Anyone at 4.0+ without high school or college experience?

[TnTBigman]

i played at the high level in a forgein country. so when i relocated to the US, and got involved with local clubs here, i tried to play with ppl at my skill level. there more than willing (i find) to play with you frequently. And based on their rating, and advise from coaches and experienced tournament players, i started at 4.0 level then moved up. This is my 1st yr with a rating now.
even though someone is rated 4.5 or 5.0, even within that group, there is still a range within that group from a really good 5.0 to a 5.0 that just got "bumped up". so sample various leagues and look for a skill pattern that seems to fit you. i'd suggest going one rate lower to get your feet wet and get some tittles under your belt.
i try to practise 2-3 times was week @ 2hrs + long sessions. its important to
practise with ppl at or just above ur skill level. thats really the only way your game is gonna improve.

[Kaptain Karl]

My older brother was #2 on a HS Team which made it to State ... with no real "Coach". The school had just started and none of the Coaches wanted to take the Tennis Team. The boys convinced a History Teacher, who knew *nothing* about tennis to be the Team's "Sponsor". The #1 and my brother ran the Team.

(Three years later I was #5 on that school team -- with the Basketball Coach in the "role" -- and we WON State. That "Coach" was one in title, only. We
still ran our own drills, etc.)

I've coached HS Teams the last several years. When I was the Head Tennis Coach, I'd inform the parents and the boys I wasn't a babysitter ... nor was I functioning as a Tennis Instructor. If your boy knows how to play, great. If he doesn't, he probably won't make the team. (As a Coach, I work more on drilling, strategy and tactics. Not nearly so much on "How to" or mechanics....)

- KK

[Brad Smith]

I didn't play HS or college tennis. I played a lot with friends as a teenager and in my early 20's I started to get a little more serious, went to a tennis camp, and was playing 4.0. Then I took off 5+ years because of work/travel. When I started playing again I had the time to take lessons/clinics, read books and articles on TennisOne.com, do way to much research on rackets on these boards, etc. I also bought a ball machine and spent a lot of time practicing by myself. The end result is that I am playing better now than I ever have (just got bumped to 5.0) and I can hold my own with most of the former college players I play with. There is only one other 5.0 in the area that I know of who did not play college tennis and/or high level junior tennis, and he is an outstanding athlete who played college basketball. I'm a decent athlete myself, but I think my success at tennis is due mostly to my approach to getting better. I absorb as much information as possible, distill it down and relate it to my own game, and then practice practice practice. Then I work on incorporating the changes/improvements into match play, and if that means losing a match I would normally win that's fine with me. Another thing I like to do is play a wide variety of players especially in doubles. As a 4.5/5.0 I can often be found playing doubles with 3.0/3.5's on a Tuesday night at my club. These are opportunities for me to have fun and to work on specialty shots in a completely relaxed environment. It also helps with concentration and improvisation because there are a lot of unsual shots/situations that you encounter, and this in turn helps when you go back to playing with 4.5/5.0 players. You also have to play guys that are better than you on a regular basis so you can see where you need work and you become accustomed to the pace/spin at higher levels. And finally you have to play guys who are the same level as you so that you work on your mental game and execution because that's usually the difference in equally matched opponents.

[federer_nadal]

Originally Posted by sdslyout

I'm 44 and never played or gave tennis a second thought . In high school and for 10 years after i was into racquet ball and went to "b" level . It's been 1 year and 2 months now for tennis, no clubs no formal lessons . I've got a buddy who could have gone pro that turned into my trainer running drills ,mental game ,gear. At my local courts i've met many people and play / hit , sometimes 3 times aday . I call my local courts the " pond" and i'm the new little fish in a pond full of big fish who have been playing tennis 20 years + . They have a hard time believing i'm only 1 year playing and as a result they ask me to play singles and doubles , weekly , sometimes i get handed my *** and other times i do the *** handing. They all say i play at 4.0-4.5 level , or college level . In my driveway i build a backboard to hit against and i jump rope at home . gear wise i started with a wilson ncode N6 and have moved to a head flexpoint fire and wilson ncode Ntour's . One of the guys i play is a sales rep. for wilson and he has given me 3 wilson ncode Ntours(brand new) pretty cool . He says that way nothing gear wise will hold me back. Above all i've learned that foot work will make you or break you and i have zero ego. I hit hard and play even harder, on the court(s) it's war !! and also loosing is a large part of winning plus playing tennis is fun. There you have it in a nut shell

I am only 16 but i figure i can reply to this thread, i am about 4.5 maybe more, i dont know, (we dont have it here in aus). I have never been coached and i have only been playing seriously for a couple of years and i just improve because i love playing. I am always trying to find someone to hit with. Our school never had any type of competition like that. But in our league i play number 2 with the adults.

