Your most successful style/ strategy for wins in tennis?

[Greg G]

I think we're reading waaay too much about PP from just one video. Could you upload the rollerblading pics?

[TomT]

Originally Posted by TomT

From your vids it doesn't seem to me that you need to lose any weight. But I don't think that losing a few pounds would negatively affect your game, and might even help.

Originally Posted by LeeD

Interesting wording there, TomT.
Just WHAT are you really trying to say?

See above.

Originally Posted by LeeD

You did cover both camps in one post, so does it mean you're undecided or non commital?

I'm in the "I don't think PP needs to lose any weight, but that if he did I don't think it would hurt his game and might even help" ... camp.

[Mick]

i know this one guy, a tennis coach. his strategy for wins in tennis is to only play against people he knows for sure he can beat

[Power Player]

Originally Posted by LeeD

If he was fighting MMA, I think he has a chance of beating every single one of us....especially me.
But all this talk and TENNIS practice, he would cover another 18" in all directions AND recover quicker with a muscle mass drop in the upper body. Keep the legs strong.
And spring up another 2" on every serve, increasing the strike point height, to get more faster serves IN.

Cant really disagree that it would be cool to see what happens if i did that. The next question is -how? Just stop lifting? Im pretty much just doing pushups now.

[TomT]

Originally Posted by Power Player

Cant really disagree that it would be cool to see what happens if i did that. The next question is -how? Just stop lifting? Im pretty much just doing pushups now.

What LeeD suggests makes sense to me. You look much more muscular and husky than would seem to be optimal for tennis. How to eventually optimize your body for tennis? Basically, stop lifting weights and get most all your exercise from practicing and playing tennis would be my guess. Your (tennis-nonessential) bulk isn't going to go away overnight, but by focusing on tennis, and cutting out sugar and excess carbs it would seem that you would steadily evolve toward your best tennis body. The muscle mass you need for tennis will remain, while what you don't need for tennis will slowly but steadily decrease. Or maybe not. Who knows? Maybe this is your optimum tennis body. But, as Chuck Norris would say, there's only one way to find out. Either way, you will be on the path to becoming a true tennis monster.

That's my goal as well. No refined sugar. No Suzy Q's. No pancakes with syrup. Less fruit and fruit juices. Etc. Etc. Although, I have decided to keep beer in my daily regimen. (It seemed to work for the Aussies.) I'm fluctuating between 185 and 190 now. Down from 200-205. The goal is to fluctuate between 170 and 175.

[TomT]

Originally Posted by Greg G

I think we're reading waaay too much about PP from just one video. Could you upload the rollerblading pics?

Excellent point, imo. I love rollerblading vids. Plus, more tennis vids is always a good idea in a tennis tips and instruction forum.

[Mick3391]

Originally Posted by Power Player

The more I have drilled my footwork, the more prep time I have and the better my strokes have gotten. I played a flatter hitting guy last night where I was able to hit deep shots CC and DTL safely. They were bouncing about a foot or so in the baseline on average and I was getting confident enough to place the ball closer to the lines. I have played and hit with this guy many times, and this was the most lopsided play in my favor to date.

It felt like I finally had evolved from the high trajectory- pin them back with topspin - force short balls style that I had played before. I find that better players see that style so much that it does not phase them. It is more like the Rafa defensive style that can wear you down, especially if your opponent knows how to take them early. I have gone more to the Djoker style of attacking with lower trajectory and more precise placement. Obviously none of us are on that level of play, but at least this provides a good visual.

This was one guy, but the more I have adapted this style, the better I have been playing. I play guys from 4.0 to 5.0 since my clubs set me up with different players.

What works for you?

Progressive serve and volley. When I say "Progressive", I don't mean serve then hit the net, but progressively work my way up with flat, top, and slice when needed.

Serve and Volley is making a comeback!!!!!!! You'll see! I was so thrilled with this Sampras interview I heard the other day, they asked "How would you play today in this era of hard hitting baseliners", he said "I only have one gear", they said "Yea, but they have bigger racquets and more powerful strings", Sampras said "So would I, when I see a guy stay back I lick my chops".

I'm probably wrong, but I prefer playing aggressive, ending points quick, shooting a guy where he's not. Man today I played after almost stopping from injuries and did great, played my 6.1 90 and it was like oh just wonderful! Love this sport.

[bad_call]

Originally Posted by Power Player

Cant really disagree that it would be cool to see what happens if i did that. The next question is -how? Just stop lifting? Im pretty much just doing pushups now.

wow...next would be change your genetic makeup. lol

can imagine comments from those after posting a vid of myself would be "stop moving like an old man"...dude - i would if i could but guess what. lol

[Mick3391]

Originally Posted by TomT

Post some vids. I would love to see your game, and feel sure that I could learn something.

