Unforced errors.

[Flat Top]

My 12 yo started playing last year. Likes to attack. When he is doing well he looks good. But inexplicably sometimes his game just goes down. He tries to adjust then he gets worse, making errors even when he is not attacking. Then sometimes he recovers and looks good again. Sometimes he catches up and wins, sometimes too little too late. Tips?

[5263]

Often kids relax when not on the attack, leading to all the things that make you miss; such as off balance, reaching and poor position on the ball for contact point.

Very hard to teach kids to work hard for quality, even when they are just in a rally. But very critical thing to learn IMO.

[user92626]

Does your kid understand and be able to relay to you all the basic foundations?

Ages ago I also blamed my down time as bad days as I saw many people did that alot. But really, it's just lack of complete comprehending of the basics. Once you have all the basics down, you can troubleshoot and get back in no time.

There are of course geniune bad days, like too distracted, or too tired physically and mentally that you skip one or two of the basics. I usually know.

[1HBH Rocks]

Originally Posted by Flat Top

My 12 yo started playing last year. Likes to attack. When he is doing well he looks good. But inexplicably sometimes his game just goes down. He tries to adjust then he gets worse, making errors even when he is not attacking. Then sometimes he recovers and looks good again. Sometimes he catches up and wins, sometimes too little too late. Tips?

When you strike a tennis ball, there is a moment in your swing where there's no looking back: it's the first forward movement of the racket. Your body position, that is to say, literally your posture at this precise instant determines the outcome completely. That's why footwork and preparation are key to hitting hard or why you might read that you in fact do "hit with your feet": you need to get your good swing into the right place to hit the ball or else it fails.

When you get on the offensive, often, you are more alert as stated by someone else. It's not because you are pushed back or ran wide that your good footwork stops being required: it's as important. I'd be ready to call 90% of days, bad footwork days, if you really want to know.

[5263]

Originally Posted by Flat Top

My 12 yo started playing last year. Likes to attack. When he is doing well he looks good. But inexplicably sometimes his game just goes down. Tips?

It is very Explicable!
He is 12.
Just kidding around

[Flat Top]

Thanks for the replies. I was thinking myself it was a matter of him not knowing when to attack, and basically just attacks every ball. When he makes mistakes, he then slows down, but that doesn't work either. Then he just goes back to what he likes doing which is attack, then it starts working again, at least for a while. Maybe when his skills get better then the consistency will follow. For now I was telling him to attack only short high balls or high volleys. Is that right?

[LeeD]

Yes, tell him to attack high and short balls.
He's 12.
Sound to me, you're living your tennis career through him.
He's 12.

[sunof tennis]

The fact that he has only played for a year and is only 12 explains a lot. As previous posters mentioned, he should consistently work on the fundamentals of the game. Once he truly has that down, he can start to self-adjust and correct his errors during a match.
Back in the day, most 12 year old tournaments were won by the most consistent players. If your son is playing guys who are trained not to miss, this will naturally lead to more errors by your son until he develops.

[Flat Top]

Originally Posted by LeeD

Yes, tell him to attack high and short balls.
He's 12.
Sound to me, you're living your tennis career through him.
He's 12.

Thanks.

Maybe I am. But although I played a little as a kid, he was actually the one who got me interested in the game. I don't play. He learned about tennis from school. If not for that, wouldn't even have discovered this forum, not asking any questions.

[Flat Top]

Originally Posted by sunof tennis

The fact that he has only played for a year and is only 12 explains a lot. As previous posters mentioned, he should consistently work on the fundamentals of the game. Once he truly has that down, he can start to self-adjust and correct his errors during a match.
Back in the day, most 12 year old tournaments were won by the most consistent players. If your son is playing guys who are trained not to miss, this will naturally lead to more errors by your son until he develops.

Thanks. I guess it is the natural course for his age. Just helping him out. He'll have his first private lesson soon. Will leave it up to the real coach.(not myself )

[boramiNYC]

Don't let your kid to focus on winning too much. He might be equating attacking to winning the point. To get stronger in tennis he needs to realize there are many ways to win and winning is not everything at times. Focus on playing stronger game. It involves learning, practicing, and executing proper techniques and various strategies.

[5263]

Originally Posted by Flat Top

Thanks. I guess it is the natural course for his age. Just helping him out. He'll have his first private lesson soon. Will leave it up to the real coach.(not myself )

Hey, don't sweat that.
They would never get any good without interested parents helping them out and
helping to show the way.
And good you are noticing some important things here.

Consistency takes effort and attention, just like attacking.
You and his new coach will have to get him to understand this.
There are ways he can learn to attack without taking so much risk too.

No, it won't just come with time. Maybe it will improve, but
not to the extent it will need to.
Keep being a great parent and helping him grow and enjoy the game he loves.

[Flat Top]

Thanks a lot for all your advise. He's a fast learner, and has impressed other parents with kids around his age or even older who have played much longer. They are surprised when I tell them he just lost his match. Just learning the game together with him. The difference is, he is the one who sweats. The only time I hold a racket is when I play with him and his sister.