my strokes (5.5) if interested

[Andres]

Originally Posted by DraGoNoFfiR3

yes and i acknowledge that

however, im still sure that i, a usta newbie, am able to beat any player who hits like the player in the video, (4.5 at best).

I HIT BETTER THAN THAT, and ive never played a tourney before.

NNNNNNnnno you don't.

[ibringtheHEAT]

Originally Posted by saqdeez

oMg dragin ur awesome!!! pls post vids so we c@n lernnnn teh m0d3rn str0kez!!!

lawl, teh pwnzord

[SlapShot]

Originally Posted by DraGoNoFfiR3

yes and i acknowledge that

however, im still sure that i, a usta newbie, am able to beat any player who hits like the player in the video, (4.5 at best).

I HIT BETTER THAN THAT, and ive never played a tourney before.

I'm pretty sure that you'd get blown off of the court by a player of Tony's caliber.

Oh well.....arguing on the internet is like....(you can finish that - I'd rather not get banned.)

[drakulie]

Originally Posted by DraGoNoFfiR3

however, im still sure that i, a usta newbie, am able to beat any player who hits like the player in the video, (4.5 at best).

I HIT BETTER THAN THAT, and ive never played a tourney before.

Lmao!

Hats off to you! It's people like you that certainly add comical entertainment to this forum.

[Spindarella]

Originally Posted by DraGoNoFfiR3

yes and i acknowledge that

however, im still sure that i, a usta newbie, am able to beat any player who hits like the player in the video, (4.5 at best).

I HIT BETTER THAN THAT, and ive never played a tourney before.

way to display your ignorance in the last sentence. hitting well and playing tournaments are two very different things. also, good job rating his entire game based on some groundstroke analysis videos.

[TonLars]

Originally Posted by SlapShot

Nice vids Tony. Your footwork is really strong.

If you ever come down to Minneapolis and want to go hit, I'm always up for knowcking some balls around.

thanks. yeah im really busy hitting and with tournaments all summer but im always trying to find people to hit and so maybe sometime it can work out!

Originally Posted by goober

Yes based on your vast competitive tennis experience and extensive USTA tourney play I think we should defer to your rating of this player. clearly you are in the know. Oh wait a minute I forgot you posted this-

good work detective hehe, yeah im not really sure why he is talking like that?

Originally Posted by J011yroger

Could it have something to do with the fact that we have busted our *rear end* for hours upon hours, and years upon years to get to a good level, and understand the amount of work and dedication it takes, and so would never talk down someone else who worked that hard, whereas those who have never played at a high level who sit on their *rear end* watching tv and listening to commentators who say Roddick is a serve and a forehand, and Agassi can't volley, who go out and hit a few balls with their buddies on the weekends have absolutely no comprehension of the hours of work and pain and frustration it takes, and in some little demented corner of their mind actually believe that with a little practice they could actually compete at that high a level.

I dunno...could be.

J

I think youre right, people who havent experienced it firsthand probably just dont realize what all goes into it and that it looks easy but soon enough a person who sticks at something long enough learns what its all about. He says he is new so he probably just doesnt understand tennis very well. I saw somewhere where you said you were a pretty high level player yourself, where you at and stuff?

Originally Posted by serveitup911

Nice compact, consistent strokes, TonLars. The first thing I noticed was the early preparation on the backhand. You seem to like your backhand more - you were always moving forward for it. On your forehand, you sometimes hit off your back foot, but had pretty solid results anyway.

You seem to be in great shape and I'm sure you make people work hard to beat you! Keep up the good work, and good luck if you decide to play some futures!

People who said he's not hitting hard or not a 5.5 - you just have no idea. That ball is moving pretty fast and consistently landing deep. If you are making comments like that, TonLars would probably be happy to wipe you off the court!

Definitely agree with the comments, thats also the analysis i had gotten from most people back then as well. I used to always be on the backfoot for the forehand but I no longer do that and I am hitting it much better and driving it like the backhand. Believe it or not the forehand has actually gotten to be the better side now after 2 years. I think I saw somewhere that you are playing at a college somewhere, where at and hows it going?

Originally Posted by Fedace

I think Tony has better backhand than forehand. Backhand looks more reliable and more flexible, looks like can hit with power and disguise on the backhand side. but the forehand seem to be off the back foot too much. could have better weight shift into the shot on the forehand side, and balance is not always there either. ON the backhand side, could use better hip rotation into the shot to get more power if need be.

hey Stanford fan yeah youre right, backhand has always been good form but the forehand needed work and I fixed for the most part exactly what you are saying now.

