During a long point

[sureshs]

Yes definitely got to lose some weight here, like 20 lbs

[dominikk1985]

concentration often suffers when you are gassed. Improve your conditioning can improve concentration too.

doesn't have too much even if you just run one mile a day that can significantly improve conditioning (of course not to world class level but compared to a guy that doesn't work out regularly.

the most important thing is that you do it consistently and not just for 2 weeks and then lose interest. the adaptation takes some time.

[Mahboob Khan]

Sureshs: Nice to see you once again.

You have posted more than 24,000 posts here. My advice to you would be spend more time in the gym than on the computer. LOL.

[sureshs]

Originally Posted by Mahboob Khan

Sureshs: Nice to see you once again.

You have posted more than 24,000 posts here. My advice to you would be spend more time in the gym than on the computer. LOL.

Yes I really need to put in more hours on the court. Gym is too boring for me. I am planning on a few hours of tennis today.

[GoaLaSSo]

This may not be what you should be thinking during the point, but remember that in long rallies your opponent will also begin to feel the same way you do.

Many people (including myself) feel like they must do something with their next shot. This impatience often causes people to over hit or make a mechanical error. In long multi-stroke points, you have to learn to be content with just hitting rally balls and reacting to each shot. Don't worry too much about the pace of your shots, but pay attention to the depth. If you have to take a bit off your shots and make it a bit loopier, that is perfectly okay. The only time you should change your mentality is when the opponent hits a crappy shot that is easy to take advantage of.

If you find your shots are waning a bit in power, try not to think about mechanics. Think about how you want more depth and how you have to appropriately move to be in a good position for the next shot. The only mechanics you should ever actively think about with rally shots are court positioning and maybe rotation. If you begin questioning the way you swing consciously, it will lead to errors.

[Relinquis]

sureshs, if you dislike the gym, try jogging outdoors, cycling, swimming laps or rowing.

maui thai might help as well, but that is a contact sport and generally requires quite a bit of circuit training.

[sureshs]

Good points.

The one about focusing on depth is pretty realistic. Looking back, the depth seems to get shorter as the point grows longer, probably because the swing becomes more tentative???

[GoaLaSSo]

Originally Posted by sureshs

Good points.

The one about focusing on depth is pretty realistic. Looking back, the depth seems to get shorter as the point grows longer, probably because the swing becomes more tentative???

That is what happens with me sometimes, so I would say yes. When I start doubting my swing my shots get a bit weaker or i'll miss hit.

It is really hard to be good at tennis mentally unless you have trained for a really long time. Something that helps me with being a little less tentative is deciding where I want to hit my next shot as early as possible. When my opponent's shot leaves his racquet I approximate where I am gonna return it from and decide what place on the court I am gonna try to place it. Don't change your mind unless you have to, because hesitation also can lead to miss hits.

Another huge huge huge tip that many rec players don't follow is to hit cross court more often. Cross court is a much safer shot under most circumstances and gives you more room for error than hitting up the middle or down the line. A lot of the time you will notice pros send back most shots they have difficulty with cross court so they can have a higher chance of it landing in.

[Mahboob Khan]

Originally Posted by sureshs

Good points.

The one about focusing on depth is pretty realistic. Looking back, the depth seems to get shorter as the point grows longer, probably because the swing becomes more tentative???

A strange thing happened yesterday. I was playing against one of my Assistant Coaches. This boy is only 17 years of age. I am 63. I beat him first set 6/2, and in the second I am down 3-4 but I have a break point to level it 4-all. I hit a sizzling short cross-court winner but he somehow got to it and returned the ball back cross court, I hit a great down the line deep and I thought the point was mine but he got to it and returned it cross court (at this stage I decided not to wrong-foot him but rather make him run to enjoy the point), I took couple of steps back, got adjusted and hit a sizzling down the BH winner and moved forward but he somehow got to it and hit a great defensive lob which landed on my baseline, I sprinted back and reversed the ball back but he was at the net and tapped the ball for a drop shot winner. Instead of 4-all the score is now 3-5 down. At this point we got our coaching class so a comeback by me was pointless (I was out of breath also), and he won the second set 6/3.

Yes, tennis is a strange game and that's why we play it.

