NTRP (estimated) 2.5 Wall Practice (Video)

[xFullCourtTenniSx]

You can hit a topspin forehand and an awkward backhand slice.

Your attempt at a topspin backhand is more sidespin than topspin. Lift higher. Racket should finish much higher on the backhand.

Just go out and play matches. At your age (I think I saw white hair and some scalp, so excuse me if you're actually a young person), your shots aren't going to get any prettier anytime soon... What you want to focus on is being able to control it and being able to hit it 100 times without missing. All you can get better at is control, control, consistency, and match play.

I saw an old guy, chemistry professor at UCLA from what I heard, play against another old guy and the points between them looked very one-sided. The professor didn't have the best looking strokes. They were very short, stiff, and very jerky. He got clean contact and a good follow through. But more importantly, his precision was laser-like. He hit the lines on so many shots (which I advise against, but he was doing it all day so I can't criticize him for it).

At his age (easily at least 60), how many people are going to be blasting the ball? How many are going to use heavy topspin? How many can run very well? Not many. How many can place the ball well? How many can hit about 100 balls into the court if they can move to it? Depends on how many of these guys are as smart as the professor.

He's not going to beat any reasonably consistent, reasonably clean-hitting, young guy. He's just going to use his young legs to keep getting balls back until they eventually land somewhere where the professor can't get to them. But how many 60+ year olds can beat young guys that don't beat themselves? Not many. There are the fit old guys (like McEnroe, who I don't think is 60 yet), and that's about it.

There was a guy who is insanely dominant at I think the 90+ division (some insanely high age range) because he's the only one left that can actually move to the ball. As you get older, your movement and ability to abuse your opponent's lack of movement (though control and consistency) are your weapons.

[TomT]

Originally Posted by xFullCourtTenniSx

You can hit a topspin forehand and an awkward backhand slice.

Your attempt at a topspin backhand is more sidespin than topspin. Lift higher. Racket should finish much higher on the backhand.

Just go out and play matches. At your age (I think I saw white hair and some scalp, so excuse me if you're actually a young person), your shots aren't going to get any prettier anytime soon... What you want to focus on is being able to control it and being able to hit it 100 times without missing. All you can get better at is control, control, consistency, and match play.

I saw an old guy, chemistry professor at UCLA from what I heard, play against another old guy and the points between them looked very one-sided. The professor didn't have the best looking strokes. They were very short, stiff, and very jerky. He got clean contact and a good follow through. But more importantly, his precision was laser-like. He hit the lines on so many shots (which I advise against, but he was doing it all day so I can't criticize him for it).

At his age (easily at least 60), how many people are going to be blasting the ball? How many are going to use heavy topspin? How many can run very well? Not many. How many can place the ball well? How many can hit about 100 balls into the court if they can move to it? Depends on how many of these guys are as smart as the professor.

He's not going to beat any reasonably consistent, reasonably clean-hitting, young guy. He's just going to use his young legs to keep getting balls back until they eventually land somewhere where the professor can't get to them. But how many 60+ year olds can beat young guys that don't beat themselves? Not many. There are the fit old guys (like McEnroe, who I don't think is 60 yet), and that's about it.

There was a guy who is insanely dominant at I think the 90+ division (some insanely high age range) because he's the only one left that can actually move to the ball. As you get older, your movement and ability to abuse your opponent's lack of movement (though control and consistency) are your weapons.

Hi xFullCourtTenniSx, thanks for the input and tips. Yeah, I'm the old(er) guy in all the vids.

[xFullCourtTenniSx]

Originally Posted by TomT

Hi xFullCourtTenniSx, thanks for the input and tips. Yeah, I'm the old(er) guy in all the vids.

Not gonna lie... Better legs than what I'd expect of 65 years. My knees would probably be all taped up, if not my weak ankles.

[TomT]

Some more recent vids for amusement and constructive criticism:
(I'm the guy in the striped shirt.)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oN2I9LN-iT8

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HWgZQ4l5gRY

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wEjmu0ulvTI

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WitmQcPKw9I

[TomT]

A few warmup strokes before a recent match:
(I'm the green shirt.)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=caTlGdxh2Qw

[LeeD]

Hate to tell you...
You have the strokes of a 4.0 player in the movement of a 3.0 body....
Amazed at the groove of your strokes. Hope the legs come back soon.

[TomT]

Originally Posted by LeeD

Hate to tell you...
You have the strokes of a 4.0 player in the movement of a 3.0 body....
Amazed at the groove of your strokes. Hope the legs come back soon.

Thanks for the feedback. Yeah, the strokes need a lot of work, and the movement even more. Goal is to become consistent 3.5 competitor. Unfortunately, the clock is ticking.

[Cheetah]

Hey,

pretty good strokes. nice feel. very athletic. Do you do any exercise to work on those legs? bike or stairs etc?
Keep it up. Looks good.

[Sky_Boy]

Hi Tom.. regarding your serves, i feel your tossing too low.. tossing arm should finish higher.. it's important to toss higher becuz if u dun u will be rushing your body into the serve losing power in that way.. For detailed explaination u can try fuzzy yellow ball website..

As for my video, i dun have a video cam right now.. will probably buy or borrow 1 sometime in the future..

