Can a good rec player hit a SINGLE winner as good as a pro?

Jay_The_Nomad

Professional
How high a level is rec anyways? Former college players? If so the sky is the limit. However if rec is like at the 4.0 level then there are just some things pros do that recs can't. You can't "accidentally" hit a pro level shot if you don't have/know the mechanics of a pro level shot.

Pete Sampras is currently a Rec player isn't he? He plays for recreation doesn't he?
 

5263

G.O.A.T.
That is not the point. The passing shot has to be capable of being hit when playing against a pro.

I see nothing in the OP to support this contention. In fact I think it is quite
clear this is not what the OP stated.
 

5263

G.O.A.T.
pros hit plenty of average shots, some of which happen 2 be winners. this is not news. to me the question in the OP was if a rec player can fluke a 'perfect' shot. imo not really. the best shots pros hit cant be executed without extremely good technique

I suggest you read the OP again with a more open mind. Seems you read a lot into it.

On the other hand, extremely good technique IS NOT required to hit a massive, awesome winner....extremely good technique is needed to do it on a more
consistent basis. Technique is about getting reliable execution.
Often avg to poor technique can get a faster more insane level shot, but it
what makes it poor technique is it won't be good for repeatable execution
into the court.
 

LeeD

Bionic Poster
Thought I'd chime in here to brag a little, since it's what I do best.....
Yesterday had an upset stomach, almost the big D. Had to get the set over with. Last game, I hit 3 topspin backhands, 2 returns, one groundie from atop the baseline. After the first one, opponent says I'm on PED's. I normally slice all backhands. Last one, the groundie, I let it rip, knowing I'm quitting the set to head for the restroom...to rest..:) Ball lands at the service line, wide singles alley, and ONE bounces to the backwall right at the intersect, clearing the net by no more than a foot. That ball must have been hit at over 90mph.
My bud, who was not there, at 6'2" and 220lbs., can hit that ball when he's on, which is why I like to play against him. Twas the first time I hit that kind of ball, ever.
And probably the last.:cry:
 

vil

Semi-Pro
It always feels good if you hit a screamer dtl with that nice popping sound. Coming back to what OP asks, it's a very difficult question because he mentions rec vs pros. We know who are the pros but rec players are like a deep sea of unknown with lots of great players. Based on that I'm sure rec playes can hit great shots comparable to pros even more often than we think. It was mentioned here before, pros are not super heros and I agree with that. We always talk about the icing of the cake, Nadal, Federer, Djokovic etc... but there are so many pros out there that don't have and never will have capabilities of these three guys.
 

sureshs

Bionic Poster
Thought I'd chime in here to brag a little, since it's what I do best.....
Yesterday had an upset stomach, almost the big D. Had to get the set over with. Last game, I hit 3 topspin backhands, 2 returns, one groundie from atop the baseline. After the first one, opponent says I'm on PED's. I normally slice all backhands. Last one, the groundie, I let it rip, knowing I'm quitting the set to head for the restroom...to rest..:) Ball lands at the service line, wide singles alley, and ONE bounces to the backwall right at the intersect, clearing the net by no more than a foot. That ball must have been hit at over 90mph.
My bud, who was not there, at 6'2" and 220lbs., can hit that ball when he's on, which is why I like to play against him. Twas the first time I hit that kind of ball, ever.
And probably the last.:cry:

Sounds like an EXPLOSIVE shot.































In the toilet.
 

LeeD

Bionic Poster
Took foreever to get there! Long walk winding up the hill, and when I got there, a kid's group was using both toilets. Had to wait another 20 minutes with the stomach gurgling, me sweating, some kids asking..."Mr., are you all right?".
That kinda erased the good karma of that one shot.
 

5263

G.O.A.T.
It always feels good if you hit a screamer dtl with that nice popping sound. Coming back to what OP asks, it's a very difficult question because he mentions rec vs pros. We know who are the pros but rec players are like a deep sea of unknown with lots of great players. Based on that I'm sure rec playes can hit great shots comparable to pros even more often than we think. It was mentioned here before, pros are not super heros and I agree with that. We always talk about the icing of the cake, Nadal, Federer, Djokovic etc... but there are so many pros out there that don't have and never will have capabilities of these three guys.

Very well stated.
 

bboy_beez

New User
I've read through all these page on this topic and one thing is obvious...everyone has their own definition of a "rec player." if you guys have not notice, the thread starter already answer his own question,

"We have no objective means of comparison (radar guns) on our courts, so if some good rec guy hits as hard as they can, it might be, like, a 20mph forehand, but the pro's can hit 100+mph forehands on average."

so there you go, the answer is "no." one can not hit with that pace without the proper mechanics. how do you solve an algebra problem? you have to know all the steps to get the answer. If you missing some few steps, you will be close to the answer, but it will still be incorrect.
 

5263

G.O.A.T.
so there you go, the answer is "no." one can not hit with that pace without the proper mechanics..

should have read more closely...proper mechanics help you to execute with greater
consistency, but poor mechanics can actually be very powerful and make for
one off type spectacular winners.
The question is not if they can do it consistently, but can they hit some great Winner from time to time....clearly they can and it happens on courts all over
every day!
 

bboy_beez

New User
and as far as hitting like the top 3 guys like federer, nadal, or djokovic. no one will ever hit like them. Federers 1bh is unique only to him. Nadals insane topspin, only Nadal can hit. There's no 2 strokes from 2 different people that are going to be identical. just like your forehand, no ones gonna have the same forehand you do
 

5263

G.O.A.T.
and as far as hitting like the top 3 guys like federer, nadal, or djokovic. no one will ever hit like them. Federers 1bh is unique only to him. Nadals insane topspin, only Nadal can hit. There's no 2 strokes from 2 different people that are going to be identical. just like your forehand, no ones gonna have the same forehand you do

OP didn't say anything about reproducing their form,
just the result.
 

bboy_beez

New User
The question is not if they can do it consistently, but can they hit some great Winner from time to time....clearly they can and it happens on courts all over
every day!

Yes, I agree there are great winners hit everyday, but in regards to the Ops questions, these great winners they hit are nowhere in comparison to a pro if the pro winners are hitting 100 mph forehands winners
 

5263

G.O.A.T.
Yes, I agree there are great winners hit everyday, but in regards to the Ops questions, these great winners they hit are nowhere in comparison to a pro if the pro winners are hitting 100 mph forehands winners

Many of the pro winners are far less than 100, but also
many rec players hit 100 at times. I've played with several rec
players who could hit that fast on Fhs.
 

Hi I'm Ray

Professional
but i wouldnt count former college players among rec players either

Nah, I'd say most of them are just rec players in the 4.5-5.0 range. Not everyone gets continued practice and/or have a high level player to play against. Not all college players are highly ranked and many don't continue to compete afterwards.
 
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