Playing Outdoors

AK47 · 05-17-2010, 05:22 AM

What kind of major adjustments do you guys do playing outside in terms of timing the strokes, and string tensions. I went out for the first time this year, and if i would grade my indoor game weak 4.0 strong 3.5, i looked and played like 2.5 at best. Timing was off, all the balls were landing short, scared to swing the racquet harder. It was like learning all over again. I was obviously having trouble because i lost to a guy that i always play and beat without a problem in a tie break. Never could get into the rhytm.

charliefedererer · 05-17-2010, 06:14 AM

Sun, wind, different backgrounds and surfaces all take time to adjust to. Just keep playing and it will become more second nature.

For sun, the sevice toss can be tough. A hat and high contrast (yellow-brown) polarized sunglasses can help. But you still may need to go to a kick or slice serve with a different ball toss location if the sun is right where you would toss for your usual first serve.

AK47 · 05-17-2010, 06:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by charliefedererer

Sun, wind, different backgrounds and surfaces all take time to adjust to. Just keep playing and it will become more second nature.

For sun, the sevice toss can be tough. A hat and high contrast (yellow-brown) polarized sunglasses can help. But you still may need to go to a kick or slice serve with a different ball toss location if the sun is right where you would toss for your usual first serve.

Surprisingly, serve was not an issue. I got adjusted to it pretty quick. I was pretty close to my indoor serves. However groundies, baseline shots, lobs they all fell short near sevice line, made me easy prey. It feels like contact point with the ball is little different between indoors and out doors.

supineAnimation · 05-17-2010, 07:00 AM

Indoor courts are often faster and the ball will skid more often producing a lower bounce, but beyond adjusting for that, I wouldn't suggest you make any technique adjustments when you move outdoors. Your strokes should be your strokes and the difference in the height or speed off the bounce is something that just takes acclimation time. But unless you're going from clay to hard or vice versa, you really shouldn't make any changes to your mechanics.

LeeD · 05-17-2010, 07:25 AM

So go on slow red clay....try slick grass, then cement....
Any court your're not used to, you gotta practice on... try practice.

05-17-2010, 05:22 AM	#1
AK47 New User Join Date: Jan 2010 Posts: 30	Playing Outdoors What kind of major adjustments do you guys do playing outside in terms of timing the strokes, and string tensions. I went out for the first time this year, and if i would grade my indoor game weak 4.0 strong 3.5, i looked and played like 2.5 at best. Timing was off, all the balls were landing short, scared to swing the racquet harder. It was like learning all over again. I was obviously having trouble because i lost to a guy that i always play and beat without a problem in a tie break. Never could get into the rhytm.

05-17-2010, 07:00 AM	#4
supineAnimation Professional Join Date: Nov 2009 Posts: 972	Indoor courts are often faster and the ball will skid more often producing a lower bounce, but beyond adjusting for that, I wouldn't suggest you make any technique adjustments when you move outdoors. Your strokes should be your strokes and the difference in the height or speed off the bounce is something that just takes acclimation time. But unless you're going from clay to hard or vice versa, you really shouldn't make any changes to your mechanics. __________________ 2 YouTek Prestige Pros (4 1/2); Sonic Pro 17 (52lbs).

Thread Tools
Show Printable Version Email this Page
Display Modes
Linear Mode Switch to Hybrid Mode Switch to Threaded Mode