Wheelchair play tips! Use this thread to talk about your strategies and strokes.

BruceD · Apr 16, 2014

Well, here is it, a thread devoted to wheelies!
The game is much the same, but there are many differences in preparation and anticipation.
If you are a 'plodder' (use your feet), see if you can try out playing in a wheelchair for an afternoon. It might bring a whole new perspective and find some new startagies that you can employ in YOUR game, too!

Fuji · Apr 16, 2014

My normal hitting partner is actually a wheelchair player! We've played a couple doubles tournaments together as an up-down team and we train together. He's quite good... EDIT!

If anyone has any questions on playing with / against wheelchair play, I'd be more than happy to help. I'd wager that I have some of the most experience as an able-bodied person hitting and training with him.

-Fuji

EDIT: I'm silly and can't remember things. He medeled in dubs at the MACCABIAH GAMES.

Enigma · Apr 16, 2014

Fuji said:
My normal hitting partner is actually a wheelchair player! We've played a couple doubles tournaments together as an up-down team and we train together. He's quite good, as I believe he came in third at the last summer Olympics!

If anyone has any questions on playing with / against wheelchair play, I'd be more than happy to help. I'd wager that I have some of the most experience as an able-bodied person hitting and training with him.

-Fuji

:shock:
Wow....

Ash_Smith · Apr 16, 2014

I'm in (it is my job after all!)

Fuji - who'd do you hit with?

Fuji · Apr 16, 2014

Ash_Smith said:
I'm in (it is my job after all!)

Fuji - who'd do you hit with?

Haha! I could be mistaken about his end result, but he did go to Israel to represent Canada and did quite well. (I just remember him mentioning he made it pretty deep?)

His last name is Zalmanowitz. Not sure if that rings any bells? He's not playing too many ITF's these days, although he did get offered a wildcard to a masters this year. Guy is super busy with his career.

-Fuji

Ash_Smith · Apr 16, 2014

Okay cool, he had a highest ranking of 124 back in 2009 - he won't have medaled at a Games, doesn't look like he's played a tourney for a few years as he has no current points and he's not a player I've come across in my time in the sport. Know a couple of the other Canadian players though.

Ash_Smith · Apr 16, 2014

Bruce - is that Esther in your avatar?

Fuji · Apr 16, 2014

Ash_Smith said:
Okay cool, he had a highest ranking of 124 back in 2009 - he won't have medaled at a Games, doesn't look like he's played a tourney for a few years as he has no current points and he's not a player I've come across in my time in the sport. Know a couple of the other Canadian players though.

Ahhh! That makes sense! Yeah, I figured I was misremembering, especially after looking at his ranking page! My mistake. :razz:

He's an interesting guy. He pretty much retired from ITF events once he graduated university. His career is quite time consuming, so it's hard for him to justify travel.

Great guy though, and a pretty good player. He's rather excited because it looks like in a couple years he'll be able to play quad events, which would make a huge difference given his disability.

-Fuji

Ash_Smith · Apr 16, 2014

^^^ Yeah, he's still young by the looks of it.

Yep, quad classification could make a massive difference - do you happen to know his disability - is he a spinal injury?

Algo · Apr 16, 2014

Picked it up after a 3 years break in November, just played an ITF 3 here last week, obviously lost easily in all my matchs :lol:

Standing players should try to keep things slow-er than they usually would, without looking they're not trying and it's all fine.

Most of the times, in my opinion, wheelchair tennis will be about slicing to make your opponent hit low, getting good ball placement and depth with top spin and eventual moonballs that would put Nadal himself in shame (except they are slow) to get back in the point, this specially in clay.

Really wish you can get your chair back, or one that is as good as that one, they make a large difference.

Fuji · Apr 16, 2014

Ash_Smith said:
^^^ Yeah, he's still young by the looks of it.

Yep, quad classification could make a massive difference - do you happen to know his disability - is he a spinal injury?

