Theory into practise in tennis...

[kimizz]

During my short "career" in Tennis Ive learned how important it is to know the theory of the stroke mechanics if you want to progress faster. I know that juniors who hit hours and hours all day will develop their game naturally. But the adult world is hard, you need to work so you cant spend hours and hours on the courts on a regular basis. As ive seen theory helping my game a lot ive been wondering where is the limit? With all the slow-mo vids and resources like this board we seem to know everything about the pro technique. So what differentiates us from the pros? How far can we develop our skills?

The answer is obvious. I wont become a pro and win Roland Garros by watching videos and playing few hours/week. But Id like to know what is it that makes us suck and the pros so good? I bet if I spend some time studying strokes and practising hard I would develop a pro looking forehand. But the power wouldnt be there. Why? The mechanics are the same.

My other question is about me coaching my big brother. I was so fed up with hes poor strokes that I decided to teach him the "right way". Now he seems to be doing better but the road to this day was a long and a painful one But I just couldnt understand why he had such problems in the beginning. I showed him the right way Why it took so long for the theory to sink in?

I could make this a more general question. If a pro coach explains the mechanics of a Forehand to a complete noob how long it takes for the noob to start hitting a 3.5 Forehand? And why it takes more than one day?

[Chauvalito]

If you want the answer to your question I would suggest reading the following article:

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/03/04/sp...a2d980&ei=5088

it is entitled, "how to grow a super-athlete". It explains in laymens terms the necessary elements required for someone to become a pro.

Basically, after a certain age, your cerebellum can only develop a certain amount of muscle memory. If you start playing tennis at age 30, your ability will level off much quicker than someone who starts at age 9.

The article does a great job of explaining the neuroscience behind building athletes.

[Chauvalito]

If you "started" playing tennis at a later age, most likely you will never have the game of a pro...unless you are very genetically gifted

[kimizz]

Thats a long article maybe ill read it tomorrow. Im not aiming to be a pro. Definetly not. Im just intrested bout transferring knowledge into your strokes. Ive considered to becomming a coach someday. This intrests me and I love to teach, being a tennis coach would be the dream job.

[Off The Wall]

I'll trust in the science of the article.

In my lay opinion:

Adults construct their strokes. They build their strokes as a sequence of events and monitor each step. They take lessons and ardently strive to replicate what their pros or brothers are telling them. When it comes to changing a section of the stroke, they deconstruct it and build another sequence. They look tentative.

Kids are more organic. They grow their strokes. If they've had good guidance, their strokes can be trained to grow awesome. If not, they can grow in seemingly unimaginable directions. When a change is required, they grow a new sprout and the old one withers and dies. They can be quite fluid.

[fearless1]

For people somewhat new to the game, strokes are the most obviously visible aspect of the game that has to be learned. The thing is, learning strokes is just the beginning. There is far more to getting better at the game than just strokes. Other not quite so visible skills to master to get better at the game: shots (not to be confused with strokes), conditioning, stength, speed, stamina, strategy, psychology, "court feel", match play experience, etc.

Notwithstanding the suggested readings, the only way you are going to determine your max potential as a player is to "go for it" and train hard, long, and smart. Your theoretical absolute potential will either be physical and/or psychological. IMO, comments about being gifted or natural are impractical because of the catch-22 of having to practice for years to determine in the end if you truely are gifted or natural to begin with. Also, a person's level of giftedness or naturalness isn't necessarily static. Learning and playing a complex and physically demanding skill such at tennis tends to raise these characteristics in people.

As for coaching, recommend you get as much COMPETETIVE success under your belt before you pursue that career path. It's the battle hardened warriors that teach their player's to win while lesser coaches focus mostly on stroke technique. It also goes without saying that the more successful you are as a tournament player, the more likely you'll get the better paying and perhaps more prestigous coaching positions too.

[kimizz]

My current coach is well known in our area and he has a lot of experience from competitions too. I think hes somekind of chief to other coaches here. But I think he doesnt know how to teach adults. He basically believes that repeting is a key to success. Maybe its true but it takes a lot of time to naturally fix all problems, some might never fix their flaws. I had to read about how pros hit, main problem for me was my superBad forehand, I was hitting it with completely straight arm. My coach never corrected this...it took over a year for me to understand a good forehand. Now that Ive found consistency, I wonder how far I can go just fine tuning this technique.

PS.About me becomming a coach: I dont think I can ever be a good coach for competition players, I think its too late. But teaching beginners might be a different thing.

[fearless1]

Just to clarify, I consider a person who helps established players to win a coach. I consider a person who helps lesser experienced players to learn the game an instructor or teaching pro.

Get yourself a copy of USA Tennis Course found here...

http://www.amazon.com/USA-Tennis-Cou...2002776&sr=1-1

The author describes how he started playing the game at age 50, became a teaching pro five years later, then reached a level of prominance just a few short years later (including the authoring of his book). The central theme of his methodology is "cutting through the bull" and teaching the true essense of the game in a simplified format. As you learn the game using his techniques and mindset, you'll begin to see how he was able to learn the game so fast.

First thing you have to fix NOW is your attitude. Your ultimate future is going to be based on what you do now and in the coming days, months, and years too. You're going to need positive attitude to make sure you reach that potential....which certainly could include coaching a competetive player(s) if that is what you really want to do.

[kimizz]

Originally Posted by fearless1

First thing you have to fix NOW is your attitude. Your ultimate future is going to be based on what you do now and in the coming days, months, and years too. You're going to need positive attitude to make sure you reach that potential....which certainly could include coaching a competetive player(s) if that is what you really want to do.