[GRANITECHIEF]

Here's a good thread to share my story, hope its not too long.

I started when i was 23, except for a few hack sessions here/there through the years. I got completely addicted and couldn't get enough. It was wall ball, serving practice and buggin my friends who played HS ball to beat up on me. 2nd year i tried out as a walk on for Cal Poly (D1) and although i beat a couple other walk ons, i wasn't quite ready yet. Got a few lessons in trade for hitting during lessons with a junior. Played a couple tourneys at a low level and competed on the SLO county ladder, got to #9 (out of 130) beating Hans Riethoffer at Avila bay tennis club while hung over. Topspin lob winner for the match. Got to 4.0 in 2 years.

Graduated, got a job, moved and joined my first club (thousand oaks racket club, TORC). Played every night after work and on the weekends for a year. Couple tourneys hear and there. Played in 4.5 league.

Moved to tahoe. Played constantly during non-snow months and 1/wk during winter indoor at Reno Hilton. Won the A's at Northstar open 3 yrs in a row and won Incline open. 4.5/5.0 six years later.

Got laid off and got new job (Carter Burgess) in Sacramento. Joined Rio del Oro which had 25 or so courts and at least a dozen 5.0's and a couple higher. Played every nite after work. Great club and gained lots of experience. 5.0

Got recruited by an engineering company and moved back to hometown, Santa Barbara. Started playing local tourneys at open level and practicing with open players. Made a couple finals, shoulda won one > lost 6-4 in third, and a couple semis. Spent a week at Saddlebrook and asked Randy Brooke my ntrp. He said, "big serve, drive out in front off both sides, probably 5.5".

Probably not 5.5 as i don't have a consistent training regimen and with work/family etc. only get to hit 2-3 times a week. So i'm going with 5.0. Play with these three guys on the ATP computer:

http://www.atptennis.com/5/en/player...sp?player=W444

Last time was 6-0,6-0 but i had numerous game point/duece/30's and lost a 6-4 set about a year ago.

http://www.atptennis.com/5/en/player...=W419&x=3&y=11

Lost 3,1 (one break in first, 2 in second) in a tourney in Oct.

http://www.atptennis.com/5/en/player...=W476&x=7&y=14

Lost last match 3,1 after getting a nose bleed up 3-1 with a bp for 4-1 in the first cruising for what felt like a 6-2 set win. I've won 2 set outta 7, one at 6-1.

Kaboom!!!
http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a3...esserve118.jpg

Although i still want to improve, my focus is shifting to my 11 yo (since Dec 7)boy. He rediculously talented, goes to Weil academy Tues-Thurs, works with Landsdorp on Fridays, and is moving up the 12's ranks. I'll be lucky to stop him from beating me in a match (2/3 sets) before he's 15, or (shudder) 14. He says 13 and he fully intends to have a pro career. I'm incredibly excited about helping towards his goal and sharing in the journey.

[Hoss]

So you have played open tourneys, but don't know/or have a rating?

[GRANITECHIEF]

Originally Posted by Hoss

So you have played open tourneys, but don't know/or have a rating?

5.0 ten chars

[Caswell]

Originally Posted by GRANITECHIEF

Kaboom!!!
http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a3...esserve118.jpg

Nice!

I've gotten to 115, with 110 consistantly. That becomes really unpopular in the 3.5 leagues, especially among the guys with egos too big / brains too small to just bunt it back at me.

[couch]

Never played HS or College tennis and now play 5.0.

