3 Tips For Tennis Students.

[thomas daniels]

Dear Tennis Students.

Are you ready to start learning the game faster?

Great then.

Here are 3 tips that can help you save yourself a lot of money and at the same time, help you start learning the game even faster.

Which should be your main objective when taking tennis lessons.

You have to learn how to leapfrog the learning curve.

And after you start using these 3 tips, you will.

First one.

Watch more videos.

This is the first stage in this concept for learning faster.

(You must imprint the stroke on your subconscious mind and then you must get out of your own way and allow IT to discover the stroke for you).

The sad thing about this teaching/ learning concept is that...

Very few coaches even know about it.

Next.

More reps outside of your lessons.

You would think this would be a no brainer for most tennis students, but few do it.

And then they end up wasting a lot of money because they don't.

If you want faster results from taking lessons.

Get in more reps outside of them!!

There is no other way to get around doing this.

Last one.

Keep making the needed adjustments after every rep.

You should never miss 3 reps in a row in or outside of your lessons.

Why?

Because if you miss the first one, make an adjustment on the second one.

Now, if you also miss that second one, make the final adjustment and make the 3rd one.

You see.

Whenever I see students missing rep after rep in their lesson.

I know that this is a CLEAR sign that they aren't making any adjustments after them and they aren't using the feedback to self-correct themselves.

Okay then.

There they are.

These 3 tips alone can help you start learning the game so fast that...

You may go from a 2.5 level to a 3.5 in months without even trying to.

Anyway.

Test out this learning concept from today for yourself and let me know your results in the near future!!

 

[S&V-not_dead_yet]

Focus on the 3Fs: fitness, focus, footwork, and spacing.

Regarding watching videos: there's an article in this month's Inside Tennis mag that talks about Djokovic and his routine of visualization. Bianca Andreescu [winner of BNP Paribas] does the same thing. Videos might be another form of visualization, although it's someone else doing the playing instead of you.

Regarding more reps: as long as they are the correct form. Doing more reps with bad form will hurt, not help, you. Video is crucial.

Regarding adjusting technique: See #2 above.

All of your tips are practical although I'm not sure they're the only 3 or even the most important 3 that will lead to improvement.

 

[Wise one]

There is no shortcut to learning tennis. This is a hoaks!

 

[3loudboys]

Practise does make perfect so long as it’s the correct technique that’s being reinforced. There is also a lot of content out there so it’s important to be able to differentiate between what’s good and what’s not.

Most importantly for me to become a better tennis player you should aim to invest as many hours playing sets of tennis as you do training technique. So many times I’ve watched a skilled match-player pick apart a technically better opponent.


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[thomas daniels]

Practise does make perfect so long as it’s the correct technique that’s being reinforced. There is also a lot of content out there so it’s important to be able to differentiate between what’s good and what’s not.

Most importantly for me to become a better tennis player you should aim to invest as many hours playing sets of tennis as you do training technique. So many times I’ve watched a skilled match-player pick apart a technically better opponent.


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But before you can play sets, you have to get your game tight, and that's who this content is for...

 

[3loudboys]

But before you can play sets, you have to get your game tight, and that's who this content is for...

Understood - you want the correct technique and I agree that practise is important. You do also need to put as many hours into matchplay with that technique to ensure it’s tight when it matters.

As long as you’ve got players of similar abilities you can practise the tech and play out some practise sets.


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[S&V-not_dead_yet]

But before you can play sets, you have to get your game tight, and that's who this content is for...

If you wait until your game is tight before you play sets, you may never get around to playing sets. And without match play, what's tight in practice might get very loose in matches.

Sets and practice are two sides of the same die; they both contribute to improvement. I don't think it's one before the other exclusively. I think as you improve, you might adjust the mix when learning a new skill.

 

[ChaelAZ]

We teach the high school kids:

Make every serve
Get to every ball
Keep it all in

Easy peasy.

 

[Wise one]

We teach the high school kids:

Make every serve
Get to every ball
Keep it all in

Easy peasy.

I don't think it is wise to try to get every ball. Smart players will drop-shot and lob you to death. Don't be a sucker! If a lob or drop shot is too good, let it go, and say 'good shot'. It's only one point, not worth running yourself ragged for.

