My Strokes- Comments Please

[bfactor61]

Just myself and a friend rallying. I am the one in the 2nd and 3rd video. How would you rate us?

1st http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bPH4s...eature=channel

2nd http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-0hCZ...eature=channel

3rd http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_519n...eature=channel

[Dechizen]

3.5-4.0 your forehand has potential

[LeeD]

I second that motion.

[RoddickAce]

If you two play like this in matches, your friend looks like a 4.5+ player, and you look like a 4.0-4.5 player.

edit: based on the assumption that volleys and serves are at the same level (or higher) as the groundstrokes

[5263]

Originally Posted by bfactor61

Just myself and a friend rallying. I am the one in the 2nd and 3rd video. How would you rate us?
v=_519nS6H7so&feature=channel[/url]

Neither are quite 4.5 (there are some subtle cues) and making 4.0 would depend on how well you compete.
Your friends Fh looks better, but I think that is mostly cause you try to flatten out and hit thru yours too much from well behind the baseline. (u also let the ball drop too much before contact) That stroke will work better stepping up for balls inside the baseline if you make sure you make contact at a higher pt. in the bounce arc.
You did hit some nice lifting rally TS Fhs though, so I know you can do it. Also watch the 1st vid of your friends Fhs, as he has a nice one to copy. Really finds the ball at a good contact pt and hits up and across the ball quite well. He just needs to move well more consistently for better balance and work on his touch and feel.

I liked your Bh better, but both of you guys looked better than most on that side. You hit up and across much better from that wing, which is quite common since the 2ond hand limits extension naturally and protects you from over extension thru the ball.

Keep up the great work, you are on the way.

[SourStraws]

Need to get more consistent

S.S.

[bfactor61]

thanks for the comments guys. I see what you mean at taking the ball at a higher contact point and not letting it drop.

[jmnk]

so the consensus is that these guys are not as good as those two?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wJHPiDUcVvU

Seems, well, strange......

[5263]

Originally Posted by jmnk

so the consensus is that these guys are not as good as those two?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wJHPiDUcVvU

Seems, well, strange......

Maybe so, but I'd guess the closer one in the shin vid would not give up more than 1-2 games per set to them. He has a confidence of proven shot making ability and a balance to his gate.

[SourStraws]

Originally Posted by jmnk

so the consensus is that these guys are not as good as those two?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wJHPiDUcVvU

Seems, well, strange......

Correct

S.S.

Originally Posted by Dechizen

3.5-4.0 your forehand has potential

3.5-4.0 (depending on geographical region) is probably a fair assessment. You seem to have a solid base with good balance to work with and not many big hitches in your swing. Your friend in vid#1 has a hitch in his forehand takeback and loop.

Areas for improvement:

1. Better consistency in your forehand takeback. Take the racquet back with both hands until at least parallel with the baseline. This helps to give you more shoulder turn, as your chest should be facing to the right also parallel with the baseline.
2. Practice the "chin-to-shoulder" technique for maximum shoulder turn on racquet takeback and follow thru.
3. Better consistency on your forehand loop, or what I call the "power C" swingpath. Sometimes there's no loop or "C" at all, but just straight back and straight through.
4. Proper footwork preparation prior to swing. Proper footwork during swing. Proper footwork during recovery and once again preparing. You often hit off your back foot leaning back on both sides.
5. Turn more sideways on the backhand. Chest should be facing left and pretend there's a big arrow point from your right shoulder at your target.
6. Proper weight transfer into the shot, beginning with proper loading up with a good knee bend (forehand and backhand).
7. Footwork must always work together with the proper and consistent swing mechanics.
8. Practice, practice, practice to develop muscle memory with the proper technique.

Cheers!

[0d1n]

I'm not from the States and have no clue as to how to "NTRP rate" somebody, but people coming up with 3.5 ratings are even more clueless than me.

[5263]

Originally Posted by saigonbond

3.5-4.0 (depending on geographical region) is probably a fair assessment. You seem to have a solid base with good balance to work with and not many big hitches in your swing. Your friend in vid#1 has a hitch in his forehand takeback and loop.

Areas for improvement:

1. Better consistency in your forehand takeback. Take the racquet back with both hands until at least parallel with the baseline. This helps to give you more shoulder turn, as your chest should be facing to the right also parallel with the baseline.
2. Practice the "chin-to-shoulder" technique for maximum shoulder turn on racquet takeback and follow thru.
3. Better consistency on your forehand loop, or what I call the "power C" swingpath. Sometimes there's no loop or "C" at all, but just straight back and straight through.
4. Proper footwork preparation prior to swing. Proper footwork during swing. Proper footwork during recovery and once again preparing. You often hit off your back foot leaning back on both sides.
5. Turn more sideways on the backhand. Chest should be facing left and pretend there's a big arrow point from your right shoulder at your target.
6. Proper weight transfer into the shot, beginning with proper loading up with a good knee bend (forehand and backhand).
7. Footwork must always work together with the proper and consistent swing mechanics.
8. Practice, practice, practice to develop muscle memory with the proper technique.

Cheers!

Where do you see a hitch on his Fh?

He brings it to the side as he should to stalk the ball, then loops back and finds the ball from below nicely. Could be smoother, but no hitch that I can see.

[Kunohara]

Looking good.

I will say your lateral movement is great.

But you need to work a bit on your forward/backward movement.

You hit too many shoulder height forehands from behind the baseline.

It's even more obvious on short balls. You let them get to you and they're barely a foot from the ground on their second bounce, forcing you to hit a weak loopy reply.