Originally Posted by Phil

Tony - I like the fact that you use a very compact loop and minimal backswing on your forehand. No wasted motion, nice smooth swing and follow through. One reason my f/h is inconsistant is the too-complex junk that comes before making contact. I would advise any beginning or intermediate player to look at your style.

Ive always had compact strokes, im not so much on the fh anymore but yeah, the compact stroke definitely helps to be able to pick up and return hard balls and anything at the feet near the baseline.

Originally Posted by DraGoNoFfiR3

yes and i acknowledge that

however, im still sure that i, a usta newbie, am able to beat any player who hits like the player in the video, (4.5 at best).

I HIT BETTER THAN THAT, and ive never played a tourney before.

4.5, at best? why, how do you figure? I mean I know im not playing points out showcasing the placement and running and finishing short balls and such, but you must not be a 3.5 if you can hit pretty well? Thats pretty impressive for a beginner to tournaments dont you think? At any rate, whatever my rating is, which is in the 5.5 range as I understand it, what would you classify the rating of the people I have beaten, such as Division 1 players or whatever? If you could please give me some advice as to what is making my shots in the 4.0 range id appreciate that too, instead of just saying you can beat me. Thanks Dragon boy!

[TonLars]

Originally Posted by Andres Guazzelli

NNNNNNnnno you don't.

Andres, hows it going? thanks again for talking to me about my shoulder injury way back last October and the fall. Man, things are sure different now, its nice to be back and I often just think about how nice it is to be able to play at all and not take it so much for granted these days. Im 23 now and ive been having alot more even little nagging minor injuries this year too even compared to just 1 or 2 years ago, and so Im starting to wonder if im getting old and worn down? lol!

[p0w3r]

Originally Posted by DraGoNoFfiR3

yes and i acknowledge that

however, im still sure that i, a usta newbie, am able to beat any player who hits like the player in the video, (4.5 at best).

I HIT BETTER THAN THAT, and ive never played a tourney before.

how do you figure that you can hit better then him even if we were to follow ur worng assesment that he is just a 4.5? You would still loose...badly...since u have stated before that you were a 3.5.

[Noveson]

Originally Posted by drakulie

Lmao!

Hats off to you! It's people like you that certainly add comical entertainment to this forum.

Drakulie, I think you need to dumb that down a little, I don't think dragonfire(you have GOT to be kidding me) could understand that last statement.

Tony, yesterday I played in this HS tournament, and watched my first 5.0 play, he was a German exchange student that was absolutely rolling threw the tournament(beat me 6-2, 6-1). I have never seen somebody hit the ball that hard with so little effort, knowing that you are a 5.5 I have to think that the sound on the camera was bad, and the video doesn't do the speed justice. This is kind of a worthless post, just wanted to share my experience on learning how good a 5.0 actually is, let alone a 5.5.

Originally Posted by drakulie

Lmao!

Hats off to you! It's people like you that certainly add comical entertainment to this forum.

lol and who are you talking about. ive seen your youtube post and youre pretty terrible.

[ibringtheHEAT]

Dragonfire, isn't it bedtime?

I'll put this in terms you might understand:

Til u pizzost da vid wit u ballin on da tennis courts, dont be dissin on otha homies. Dig?

[Zets147]

hahaha lets see your 130mph serve, drag. <-- I know that g is not a k.

[J011yroger]

Originally Posted by TonLars

I think youre right, people who havent experienced it firsthand probably just dont realize what all goes into it and that it looks easy but soon enough a person who sticks at something long enough learns what its all about. He says he is new so he probably just doesnt understand tennis very well. I saw somewhere where you said you were a pretty high level player yourself, where you at and stuff?

I am in NY, Long Island specifically, although hopefully I will be making a guest appearance at the U.S. Clay Court Nats in Lauderdale in 2 weeks, and hopefully I will be able to go out with dignity instead of getting whooped in the first round by someone who actually knows how to play on dirt

J

[J011yroger]

Originally Posted by TonLars

Im 23 now and ive been having alot more even little nagging minor injuries this year too even compared to just 1 or 2 years ago, and so Im starting to wonder if im getting old and worn down? lol!

No joke man, I just turned 25 and I don't know how these old guys do it. One of my coaches is #1 in the world in 55s, and I have no idea how he plays at such a high level being 30 years older than me.

