My Game on Camera - Losing the V-Card

[LeeD]

There is hesitation because the racket is back nice and early.
Straight takeback gets the momentary hesistation, loop takebacks don't.
McEnroe always at that moment of hesitation, with his straight takeback.
Even Nadal, under match pressure ...or in practice vids, does a relatively straight takeback, hesistates a moment, then goes into his loop swing.

[CptnRiceKrispy]

Well my eventual goal is to be able to play at a college or university level one day so I think I'll need some work. but for the time being does anybody have any thoughts on a solid gamestyle i will be able to excel at or atleast try out?

Right now I would consider myself an aggressive baseliner (atleast against the guys that i play against). I am most conferable hitting from the line but I do like to win points with a good volley.

I think once spring comes and the weather gets nicer ill start to really focus on making drastic improvements especially on gameplay, strategy, and toughness.

[LeeD]

Looks like you're medium height and skinny, so movement might be one of your main strengths.
Since you hit western forehands, it's going to be hard to switch to and feel comfortable hitting lots of volleys with a continental grip. But conti is also your service and ovehead grip, so it might work.
2hbh'ers are not known for great volleying skills. Not that common, anyways, for a 2hbh player to have strong 1hbh underspin volleys. But with quickness and light feet, you can develop a normal 2hbh underspin volley like FrewMcMillian, GeneMayer, and a young JimmyConnors. It's not textbook, but it's VERY effective. You can always let go let hand and reach with your right, just like a 1hbh volley on wide balls.
Being light, you might be susceptible to being pushed around by bigger guys hitting heavy topspin deeper balls. You HAVE to learn to stand in and shorthop those balls back with heavy topspin short followthru, using both a low return and a half volley topspin looper/lob when they move towards net.
Big serves might give your trouble, as it's fun for fast servers to hit hard at little returners. HaroldSolomon solved that puzzle by hitting bent armed 2hbh's with western grip both sides. You have to stand in and face the big shots into the body, angling them off, hitting short, and lobbing if jammed.
Offensively, placement is your friend, as overpowering players is a less likely option. Really work on your balance and movement with your head still. You need more mental strength than the 6'4" guys, so you have to control yourself, your movements, and your strategy.
But give yourself 2 years. Hit the courts, the bigger the better (more), try to get some advice from better players. Coaching? Cost money. Most parents are strapped as is.
Always remember. You are hitting a little yellow tennis ball. No reason to ever shy away from it, no reason not to hit as hard as anyone else, it's just a little yellow fuzzy tennis ball.
Be positive, be strong, practice lots, and you should get close to your goals.

[CptnRiceKrispy]

Originally Posted by LeeD

Looks like you're medium height and skinny, so movement might be one of your main strengths.
Since you hit western forehands, it's going to be hard to switch to and feel comfortable hitting lots of volleys with a continental grip. But conti is also your service and ovehead grip, so it might work.
2hbh'ers are not known for great volleying skills. Not that common, anyways, for a 2hbh player to have strong 1hbh underspin volleys. But with quickness and light feet, you can develop a normal 2hbh underspin volley like FrewMcMillian, GeneMayer, and a young JimmyConnors. It's not textbook, but it's VERY effective. You can always let go let hand and reach with your right, just like a 1hbh volley on wide balls.
Being light, you might be susceptible to being pushed around by bigger guys hitting heavy topspin deeper balls. You HAVE to learn to stand in and shorthop those balls back with heavy topspin short followthru, using both a low return and a half volley topspin looper/lob when they move towards net.
Big serves might give your trouble, as it's fun for fast servers to hit hard at little returners. HaroldSolomon solved that puzzle by hitting bent armed 2hbh's with western grip both sides. You have to stand in and face the big shots into the body, angling them off, hitting short, and lobbing if jammed.
Offensively, placement is your friend, as overpowering players is a less likely option. Really work on your balance and movement with your head still. You need more mental strength than the 6'4" guys, so you have to control yourself, your movements, and your strategy.
But give yourself 2 years. Hit the courts, the bigger the better (more), try to get some advice from better players. Coaching? Cost money. Most parents are strapped as is.
Always remember. You are hitting a little yellow tennis ball. No reason to ever shy away from it, no reason not to hit as hard as anyone else, it's just a little yellow fuzzy tennis ball.
Be positive, be strong, practice lots, and you should get close to your goals.

Yeah just one of the many things i need to improve on. My size LOL. 5'10 and 135lbs isnt going to cut it =(

[USERNAME]

You suck
10 char

[USERNAME]

Originally Posted by USERNAME

You suck
10 char

LOLs Jokes dude! Your steady. Real steady and your strokes are very consistent. More power would be nice though!

[luishcorreia]

On your forehand preparation, you are bringing the racquet back early...too early.

You bring it back. Make a pause and then you swing to hit the ball. This pause takes out energy from your stroke. It should be a continuous movement.

[Power Player]

When you play guys that hit soft like your partner, maybe you should try moving your feet more. Split step like the guy is hitting hard, and get turned earlier. You have no power on your shots because you are using a heavy western grip and are not slugging it with your full body.

I had a similar issue and switched grips and worked on my feet and weight transfer.

If you want to play college level, you will need to hit a heavier ball. What you are hitting now would be crushed because it bounces into the strike zone with no pace.