Yeah for sure. I don't remember his actual disability, but he has an issue with losing feeling in his extremities. I believe it is a spinal issue. He can still walk for short distances, but it's getting worse in his right hand now as well. (He fully tapes his racket to his playing hand as to not lose grip.) He's appealed a couple times to the ITF for quad, but I believe he's only a couple points off from being able to.

-Fuji

Ash_Smith · Apr 16, 2014

^^^Classification is pretty tight (as it should be), but recently a player has been classified in which has raised a lot of questions about the process - it's a bit of a political hot potato at the moment!

Fuji · Apr 16, 2014

Ash_Smith said:
^^^Classification is pretty tight (as it should be), but recently a player has been classified in which has raised a lot of questions about the process - it's a bit of a political hot potato at the moment!

Oh my. I feel as though this may be a bit of heated topic amongst the community!

-Fuji

Ash_Smith · Apr 16, 2014

Algo said:
Picked it up after a 3 years break in November, just played an ITF 3 here last week, obviously lost easily in all my matchs :lol:
Standing players should try to keep things slow-er than they usually would, without looking they're not trying and it's all fine.
Most of the times, in my opinion, wheelchair tennis will be about slicing to make your opponent hit low, getting good ball placement and depth with top spin and eventual moonballs that would put Nadal himself in shame (except they are slow) to get back in the point, this specially in clay.
Really wish you can get your chair back, or one that is as good as that one, they make a large difference.

Welcome back into the game Algo!

Wheelchair tennis is becoming increasingly quick (even in my time involved) - the best are now more aggressive, playing closer to the baseline, turning in off both sides to maintain a more attacking court position, taking the ball early off both sides and predominantly on one bounce. You're going to have to be super fast in a chair to play a defensive style now.

Do you know Francisca at all?

BruceD · Apr 16, 2014

Fantastic! Just what I hoped to hear about! BTW, check out my other post about my t-chair getting stolen. I was quite a setback and I'm hoping to get help from others here, to be able to buy a new one.

I found a Top End t-3 tennis chait on Eb ay about 2 years ago, in mint condition with new wheels and tires for just $300, pluse $80 for shipping. I think it was a gift from God, as it started to change my life, by getting me back in shape and wanting to join the usta to become a competitive player. I was surprised to find that at 56 yrs old, I could keep up and beat guys half my age! Plus I've been coaching kids for free, in my neighborhood and want to become an instructor for people of all ability and skill levels, but in chairs and "plodders"..able bodied players, too! I was to play in my fist tournament las Nov., a USTA Mountain region event that the founder said I would be able to do well in the A class, but I had some health problems get in the way, so next year I'm going for it!
I would love to see some videos of you 2 playing together, if you have any, please post them!

BruceD · Apr 16, 2014

Ash_Smith said:
Bruce - is that Esther in your avatar?

Yes it is! She's a truly great players and who knows how far she would've gone, if she were able to walk.
With here good looks, and skills she would've rivaled Sharapova, for sure! Too bad there isn't much of a market for people in wheelchairs for endorsements.

Ash_Smith · Apr 16, 2014

Yeah, Esther is cool, i've got a lot of time for her.

It's getting better in respect of endorsements. Shingo has Honda, Stephane has a few endorsements in France (like Mavic wheels), Gordon has a deal with Adidas now. Sure, it's not as it is in the non-disabled game, but it's getting way better all the time.

Cool that you give back your time to teach

HunterST · Apr 16, 2014

I was inspired to look up some pro wheelchair matches by this thread to see what the level of play was like. The guy I'm watching seems to get some good pace on his serve.

Ash, any idea what MPHs wheelchair players are able to reach? Doesn't look to far off from 100 or so.

Fuji · Apr 16, 2014

HunterST said:
I was inspired to look up some pro wheelchair matches by this thread to see what the level of play was like. The guy I'm watching seems to get some good pace on his serve.

Ash, any idea what MPHs wheelchair players are able to reach? Doesn't look to far off from 100 or so.

My partner can hit high 80's on his "flat" serve pretty easily. I wouldn't be surprised if he really goes for it if it's around 90.