[TomT]

Originally Posted by Cheetah

Hey,

pretty good strokes. nice feel. very athletic. Do you do any exercise to work on those legs? bike or stairs etc?
Keep it up. Looks good.

Thanks Cheetah. Bike about 10 miles/day on average. But mostly it's just trying to play with a little more intensity (while remaining relaxed) with each successive match. Stairs are somewhat painful. Don't do them much.

Anyway, just getting out and doing something on the tennis court several times a week has improved the leg strength a lot.

Main problem now is stressed tendons in wrist and hand since earlier this year -- a byproduct of trying to do too much (for me) in a certain period of time.

So, how's your game these days? Any videos for instruction or positive criticism ... or just because I like to watch tennis videos?

[TomT]

Originally Posted by Sky_Boy

Hi Tom.. regarding your serves, i feel your tossing too low.. tossing arm should finish higher.. it's important to toss higher becuz if u dun u will be rushing your body into the serve losing power in that way.. For detailed explaination u can try fuzzy yellow ball website..

As for my video, i dun have a video cam right now.. will probably buy or borrow 1 sometime in the future..

Hi Sky_Boy, thanks for the tip. However, in the case of the serve I want to keep the toss low in order to keep it as simple as possible (think: Roscoe Tanner, etc.). I'm not actually worried about my serve at this time. It could be a lot better of course, but it's very consistent, and a very easy motion for me the way I do it now. Against 4.0 to 3.5+ it's effective enough to get me into the point. Against weak 3.5 and below it's a weapon.

Of course, when everything gets stronger and the hand/wrist heals fully, then I want to try to do some things (which will probably involve experimenting with a slightly higher toss) to improve it that I can't really do effectively now. Ie., bend into the court, point (bring feet together), knee bend, and extending more (maybe even jumping a little) into contacting the ball.

[anantak2k]

Originally Posted by ShoeShiner

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

The overhead drill he does is very interesting. I need to try that this week if I get a chance

[TomT]

Originally Posted by anantak2k

The overhead drill he does is very interesting. I need to try that this week if I get a chance

Yeah, all those drills look good. Thanks for reminding anantak2k. Post some video of yourself if you can.

[TomT]

A few services from a recent match.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MgUkTtJsDsc

[LeeD]

Nice live arm.
Would be nice if you started tennis in your 20's. You'd be easy 4.0 right now heading to 4.5 very soon.
I know what it's like to have the wheels cut out from under you.

[TomT]

Originally Posted by LeeD

Nice live arm.
Would be nice if you started tennis in your 20's. You'd be easy 4.0 right now heading to 4.5 very soon.
I know what it's like to have the wheels cut out from under you.

Hi LeeD, actually I did start in my 20's. But only played during 1975-76, then not until this year (unless you want to count the, oh, 2 or 3 times per decade that I played between 1976 and 2012).
As long as the Crohn's doesn't flare then I think I might eventually become a competitive 3.5. At least that's the goal.
Thanks for the feedback.

[LeeD]

I meant started in your 20's TWO years ago.
You have the strokes. You don't have the legs.

[Cheetah]

Keep it up. I played with a 72 year old guy this spring who hits harder than I do and I can hit pretty hard.

[TomT]

Originally Posted by LeeD

I meant started in your 20's TWO years ago.
You have the strokes. You don't have the legs.

Oh, ok, I see what you mean. Yeah, stroke production during a match does depend a lot on the legs, and, even though I might seem to be scooting around the court ok at times, mine are still relatively quite weak. But I have to be thankful just to be able to get out there and do something/anything. For much of last year I couldn't even get on a bicycle. The first few times I tried to hit early in this year I couldn't even hit against the wall for more than about 10 minutes without being totally drained. Today played 1 1/2 hour two set match from 9:30am to 11am and not tired at all -- though I do feel it in the legs a bit.

Hit a couple times recently with a guy who's willing to do some groundstroke, etc. drills ... which should help a lot.

Also, wondering about the possible benefits of playing on clay fairly often. Up to now it's just been hard courts.

[sunof tennis]

Originally Posted by TomT

Hi Sky_Boy, thanks for the tip. However, in the case of the serve I want to keep the toss low in order to keep it as simple as possible (think: Roscoe Tanner, etc.). I'm not actually worried about my serve at this time. It could be a lot better of course, but it's very consistent, and a very easy motion for me the way I do it now. Against 4.0 to 3.5+ it's effective enough to get me into the point. Against weak 3.5 and below it's a weapon.

Of course, when everything gets stronger and the hand/wrist heals fully, then I want to try to do some things (which will probably involve experimenting with a slightly higher toss) to improve it that I can't really do effectively now. Ie., bend into the court, point (bring feet together), knee bend, and extending more (maybe even jumping a little) into contacting the ball.

Yes, toss is too low and too far to the side. Should be more one o'clock versus two o'clock like yours. You simply slice the serve now. There is no pronation (and, as you mention no leg drive, etc). The question is how good to you want to get and how much time do you have to put into it. Your forehand is a 4.0. The serve is 3.5 to maybe 4.0 and same with your backhand. To get to 4.5 you would have to re-work you serve and backhand to get top spin on both to go all with your slices on both.
You play pretty smart and well for your level.