good winning tips for you:

http://timelesstennis.blogspot.ca/20...on-tennis.html

Arthur Ashe on Tennis: Strokes, Strategy, Traditions, Players, Psychology and Wisdom, with Alexander McNab (Knopf, Inc., 1995) (143 Pages, with Foreword, 4 Introductory Articles, 6 Chapters)

One of his insights was about "who" you really "play" in tennis. In a famous quote, Ashe remarked: "You are never really playing an opponent. You are playing yourself, your own highest standards. And when you reach your limits, that is real joy."

Here are a few brief excerpts...

Five Shots-a-Point Rule
For club players, I have a comfortable rule of thumb. If, on every point you play, you hit the ball in five times, you are not going to lose any matches...steadiness is a habit; it is not something you turn on or off like a light bulb...start with steadiness; and then add aggression and power.

Make Up Your Mind
Indecision is a common problem for many players...You can take too long to make up your mind and end up trying a foolish play...In most situations, there is a bread-and-butter play that works ninety percent of the time...

When You Get in Trouble
Aim for the center strap of the net. If the ball passes over it at a reasonable speed, it should stay in, regardless of where you are on the court.

The Important Points and The Important Games
The first point of the game is key. After that, the points on the Ad side of the court are more important than the points on the Deuce side because you are either building a two-point lead...pulling even...or winning or fending off a game point...The first four games are important because that is the feeling out period of the match, and no one wants to lose his serve. I think Bill Tilden was right about the seventh game, which he identified as crucial. [That] is the place where you can forge or consolidate a winning lead...or...break your opponent's momentum.

Make Your Opponent Hit the Shot He Hates
Every player has a shot that he or she would rather not hit...If your opponent is shaky on overheads, lob a lot. If he doesn't like to come to net, feed him a lot of short balls. Chip away at your opponent's confidence by making him hit the shot he hates.

Covering the Court
Too many club players play as if they can cover the whole court, which cannot be done. Whoever configured the court back in the 1880s did a pretty good job because even the fastest players...cannot cover the whole court very well. You have to try to get your opponent to hit the ball where you can cover it, and within that area you can be more aggressive.

Anticipation
Anticipation...is the ability to size up a situation and intuitively guess where the ball is going to be before it gets there...It gives you a huge advantage...There is no question that experience helps you anticipate better. But [also] pay attention. If somebody hits a ball crosscourt to you, more than half the time you are going to hit it back crosscourt. The way a person holds the racquet has a lot to do with where he can hit a ball.

Keys to Better Play
1. Play with a decisive attitude
2. Mix up your shots
3. Have a plan on break point.
4. Lob when you're in trouble.
5. Hit approach shots down the line.
6. Cover the open angles at net
7. Get moving after you hit the ball
8. Practice with a purpose

What It Takes To Win
It is not just the more talented player who wins. Some players may try a little harder. Some players may be a little smarter with strategy and tactics. Some players may be in better shape. Some players may have a better temperament for the game...To be a winner, you must be a fierce competitor as well as a shotmaker.

Relish the Combat
The sheer intensity of your competitive fire may be enough to overcome an opponent with more firepower in his strokes...you can get a psychological advantage by the body language you display on court...Always try to look like you are a winner, even if you are behind...a sustained look of control and confidence can give you a mental edge...

See Yourself Succeeding
Pancho Gonzales once told me that whenever he thought that a stroke of his was a little off, he would close his eyes and picture himself hitting the shot perfectly...Close your eyes before the point begins, and see yourself executing the shot, and then open your eyes and do it, without worrying too much about the result.

Conditioning
Vic Braden, when asked, "What's the first thing I should do to improve my tennis?" always answered "Lose five pounds." There is some truth to that...Most people play at a level or pace commensurate with their conditioning. If you improved your conditioning, you could play a lot more and a lot better.

[Mike Y]

Think about baseball...

[LuckyR]

Given the lack of video or much info, if I had to give one piece of advice that works for Pros to beginners, it would be: don't hit any balls into the net.

[beernutz]

Hook him, especially on big points. It worked against me last night anyway.