As for your question, well, check out my sig. I actually do play 4.0 and above players from time to time. The warmup usually goes quite well. After that it's pretty much downhill for me.

Recently played a solid 4.0 guy. Actually won a couple of games, and I think I made him work a bit in a few other games. How did I win the games I won? Hard first serves went in, was hitting some really hard, slightly undercut driving approach shots that were clearing the net by inches, landing deep and skidding real low, and didn't screw up the volleys. But of course I can't do that consistently on most points.

Should have made some vids of that match, but didn't anticipate playing as well as I did. As it turned out my level of play was elevated by my opponent's level of play. In the end we were both pleased with the result. Me, because I thought I played pretty well, and him because he won pretty decisively. The old stuff seems to be steadily, but slowly, coming back.

Hey TomT are you feeling better? You had some problems before.

I just want to share with you this last year was one injury after another for me, the last straw was, by the way you diagnosed it right, Golfers elbow for Tennis! It was so bad it hurt to lift the racquet, heh it hurt to dry my hair with a towel, ALL THE TIME. I couldn't hit well (I just played through the pain).

Listen, I conned my doc into giving me 500IU HCG shots. They are NOT DANGEROUS, they naturally increase Testosterone, I am PAIN FREE, my arm is a normal arm, I can play, today I played tops, could do anything I wanted without that fear of some weird pain shooting somewhere through my body. Try it, you need a prescription now because it works, not for the stupid diet, just for restoring your testosterone to how it was, and it's my understanding Testosterone heals these injuries, rebuilds it if you will. My elbow as you said was in a degenerative state, only gets worse, but it's built up, I can swing as hard as ever, no weakness, heh it's given me back my sport.

I swelled up to 236, which is not really fat for me, but heavy, I'm 6'1" and have alot of muscle, especially in my legs, so now I'm back to a normal 220 or so, mainly water and glycogin loss, but man I feel AWESOME, you GOT to try it.

[TomT]

Originally Posted by Mick3391

Progressive serve and volley. When I say "Progressive", I don't mean serve then hit the net, but progressively work my way up with flat, top, and slice when needed.

Serve and Volley is making a comeback!!!!!!! You'll see! I was so thrilled with this Sampras interview I heard the other day, they asked "How would you play today in this era of hard hitting baseliners", he said "I only have one gear", they said "Yea, but they have bigger racquets and more powerful strings", Sampras said "So would I, when I see a guy stay back I lick my chops".

I'm probably wrong, but I prefer playing aggressive, ending points quick, shooting a guy where he's not. Man today I played after almost stopping from injuries and did great, played my 6.1 90 and it was like oh just wonderful! Love this sport.

Watched a vid last night of a match between Connors and McEnroe. 1995 Pebble Beach. Connors 43 yrs, Mac 36 yrs. The points were fantastic to watch. Definitely what you're talking about with progressive serve and volley.

Love that comment by Sampras. Have to believe his style, played by a top form Sampras, would kick butt in today's game.

[TomT]

Originally Posted by Mick3391

Hey TomT are you feeling better? You had some problems before.

I just want to share with you this last year was one injury after another for me, the last straw was, by the way you diagnosed it right, Golfers elbow for Tennis! It was so bad it hurt to lift the racquet, heh it hurt to dry my hair with a towel, ALL THE TIME. I couldn't hit well (I just played through the pain).

Listen, I conned my doc into giving me 500IU HCG shots. They are NOT DANGEROUS, they naturally increase Testosterone, I am PAIN FREE, my arm is a normal arm, I can play, today I played tops, could do anything I wanted without that fear of some weird pain shooting somewhere through my body. Try it, you need a prescription now because it works, not for the stupid diet, just for restoring your testosterone to how it was, and it's my understanding Testosterone heals these injuries, rebuilds it if you will. My elbow as you said was in a degenerative state, only gets worse, but it's built up, I can swing as hard as ever, no weakness, heh it's given me back my sport.

I swelled up to 236, which is not really fat for me, but heavy, I'm 6'1" and have alot of muscle, especially in my legs, so now I'm back to a normal 220 or so, mainly water and glycogin loss, but man I feel AWESOME, you GOT to try it.

I'm glad to hear that you found a remedy and are feeling and playing great Mick. Yeah, I'm sure I could use a testosterone boost, but it's not likely to happen. I use the VA medical services and I'm pretty sure they're not going to give me a script so I can play tennis better. Just gonna have to do it the old fashioned way. My wrist is better but still sore. Legs slowly getting stronger. Glad for your recovery. Post some vids.