How to break through a plateau?

[bdaniels]

I've been playing tennis 3x a week for about 6 months now. I've reached a point in my game where I seem to be getting worse. My strokes are terrible, I have no form, I don't even know if I'm holding the racquet right. I've tried lessons online, they don't seem to help. I also can't afford lessons with a pro. I really don't know what my options are at this point and I'm hoping people have some suggestions.

[yodudedudeyo]

Yeah, I'm in the same boat...sort of. I play a LOT, and yet most of the time i feel like im getting worse. I feel like I dont even know how to hold the racket either! None of the grips work for me, western, semi, eastern, whatever! It seems like my stroke sucks therefor i cant even use any of them!

[donnyz89]

take some cheap 10$/hr group lessons... I saw some people teaching tennis at the local park. even though I can prolly beat those pros and im barely 3.5...

and i hardly call where u are at plateau... no offense.

[Jon Hampton]

Originally Posted by donnyz89

and i hardly call where u are at plateau... no offense.

I think he's describing a plateau...a kind of situation where he's not getting any better, but he's not necessarily getting so bad as to wanting to quit.

In any case, here's what I would suggest you do. First, take an hour lesson with a pro. Sure, it's going to be like $40-$50, but it's only one lesson. Don't get caught up in him feeding you balls for the entire hour. Get the pro to show you the right technique and to point out any flaws in your strokes. Have the pro work all parts of your game for that hour: volleys, serve, forehand, backhand. I think at this point overheads would just be a waste of time.

After that, you should find someone who is on your leve to hit against with a few times a week. You'd be suprised with how much you'll improve by just playing more often. When playing with your new partner, make sure you keep in mind what the pro told you during your lesson. Try to emulate and duplicate the strokes that you practice with the pro.

I think the reason you think you're getting worse is because you're practicing bad technique over and over again. A stroke that is 40% correct with only earn a 40% chance of getting the ball over, whereas a stroke that is 90% good technique will earn you a stroke that, with practice, can make you a great player.

[bdaniels]

Originally Posted by donnyz89

take some cheap 10$/hr group lessons... I saw some people teaching tennis at the local park. even though I can prolly beat those pros and im barely 3.5...

and i hardly call where u are at plateau... no offense.

Just FYI, the dictionary defenition of a plateau is " A relatively stable level, period, or state". That does not suggest that I've reached the "top level" as you are implying. I've simply reached a point in my game where I've leveled out and I'm not getting any better, hence the use of the word "plateau".

[Ztalin]

I think donnyz is confusing plateau and peak.

And yes, just like in bodybuilding, a plateau is when you don't seem to be improving, or getting stronger/bigger.

[Bungalo Bill]

Originally Posted by bdaniels

I've been playing tennis 3x a week for about 6 months now. I've reached a point in my game where I seem to be getting worse. My strokes are terrible, I have no form, I don't even know if I'm holding the racquet right. I've tried lessons online, they don't seem to help. I also can't afford lessons with a pro. I really don't know what my options are at this point and I'm hoping people have some suggestions.

Sounds like you need some help or you are getting bored. I remember when I was 17, I was just not hitting the ball well. I had the strokes but I seemed to lose focus at the contact point and often felt like I was just throwing the racquet at the ball. My balance was off - everything felt off. Most of it was because I was bored but I didnt know it.

Take some time off and go have some fun doing something else for awhile. Settle down and come back to the sport with a fresh perspective that everyone goes through this now and then. Often when this happens is because we think we found a shortcut to learning tennis and when we realize it takes longer then we thought - subconsiously we get frustrated.

When you have taken a couple weeks off, take some on court lessons and find a pro that emphasizes the fundamentals. Learning the fundamentals may not seem flashy or impressive but it goes a long way to building a solid foundation in your strokes so you can execute those fancier strokes with ease.

[krnboijunsung]

Same here, except I'm considering or wondering whether to change forehand grips, because I don't think I'll get anywhere with hitting flat shots. I'm not clueless or whatever like you seem, since I can still play, it's just that I think I've gotten worse like you've said.

But I just keep playing.

If you don't have money for coaches, you must have friends who know how to play. I try to get my friends who are in varsity to tell me or correct my form.

[obackvalobasha]

people, its not the grip that important its the having feel for the ball. you might have been expossed to the best grips int he world if you don't have the feel for the game and for the ball you gonna screw up. So relax enjoy the game and have fun out there. soon or later you will get it.

[Bungalo Bill]

Originally Posted by obackvalobasha

...soon or later you will get it.

In understand what you mean but I dont know if I would be so "loosey goosey" on the whole "just go out and have fun, it will happen" stuff.

I have not found anything in life that is worth having that does not come without sacrifice and some hard work. Anything worth having will have its ups and downs and many times during those down times people will question themselves. It is all part of the process of learning and improving.

You got to practice smart and work hard at practicing smart. To get better, there is no substitution for a little blood, sweat, and tears (spinning wheel).