[Djokovicfan4life]

Originally Posted by Power Player

When you play guys that hit soft like your partner, maybe you should try moving your feet more. Split step like the guy is hitting hard, and get turned earlier. You have no power on your shots because you are using a heavy western grip and are not slugging it with your full body.

I had a similar issue and switched grips and worked on my feet and weight transfer.

If you want to play college level, you will need to hit a heavier ball. What you are hitting now would be crushed because it bounces into the strike zone with no pace.

Not everyone means D1 level when they say college tennis. My brother plays college tennis, and this guys forehand looks about the same. Not that he shouldn't look to improve, especially his serve, but "college tennis" doesn't always mean 6.0 ringers.

[LeeD]

Once again...
5'10" and 135 can hit 125+ mph serves, and groundies as hard as anyone. And being in high school, you might grow another 6", like I did after graduation. Practice the throwing motion.
Hesistation is fine on strokes with direct straight takeback.
You're as tall as Hewitt and Chang, close to Schrishipan, don't limit yourself.

[Power Player]

Originally Posted by Djokovicfan4life

Not everyone means D1 level when they say college tennis. My brother plays college tennis, and this guys forehand looks about the same. Not that he shouldn't look to improve, especially his serve, but "college tennis" doesn't always mean 6.0 ringers.

Ok well I hit with a few ex college players sometimes, and you can't leave those types of balls sitting in their strike zones. They are probably 5.0s now, and i would imagine that to be a level that a future college player should want to get to.

[CptnRiceKrispy]

Originally Posted by Power Player

When you play guys that hit soft like your partner, maybe you should try moving your feet more. Split step like the guy is hitting hard, and get turned earlier. You have no power on your shots because you are using a heavy western grip and are not slugging it with your full body.

I had a similar issue and switched grips and worked on my feet and weight transfer.

If you want to play college level, you will need to hit a heavier ball. What you are hitting now would be crushed because it bounces into the strike zone with no pace.

Hmm...heavy western grip? i always believed that i played with with a semi-western. are there any huge differences between the two?

and i agree that i need to hit the ball harder and use my body weight better.

[LeeD]

Not sure if you can really hit the ball "harder" and still have control.
Power Player means to hit thru the ball more, hitting it flatTER, not flat, and make the ball go faster with less loop. All that loop and arc slows down the ballspeed, so you need to hit more balls for each point.

[atatu]

Originally Posted by LeeD

Thank you for that. I've just seen a bunch of bad serving Asians post recently, and it's really getting to me.
Oh oh....one of my buds I play with, a GaryLee, now from Oakland, serves about a 24mph underspin/side component serve in matches. He could easily play in 4.0 doubles, if the other team lost patience just a little. Great lobber, retriever, volleyer, and a powerful overhead, he serves short and wide because his shoulders get sore, and he likes defensive tennis. I used to see his name in the 3rd round of ChineseNationals, and wondered who he was.

Ok, I know it must seem like I'm going out of my way to disagree with you, but once again Lee, this is a little much. I know you're like 70 years old and when you grew up it was fine to say dumba** things like "all asians serve like this..." but come on, it's 2010, seriously.

[CptnRiceKrispy]

Originally Posted by LeeD

Not sure if you can really hit the ball "harder" and still have control.
Power Player means to hit thru the ball more, hitting it flatTER, not flat, and make the ball go faster with less loop. All that loop and arc slows down the ballspeed, so you need to hit more balls for each point.

Hmm...i'm pretty sure I can get some more pop on my shots. Back in the summer i was getting some really good quality tennis in and i was hitting the ball alot better than i am now. This spring im really looking to make a transition from just playing for fun to more of a serious, training player.

[LeeD]

Hey, if you're gonna pick on me, why don't you include the other two Asians who agreed with me here?
I'm not being catagorical. I tell you I have a GREAT fast serve for a 61 year old Asian. I just haven't posted my vid yet.

[atatu]

Originally Posted by LeeD

Hey, if you're gonna pick on me, why don't you include the other two Asians who agreed with me here?
I'm not being catagorical. I tell you I have a GREAT fast serve for a 61 year old Asian. I just haven't posted my vid yet.

Ok, good point. Just don't lump the Japanese into the group, please. See Takao Suzuki, as exhibit 1.

[LeeD]

Well, tiny little MichaelChang was timed at 125 at the French.
And I'd bet ParadornSchrichipan can whack a few over 130.
I wonder how fast JeremyLin of the GoldenState Warriors D squad could serve if he took up tennis? He's just over 6'3", athletic as all get out, young and still growing.
We know Yao will never serve fast, too injured.
But YiJialian looks pretty athletic, and long too, at 6'10".

[shindemac]

Your stroke is ok, but I'm not sure I like your straight arm and windmill motion. Your biggest problem is your lack of use of the athletic stance and hitting almost every shot off balance. There's no split step either. Bend your knees!

Your cousin is a moonballer and giving you slow shots. Once you play someone who hits flatter, your balance issues will affect your movement and ability to hit clean strokes. Get into the ready position! You do know what this is, right?

[lonux]

Your forehand is pretty solid. It just looks incredibly slow and weak, but I think that's more because of your opponent.

Your backhand needs some changes, but I'll leave that to the others...