Jack Sock's past & future?

[PennAlum]

Winning Kalamazoo is no indication of success in the men's tour. Look at all the winners the last 10 years and see what they have been unable to accomplish. You can beat juniors by grinding but you need weapons to succeed on the tour. His slow first step does not penalize him in juniors. In the pros, a slow first step makes you a journeyman. We'll see. Just saying...

Wild carded into Tulsa Challenger loses first round 2-6,4-6 to Alex Bogdanovic ranked 350 from GBR.
Dan Kosakowski won 2 rounds.

[Bash and Crash]

Originally Posted by TennisCoachFLA

So an 18 year old kid graduates high school, wins Kalamazoo, wins US Open mixed doubles, goes several rounds in the US Open.....yet thats a bad summer. Give me a break.

He has boatloads of talent....just saying.

That's more than a few thousand pro's can ever claim...

[PennAlum]

Seems more people on the TW boards agree with my view rather than your view, TCF. Maybe you are missing something very obvious. "Moves like a truck driver."

http://tt.tennis-warehouse.com/showthread.php?t=390237

[Bash and Crash]

Originally Posted by PennAlum

Seems more people on the TW boards agree with my view rather than your view, TCF. Maybe you are missing something very obvious. "Moves like a truck driver."

http://tt.tennis-warehouse.com/showthread.php?t=390237

Dang there are some serious Sock haters.......did Sam Q have people say the same about him?

[droliver]

[quote=PennAlum;6007572]Seems more people on the TW boards agree with my view rather than your view, TCF. Maybe you are missing something very obvious. "Moves like a truck driver."

I'm still laughing at the "moves like Larry Bird" compliment upstream. Sock's got a BIG, dumb game (big FH, big serve) with limited mobility and awkward footwork that I think will limit him soon. OTOH, I've been saying the same thing about Isner who's turned into the tie-break king no one wants to play

[BMC9670]

[quote=droliver;6007835]

Originally Posted by PennAlum

Seems more people on the TW boards agree with my view rather than your view, TCF. Maybe you are missing something very obvious. "Moves like a truck driver."

I'm still laughing at the "moves like Larry Bird" compliment upstream. Sock's got a BIG, dumb game (big FH, big serve) with limited mobility and awkward footwork that I think will limit him soon. OTOH, I've been saying the same thing about Isner who's turned into the tie-break king no one wants to play

A good reason to give him some time and root for him. He's done things not many have done by 18. Time will tell. My son and I met him at the USO practice courts. Nice kid.

[chalkflewup]

He moves better than people give him credit. Roddick was never a mover and his career has been ok.

Once Sock learns to drive and flatten out the forehand on, he's going to hurt some people.

[PennAlum]

Originally Posted by chalkflewup

He moves better than people give him credit. Roddick was never a mover and his career has been ok.

Once Sock learns to drive and flatten out the forehand on, he's going to hurt some people.

Extreme western forehand grip is not penetrating. He doesn't cover the court well enough to use that grip a la Nadal and the Spaniards. The videos show this. The kid he plays is a senior at Cal Poly and hits 2-handed on both sides.

[TennisCoachFLA]

1. Why would anyone want to think negative thoughts about an 18 year old who just graduated high school, won the Zoo, won the US Opens doubles, and went several rounds in the Open? Plenty of time for bashing him if he actually fails.

2. A western forehand can be devastating and penetrating with the proper swing pattern. The added topspin can kick and some are 'heavier' than others. Sock's forehand is a major weapon.

3. Movement is linked to anticipation. Some very fast players stink because they have horrible anticipation skills. Sock has amazing anticipation skills and the ability to read his opponent's intentions with their shots.

4. Male players can greatly improve their movement into their early 20s. The male body matures slower and later than females. Sock was a laid back dude in high school, probably did not do the hard core speed training many athletes do. How he moves in 2-3 years could be very different than how he moves now IF he makes the commitment to speed training.

[ga tennis]

Originally Posted by TennisCoachFLA

1. Why would anyone want to think negative thoughts about an 18 year old who just graduated high school, won the Zoo, won the US Opens doubles, and went several rounds in the Open? Plenty of time for bashing him if he actually fails.

2. A western forehand can be devastating and penetrating with the proper swing pattern. The added topspin can kick and some are 'heavier' than others. Sock's forehand is a major weapon.

3. Movement is linked to anticipation. Some very fast players stink because they have horrible anticipation skills. Sock has amazing anticipation skills and the ability to read his opponent's intentions with their shots.

4. Male players can greatly improve their movement into their early 20s. The male body matures slower and later than females. Sock was a laid back dude in high school, probably did not do the hard core speed training many athletes do. How he moves in 2-3 years could be very different than how he moves now IF he makes the commitment to speed training.

AGREE 100%

[TennisCoachFLA]

Originally Posted by ga tennis

AGREE 100%

Thanks. Reading the hate of this kid makes me want to root for him 1000 times more. I worked with some top level speed training coaches when I ran my health club and have all sorts of equipment and drills.

Not that he needs me, but I would work with Sock for FREE or set him up with a killer speed training dude in Coral Springs if he wanted too. Just to shut the haters up! But my hunch is he has plans to work with some great speed coaches on his own now that he is a pro.

[willshot]

Originally Posted by PennAlum

Extreme western forehand grip is not penetrating. He doesn't cover the court well enough to use that grip a la Nadal and the Spaniards. The videos show this. The kid he plays is a senior at Cal Poly and hits 2-handed on both sides.

What do you say about Djockovic?

