Practice no good for this guy

[nguyen320]

I practice a ton, everyday for like 2 hours. I can see myself improving against a lot of people except for this one guy, Jay.

To be honest he doesn't practice at all, and he hasn't played in 3 months. I cannot seem to beat him, I don't know why but whenever I play him my game kinda sinks down. People who are better than him I can give them a match and I am comfortable playing with them but when I play against Jay I cannot do anything with the ball, I can't seem to work the point. On his dinky serve I will try to hit the ball with some kind of pace but I just hit it into the net, but when I try for more height I miss it long. His balls stay super low and they don't really have spin on it so it doesnt really bounce up that much.

Like I said before, I am playing better against other people like the people in my drill group and my friend derek who is better than me. Derek even said I was getting better but my score against Jay hasn't budged since 6 months ago. People say I play way better than him but why can't I beat him? I don't know what to do, I feel like just dropping tennis after a loss to him.

[Bedrock]

Originally Posted by nguyen320

I practice a ton, everyday for like 2 hours. I can see myself improving against a lot of people except for this one guy, Jay.

To be honest he doesn't practice at all, and he hasn't played in 3 months. I cannot seem to beat him, I don't know why but whenever I play him my game kinda sinks down. People who are better than him I can give them a match and I am comfortable playing with them but when I play against Jay I cannot do anything with the ball, I can't seem to work the point. On his dinky serve I will try to hit the ball with some kind of pace but I just hit it into the net, but when I try for more height I miss it long. His balls stay super low and they don't really have spin on it so it doesnt really bounce up that much.

Like I said before, I am playing better against other people like the people in my drill group and my friend derek who is better than me. Derek even said I was getting better but my score against Jay hasn't budged since 6 months ago. People say I play way better than him but why can't I beat him? I don't know what to do, I feel like just dropping tennis after a loss to him.

You just think you are better ...
It is imposible to say anything without seeing how you two play.
Maybe he has background you do not know about.
Maybe you just not good enough.

[Swissv2]

what level of tennis is this?

[southerncross]

Originally Posted by nguyen320

I practice a ton, everyday for like 2 hours. I can see myself improving against a lot of people except for this one guy, Jay.

To be honest he doesn't practice at all, and he hasn't played in 3 months. I cannot seem to beat him, I don't know why but whenever I play him my game kinda sinks down. People who are better than him I can give them a match and I am comfortable playing with them but when I play against Jay I cannot do anything with the ball, I can't seem to work the point. On his dinky serve I will try to hit the ball with some kind of pace but I just hit it into the net, but when I try for more height I miss it long. His balls stay super low and they don't really have spin on it so it doesnt really bounce up that much.

Like I said before, I am playing better against other people like the people in my drill group and my friend derek who is better than me. Derek even said I was getting better but my score against Jay hasn't budged since 6 months ago. People say I play way better than him but why can't I beat him? I don't know what to do, I feel like just dropping tennis after a loss to him.

Here's what you do: (I also think it unfair what the other poster said about you not being good enough) You get your Mum or Dad or coach to sit down with you. You discuss what it is about his game (ie. he's an athletic pusher who gets back every ball you hit.... forcing you to make errors, as you're already tense knowing it's him) you are having problems with. If he's a pusher/grinder, you're going to have to push/grind back, forget your assault game, clearly it isn't working..... If you are better than him, you can out grind him; get your coach to grind with you in practise for a couple of weeks, hitting lobs etc, don't worry, it isn't your game, but you need to get over him if he's making you feel like quitting..... When they are having the talk to you, they need to convince you that you ARE better, that you have a psychological block and that's ALL it is; visualise beating the guy, and when you next play him, you need all your support crew there cheering you on - preferably on your home courts. If you are good enough, you CAN and WILL beat this guy. I've had to do this talk with my son (he'd had eight or nine losses the same scenario you describe) and after the serious month of psyching, and the coach training him to grind... he finally beat the guy, who was also his friend. Not nice, but a big mental block at the time..... Oh and the other thing is, if he IS a friend of yours or someone you secretly look up to, you're gonna have to be a bit 'distant' on that day, don't fool around with him, and be assertive in the warm up - YOU call the shots..... ok? It's ALL in your HEAD. You are the better player. Right???? (Let me know when you've cracked him

[southerncross]

The thing I hadn't considered, your Mum/Dad aren't into your tennis, so they don't know, so they aren't good for doing this talk I reckon you need to have immediately.... you have no coach.... SO

You tell your friend Derek he has the job. You tell him it has to be a VERY SERIOUS talk. None of this hey man but you're way the better player, his game sucks etc. You acknowledge right now he is beating you. You take him very seriously. And you psych yourSELF up. You target the weaknesses of his game. You recognise he likes the pace you give him, and he slows down the ball, gets everything back, etc. (I don't know, I have no idea what the actual situation is...) So you slow your game down, you hit top-spin balls deep, you drop shot him, you do everything you don't usually do. You get Derek to convince you that YOU ARE the better player, and that his reign has come to an end. Good luck!!!

[Bedrock]

Not all in your head.
The truth is that you win no matter what is in your head, when you are ready to win.
If you cannot beat the player who actually does not play, that can mean only one - you are not practicing right. Maybe you need to quit practicing or change a coach.

[DevilsChildXD]

Just wondering but do you attend Brooklyn Center HS??

[kimbahpnam]

Originally Posted by Swissv2

what level of tennis is this?

he said a 'dink serve' so not very high i'm assuming.

OP, you need to fix your mental game.

[nguyen320]

i think im basically gooffing off too much when i play against him.. cuz thats what we do when we just hang out

[southerncross]

Originally Posted by nguyen320

i think im basically gooffing off too much when i play against him.. cuz thats what we do when we just hang out

There you go! My son was the same with this guy he couldn't beat for so long, too. If you are that serious about winning against him, you need to change your approach. Losing to him makes you want to quit tennis? Take him seriously and you might both get a surprise.