[tennis tom]

It may be too late for tonight but, here's three tips from Marcus Cootsona's new book "OCCAM'S RACQUET":

1) Get your first serve in.

2) Return three balls in a row.

3) Come in on a short ball.

These three tips have worked for me to keep my mind focused on the match.

G'luck

[Fuji]

Just watch the ball!

-Fuji

[cll30]

I'm a little late to the party, but move your feet, get your racquet back early, and as stated above, watch the ball.

[kelkat]

So what happened????? Did you win? Did you play well?

[Surecatch]

Originally Posted by kelkat

So what happened????? Did you win? Did you play well?

I lost, but I was generally satisfied with my play. As usual, I faded after about an hour, but I still found some very positive things happening with my game. My serve has gotten much more dangerous than a month ago, but my backhand is still a major liability.

Strengths: footwork/athleticism, court demeanor, forehand, serve
Weaknesses: Backhand, fitness, game/breakpoints slipping away.

I swear, every match I lost, there were multiple games where I had game/break points and I just don't know how to put them away. I'll bet if I'd converted just half of those game that I ultimately lost throughout the season, I'd have won half my matches. But I have a lot to build on. I have to keep reminding myself that I have only been playing tennis for about two and a half months. I think it's a matter of experience. I will get there. I will. And then those guys are going to play catch up to me.

Thanks for all the tips....I read them all, take it all in, and store it away in my resevoir of knowledge. It'll all make a difference in getting me where I want to be. I know I sound like an overly intense player, but I really do enjoy every bit of tennis, even when I lose. You have to lose before you can win. I have won at this level before......this particular league just had all high level players this time around, and I can appreciate that. Though I lost, I became a better player. Now it's on to my weekly class, some private instruction, get in better shape, and come out swinging next time 'round.

Thanks again, peeps'.

[Govnor]

should of just hit to his back hand. Oh well. Next session!

[Cindysphinx]

Originally Posted by Surecatch

I lost,

Aw, man.

So you only got three quality shots over the net?

[Surecatch]

Originally Posted by Cindysphinx

Aw, man.

So you only got three quality shots over the net?

Haha. No, there were times that I was absolutely pummeling forehands at him, hard and deep, but then he'd get something good back to put me on the defensive, and I'd counter with a weaker shot. Then quite often he'd be able to hit one of those crafty winners that I couldn't reach. I'm learning that this is what I need to do more of.......this is how I can combat against these crafty guys being able to get unreachable shots off on me.

It's all good....I'm getting there. I know what I need to work on. Backhand. Fitness. I'm goin' all the way.

[Surecatch]

Originally Posted by Govnor

should of just hit to his back hand. Oh well. Next session!

Surecatch: pummeled forehand to his backhand.
Him: Medium-paced block return.
Surecatch: pummeled forehand to his backhand.
Him: Medium-paced block return.
Surecatch: pummeled forehand to his backhand.
Him: Medium-paced block return.
Surecatch: pummeled forehand to his backhand that misses just wide or long.

So it went. Haha.

[Govnor]

So you did do it?? haha. OK, based on that exchange I would suggest not pummeling! Higher looping topspin (deep as possible) to an average 3.5 back hand will have them in serious trouble very quickly.

[Surecatch]

Originally Posted by Govnor

So you did do it?? haha. OK, based on that exchange I would suggest not pummeling! Higher looping topspin (deep as possible) to an average 3.5 back hand will have them in serious trouble very quickly.

It's a process. I'm learning. It wasn't like that every time, of course......it did happen a number of times though when I was really grooving the forehand and felt like I couldn't miss.

No biggie. Overall I played fairly well and learned some things....that's what's most important. Winning will come.

[Sakkijarvi]

Ok, I like this accounting and will roll with it from my match yesterday, three sets, 6-2, 6-1, 6-3., maybe a little insight into thinking, your approach during these exchanges. My opponent was of the 'golden retriever' category, a little younger than me, very fast and fit. Many rallies I got to hit 6-8 shots. Went about 3 hours.