[ga tennis]

Originally Posted by TennisCoachFLA

Thanks. Reading the hate of this kid makes me want to root for him 1000 times more. I worked with some top level speed training coaches when I ran my health club and have all sorts of equipment and drills.

Not that he needs me, but I would work with Sock for FREE or set him up with a killer speed training dude in Coral Springs if he wanted too. Just to shut the haters up! But my hunch is he has plans to work with some great speed coaches on his own now that he is a pro.

I need to come down there one weekend and let our daughters practice and have fun.And when were there u can show me some of those speed training drills.She jumps rope all the time now and does alot of ladder drills but she needs more.That first step is what makes greatness.

[TennisCoachFLA]

Originally Posted by ga tennis

I need to come down there one weekend and let our daughters practice and have fun.And when were there u can show me some of those speed training drills.She jumps rope all the time now and does alot of ladder drills but she needs more.That first step is what makes greatness.

We have been doing lots of speed training the last few months. I let her just play on the playground and play some soccer up until then.

She actually loves it. We use speed hurdles and agility ladders, cones and the rubber band resistance apparatus. She would do it for hours if I let her.

Like you said, the first step is the difference maker. The right combination of anticipation skills and flat out speed is the holy grail.

[chalkflewup]

See TCF, we see i2i on a lot of things

[BMC9670]

Originally Posted by TennisCoachFLA

Thanks. Reading the hate of this kid makes me want to root for him 1000 times more.

Yeah, I don't get that. Why do people tear down our top prospects before they've even begun? This is what we have right now, period. Let's support him and the rest of the young guys instead of bashing.

Same things with the aging guard like Roddick. People love to hate him for some reason. He's had a career that most pro players would kill for. Yeah, he's "animated" on court, but what people don't see is that he helps out a lot of the young guys by training with them, offering advice, mentoring them, etc. He's good for the sport in the US.

[TennisDawg]

I posted on this thread about Jack Sock. My comments were basically that it was too soon too tell how good he will be and that no way was the torch to be passed in the match against Roddick and it's not, not yet, anyway.

That said! I have somewhat been following this thread and it's incredible that some are so negative and cynical that they can't put themselves in his shoes at age 18. Quote: Dennis Miller "He's a kid with a dream". Let him live his dream, so what if he doesn't make the top 10 or win a GS or even a tournament, he has a dream! In pro-tennis he'll find out soon enough if he has the goods, why not let this thing take it's course. What does he have to lose? Let's say his finished at age 30. He's still a young man, he can still pursue another career. If you had a chance (and a bonafide chance) at making it at pro-tennis wouldn't you go for it and live your dream. You're only young once. I just don't see the point in beating up on this man-child!

[PennAlum]

Originally Posted by willshot

What do you say about Djockovic?

Djoker is swift as a jackrabbit. His first step is quick. What does Djoker have to do with Sock, are you comparing him to Sock just because he has an extreme western forehand?

Originally Posted by ga tennis

That first step is what makes greatness.

Originally Posted by TennisCoachFLA

Like you said, the first step is the difference maker. The right combination of anticipation skills and flat out speed is the holy grail.

More from zootennis board which contributors have seen more up and coming U.S. junior players than the TW board contributors:

Coach said...

"Brent and austin.. He won the mixed doubles. How many serious singles players were in that. Exactly zero. He won a round in singles in what might be called the best draw possible. He lost badly to Roddick who to say the least wasnt near the top of his game. His challenger results are hardly surprising. That's what they've been pretty regularly. Hes the same age as jordan cox denis kudla and ryan harrison yet everyone seems to think because he played the juniors till weeks before he turned 19 hes a junior on the rise. He may be ok in time but kudla and harrison certainly have a jump on him as far as professional development, especially Harrison. Can he perform when his ranking gets to the top 200 and he's expected to win. I'm not sold on that yet."

We are all not haters, we are merely observers. Our opinions have NO effect of Jack Sock's game or future. This is a tennis board, people like to voice their observations. Don't take it personally if there opinions differ from yours. You lovers of Jack Sock are not relatives. Maybe TCF just wants Sock to succeed to further his bashing on the USTA as he is not a USTA kid.

[willshot]

Originally Posted by PennAlum

Djoker is swift as a jackrabbit. His first step is quick. What does Djoker have to do with Sock, are you comparing him to Sock just because he has an extreme western forehand?






More from zootennis board which contributors have seen more up and coming U.S. junior players than the TW board contributors:

Coach said...

"Brent and austin.. He won the mixed doubles. How many serious singles players were in that. Exactly zero. He won a round in singles in what might be called the best draw possible. He lost badly to Roddick who to say the least wasnt near the top of his game. His challenger results are hardly surprising. That's what they've been pretty regularly. Hes the same age as jordan cox denis kudla and ryan harrison yet everyone seems to think because he played the juniors till weeks before he turned 19 hes a junior on the rise. He may be ok in time but kudla and harrison certainly have a jump on him as far as professional development, especially Harrison. Can he perform when his ranking gets to the top 200 and he's expected to win. I'm not sold on that yet."

We are all not haters, we are merely observers. Our opinions have NO effect of Jack Sock's game or future. This is a tennis board, people like to voice their observations. Don't take it personally if there opinions differ from yours. You lovers of Jack Sock are not relatives. Maybe TCF just wants Sock to succeed to further his bashing on the USTA as he is not a USTA kid.

I'm not comparing the 2 players. You stated "Extreme western forehand grip is not penetrating" so I was just saying that Djock uses extreme grip also but can still hit a penetrating forehand. thats all.

[Rattler]

Originally Posted by Bash and Crash

Dang there are some serious Sock haters.......did Sam Q have people say the same about him?

People are still saying that about Isner too.