What you mean by changing the attitude? Im a very positive person and some have complemented me on teaching skills. Or you mean I need to believe in myself more and be positive about becomming more than I can imagine?

Terms:instructor,coach, teaching pro, not my speciality since I dont speak english as my native language. But I meant I might enjoy being a teaching pro. Of course being a coach would be cool too...I just wonder if its possible since most coaches I know have played the game from young age and then tranformed to coaching.

But there is still many years for me to learn stuff. Im only 21, im just starting tournaments this year. I started playing 2 years ago but I enjoy tennis so much that Ive learned a lot over the last few years. ATM my aim is to start playing competitions on a regular basis at 2008.

[goober]

You are only 21? While you won't be a pro you have plenty of time and are young enough to reach a high level. I wish I started at 21!

[Chauvalito]

I find it interesting that you wish to become a tennis coach and a better player...

yet you are unwilling to read an article highlighting the scientific aspects of becoming a player...

the article also discusses one of Russia's greatest tennis academies, and also talks about their COACHING style...

Note: Spartek is the camp which produced dementieva, myskina etc...

[J to tha C]

Im a tennis coach and i teach all my kids groups about tatics and the scientific side to the game:
eg marginal error, flight dynamics that sort of stuff to kids as young as 8.
But it works.

[kimizz]

Originally Posted by Chauvalito

I find it interesting that you wish to become a tennis coach and a better player...

yet you are unwilling to read an article highlighting the scientific aspects of becoming a player...

Cmon m8 its pretty long article to get into...I read it at a better time. It does intrest me.

Originally Posted by goober

You are only 21? While you won't be a pro you have plenty of time and are young enough to reach a high level. I wish I started at 21!

Yes I know I can get into high level, but not into a level where I can pay rent with all the prize money Thats why being a coach is something Im intrested. I get to be on the court and still get payd. And most coaches here are still playing at amateur events.

[fearless1]

Originally Posted by kimizz

What you mean by changing the attitude? Im a very positive person and some have complemented me on teaching skills. Or you mean I need to believe in myself more and be positive about becomming more than I can imagine?

Terms:instructor,coach, teaching pro, not my speciality since I dont speak english as my native language. But I meant I might enjoy being a teaching pro. Of course being a coach would be cool too...I just wonder if its possible since most coaches I know have played the game from young age and then tranformed to coaching.

But there is still many years for me to learn stuff. Im only 21, im just starting tournaments this year. I started playing 2 years ago but I enjoy tennis so much that Ive learned a lot over the last few years. ATM my aim is to start playing competitions on a regular basis at 2008.

Just get rid of "I don't think I can..." from your mindset.

While improving your tennis skills, you can also improve your English skills too.

Strange that many say that you can't expect to ever make it as a tournament pro. There is a way to "eat your cake and have it too" in terms of competing professionally and still have money to live on. If you can find or create an occupation or business that gives you much free time as well as allow you to travel too, then you can attempt to play Challenger type tournaments more as a hobby than a profession. Assuming you eventually get your game to 5.5 say in your mid to late twenties, there is nothing to stop you from paying the entry fee and taking your best shot at the qualifying rounds of these tournaments. If you keep getting better at the game, you'll likely progress further and further into the tournament rounds. Somewhere around that point in your life, guess what, you've become a "touring pro".

[kimizz]

Originally Posted by fearless1

Just get rid of "I don't think I can..." from your mindset.

While improving your tennis skills, you can also improve your English skills too.

Strange that many say that you can't expect to ever make it as a tournament pro.......Somewhere around that point in your life, guess what, you've become a "touring pro".

My english was great during high school, after that I lost the skill to express my self in written form

I know what you mean with the touring thing. It has been my other plan. Graduate as master in business(currently studying) and make some money with the occupation. And with that money I could finance my tennis touring. Im starting to enter few tournaments this year and next year is the first full year. This was all planned when I started tennis(20months ago). Of course those competitions are for beginners, maybe 3.5 or 4.0 in NTRP ratings. But you never know where this leads...if I win a lot I will participate in bigger competitions.

But being a coach/teacher is another option. Doesnt matter as long as it has something to do with tennis.

[shindemac]

Very interesting article! Now they need to figure out why 30+ year olds can't learn as fast as kids.

That's how I feel this year with my topspin serve. Even though I only practiced it a handful of times this summer, I feel it's improving by leaps and bounds compared to all of last summer! It's kinda hard to improve when you have to learn by yourself and you don't even know the correct technique. I spent all summer trying different things to get more spin and/or pace, so maybe that's why I plateaued. My practice is more consistent this year and I have been practicing every other day. Last year, I was practicing a few days in a row, then wait a few days or even up to a week, and repeat. I think the consistent practice and better technique has helped me to grow that myelin and make it thicker!!

[kimizz]

Originally Posted by shindemac

Very interesting article! Now they need to figure out why 30+ year olds can't learn as fast as kids.

That's how I feel this year with my topspin serve. Even though I only practiced it a handful of times this summer, I feel it's improving by leaps and bounds compared to all of last summer! It's kinda hard to improve when you have to learn by yourself and you don't even know the correct technique. I spent all summer trying different things to get more spin and/or pace, so maybe that's why I plateaued. My practice is more consistent this year and I have been practicing every other day. Last year, I was practicing a few days in a row, then wait a few days or even up to a week, and repeat. I think the consistent practice and better technique has helped me to grow that myelin and make it thicker!!

For me it was hard to learn the topspin serve too. But I realized that I need to learn the basic serve first. Then I can move to those spin serves. I think its important to realize that spin serve isnt that different from a basic serve.