-Fuji

Algo · Apr 16, 2014

Ash_Smith said:
Welcome back into the game Algo!

Wheelchair tennis is becoming increasingly quick (even in my time involved) - the best are now more aggressive, playing closer to the baseline, turning in off both sides to maintain a more attacking court position, taking the ball early off both sides and predominantly on one bounce. You're going to have to be super fast in a chair to play a defensive style now.

Do you know Francisca at all?

Hear ya, and I kind of actually agree as it was sort of a conclusion I had from one of my matchs.
I was being beaten very badly, changed my style to even rushing the net and finally got games and some other good points too.
Maybe as I phrased it it came out as a way too conservative style :lol:

Yes and mostly everyone that plays here.
We're not close, but we've had some chats over the years, great person and player.

Too bad she's been ill lately, she probably could've given us a bit more in South American Games, though what she did is to be proud of already, and made it deep in Chilean Open which she had to skip.

Though I wouldn't feel bad at all about her doing so in South Africa in a couple weeks if she gets well. I'll probably gonna sound nationalistic or biased but I'd say she deserves to break top 10, specially as she was already very close last year being 11.

@HunterST I reckon I saw in this year's AO final livescore, between Gustavo Fernandez and Shingo Kunieda, that some serves went over 100mph by a few miles, like 104. It could've been kmh...

Rattler · Apr 16, 2014

Fuji said:
If anyone has any questions on playing with / against wheelchair play, I'd be more than happy to help. I'd wager that I have some of the most experience as an able-bodied person hitting and training with him.

-Fuji
.

Doubtful, but it is nice to see you think so highly of yourself

Rattler · Apr 16, 2014

Ash_Smith said:
Do you know Francisca at all?

Mardones? From Chile? She lives in Austin, TX now.

Rattler · Apr 16, 2014

HunterST said:
I was inspired to look up some pro wheelchair matches by this thread to see what the level of play was like. The guy I'm watching seems to get some good pace on his serve.

Ash, any idea what MPHs wheelchair players are able to reach? Doesn't look to far off from 100 or so.

Scheffers, Houdet, Fernandez, Piefer, Vink can all serve in the 100s

Fuji · Apr 16, 2014

Rattler said:
Doubtful, but it is nice to see you think so highly of yourself

Oh my bad... I honestly didn't mean to offend anyone here.

I just thought I'd give some input given that my hitting partner for the past couple years on average plays wheelchair. I would like to think I have a lot more experience then the standard rec player that goes on this forum, given that (especially in my area) wheelchair players are probably 1 in 100, if not less.

-Fuji

BruceD · Apr 17, 2014

who are the to ranked wheelie players? Pleas post some youtube links of matchs, too!

I'm still pretty new in the wheelchair tennis game, so if anyone has a ranking list and some youtube links, that would be great!

Ash_Smith · Apr 17, 2014

HunterST said:
I was inspired to look up some pro wheelchair matches by this thread to see what the level of play was like. The guy I'm watching seems to get some good pace on his serve.

Ash, any idea what MPHs wheelchair players are able to reach? Doesn't look to far off from 100 or so.

Houdet can clock in at over 100, Jo Gerard from Belgium probably has the biggest cannon in the game

Ash_Smith · Apr 17, 2014

Rattler said:
Scheffers, Houdet, Fernandez, Piefer, Vink can all serve in the 100s

Vink in the 100's, not sure I've ever seen him him get up there! And I'd be surprised if Gustavo could as he can't create any back extension.

Ash_Smith · Apr 17, 2014

BruceD said:
I'm still pretty new in the wheelchair tennis game, so if anyone has a ranking list and some youtube links, that would be great!

The full London Paralympic final between houdet and kunieda is on YouTube, a simple search should find it - was a great match between the 2 best players on the world

BruceD · Apr 17, 2014

Ash_Smith said:
The full London Paralympic final between houdet and kunieda is on YouTube, a simple search should find it - was a great match between the 2 best players on the world

If you could post the link, it would work here on the hospital network. The block the youtube home page, for some reason I can get to links posted here, though!

