Interview with famous tennis coaches and players

[TCF]

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[ga tennis]

Every kid is different. Rage to master happens at different ages. It can come from many different things. Some kids get it at 7 some get it at 12.

[tennisconsultcom]

A question from concerned mom: Is it possible for young tennis players who don't play the modern style of tennis to achieve great things?
An experienced coach answered it. I hope, you'll find it interesting.
http://wp.me/p2iyrR-cq

[tennisconsultcom]

I published the article "Tennis talent identification and development in tennis". It is too big to place it on the forum. Brief description:

"The search for “talents” is as old as life itself. In sport, systematic talent identification programs started in the former Eastern bloc countries around the 1960′s and 1970′s and were responsible for a great part of their Olympic success. These programs have been adapted in countries such as China and Cuba with the results also being good.

Traditionally tennis has used process of natural selection, however in recent years sport science based tennis talent identification projects have seen researchers trying to determine the specific characteristics that tennis demands for young talents to become top players...

Research tends to indicate that individual features (e.g. genes) and environmental conditions (e.g. parents, training) closely interact in the player development process and even though genetic determinants play their role, the context of player development seems to have a higher relevance.

Studies have concluded that skills and aptitudes shown at a young age do not automatically translate into talent development and performance, and that talent is not always apparent by observation alone."

You cab find a full version of the article on my site.

[tennisconsultcom]

Here is a very interesting point about the perspective of serve and volley in modern tennis. http://wp.me/p2iyrR-eu

[coaching32yrs]

Good article. One of my favorite topics. The answer is simple. Serve and volley is still useful. It is only dead because kids haven't put in the time to use it. Kids today can't volley, don't know how to position at the net, and don't have the shots to play the front court- slice off both sides, lob volley, 1/2 volley. 2 good 4.5 men doubles players can beat 2 TRN 18 year olds ranked between 11 and 30 nationally. I have seen it happen.

[jigglypuff]

Originally Posted by coaching32yrs

Good article. One of my favorite topics. The answer is simple. Serve and volley is still useful. It is only dead because kids haven't put in the time to use it. Kids today can't volley, don't know how to position at the net, and don't have the shots to play the front court- slice off both sides, lob volley, 1/2 volley. 2 good 4.5 men doubles players can beat 2 TRN 18 year olds ranked between 11 and 30 nationally. I have seen it happen.

There's only one shot to play in the front court... ripping a winner. If you can't do that on a consistent basis, no other shots are going to help you win against a good player in singles.

Apples and oranges... can the Byran brothers beat a doubles team of Federer/Nadal?

[coaching32yrs]

Originally Posted by jigglypuff

There's only one shot to play in the front court... ripping a winner. If you can't do that on a consistent basis, no other shots are going to help you win against a good player in singles.

Apples and oranges... can the Byran brothers beat a doubles team of Federer/Nadal?

In singles it helps a lot to have a good net game. Makes life much easier. What do you propose junior do when a player brings him in with heavily carved slice. A ball that junior cannot attack.

[jigglypuff]

Originally Posted by coaching32yrs

In singles it helps a lot to have a good net game. Makes life much easier. What do you propose junior do when a player brings him in with heavily carved slice. A ball that junior cannot attack.

Yes, a net game is good to have... if you already have a strong aggressive baseline game. Otherwise, how are you ever going to get to the net and not get buried?

A heavily carved slice short in the forecourt is very difficult to pull off. It's like asking someone to to chip aggressively with lots of backspin, clear the net and make sure it doesn't get close to the service line all at the same time.

[coaching32yrs]

Originally Posted by jigglypuff

Yes, a net game is good to have... if you already have a strong aggressive baseline game. Otherwise, how are you ever going to get to the net and not get buried?

A heavily carved slice short in the forecourt is very difficult to pull off. It's like asking someone to to chip aggressively with lots of backspin, clear the net and make sure it doesn't get close to the service line all at the same time.

Catch 22 here. A short slice with good backspin is an easy shot for an average 4.5 player. It is a hard shot for an 18 yr old 4 star because, as a whole, they are not good slicers. When junior pounds it in the corner and has opponent retreating and scrambling what do you have him do? Obvious answer is move forward and knock off easy volley or overhead. Unfortunately most juniors stay at the baseline and start the point over if scrambler gets it back. Makes no sense.