I played football, baseball, and wrestled in HS. After HS was over a few friends and I worked at a sporting goods store and every day after work we would go to some courts where the lights stayed on all night. We literally would play every night until about 1:00 a.m. I watched every pro match I could and emulated my favorite pros. I got Tennis Magazine and Tennis Week magazine back then and continually learned new things. So I am a self-taught player.

I started playing USTA when I was about 26/27 and progressed to 5.0 a couple of years ago. The funny thing is that my regular doubles partner never really played in HS or College either and is a self-taught player.

I always love getting the question, "where did you play college tennis"?

[thinktowin]

I got my first racquet when I was 47. I quit competetive running and golf and started playing almost every day. I'm now 55 and playing on a 4.5 team although I have a 4.0 rating. I take lessons twice a week and try to practice more than I actually play matches. I live in a college town and get to play and practice with 18-20 years olds as well as great adults.

The great thing about this game is that I honestly feel that my best days as an athlete are yet to come.

[power_play21]

Originally Posted by Caswell

Nice!

I've gotten to 115, with 110 consistantly. That becomes really unpopular in the 3.5 leagues, especially among the guys with egos too big / brains too small to just bunt it back at me.

dude cant you tell he drew that on there?

either your being sarcastic your you're miopic lol.

[tennissavy]

I am above a 4.0 level and started playing at the age of 30. I really don't think tennis is a difficult sport and have been pleasantly surprised at my progress every year. I am a former figure skater and believe skating to be much more physically demanding and progress to much more gradual. I suppose my skating background has helped my tennis.

[GRANITECHIEF]

Yes, its drawn in, but i can serve that fast. Its a preview to show the speed, while the service motion is still happening. Otherwise, it would be speed without any motion.

[Hoss]

Originally Posted by tennissavy

I am above a 4.0 level and started playing at the age of 30. I really don't think tennis is a difficult sport and have been pleasantly surprised at my progress every year. I am a former figure skater and believe skating to be much more physically demanding and progress to much more gradual. I suppose my skating background has helped my tennis.

Interesting. In ESPN Page 2's rating of sport difficulty, tennis came in 7th, and figure skating 19th. I Guess your just a natural tennis player. That would make you the exception though, not the rule.

http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/page2/sportSkills

Would be interested in seeing your league/tournament results, for grins.

[tennissavy]

Originally Posted by Hoss

Interesting. In ESPN Page 2's rating of sport difficulty, tennis came in 7th, and figure skating 19th. I Guess your just a natural tennis player. That would make you the exception though, not the rule.

http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/page2/sportSkills

Would be interested in seeing your league/tournament results, for grins.

OMG that list is such bs. Football number three??? Figure skating is so much more difficult than football, baseball, tennis, basketball...the list is absurd.

Skating came naturally for me. I was jumping and spinning before skating backward which is very unheard of in the sport. I skated for many years and even though I was a natural, it was the most difficult sport I ever did. Football was easy and boring. Baseball was too boring to play much and no challenge at all. Hockey- scored 3 goals and had one assist the first game I ever played.

I am not part of a league. I have yet to find one in my area that plays real tennis by the actual rules. All this no ad scoring and whoever is up in a set wins the set if time runs out, etc. It's pathetic. Since I will only play tennis and not bs versions of tennis, I play lots of people out of league, according to the true rules of the game like the pros. My 2006 record is currently 82-10. My 2005 record was 80-4. My two handed backhand came naturally the first time I stepped on a court, movement was always great, getting down low was always easy, stamina always exceptional but my forehand wasn't very good. It was the only thing for which I sought instruction.

[goober]

Originally Posted by tennissavy

I am not part of a league. I have yet to find one in my area that plays real tennis by the actual rules. All this no ad scoring and whoever is up in a set wins the set if time runs out, etc. It's pathetic. Since I will only play tennis and not bs versions of tennis, I play lots of people out of league, according to the true rules of the game like the pros. My 2006 record is currently 82-10. My 2005 record was 80-4. My two handed backhand came naturally the first time I stepped on a court, movement was always great, getting down low was always easy, stamina always exceptional but my forehand wasn't very good. It was the only thing for which I sought instruction.

Where do you live? Never heard of any leagues playing no ad scoring.

