very frustrating plateau

[LuckyFrame]

yeah so since summer, i've basically marathon'd tennis. (42 out of 44 days). In the first 3 weeks, I definitely elevated my game. But now it seems I'm not improving.(if anything I'm degrading.) It's mostly my mental game. I'm way too spuratic. One of my tournament matches, I felt so much better than before. I thought I was really hitting a new level. Then the next day it vanished. I'm progressively losing confidence.

I think the reason I'm so spurattic is because I'm not good at constructing points. I'm either making 239474 mistakes or I'm not missing and hitting winner after winner. I never can get the mindset of "hit a pretty good shot here, follow with another pretty good shot, then have an easy volley."

Anyone have any good tips for plateaus..(things to work on, practice,mental tips etc.) Obviously(by the fact that i've played 42 out of 44 days) I have the dedication to work to a new level. My mind is just very cluttered with stress of playing bad.

[Bagumbawalla]

Despite 3 paragraphs of info, there is really not much to go on.

So, I will give you the generic answer that fits 95% of the time. Practice.

If you are serious about improving (and it seems you are) then it is not the amount of time you spend on the court, but, rather, the amount of time you put into drilling, practice, stroke improvement and consistancy.

There is an almost infinite amount of books on tennis drills, court strategy, percentage play, setting up points, and theory of the game. Go to the book store and buy one (or more), then get with a serious partner and practice putting your strokes/points in order.

Playing tennis where you hit hard at every ball and go for outright winners and leap about expending all kinds of energy can be fun/exciting.

But serious practice can be dull, repetitive and boring-- hitting the same, exact shot, time after time, the same exact way to the same, exact spots.

This boring practice, however, will get you where you want to go. Just playing without goals will get you where you are right now.

[dunlop kid]

I'd say your probably worn out.You will have improved but your body cant cope with the amount of tennis your playing.I dont like taking brakes either but you should have a day or 2 rest then youll be refreshed and youll hit alot better.

I did this and it worked.

[Fumoffu]

take a few days off, until you feel like you're about to burst from not playing tennis. then go and play. your body needs time to absor b the practice you've done.

[jiericji]

i agree with Bagumbawalla you really just need to practice. it sounds like what your doing is just going out there and hitting with a partner and playing sets. if you really want better strokes which will then result in more confidence(to some extent) you need to practice practice practice. you need you hit thousands and thousands of balls. then you will truly be great.

[jiericji]

srry, correction you need to hit thousands and thousands of the same stroke which is essentially thousands and thousands of balls but w/e.

[LuckyFrame]

i understand what you guys are trying to say.. I play every day but I don't necessarily do productive practice. What's a good way to practice your game skills? I have a hopper and I hit serves by myself a lot but what about the rest of my game?

[dunlop kid]

Whats your "non" productive practice?What does it consist of?

[Cindysphinx]

Find a practice partner. Hit. Work on control, technique, footwork.

It's just a matter of finding someone. Many people don't care to practice.

[jiericji]

a productive work out could consist of having a partner/coach feed for one specific ball for example, feeding forehands of varying speeds spin and depth. one thing my coach does is me on forehands is rally w/ forehands only cross court only first to 7 points wins.

in my opinion, its key to change it up every once in a while. makes the journey to getting better more fun

[albino smurf]

rest up and get your legs back. playing with no legs is worthless IMO. I know I am when I've burned out the legs. Make sit harder to get over th eball for top spin,harder to get to the ball, harder all around.

[user92626]

List out all the good and right things to do in tennis. Then, pick 2-3 items and strictly practice them as many sessions as you need, and ignore the rest. Move on to next 3 items when ready.

[autumn_leaf]

i agree with people that says you're worn out. you need a few days off.

i don't get why you would practice if it was so non productive.. most people will tell you to just practice i'll give you a bit a of harder advice.

you need to exercise all your muscle groups. ab's a and quads are really important and even though playing tennis is a fun exercise it's not enough.

also i would get a friend or family member to video tape practice hitting or a match and watch your footwork.