Mick Diary

[Mick3391]

Originally Posted by TomT

Feeling better, stronger each day, thanks. Hope you're feeling as well as possible.

There will be plenty more times that you will have video and pictures of. The most important thing is that you actually do spend time with your son. No substitute for that. From what I've learned of you so far I'll bet you're a pretty darned good dad. Just don't get too proud of, or ambitious for, him. We all need a certain freedom (within a nicely structured environment that it sounds like you're engineering for him).

Anyway, this diary thing is a cool idea, imo. I'm sure many TalkTennis posters will be tracking it, as I will.

I'm anxious to see some vids of your talented son in action, but even more I would like to see some vids of your play. So, get a frickin camera and start recording for chrisakes. (If you need any tips just email me.)

Also, if you're ever in my area then you'd better contact me so we can at least hit, maybe even play a set or two. The old man might just slip a few shots past ya. (I'll furnish the court, balls, nutritional drinks, and comic relief. Just bring your A game, because you might need it if I'm back to full strength. )

Mick has complete freedom, I only introduced him to Tennis and let him know what could possibly be possible if he trains. He wants to play more than I do. When we train I do push him as he wants to learn. I wish my dad taught me, told me I could play USTA tourneys.

Play you? Here's what would happen when we play;

"Mick serves and Tom starts to retreat, if he keeps this up he’ll be in a ringside seat, Mick hits from the left, hits from the right, Tom is scared and full of fright. Mick hits deep, then makes a lob, if he keeps this up Tom will look like a slob, Mick hits a hard cross court that is oh so cool, until Tom counters to win match point to make Mick look like a fool".

[luvforty]

from what I have seen, TomT plays in the 3.0 but has a serve that will give trouble to most 4.0s

i am not convinced that mick jr can handle the old man!

[Mick3391]

Originally Posted by luvforty

from what I have seen, TomT plays in the 3.0 but has a serve that will give trouble to most 4.0s

i am not convinced that mick jr can handle the old man!

Me neither, but I'd like to see it!

[TomT]

Originally Posted by Mick3391

Mick has complete freedom, I only introduced him to Tennis and let him know what could possibly be possible if he trains. He wants to play more than I do. When we train I do push him as he wants to learn. I wish my dad taught me, told me I could play USTA tourneys.

From what I've learned of you, you're a conscientious and caring person who probably knows very well when to kick *** and when to be nice. Your son is fortunate, imo.

Originally Posted by Mick3391

Play you? Here's what would happen when we play;

"Mick serves and Tom starts to retreat, if he keeps this up he’ll be in a ringside seat, Mick hits from the left, hits from the right, Tom is scared and full of fright. Mick hits deep, then makes a lob, if he keeps this up Tom will look like a slob, Mick hits a hard cross court that is oh so cool, until Tom counters to win match point to make Mick look like a fool".

Nice poetic rendering, but I think it would go more like this: Mick and Tom play a most enjoyable match in which there are a few interesting rallies and in which Tom hits a few really nice shots, but Mick's much better movement, and relatively greater consistency of accurate placement and pace, and many fewer unforced errors, prevails. Final score: Mick by 6-1, 6-1, but he was most entertained. Next match: Mick by 6-2, 6-2. Mick is still most entertained. Next match: Mick by 6-3, 6-3. Mick is still entertained, but is beginning to get a bit concerned. And so on. What do you think?

Or, it's quite possible that you're so much better than me that I'd get consistently bageled. Maybe winning an occasional game. Maybe not. But I still think you'd enjoy the matches, because in some, maybe even lots of, games you're going to have to actually play well to win.

[Fuji]

Originally Posted by TomT

From what I've learned of you, you're a conscientious and caring person who probably knows very well when to kick *** and when to be nice. Your son is fortunate, imo.

Nice poetic rendering, but I think it would go more like this: Mick and Tom play a most enjoyable match in which there are a few interesting rallies and in which Tom hits a few really nice shots, but Mick's much better movement, and relatively greater consistency of accurate placement and pace, and many fewer unforced errors, prevails. Final score: Mick by 6-1, 6-1, but he was most entertained. Next match: Mick by 6-2, 6-2. Mick is still most entertained. Next match: Mick by 6-3, 6-3. Mick is still entertained, but is beginning to get a bit concerned. And so on. What do you think?

Or, it's quite possible that you're so much better than me that I'd get consistently bageled. Maybe winning an occasional game. Maybe not. But I still think you'd enjoy the matches, because in some, maybe even lots of, games you're going to have to actually play well to win.

Tom I'd love to play you some time! I think that it would be a super fun hit! Same with Mick! Hitting with people from the forum is always a really cool experience.

-Fuji

[TomT]

Originally Posted by Fuji

Tom I'd love to play you some time! I think that it would be a super fun hit! Same with Mick! Hitting with people from the forum is always a really cool experience.

-Fuji

Me too. If you're ever in this area I hope you contact me.

[Fuji]

Originally Posted by TomT

Me too. If you're ever in this area I hope you contact me.