OP:

Surecatch: pummeled forehand to his backhand.
Him: Medium-paced block return.
Surecatch: pummeled forehand to his backhand.
Him: Medium-paced block return.
Surecatch: pummeled forehand to his backhand.
Him: Medium-paced block return.
Surecatch: pummeled forehand to his backhand that misses just wide or long.

*********

Sakki: Deep looping topspin forehand to his backhand.
Him: Medium-paced block return.
Sakki: Another forehand to his backhand, this one a little wider, lower, angled to force him off the court. Build slight advantage over previous stroke
Him: Medium-paced block return.
Sakki: Another forehand to his backhand, same wide angle.
Him: Medium-paced block return.
Sakki: Topspin forehand to opposite corner, plenty of room over the net, not loopy though.
Him: Runs across baseline, another medium-paced block return.
Sakki: Wrong foots opponent with repeat of previous shot to deuce side as he tries to recover to middle.
Him: Uses quickness to halt, medium-paced block return.
Sakki: BH slice, short, not aiming to create drop-shot winner (and thus more margin) to ad court.Him: Rushes in to cover, flips ball to duece, basically dropping the dropper back ...or;
Him: Pushes short ball long over baseline ... or;
Him: Nets short ball ... or;
Him: Attempts to lob short ball.
Sakki: In all of the above, come in behind the shot and hit down the line winner, cross-court winner (holding shot until last moment to see which direction he leans in), lob over his backhand shoulder, hit overhead winner on short lob ... or in the event of successful lob, run back, cover it with deep loopy defensive counter lob to his backhand corner and start point all over again.

That is one point. To enjoy playing a pusher you buy into creating these combinations for a couple of hours. Good cardio.

[LuckyR]

I would take the "just hit to the BH" advice with a gigantic grain of salt. Back in the day of one handed backhands, that may have worked at beginning levels, but in the Modern era, at the beginning levels the 2 handed BH is often more consistant than the FH, as the OP found in his matches.

[JRstriker12]

Originally Posted by LuckyR

I would take the "just hit to the BH" advice with a gigantic grain of salt. Back in the day of one handed backhands, that may have worked at beginning levels, but in the Modern era, at the beginning levels the 2 handed BH is often more consistant than the FH, as the OP found in his matches.

Maybe the advice should be - pick the weaker side.

As a 1hb player, even if I am hitting vs a 2hbh player, odds are their backhand still isn't as good as their forehand and my forehand is better than their back hand.

[JRstriker12]

Originally Posted by Surecatch

Surecatch: pummeled forehand to his backhand.
Him: Medium-paced block return.
Surecatch: pummeled forehand to his backhand.
Him: Medium-paced block return.
Surecatch: pummeled forehand to his backhand.
Him: Medium-paced block return.
Surecatch: pummeled forehand to his backhand that misses just wide or long.

So it went. Haha.

-Might be time to add the approach and volley to your game. Make him swing and try to pass you, not just block back your ball deep.

-Could your opponent volley and handle the short ball? Draw him in then lob or pummel a forehand passing shot.

-Also think about working on short angles to open up the court.

-Can he generate his own pace off the backhand? How did he handle a slow, deep, high topspin looper to the backhand? How about getting low for a deep slice?

[Surecatch]

Originally Posted by JRstriker12

-Might be time to add the approach and volley to your game. Make him swing and try to pass you, not just block back your ball deep.

-Could your opponent volley and handle the short ball? Draw him in then lob or pummel a forehand passing shot.

-Also think about working on short angles to open up the court.

-Can he generate his own pace off the backhand? How did he handle a slow, deep, high topspin looper to the backhand? How about getting low for a deep slice?

These are great pieces of advice, and ones I'm trying. I am working on the net game, at the right time of course, but I seem to get passed a lot. I think it's because I follow in a weak shot of mine off a short ball.

One of my greatest problems is positioning. I routinely find myself in the wrong part of the court. If i hit something short, they come in and drop and angle on me, and I'm back on the baseline. I'm fast, but I seem to be just a half step too behind the second bounce.

But thanks for the advice...I'll keep all of it in mind.