Practice quick stepping back and forth for the deep shoulder height balls and the short balls, and hit them in your contact zone. Your consistency will shoot up.

For now, keep the shoulder height flat forehands for when you're inside the baseline.

Cheers.

Originally Posted by 0d1n

I'm not from the States and have no clue as to how to "NTRP rate" somebody, but people coming up with 3.5 ratings are even more clueless than me.

If you're not from the States and don't know anything about the NTRP, then maybe you should refrain from making asinine comments.
Google is your friend by the way...

http://www.usta.com/Play-Tennis/USTA...ion/1237_NTRP/

[0d1n]

Originally Posted by saigonbond

If you're not from the States and don't know anything about the NTRP, then maybe you should refrain from making asinine comments.
Google is your friend by the way...

http://www.usta.com/Play-Tennis/USTA...ion/1237_NTRP/

I have googled plenty on the subject of NTRP, have read the guidelines and watched plenty of video with various people with official ratings from 3.0 to 5.0/5.5 ... and that's exactly why I say that IMO people who mention the possibility of a 3.5 rating with regards to the people in the OP's video (like yourself) understand this system even less than me and/or are morons and/or have never played tennis seriously themselves...and are just talking out of their arses.
You get to choose where you fit...from those options. Now go learn some tennis. Dismissed.

Originally Posted by 5263

Where do you see a hitch on his Fh?

He brings it to the side as he should to stalk the ball, then loops back and finds the ball from below nicely. Could be smoother, but no hitch that I can see.

I'm sure you would be able to see it more clearly if the vid (#1) was shot from the player's right side, but Yes there is a hitch, flaw, break in the loop, or whatever word(s) you want to use to describe it. The good news is that its not a difficult fix and has the opportunity of becoming an even bigger weapon.

This "hitch" is caused by a slightly improper laid back wrist angle because of the abbreviated swing loop or "power C." From the height of his loop, he drops the head straight down in order to get below the level of the ball before contact, never making a full loop. Notice that his racquet never points towards the back fence and the butt cap never points towards the net. Instead, his racquet points out to the right and the butt cap points towards his waist.

The result of this is:

1. Having to "arm" or "muscle" the ball, because of the loss of torque that a full loop or "power C" helps provide. Basically, he has to swing harder to generate pace and spin. His friend in vid 2 & 3 also tries to "muscle" the ball sometimes, which causes him to swing thru at a "flatter" trajectory and not completing his "power C." Proper mechanics and technique often breaks down when trying to "hit hard" in players in the 3.5-4.0 range. (Both guys are probably showing off a bit to the camera lol.)
2. Less than a full shoulder turn on takeback and on follow thru. He should read my tip on the "chin-to-shoulder" technique, which will create even more torque, uncoiling, and load transfer into the shot. A consistent full takeback with both arms will also help with shoulder turn (especially with an open stance forehand).

Cheers!

[Falloutjr]

I would be prone to say low 4.5 based on watching the first video. You have really good strokes, though you have a slow recovery when hitting rally forehands (I noticed you sped that up considerably when hitting forehands out of your comfort zone). Your backhand was a wee bit shaky, perhaps because you get to the ball a bit late on both your 2HBH and your slice. You have a good forehand motion, but your trajectory is a bit low for as much topspin as you generate, which is an easy way to dump balls in the net. You seem to be comfortable playing about 4 feet behind the baseline, so it's hard to take balls early there, so I would suggest either driving through it more and make the ball clear the net before it begins it's dip or hit a more exaggerated low-to-high lotion which will result in a higher arc and a greater margin of error.

Again, your groundstroke errors don't stem from anything technical, your form is perfect. It's a matter of you getting in position to hit the shot. If you could hasten your recovery on your forehand side, I think that would translate to getting to the backhand side and your game would take a big step forward.

Originally Posted by 0d1n

I have googled plenty on the subject of NTRP, have read the guidelines and watched plenty of video with various people with official ratings from 3.0 to 5.0/5.5 ... and that's exactly why I say that IMO people who mention the possibility of a 3.5 rating with regards to the people in the OP's video (like yourself) understand this system even less than me and/or are morons and/or have never played tennis seriously themselves...and are just talking out of their arses.
You get to choose where you fit...from those options. Now go learn some tennis. Dismissed.

I suggest you Google some more then play in some USTA leagues and tourneys. We have a saying in US about people who assume things...you may have to Google that too. Since I've played through the juniors, played D1 college, and have many years experience of USPTA & PTR coaching and teaching, I'm pretty sure I understand the game and the NTRP rating system well enough to make informed comments. By your ignorant comments, you have chosen quite clearly where you fit...from those options. School dismissed, US style.

Cheers!

[0d1n]

Originally Posted by saigonbond

I suggest you Google some more then play in some USTA leagues and tourneys. We have a saying in US about people who assume things...you may have to Google that too. Since I've played through the juniors, played D1 college, and have many years experience of USPTA & PTR coaching and teaching, I'm pretty sure I understand the game and the NTRP rating system well enough to make informed comments. By your ignorant comments, you have chosen quite clearly where you fit...from those options. School dismissed, US style.

Cheers!

Are you also good friends with Bud who is rating top 200 ATP players as 4.0/4.5's ??? If so...I understand.
I have made no ignorant comments.
If you truly have played so much tennis, you sir...should indeed be more informed and not pull 3.5 rating comments out of your arse.
So ... you are obviously either lying, or have never seen yourself on video and think you are way better than you actually are.