NTRP (estimated) 2.5 Wall Practice (Video)

[TomT]

Originally Posted by 5263

You may lose to them (some of them sandbaggers of course) by I expect you play pretty well with them overall, right?

Well, I win lots of points. Lots of games go to multiple deuces. But I generally lose the matches. It's all fun of course.

Originally Posted by 5263

Used to get to Fireman's park, but hit a couple of spots in Coral Spgs when I'm in town. Get over to Evert's at times as well, but not much and I don't think it is the one you mention.

If you're going to be over by the port and want to hit, then email me and I'll give you my number.

[5263]

Sounds Good!

[cork_screw]

Congratulations! You're actually one of the very few people on here that actually underestimates his NTRP.

You have nice old school strokes. I don't wanna place a number on it, but I like your slice and your backhands in general a lot. Good stuff and don't be so hard on yourself. If only other people on here were as modest as you.

[TomT]

Originally Posted by cork_screw

Congratulations! You're actually one of the very few people on here that actually underestimates his NTRP.

You have nice old school strokes. I don't wanna place a number on it, but I like your slice and your backhands in general a lot. Good stuff and don't be so hard on yourself. If only other people on here were as modest as you.

Thanks for the input and encouraging comments. But I think you might agree that in order to compete at higher levels then I'm going to have to learn to hit solidly with topspin off both sides, because that's what's enabled and required by the modern racquet and string technology.

I'm pretty sure that the 4.0s I play against are sort of taking it easy on me. But, that said, I don't think that their best efforts are so far removed from mine that I might not some day, given enough practice, be competitive with them. The goal right now is just to become a solid 3.5. If I ever achieve that, then I'll raise the bar.

[TennisCJC]

Originally Posted by LeeD

There is NO chance, realistic or dreaming, of TomT becoming a middling 4.5 player in singles. Heck, I move twice as fast, hit three times harder, and there is very little chance.
Consider. We are over 63 years old. We have no legs. That alone precludes any chance of 4.5.
A very good 67 year old, one who plays the NationalChamp65 twice a year almost even, says that there is no chance a guy his age can ever compete in 4.5, just because his endurance after a set and a half is not there.
You will cite plenty of marathone runners aged over 60. They run slow, too slow to play tennis. A tennis ball waits for no man, regardless of age or repute.

I agree with this. I am a month shy of 56 had knee surgery 4 months ago and a chronically inflamed left ankle, I can no longer compete with guys 25 years younger at 4.5 singles. I might could if I had a huge serve but my style is to do everything moderately well and not have a weakness. I do attack the net a fair bit and I can hit aggressively off the ground but the point is I don't have a shot to blow people off the court. Without a big weapon, it is very difficult to make up for a lack of movement in singles.

But, in a 55 and over 4.5 tourney; I could be competitive in singles and doubles.

[TomT]

Originally Posted by TennisCJC

I agree with this. I am a month shy of 56 had knee surgery 4 months ago and a chronically inflamed left ankle, I can no longer compete with guys 25 years younger at 4.5 singles. I might could if I had a huge serve but my style is to do everything moderately well and not have a weakness. I do attack the net a fair bit and I can hit aggressively off the ground but the point is I don't have a shot to blow people off the court. Without a big weapon, it is very difficult to make up for a lack of movement in singles.

But, in a 55 and over 4.5 tourney; I could be competitive in singles and doubles.

Then I'd like to see some videos of you playing, or at least practice hitting. I think I might learn something, and anyway, as you can probably tell from this thread, I love tennis videos.

[TomT]

For your amusement and criticism, some points from a recent 3.0 match.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WGWV...s&feature=plcp
My opponent is a great guy and family man. This is one of the main reasons I like tennis. Because I meet lots of good people.

[JoeR]

Originally Posted by TomT

For your amusement and criticism, some points from a recent 3.0 match.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WGWV...s&feature=plcp
I was playing at about half speed. My opponent is a great guy and family man. This is one of the main reasons I like tennis. Because I meet lots of good people.

Tom,

I've been lurking on the forums for the last three months... but I finally had to register and thank you for posting your videos.

If you lived closer, I think we'd enjoy hitting together.
Especially with your attitude on the courts (and on the forums).

Glad to read your posts!

Joe

[TomT]

Originally Posted by JoeR

Tom,

I've been lurking on the forums for the last three months... but I finally had to register and thank you for posting your videos.

If you lived closer, I think we'd enjoy hitting together.
Especially with your attitude on the courts (and on the forums).

Glad to read your posts!

Joe

Thanks Joe. Post some vids.

[rten885]

I would definitely focus on getting the proper form down first before using a wall. The ball comes back at you really fast so you really do not have any time to think about the proper form. Form is everything.