 

[S&V-not_dead_yet]

I don't think it is wise to try to get every ball. Smart players will drop-shot and lob you to death. Don't be a sucker! If a lob or drop shot is too good, let it go, and say 'good shot'. It's only one point, not worth running yourself ragged for.

I try to get every ball. My opponents know I've got wheels and they might try to hit too good of a shot and make an error instead. Smart opponents can try to drop shot and lob me to death but they'd better have pretty good touch.

Maybe I'd consider your strategy in a tournament match that I was confident I would win. In league, I'm going for it; how long can a match take? I'm good for 3 sets.

I prefer to make them try to hit one more ball.

 

[thomas daniels]

Understood - you want the correct technique and I agree that practise is important. You do also need to put as many hours into matchplay with that technique to ensure it’s tight when it matters.

As long as you’ve got players of similar abilities you can practise the tech and play out some practise sets.


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AGREED.

 

[Wise one]

I try to get every ball. My opponents know I've got wheels and they might try to hit too good of a shot and make an error instead. Smart opponents can try to drop shot and lob me to death but they'd better have pretty good touch.

Maybe I'd consider your strategy in a tournament match that I was confident I would win. In league, I'm going for it; how long can a match take? I'm good for 3 sets.

I prefer to make them try to hit one more ball.

No, I disagree. In 1996 (age 46), I played a fellow who was about age 29, and who was fitter, faster, taller, and who had better ground-strokes than mine. He had the whole Michael Chang outfit, with a Price racquet, Chang-style clothes, etc. I played serve and volley, came in on every serve. I ran him corner to corner, up and back, etc. He won the first set 6-4 or so, but I was gaining on him. I won the second set easily (6-2?) and I could tell he was gassed. We played a tie-breaker to decide the match, and he tanked it. He could hardly move. Why? He went after every ball. He won some battles, but lost the war.

 

[S&V-not_dead_yet]

No, I disagree. In 1996 (age 46), I played a fellow who was about age 29, and who was fitter, faster, taller, and who had better ground-strokes than mine. He had the whole Michael Chang outfit, with a Price racquet, Chang-style clothes, etc. I played serve and volley, came in on every serve. I ran him corner to corner, up and back, etc. He won the first set 6-4 or so, but I was gaining on him. I won the second set easily (6-2?) and I could tell he was gassed. We played a tie-breaker to decide the match, and he tanked it. He could hardly move. Why? He went after every ball. He won some battles, but lost the war.

You disagree based on a sample size of 1?

My counterargument is that I chase [most] every ball* and haven't tanked a super TB or full 3rd set yet. My fitness is good enough that I can afford to do this. That won't always be the case.

*If I was playing a tournament and I knew I had another match to play if I won the current one and I was confident I would win, I might let certain balls go.

 

[Wise one]

You disagree based on a sample size of 1?

My counterargument is that I chase [most] every ball* and haven't tanked a super TB or full 3rd set yet. My fitness is good enough that I can afford to do this. That won't always be the case.

*If I was playing a tournament and I knew I had another match to play if I won the current one and I was confident I would win, I might let certain balls go.

It happens a lot, but this was the most dramatic instance I could think of. His mistake was going after every ball, even when he was not in a position to get a good return. Remember, he won the first set, but towards the end of that set I was beginning to dominate. He was younger and fitter, but that didn't matter, because he had to take many more steps than I did. Sure, I got passed a lot, but it didn't matter. He expended a great deal more energy than I did.

Actually, his mistake was more complex: he played a baseline game, and had to run corner to corner, up and back. He did not come to the net. I took two or three steps after serving or returning, and he took many more.

 

[S&V-not_dead_yet]

It happens a lot, but this was the most dramatic instance I could think of. His mistake was going after every ball, even when he was not in a position to get a good return. Remember, he won the first set, but towards the end of that set I was beginning to dominate. He was younger and fitter, but that didn't matter, because he had to take many more steps than I did. Sure, I got passed a lot, but it didn't matter. He expended a great deal more energy than I did.

Actually, his mistake was more complex: he played a baseline game, and had to run corner to corner, up and back. He did not come to the net. I took two or three steps after serving or returning, and he took many more.