[Rogael Naderer]

Originally Posted by Mahboob Khan

A strange thing happened yesterday. I was playing against one of my Assistant Coaches. This boy is only 17 years of age. I am 63. I beat him first set 6/2, and in the second I am down 3-4 but I have a break point to level it 4-all. I hit a sizzling short cross-court winner but he somehow got to it and returned the ball back cross court, I hit a great down the line deep and I thought the point was mine but he got to it and returned it cross court (at this stage I decided not to wrong-foot him but rather make him run to enjoy the point), I took couple of steps back, got adjusted and hit a sizzling down the BH winner and moved forward but he somehow got to it and hit a great defensive lob which landed on my baseline, I sprinted back and reversed the ball back but he was at the net and tapped the ball for a drop shot winner. Instead of 4-all the score is now 3-5 down. At this point we got our coaching class so a comeback by me was pointless (I was out of breath also), and he won the second set 6/3.

Yes, tennis is a strange game and that's why we play it.

So you played 2 'winners' but the point was still live?

[Mahboob Khan]

Originally Posted by Rogael Naderer

So you played 2 'winners' but the point was still live?

They looked winners to me but he returned my winners on this occasion. LOL.

[sureshs]

Originally Posted by Mahboob Khan

A strange thing happened yesterday. I was playing against one of my Assistant Coaches. This boy is only 17 years of age. I am 63. I beat him first set 6/2, and in the second I am down 3-4 but I have a break point to level it 4-all. I hit a sizzling short cross-court winner but he somehow got to it and returned the ball back cross court, I hit a great down the line deep and I thought the point was mine but he got to it and returned it cross court (at this stage I decided not to wrong-foot him but rather make him run to enjoy the point), I took couple of steps back, got adjusted and hit a sizzling down the BH winner and moved forward but he somehow got to it and hit a great defensive lob which landed on my baseline, I sprinted back and reversed the ball back but he was at the net and tapped the ball for a drop shot winner. Instead of 4-all the score is now 3-5 down. At this point we got our coaching class so a comeback by me was pointless (I was out of breath also), and he won the second set 6/3.

Yes, tennis is a strange game and that's why we play it.

What would you say would be the level of the *** coach in US NTRP terms?

[Power Player]

Sounds like you are out of shape and can't grind a point. You need to run and lose weight, but I have a feeling you won't committ to that.

One thing that will help instantly (besides having better footwork) is breathing right. I always inhale on opponent's contact and exhale on mine. It is just easy to remember and it keeps me focused.

You have to get your footwork right though for this to ever really pay off. It takes a few weeks of being tired and then suddenly you get it and you will find that you actually save tons of energy out there now that you are hitting with balanced form.

[Mahboob Khan]

Originally Posted by sureshs

What would you say would be the level of the *** coach in US NTRP terms?

Ass Coach?

[sureshs]

Originally Posted by Power Player

One thing that will help instantly (besides having better footwork) is breathing right. I always inhale on opponent's contact and exhale on mine. It is just easy to remember and it keeps me focused.

I tried that once a long time ago, but didn't pursue it long enough.

Recently, I am trying to incorporate proper breathing in every aspect of my life. I will try this again.

Do you exhale only through the nose or also through the mouth?

[charliefedererer]

Practice long rallies in matches on purpose.

That is the best way to build up "shot tolerance" and not become anxious to end the point after just a few exchanges.


(This is NOT the way you will want to play forever - in the future you are going to want to exploit short balls by hitting approach shots and coming in.
You are going to want to hit your first serve for aces.
You are going to want to "go for" flat put-aways in to the open court.)


But to build shot tolerance you may want to play a few "pusher" on purpose, and try to outlast him with back court rallies using safe shots.

While this may not have any immediate appeal for you, it may be just the thing you need both to get over your low shot tolerance, and to build up your stamina (may be better for you running on the court than in a gym.)

[Power Player]

Originally Posted by sureshs

I tried that once a long time ago, but didn't pursue it long enough.

Recently, I am trying to incorporate proper breathing in every aspect of my life. I will try this again.

Do you exhale only through the nose or also through the mouth?

Mouth too I think. Most great players that I have seen hit or have hit with are somewhat loud on the exhale. It is a rhythm and focus thing as well as a way to remember to breathe.

If you start by taking in air when you are split stepping, you will see the rest comes naturally.

I learned this by sitting right on the court last year at the Sony tourny. I could hear breathing on off times..like I would hear the player grunt quitly when the other player was hitting the ball. Thought it was echo, but the players were breathing in on opponent's contact and out on theirs.

Someone to check out is Ferrer. It is pretty easy to hear him do this.

[Anton]

Originally Posted by Power Player

If you start by taking in air when you are split stepping, you will see the rest comes naturally.

Yep - I try to land the split step at the moment of impact on opponent's racket, so you can begin reacting to ball direction asap.

You begin split step and inhalation just a tic before opponent hits the ball.