Tennis_Monk
Hall of Fame
Oh Please. this is the worst contraption i've ever used. what a waste of money.It teaches nothing (atleast taught nothing for me).
My Pro Used The Contraption On Me
- Thread starter Cindysphinx
- Start date
Oh Please. this is the worst contraption i've ever used. what a waste of money.It teaches nothing (atleast taught nothing for me).
I was working with a 3.5 woman a few years ago who played very classical tennis--straight back swing and through the ball, very flat with little to no topspin.
In lessons and clinics we'd focus on positioning and situational use for topspin.
for additional stroke reinforcement I let her borrow my accuihit/Hal/whatever its called now.
She would take it to her daughters soccer games and practice on the sidelines as she watched the games.
and at times, she would practice in the garage.
Within a couple weeks of consistent use, she developed a nice low to high swingpath w her own small loop on the backswing.
the added control of topspin gave her alot of confidence and opened the door for greater shot selection.
later that year we was bumped to 4.0
parasailing
Legend
I initially had the practice hit a couple years back but found it not as durable. The eye coach is a study device but still there are some things that need improving such as the base doesn't actually work well on a carpet floor if you keep those rubber feet on them.
Also, the arm unit with the ball isn't securely mounted and needs improvement but overall, this is better than practice hit.
Also, the arm unit with the ball isn't securely mounted and needs improvement but overall, this is better than practice hit.
TennezSport
Hall of Fame
Welcome sir...............
It's not a bad tool at all if you use it at what it was designed for. The foot work drills do look very funny, but we found that the tool worked very well when trying to focus on specific movements to confused students. Didn't have to focus on a ball coming at them, just the footwork and the strike zone.
Cheers, TennezSport
It's not a bad tool at all if you use it at what it was designed for. The foot work drills do look very funny, but we found that the tool worked very well when trying to focus on specific movements to confused students. Didn't have to focus on a ball coming at them, just the footwork and the strike zone.
Cheers, TennezSport
user92626
G.O.A.T.
Hi Cindy,
You remind me of some of my "weekend" folks who have played for years and even decades but just can't seem to hit the ball with any sense of control or rhythm. Please don't feel offended. I'm just so curious about their learning process or how they see/process tennis that makes it utterly impossible for them to hit the ball 3 times in a row. When they hit, I never get a sense that they can make the next shot (and the next shot is just a routine, neutral return from opponent)! That's how bad some people in my group are!
I guess ultimately, subconsciously I want to help them so our group can be better.
I'm curious, what exactly makes it hard for you to play good tennis? Is it because you don't have a thorough understanding of techniques or it's a matter of execution?
TennezSport
Hall of Fame
Completely Agree..........
LOL completely agree with you Ash generally. We have found that people (big or little) that have a problem with say footwork find it easier to learn when you isolate the problem and brake it down. This little gadget lets us do that very simply before we get them back to the real court.
Cheers, TennezSport
LOL completely agree with you Ash generally. We have found that people (big or little) that have a problem with say footwork find it easier to learn when you isolate the problem and brake it down. This little gadget lets us do that very simply before we get them back to the real court.
Cheers, TennezSport
ProgressoR
Hall of Fame
I counted at least 5 insults there, on behalf of Cindy, I am greatly offended.
Cindysphinx
G.O.A.T.
Some people are just awkward and lack hand-eye coordination.
Many women born before a certain time were not encouraged to play sports as girls.
For some people, hitting a ball on the weekend and then waiting till next weekend causes loss of continuity, even if done for decades.
Some adults have trouble learning new things, be it tennis or a language.
Some people have the same attitude to tennis that many tennis players have towards table tennis (ping pong). Something to just poke and hit, and not to be taken seriously.
It is all good.
You don't get the Edit Option until you reach so many posts...I believe.
user92626
G.O.A.T.
ah you folks are too sensitive. That's gonna hinder learning even more!
My post was strictly on tennis "skills" which is quite un-essential and unimportant to everyone here, ie no big deal. I probably suck the most in learning another language. We can't all be perfect, right?
Everyone sucks at one thing or another, at some point. Great folks seem to be the ones who're willing to look closer at their shortcoming ....That's the start..
Cindysphinx
G.O.A.T.
ah you folks are too sensitive. That's gonna hinder learning even more!
My post was strictly on tennis "skills" which is quite un-essential and unimportant to everyone here, ie no big deal. I probably suck the most in learning another language. We can't all be perfect, right?
Everyone sucks at one thing or another, at some point. Great folks seem to be the ones who're willing to look closer at their shortcoming ....That's the start..
We're not too sensitive. I think it was perhaps a case of your being insensitive? Some people really suck at interpersonal skills, it seems.
After all, I didn't say that I can't hit three balls. What I said in this thread was "Gee, my coach used a particular teaching aid in my lesson, and I thought it was helpful in improving my topspin."
From that you ran off in some weird direction. Why would you ask me why your uncoordinated, hapless friends are so lame? I don't know why they struggle so. I happen to be progressing just fine, but thanks for your interest.
Because he thought that a coordinated person would not need such contraptions to learn tennis
Djokovicfan4life
Legend
*Runs in weird directions*
Tennisguy3000
Semi-Pro
I have to admit to having the contraption lol I was having trouble making the changes in my swing that my coach was recommending. The problem was that I would tend to go right back to my old way/style of hitting once I got on the court again in the next couple of days. I got frustrated enough that I did a search for tennis training aids & found this product.