[TomT]

Thanks, rten885, for your input. (Post some vids.)

Below is a recap of the wall hitting vids in this thread. (Maybe I'll start another thread on ~ 3.0 match play.)

In this vid I was sort of just banging away. Not very good form at all.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MmC_RonvQq4&feature=plcp

In this vid I was trying to come over the backhand. A little better form than the first vid maybe. But still not very good.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XE6SFXZDsc0

This is TT poster vil hitting against a wall. Much better form than mine.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WaWj...s&feature=plcp

This guy looks to me like a very accomplished player. I won't guess what level, but his strokes look very solid to me. I think he's using the wall very constructively. Good practice. As you say, rten885, proper form is the key.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mNiXrgAtjxc

Here's a (possibly controversial) question. Considering the last two vids, what kind of a match would it be between vil (the guy in the second to the last vid) and the guy in the last vid? It's pure speculation of course, but I'm just curious what some of the more knowledgeable TT posters would say.

[gmatheis]

Originally Posted by TomT

Thanks, rten885, for your input. (Post some vids.)

Below is a recap of the wall hitting vids in this thread. (Maybe I'll start another thread on ~ 3.0 match play.)

In this vid I was sort of just banging away. Not very good form at all.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MmC_RonvQq4&feature=plcp

In this vid I was trying to come over the backhand. A little better form than the first vid maybe. But still not very good.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XE6SFXZDsc0

This is TT poster vil hitting against a wall. Much better form than mine.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WaWj...s&feature=plcp

This guy looks to me like a very accomplished player. I won't guess what level, but his strokes look very solid to me. I think he's using the wall very constructively. Good practice. As you say, rten885, proper form is the key.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mNiXrgAtjxc

Here's a (possibly controversial) question. Considering the last two vids, what kind of a match would it be between vil (the guy in the second to the last vid) and the guy in the last vid? It's pure speculation of course, but I'm just curious what some of the more knowledgeable TT posters would say.

My money would have to be on the last guy (Simon Konov). I like his control and his movement more than the second last guy who seems to be just hitting really hard onto the wall ... albeit with some fair accuracy.

That could be just because I know Simon is playing futures though and I know nothing about the other guy.

[Passion4Tennis]

I doubt it would be a close match. Simon is younger, quicker, has great footwork, and has very nice strokes. His game has probably been groomed by years of instruction and coaching. The guy in the previous video looks to be a capable player, but his wall work isn't anything out of the ordinary.

[ShoeShiner]

Originally Posted by TomT

My opponent is a great guy and family man. This is one of the main reasons I like tennis. Because I meet lots of good people.

Nice comment.

[TomT]

Originally Posted by Passion4Tennis

I doubt it would be a close match. Simon is younger, quicker, has great footwork, and has very nice strokes. His game has probably been groomed by years of instruction and coaching. The guy in the previous video looks to be a capable player, but his wall work isn't anything out of the ordinary.

I have to agree with you and gmatheis. vil's strokes are much better than mine, and it looks to me like Simon's are better than vil's. Anyway, I think that both vil and Simon have demonstrated that wall practice can be beneficial in that it's possible to practice good habits, and therefore improve your game, on the wall.

[TomT]

Originally Posted by ShoeShiner

Nice comment.

Thanks but not being nice. It's actually the truth (about that guy), as far as I know, and it's also what I consider to be most rewarding about playing competitive tennis. By the way, that guy and I have a great head to head rivalry. He's won about 6 or 7 matches, and I've only won 3, the last one being the playoff match in the vid. Our matches are so close because we make soooo many unforced errors.

But, you know, we're both bona fide tennis nuts.

[gmatheis]

Keep up the good work Tom, I enjoy seeing your stuff

[TomT]

Originally Posted by gmatheis

Keep up the good work Tom, I enjoy seeing your stuff

Thanks gmatheis. Post some vids. I love vids. I think we all love vids. Vids are instructional and, perhaps most importantly, entertaining.

[TomT]

I liked this flat forehand. Felt real good. But I noticed in the vid that maybe my left arm should be doing something different. Maybe not. I don't know. Criticism, comments. Also, please post your own vids.
Forehand
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sQa4VIRh5d8

And, yeah, it hit the netcord. (think: Jimmy Connors ... very little net clearance, very risky, but hard to deal with because those kinds of shots take away time from the opponent).

[psv255]

Originally Posted by TomT

I liked this flat forehand. Felt real good. But I noticed in the vid that maybe my left arm should be doing something different. Maybe not. I don't know. Criticism, comments. Also, please post your own vids.
Forehand
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sQa4VIRh5d8

If you keep your left arm across your body a bit longer (instead of jerking it away early), you might have a more coiled/well-timed shoulder turn.