Rickson was like 200-0. I don't think anybody could really get an idea of how good he was. I am sure he thought he was 4.0-4.5 but for all we know he could have been 3.0-3.5. Matchplay in non-tournament settings are hard to gauge. You could be "way above 4.0" as you say but your match record is hard to make too much out of especially since you describe don't exactly describe the players in your area in a very favorable light.

[lordmanji]

are you guys rated in doubles or singles?

about me: im probably a 3.0. i played a year in HS. we had a class and practice afterward. our coach taught us the basics and we pretty much played against each other. there was practice after school everyday during the season and all of us went to hit on fridays. i wouldnt say we were a great team although there were some good players. most of all we lacked mental and match toughness.

anyway, in college i pretty much stopped except for one tennis class and maybe go out and hit a couple times a year with family. after graduation been playing about a year and a half now. i have a kind of consistent kick serve that doesnt have much pace, a two hander thats reliable, good footwork, but a crappy forehand. getting better each week as i play/practice about two-three times.

[heycal]

Originally Posted by tennissavy

Football was easy and boring. Baseball was too boring to play much and no challenge at all. Hockey- scored 3 goals and had one assist the first game I ever played.

I am not part of a league. I have yet to find one in my area that plays real tennis by the actual rules. All this no ad scoring and whoever is up in a set wins the set if time runs out, etc. It's pathetic.

Football and baseball are too easy for you, huh? I understand, but if you'd deign to spend just a couple of years pitching for the New York Yankees or quarterbacking for the Dallas Cowboys, you could make some big money and thus afford to start your own tennis league without no-ad scoring.

[Hoss]

Originally Posted by tennissavy

OMG that list is such bs. Football number three??? Figure skating is so much more difficult than football, baseball, tennis, basketball...the list is absurd.

Skating came naturally for me. I was jumping and spinning before skating backward which is very unheard of in the sport. I skated for many years and even though I was a natural, it was the most difficult sport I ever did. Football was easy and boring. Baseball was too boring to play much and no challenge at all. Hockey- scored 3 goals and had one assist the first game I ever played.

I am not part of a league. I have yet to find one in my area that plays real tennis by the actual rules. All this no ad scoring and whoever is up in a set wins the set if time runs out, etc. It's pathetic. Since I will only play tennis and not bs versions of tennis, I play lots of people out of league, according to the true rules of the game like the pros. My 2006 record is currently 82-10. My 2005 record was 80-4. My two handed backhand came naturally the first time I stepped on a court, movement was always great, getting down low was always easy, stamina always exceptional but my forehand wasn't very good. It was the only thing for which I sought instruction.

IF THE TIME RUNS OUT???

I have never in all my league/tournament play, played a timed match. Now that would be BS. I think you need to understand why the rules you call BS, are in place.

I play league in the Houston Tennis Association. We have no ad scoring, and 10 point tie breakers in lieu of a third set. These are the rules, but I have played add before as well as third sets if both parties agreed.

We play Thursday nights and the above mentioned rules facilitate a quicker match, because some of the facilities we play at have limited court availability, and we have to stagger the line times. Given the fact that most of us have JOBS, I think the rules work out well. Sure you can get lucky on a no add point here and there, but usually the best team does win. Hell , me and my partner agreed to play add against some recent opponents, and they whined about how they would have beat us if we played no add. There are some people you just can't please.

Look, I have played "real tennis", as you call it. In high school, on a team, with a coach. And you know what? It's the same as the tennis I play now; it just took a little longer to complete the match. So sorry, but I have to call BS on your assessment.

By the way, in the absence of any proof of ability, I find your "self rating" suspect at best, just as Goober implied in so many words.

[goober]

Originally Posted by heycal

Football and baseball are too easy for you, huh? I understand, but if you'd deign to spend just a couple of years pitching for the New York Yankees or quarterbacking for the Dallas Cowboys, you could make some big money and thus afford to start your own tennis league without no-ad scoring.

I don't know how anybody can say a sport is so easy unless they were successful on a very high level. Given the physical build of most ice skaters, I would be very surprised if he could be even successful in football on the high school level. If it were so easy why isn't he playing professionally or what honors has he received in those sports?