I started using it every day for 10 to 30 minutes in my basement or outside in the backyard if it was nice enough. I just focused on my "new" swing until it became my natural swing (even when I stepped onto a real court with friends/enemies). After doing this for a week my coach asked what I was doing differently & I told him what I bought & what I was doing, he hadn't heard of it before.
Worked for my game anyway. I also read this article on Tennisone The Proper Role of Teaching Tools (2nd article down) http://www.tennisone.com/newsletter/template/5.1.11.newsletter.html
They have some pretty good testimonials if they are all real http://www.practicehit.com/tennis_practicehit_endorsements.htm
I love being able to watch tennis DVD's and work on my swing & get some good exercise in at the same time (with footwork drills).
Anyway... worked for me, hope your coach is easy on you when he uses the contraption on you again lol I wish mine used one on me earlier (or gave me one to take home ;-) Good Luck! TG
I started using it every day for 10 to 30 minutes in my basement or outside in the backyard if it was nice enough. I just focused on my "new" swing until it became my natural swing (even when I stepped onto a real court with friends/enemies). After doing this for a week my coach asked what I was doing differently & I told him what I bought & what I was doing, he hadn't heard of it before.
Worked for my game anyway. I also read this article on Tennisone The Proper Role of Teaching Tools (2nd article down) http://www.tennisone.com/newsletter/template/5.1.11.newsletter.html
They have some pretty good testimonials if they are all real http://www.practicehit.com/tennis_practicehit_endorsements.htm
I love being able to watch tennis DVD's and work on my swing & get some good exercise in at the same time (with footwork drills).
Anyway... worked for me, hope your coach is easy on you when he uses the contraption on you again lol I wish mine used one on me earlier (or gave me one to take home ;-) Good Luck! TG
Tennisguy3000
Semi-Pro
I forgot to mention... I bought the PracticeHit Tennis trainer www.practicehit.com not the www.theeyecoach.com
I looked at both of the & went with the PracticeHit because I liked that consistent timing was involved & I could control the speed of return/oscillation of it with the movable control bands on the base. Along with the pace of my swing of course.
What other training devices (if any) is everyone using?
Cheers,
TG
Timbo's hopeless slice
Hall of Fame
Greatest Hat Of All Time.
(generally thought to be the blue Nike Isner Sphere hat although opinions are divided)
I have no idea how noisy the eye coach is but I coach and I yell a lot.
I hope this helps
(generally thought to be the blue Nike Isner Sphere hat although opinions are divided)
I have no idea how noisy the eye coach is but I coach and I yell a lot.
I hope this helps
Limpinhitter
G.O.A.T.
Limpinhitter
G.O.A.T.
athiker
Hall of Fame
Ohh, it seems that someone could go down to Home Depot and fashion one of these devices with a few springs and such.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OFynooLLjFM&feature=related
Maybe wait for this one to come to market?
Limpinhitter
G.O.A.T.
Hmm! I was waiting for the ball to break off, ricochet off of the wall and hit him in the groin, or something!
athiker
Hall of Fame
Somehow Santa in the background looking placidly on to the proceedings adds just the right touch to the atmosphere.
I love guys like this that come up w/ an idea and just go for it though! Though maybe he actually bought this thing instead of built it since they do the logo close-up at the end. I kinda imagined he constructed it himself from found parts, but I could be wrong.Without commenting on the Xmas Device, I often did think it might be useful when teaching kids to serve to find an effective means of suspending the ball at the correct placement for contact, to allow them to focus on the mechanics of the stroke without worrying about the toss (much less trying to hit a poor toss, which limits chances for building good muscle memory/ habits). Plus, once they are used to seeing the ball at a certain relationship (height, distance), they can then know what spot to practice their toss towards, and then hopefully integrate the motion.
I'd often wondered if a long fishing pole with a bit of velcro hook (just enough to hold the ball, yet release on contact) at the end of the line instead of a fishing hook might do the trick. Anyone ever try that?
Jim
Thanks; though I'd be concerned that if the ball didn't release, the hitter (or holder) would then have to duck the wrap around "tether ball" after hitting. Velcro (if it held enough) could be a quick reload from a bucket of balls.
Depends what you find at the right height to hang it from (Ceiling? Overhead bar or branch?) and the length of line needed to suspend it at the right height. Again this is intended for 9-10 Y/O kids, so it would hang low, probably with a long enough line that a mishit could send it swing in many directions.
Even if it wasn't a long enough tether to swing back or around at anyone's head, it would likely be low enough to cause an instinctive ducking, which I 'd be leery of having as a reaction in finishing the service motion.
Thanks for your thoughts, I don't wish to further hijack the thread about the "Contraption".
i bought an eyecoach a month ago and i love it cause it sits in my living room - ready to get hit any time i want.
using it for topspin is good, using it for focussing is good and for just hitting 300 balls in 6 minutes or so
i love it - i did a video here and will do another one in a few weeks
m
using it for topspin is good, using it for focussing is good and for just hitting 300 balls in 6 minutes or so
i love it - i did a video here and will do another one in a few weeks
m
rufus_smith
Professional
Nice video, Majorie, thanks. Seems like in Florida you could just "drop hit" a basket of real tennis balls, but what ever works for you.