I think it was the latter more than the former: you "controlled the court" and he had to scramble.

I go after practically every ball because I want to give my opponent as much rope with which to hang himself. I haven't worked out the RoI but since I have fitness in spades, I can afford the investment.

At some point, fitness will get more and more expensive.

 

[Wise one]

I think it was the latter more than the former: you "controlled the court" and he had to scramble.

Yes, but not at first. I lost the first few games, but before long the tide turned. It was a hot humid evening. He was so badly discouraged I never saw him at the courts again.

 

[3loudboys]

Get fitter and give yourself the chance to go after every ball. It’s equally arguable that in a close match decided on a handful of points the fitter player who puts the ball in play one more time maximises their chance of success, it only takes a few unforced errors to swing the match.

I played 10 ten pointers against a coach in his early thirties yesterday and I’m knocking on the door of fifty. He has a fantastic spitting TS forehand and the speed to get on it all the time. From the base he destroys you. I’m fit for my age and ran down every ball (my legs are in pieces today) and sliced low mid court to bring him out of his comfort zone and to the net where he didn’t want to be. I also served big kickers up his BH to gain the opportunity to get on my FH early. The point is by pushing myself physically I was able to compete against a much better player. Some of the balls I made were no hopers but I got an error rather than a put away. He was tight playing one more ball. It sends your opponent a message. I didn’t win but pushed him hard in every one and took a few off him.



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[Kevo]

In high school, chasing down every ball is just called not being lazy. If you're an adult with a job and kids of your own, then not chasing down every ball might be part of your survival strategy. Different situations entirely.

 

[Dartagnan64]

What is this chasing every ball down? Dom't be the chaser, be the chasee. Make them chase balls and you can just focus on ending points sooner. That's my fat man approach. Endless baseline rallies are for the weak.

Seriously though, when I was young i'd chase everything down and push everything back with not strategy or plan. Now I'm wiser and have thought out plans on how to end points quickly so tennis doesn't become a war of attrition but a war of good shots forcing errors. Don't make them hit one more ball, make them hit an error. Getting into wars of attrition at my age is just extra wear on the joints I can do without.

 

[3loudboys]

What is this chasing every ball down? Dom't be the chaser, be the chasee. Make them chase balls and you can just focus on ending points sooner. That's my fat man approach. Endless baseline rallies are for the weak.

Seriously though, when I was young i'd chase everything down and push everything back with not strategy or plan. Now I'm wiser and have thought out plans on how to end points quickly so tennis doesn't become a war of attrition but a war of good shots forcing errors. Don't make them hit one more ball, make them hit an error. Getting into wars of attrition at my age is just extra wear on the joints I can do without.

You are preaching to converted here


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[S&V-not_dead_yet]

Seriously though, when I was young i'd chase everything down and push everything back with not strategy or plan. Now I'm wiser and have thought out plans on how to end points quickly so tennis doesn't become a war of attrition but a war of good shots forcing errors. Don't make them hit one more ball, make them hit an error. Getting into wars of attrition at my age is just extra wear on the joints I can do without.

This is not a question of whether to be wise and have a strategy and ending points quickly. It's, when confronted with the choice of chasing the ball, do you? All of my strategy in the world is not going to stop my opponent from hitting shots that are well out of normal range.

Everything you wrote is valid; it's just addressing a different question.

 

[3loudboys]

This is not a question of whether to be wise and have a strategy and ending points quickly. It's, when confronted with the choice of chasing the ball, do you? All of my strategy in the world is not going to stop my opponent from hitting shots that are well out of normal range.

Everything you wrote is valid; it's just addressing the wrong question.

Spot on


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[Goof]

I don't think it is wise to try to get every ball. Smart players will drop-shot and lob you to death. Don't be a sucker! If a lob or drop shot is too good, let it go, and say 'good shot'. It's only one point, not worth running yourself ragged for.

I think this is the single post on this website that I've found that I disagree with the most.

 

[Wise one]

I think this is the single post on this website that I've found that I disagree with the most.

Well, you're not wise! Learn how to pick your fights. You can win the battle but lose the war. See Hannibal Barca.

https://www.quora.com/What-does-lost-the-battle-but-won-the-war-mean

Also: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pyrrhic_victory

There is also the real possibility for injury when trying to reach the ball.