[10ismom]

Originally Posted by coaching32yrs

Catch 22 here. A short slice with good backspin is an easy shot for an average 4.5 player. It is a hard shot for an 18 yr old 4 star because, as a whole, they are not good slicers. When junior pounds it in the corner and has opponent retreating and scrambling what do you have him do? Obvious answer is move forward and knock off easy volley or overhead. Unfortunately most juniors stay at the baseline and start the point over if scrambler gets it back. Makes no sense.

Agree. A lot more in tennis than just pounding at baseline.

I would hope 18 yr old 4 star knows how to move forward and finish up the point at net or a short ball mid-court. Otherwise, something is wrong in his/her development.

[coaching32yrs]

Originally Posted by 10ismom

Agree. A lot more in tennis than just pounding at baseline.

I would hope 18 yr old 4 star knows how to move forward and finish up the point at net or a short ball mid-court. Otherwise, something is wrong in his/her development.

10ismom: 80% of the 4 stars don't know how to play the net. You don't have to just know how to volley, you have to know where to be. My experience is that 2 average 4.5 adults beat the 4 stars in doubles 3 of 4 times. In singles the 4 stars win easily.

[10ismom]

Originally Posted by coaching32yrs

10ismom: 80% of the 4 stars don't know how to play the net. You don't have to just know how to volley, you have to know where to be. My experience is that 2 average 4.5 adults beat the 4 stars in doubles 3 of 4 times. In singles the 4 stars win easily.

That's why I think it's important for juniors to learn how to play the net and play doubles at a younger age. Shouldn't ignore it or wait till it is too late.

When playing a very good opponent, the usual winner may not be a winner. Knowing when/how to move forward, finish up the point will take time away from that opponent. Make life easier like you said.

There are a bunch of doubles opportunities they can sign up for. Playing a lot of doubles will certainly build up skills and confidence at net.

[jigglypuff]

Originally Posted by coaching32yrs

Catch 22 here. A short slice with good backspin is an easy shot for an average 4.5 player. It is a hard shot for an 18 yr old 4 star because, as a whole, they are not good slicers. When junior pounds it in the corner and has opponent retreating and scrambling what do you have him do? Obvious answer is move forward and knock off easy volley or overhead. Unfortunately most juniors stay at the baseline and start the point over if scrambler gets it back. Makes no sense.

I think you are giving the average adult 4.5 player too much credit. If you have said 5.0 or borderline 5.0 player, you'll get no argument from me. An "average" 4.5 geezer is just not very good.

[KevinB9986]

Originally Posted by jigglypuff

I think you are giving the average adult 4.5 player too much credit. If you have said 5.0 or borderline 5.0 player, you'll get no argument from me. An "average" 4.5 geezer is just not very good.

I agree with that. I see a lot of these guys at club where you can tell their legs are gone. That's why I force myself to run the stairs and play hockey/skate three days a week. Playing tennis isn't enough to make you strong.

[coaching32yrs]

Played USTA many years. Average 4.5 player very good. Many ex college players. Also play agnst 3 and 4 star juniors all the time. The 4 star juniors regularly losing to the adults all the time. If your legs are gone or you are "not that good" cannot play 4.5 ball at the USTA level. Impossible.

[KevinB9986]

Originally Posted by coaching32yrs

Played USTA many years. Average 4.5 player very good. Many ex college players. Also play agnst 3 and 4 star juniors all the time. The 4 star juniors regularly losing to the adults all the time. If your legs are gone or you are "not that good" cannot play 4.5 ball at the USTA level. Impossible.

I saw what was called a 4.5 doubles league and some of these guys didn't look like they were playing that much.

[coaching32yrs]

Originally Posted by KevinB9986

I saw what was called a 4.5 doubles league and some of these guys didn't look like they were playing that much.

Can't go by what a non usta league calls itself. Also can't go by what players "look like".

[tennisconsultcom]

If you have questions for Steve Johnson, please write them here. I am working on the interview now.

[Relinquis]

Originally Posted by tennisconsultcom

If you have questions for Steve Johnson, please write them here. I am working on the interview now.

Ask him what he thinks the Europeans do better in terms of tennis coaching/training than the USA. What he thinks USA tennis learn from Europe?