Ash_Smith · Apr 17, 2014

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tHSdARC7wxk

BruceD · Apr 17, 2014

thanks Ash, I was able to search for others by name now, too.
I guess they block youtube home page because of some burst of bandwidth or something, but once in, the rules change!

Ash_Smith · Apr 17, 2014

Rattler - what's your involvement in wheelie tennis?

caugas · Apr 17, 2014

I saw a guy hitting in his chair on the US open practice courts last year. I can't tell you how inspired I was, and how proud I was in being a tennis player and supporting the us open, regardless of how bad the food is at the open.

My hats off to all chair players!

BruceD · Apr 18, 2014

wheelchair doubles is AMAZNG to watch!

I saw some wheelchair dubs on yotubs and was amzed on how complicated their movement and andticipation was! Those guys looked like there were playing in fast motion, what with their spinning and even net play!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6gbMVkAq8QI

GREAT NEWS from my other thread..I have a lead on a chair that a retired player will donate to me, for just the cost of shipping! Search and follow that link for more info. The world STILL has some great ppl in it, after all!

Ash_Smith · Apr 19, 2014

You sound surprised there were volleys! When you've go Shingo serve volleying in singles, there's going to be net play in doubles for sure - like I said, the game is more and more attacking now, you're going to see a lot more drive volleys and volleys in the game going forward (I think the drive volley will be essential to have in your locker in the not too distant future)

BruceD · Apr 21, 2014

In search of..the BEST Tennis Wheelchair

I USED to have a chair that was 10 years old, that I found on Eb ay a couple years back, that was stolen.
That was a simple T-1 Top End 3 wheel chair that was able adjust the velcro-held back enough for it to provide a comfortable enough fit.
This looks to be the evolution of that type of chair.The hand bars look to provide a way to get some extra leverage on the strokes.
Most chairs with 4 wheels just seem to have extra hardware that adds weight. In my idea, this one looks to be the best combination of light weight and adjustability, yet still at a great price!
Pretty nice, eh?!

BruceD · Apr 21, 2014

Nice Website for play tips!

http://www.wheelchair-tennis.com
Looks like a great resource for players of all levels!

BruceD · Apr 21, 2014

Ash_Smith said:
You sound surprised there were volleys! When you've go Shingo serve volleying in singles, there's going to be net play in doubles for sure - like I said, the game is more and more attacking now, you're going to see a lot more drive volleys and volleys in the game going forward (I think the drive volley will be essential to have in your locker in the not too distant future)

Not really suprized, more like AMAZED at the court coverage, synchronization andnSPEED they make their adjustments! It must take a LOT of practice together, to get to that level of play!

BruceD · May 4, 2014

Great Deal on a new Racquet Alert!

Tennis-warehouse.com has the 2011-12
Prince Shark 110 OS racquet on sale for an unbelievably low price of just $39.95! I got one of these and it's not the usual overly-head heavy tweener racquet. at 1 pt. head LIGHT, it has great feel and power, with a teardrop design head that puts the sweetspot up higher on the face, where you can get more leverage. I added weight to the butt cap and changed the grip to the Gamma Gel replacement grip contour, that I add a little strip of the old grip under it, to make it something like the Babolat 'smart grip', but in just the right place for MY palm. It is now super easy to hang on to and move between continental to western grips. I can also use a extreme eastern grip to hit a backhand on the same side as my forehand. this makes topspin ground strokes an easy transition from the forehand.
I still use a continental grip for a backhand slice or volley, which is my usual shot from that side.
This racquet is 27.5" long but the face isn't pushed up high, so miss-hits on the throat piece shouldn't be a problem.
I can't wait to get it out on the court or a wall, to hit with it, since I'm still in the hospital, with a blood infection and waiting for help getting a new tennis wheelchair, since mine was stolen a while back (see another thread for more info, and help me get another one f you can donate at https://fundly.com/help-replace-my-stolen-tennis-wheelchair).
Grab one of these goodies before they are gone!

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