Aches pains and soreness I can deal with, I just gotta keep an eye on my wrists, and if they act up, I stop playing, because that puts me out for a while. My shoulder flared up a few times since my grand return, but this year I am gradually rebuilding strength, and its been pretty good aside from the good kind of hurt/sore.

Truthfully, being unable to play from 17-23 I thought I was done for tennis wise, but seeing how some of these older guys play gives me hope that I might be able to conjure up some magic and catch the tail end of my good years.

J

[drakulie]

Originally Posted by DraGoNoFfiR3

lol and who are you talking about. ive seen your youtube post and youre pretty terrible.

Thanks you crazy stalker!

You must be one of those people from Niger that send those spam emails. You know,,,,, the ones where your dad is the embassador of the US to Niger, he suddenly dies, and you are now stranded. LOL

[Phil]

Originally Posted by DraGoNoFfiR3

lol and who are you talking about. ive seen your youtube post and youre pretty terrible.

So why don't you post a video and let us decide how great a player you are...if "great" is the correct word here? If this guy wasn't a 5.5, but wanted people to believe he was, he wouldn't have bothered posting a video. Talk is cheap. A picture's worth a thousand words and video...two thousand or so...Until you put your money where your mouth is, you're just another typical trollboy. Post a video, troll.

[J011yroger]

Originally Posted by Noveson

Drakulie, I think you need to dumb that down a little, I don't think dragonfire(you have GOT to be kidding me) could understand that last statement.

Tony, yesterday I played in this HS tournament, and watched my first 5.0 play, he was a German exchange student that was absolutely rolling threw the tournament(beat me 6-2, 6-1). I have never seen somebody hit the ball that hard with so little effort, knowing that you are a 5.5 I have to think that the sound on the camera was bad, and the video doesn't do the speed justice. This is kind of a worthless post, just wanted to share my experience on learning how good a 5.0 actually is, let alone a 5.5.

Saturday I lost in the quarters of an open against the type of player that is hardest on me (Flat balls, no pace) on my worst surface (Har-Tru) my opponent was a very smart player and played within himself very well, not to mention that he was like the nicest guy ever. I felt a little dissapointed because I thought I had a legit shot at winning the tournament. Today I went down to the local high school and hit around with some of the players from the team. It never ceases to amaze me how many levels of players there are, I mean these kids who are on a good highschool team don't even flinch when I serve, and there are people out there who could bagel me with ease, who would be bageled by Fed with ease.

I mean, I understand that some of these younger or newer players just cannot comprehend that someone could be THAT much better than them. I think 35ft6 said it best when he said "Tennis is one of those things you have to get good at before you realize just how bad you are."

J

[J011yroger]

Originally Posted by DraGoNoFfiR3

yes and i acknowledge that

however, im still sure that i, a usta newbie, am able to beat any player who hits like the player in the video, (4.5 at best).

I HIT BETTER THAN THAT, and ive never played a tourney before.

Where do you live??? I will play you if you are within distance, if not, certainly we can find a higher level board member to play you. If not I will advise you of some tournaments in your area where you may encounter some people who are below Lars' level yet still capable of soundly whomping you.

J

[J011yroger]

Originally Posted by drakulie

Thanks you crazy stalker!

You must be one of those people from Niger that send those spam emails. You know,,,,, the ones where your dad is the embassador of the US to Niger, he suddenly dies, and you are now stranded. LOL

Drak, we will see if he ends up in the same category as MetsJets who dissapeared when he found out I lived nearby and was willing to call him on his claims.

J

[edberg505]

Originally Posted by TonLars

Heres two links I just made of me hitting groundstrokes 2 years ago for a guy that does video analysis. I can put a couple others up later, but for now I have here basic cross court topspin forehands and backhands:

backhands: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xGR1n0Xhvvk Disregard blank blue screen for first 10"
forehands: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vRj1mV6n-VU
backhand flatter drives and some slices: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QqbbYVl2Fqg
forehand short angles: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HvP_C7tBz1k

Comment if you like I guess. Im a 5.5 out of college and playing Open tournaments for cash and trying to do something in the Futures this summer.

Excellent strokes. Like someone else mentioned in here your backhand is reminiscent of Venus Williams with the early take back. How good is the guy you are hitting with? I can't really see his strokes because the vid isn't that clear for him. I was trying to explain to an earlier poster in here Mona999 who posted a vid of herself that she didn't have the proper take back on her back hand. She should defintely take a look at yours becasue it's picture perfect.