Will do for sure!

-Fuji

[Mick3391]

Originally Posted by TomT

From what I've learned of you, you're a conscientious and caring person who probably knows very well when to kick *** and when to be nice. Your son is fortunate, imo.

Nice poetic rendering, but I think it would go more like this: Mick and Tom play a most enjoyable match in which there are a few interesting rallies and in which Tom hits a few really nice shots, but Mick's much better movement, and relatively greater consistency of accurate placement and pace, and many fewer unforced errors, prevails. Final score: Mick by 6-1, 6-1, but he was most entertained. Next match: Mick by 6-2, 6-2. Mick is still most entertained. Next match: Mick by 6-3, 6-3. Mick is still entertained, but is beginning to get a bit concerned. And so on. What do you think?

Or, it's quite possible that you're so much better than me that I'd get consistently bageled. Maybe winning an occasional game. Maybe not. But I still think you'd enjoy the matches, because in some, maybe even lots of, games you're going to have to actually play well to win.

Nice pre-commentary there! I don't make any predictions except that we would have fun!

[Mick3391]

Back to diary;

Mick got a Nadal AeroPro. Silly, he was looking at Babs, so his grandparents got him this 110 inch Pure Overdrive. I was able to trade it for a Aero.

This is silly, he has a "Collection" of racquets now! A "Federer", a "Nadal", and a "Del Portro"!

Training log with Mick off the court:
1. Play catch with the tennis ball making him focus on the ball, that is his eye. Throw to the left and right, want to see his head move to see, increase speed until I'm nailing him, and he's catching it.
2. Throwing three balls in the air, let them bounce, then have him hit all three before they bounce. Could do 2 up until about a week ago, now can do 3.
3. Jogging forward and backwards
4. Place 4 objects near the baseline so he has to hit with a forehand, then immediately BH, then move back and a FH, then over to a BH, this works both sides of his brain.
5. Bounce the ball on the ground to catch, then do two balls so I'm throwing one as he is, again works his concentration and brain.
6. Watching DVD's of Federer!

Training Mick on the court:

1. Hours at the net
2. Hours at mid court, catching ball in the air before it bounces
3. Baseline. Not just return, but return a winner or set up for a winner.
4. Hours to the BH
5. The topspin, flat, slice drill, both hard and soft.
6. Hitting the ball on the rise

[Mick3391]

Forgot, hit the ball up and down, hit it on the head, bounce it off the head and back to the racquet and keep bouncing.

[Mick3391]

I do not have the personality to be a teacher, today we play, Mick is not there, nothing, can't hit anything.

So this old guy comes by, I ask him if he'll play Mick, and of course first thing the guy wants to teach Mick, I don't know how these nuts think, "Oh I've been playing for 10 years, what you want to do is......."

Mick got slaughtered by a guy who couldn't play at all, just nothing, as exhilierating as it was to see Mick wipe the other guy out this was as frustrating as can be.

I understand inconsistancy, we all have it, but this is crazy.

[Mick3391]

I believe the problem is being tired mentally. We played after a long week of getting up at 7am and studying all day. Mick is very smart, but when tired he is like me, struggles to find thoughts. He took a nap yesterday and was sharp again.

Since Tennis is mental, hopefully it's only mental fatigue that explains this huge inconsistancy.

[Mick3391]

Here's another day, Mick fully rested, and same nonsense. Had an occasional decent rally.

I got so frustrated I just said "Let's go", "We spend more effort picking up balls than you playing".

He, and I can just see it on him, I read tennis players, but especially my SON, and I can just tell, doesn't get ready until the ball comes over the net, doesn't keep his eye on the ball, doesn't move into position to hit it right, just a total breakdown of what he was taught.

I would hit a ball, and as I hit it grab another one because I could tell he wouldn't get a shot back.

Anyone have any suggestions? Not all of this technical nonsense. I don't think anyone can because it's heart, it's mental, when he's rested and into it he's a killer, you know what I mean, otherwise he's just there.

I don't move much with him, perhaps he's imitating me. I can get away with it, he can't. I mean I have golfers elbow, it hurts so bad it hurts even when I dry my hair, I guess it's permanant, then I sprain my ankle, still surge on, and he acts like without effort it will just come.

Frustrating, I don't care if he can't play well, I don't care if he doesn't have talent, he does have talent, what is frustrating is that he has huge talent but such a low amount of effort. You can't teach hussle.

[Mick3391]

Here's another day, Mick fully rested, and same nonsense. Had an occasional decent rally.

I got so frustrated I just said "Let's go", "We spend more effort picking up balls than you playing".

He, and I can just see it on him, I read tennis players, but especially my SON, and I can just tell, doesn't get ready until the ball comes over the net, doesn't keep his eye on the ball, doesn't move into position to hit it right, just a total breakdown of what he was taught.

I would hit a ball, and as I hit it grab another one because I could tell he wouldn't get a shot back.

Anyone have any suggestions? Not all of this technical nonsense. I don't think anyone can because it's heart, it's mental, when he's rested and into it he's a killer, you know what I mean, otherwise he's just there.

I don't move much with him, perhaps he's imitating me. I can get away with it, he can't. I mean I have golfers elbow, it hurts so bad it hurts even when I dry my hair, I guess it's permanant, then I sprain my ankle, still surge on, and he acts like without effort it will just come.

Frustrating, I don't care if he can't play well, I don't care if he doesn't have talent, he does have talent, what is frustrating is that he has huge talent but such a low amount of effort. You can't teach hussle.

[luvforty]

lol i feel bad for jr.

what is your goal?

[Fuji]

Just go on days whenever he wants to go. Often my "bad" days on court, are when I'm obligated to go due to someone else, rather then if I go because I want to. It just sounds like he's having a couple off days here. Take a few days off and get some quality sleep.

Trust me, the sleep REALLY helps! I nap pretty often if I know I have tennis at night.

-Fuji

[rkelley]

I don't have answers. I do know it has to come from the person.

My son and daughter both see the effort I put into tennis (and music, my other hobby, not to mention my job that actually earns money). Whether it's hitting against the wall to fix a stroke problem, or running a scale over and over, they see the benefit of practice. But ultimately they have to decide if they want to put in that effort, and what things are important enough to them to make that effort. I'm not a believer that you need to be the best you can be at every single thing you do, but I do think there should be some things in your life that you are willing to work for and be your best at.

You try to be a roll model. you try to help your kids, but they have to decide. Do let them know that they are loved unconditionally.

[TomT]

I think this thread is getting better as it evolves. Given its potential I rated it 5 stars (excellent). But I noticed that the overall rating is 2 stars (bad). I hope that improves. I see the potential for all sorts of issues being discussed as sidebars to Mick's diary of his interaction with Mick Jr., and Mick Jr.'s development. Kudos to Mick Sr. for putting it out there. There are lots of insightful TT posters who haven't yet contributed to this thread (and some who have), and I hope that more will weigh in here as this thread progresses.

Regarding proper rest, my two cents is that it's the single most important element in realizing a more or less long term goal that requires a lot of diligent hard work.

Regarding hustle, I think it can be required and thus realized in a controlled environment. Whether self-motivated hustle can be taught is a harder question. Whether or not things required and realized in controlled, restricted environments might become 'habits' is another hard(er) question.

Regarding whether passionate commitment (from which self-motivated hustle, patience, diligence, and the willingness to work and engage in tedious practice comes) can be taught, I don't have any particularly informed or solid opinion. It's seems that it should be as manipulable (via environmental engineering) as any other behavioral trait or propensity. But it's obviously a much deeper issue than, say, teaching somebody how to hit a serve, or getting somebody to hustle in a more or less controlled environment.

[Mick3391]

Originally Posted by luvforty

lol i feel bad for jr.

what is your goal?

I don't understand what you are saying, you feel bad for him? He's getting hundreds of thousand of dollars of first rate training for free.

My goal is one thing; Mick wants to be a Federer, that is what HE WANTS, and hey you have to believe or it will never happen, he get's what, even in the winter 6-10 hours of training/play. He has the skills, the eye/hand coodination, no fear, but lacks sometimes heart, that is moving your tail, focusing, getting in position. I see it first hand, I can tell if he's going to blow a shot.

See I pretty much just stand there, and shoot shots back to him. He can't afford to do that, to be a competitor he has to move once I hit, anticipate where it's going and get there, move the feet, position, but he takes the easy way that I can get away with but he can't.

So I have NO GOAL, he does, so I'm here to help him meet that goal, I push him up higher than where he should be, I mean he's played less than one year, we started last Summer.

[Mick3391]

Originally Posted by Fuji

Just go on days whenever he wants to go. Often my "bad" days on court, are when I'm obligated to go due to someone else, rather then if I go because I want to. It just sounds like he's having a couple off days here. Take a few days off and get some quality sleep.

Trust me, the sleep REALLY helps! I nap pretty often if I know I have tennis at night.

-Fuji

Thanks, I agree. For some reason, I guess it's society, whenever I say "I'm training my son", they assume I'm PUSHING my son, which is simply not true. He wants to play more than I do. It's as if the big bad evil daddy wants to punish his child into being a pro, but that's the farthest thing from the truth.

Anyways, yea, I can be tired, hurt, still play, but then again I have experience. He did aweful, but then slept like 12 hours, and still did bad, he needs to focus.

I see a few factors clear as day when he plays bad; 1. Doesn't move when I hit. 2. Doesn't keep his eye on the ball. 3. Doesn't move to get in right position. 4. Just tries to get the ball over.

So I see this managerie of hitting a soft shot over the net, after it's over the net he starts to move, gets in wrong position, doesn't look at the ball, and just hits as if it will magically be a great shot. I'm a first witness.

Othertimes I kill it, I mean I hit it as hard as I can and he's there, calm, aiming, and I have to be on guard because he does have talent and can place shots where he wants when on.