 

[user92626]

There's still a very big gap btw "try to get every ball " and actually get every ball.


If you asked people if they try to make a lot of $$$$, most people would say yes. If you asked have you actually done much to achieve that, most people would say No, nothing. LOL

I always try to get every ball but when a ball is too good, I would instinctively do nothing.

You really can't have a conscious mind that actively, consciously decides what ball to get or to let go. It's decided unconsciously. Nadal is a ball chaser but even he stops moving for some balls.

 

[Wise one]

There's still a very big gap btw "try to get every ball " and actually get every ball.


If you asked people if they try to make a lot of $$$$, most people would say yes. If you asked have you actually done much to achieve that, most people would say No, nothing. LOL

I always try to get every ball but when a ball is too good, I would instinctively do nothing.

You really can't have a conscious mind that actively, consciously decides what ball to get or to let go. It's decided unconsciously. Nadal is a ball chaser but even he stops moving for some balls.

But as I have described before, running down every ball may tire you out so much that you lose anyway, even if you win the first set. You must learn to play efficiently.

 

[user92626]

But as I have described before, running down every ball may tire you out so much that you lose anyway, even if you win the first set. You must learn to play efficiently.

Well, if one is too stupid to even have the basic of subconscious decision making skill that I said above, he will lose regardless of whatever he does.

 

[S&V-not_dead_yet]

But as I have described before, running down every ball may tire you out so much that you lose anyway, even if you win the first set. You must learn to play efficiently.

In conjunction with playing efficiently, I should also be improving my fitness: ideally, I don't have to make that tradeoff.

If I'm fortunate enough to be fit enough to run everything down without compromising the match, I'll do it.

 

[S&V-not_dead_yet]

There is also the real possibility for injury when trying to reach the ball.

That possibility exists every time you move for the ball and swing. If preventing injury was the top priority, one wouldn't play.

Yes, straining to get that ball that might be just out of reach probably represents a higher risk of injury. But I'm typically not calculating my chance of injury in order to decide whether to go after a ball.

 

[user92626]

That possibility exists every time you move for the ball and swing. If preventing injury was the top priority, one wouldn't play.

What? R you trying to sound "wise"?

There's loads of people who play minimally and conservatively (still moving no?) that injury is virtually out of question.

Preventing injury IS the top priority for many rec player. I am one of them. Safety first. Fun, win, exercise come second. I would still come out and play more than most people!!

 

[S&V-not_dead_yet]

There's loads of people who play minimally and conservatively (still moving no?) that injury is virtually out of question.

"virtually out of the question" is a stretch. I know multiple people who have gotten injured while not straining to get a ball just out of reach but while doing something considered "conservative" [ie pushing off to get a ball 5' away].

Bottom line is that everyone has to know their limits and those limits vary from person to person.

 

[user92626]

@S&V,
If you look hard enough, you'll always find a few that got injury.

HOWEVER, there are way WAY more people who do not or never get injury than people who do.

In your previous post, 'That possibility exists every time you move for the ball and swing. ' you made it sound like rec tennis is quite dangerous. Haha.

I play with two old men who are playing after having strokes and heart attack (from nontennis related matters). Nothing. No danger, risks in their playing now.

Almost everyone plays well WELL below their perceived limits.

Ask tournament and league players. As hard and competitive players as they are, do they feel it's easy to get injury?

 

[S&V-not_dead_yet]

@S&V,
If you look hard enough, you'll always find a few that got injury.

HOWEVER, there are way WAY more people who do not or never get injury than people who do.

In your previous post, 'That possibility exists every time you move for the ball and swing. ' you made it sound like rec tennis is quite dangerous. Haha.

I play with two old men who are playing after having strokes and heart attack (from nontennis related matters). Nothing. No danger, risks in their playing now.

Almost everyone plays well WELL below their perceived limits.

Ask tournament and league players. As hard and competitive players as they are, do they feel it's easy to get injury?

That wasn't my point: I'm not claiming that there are a lot of injuries. I'm looking at the difference in the # and severity of injuries between the group that goes for every ball vs everybody else. No doubt that the former is higher than the latter; the question is by how much? What price does one pay for going after every ball [above and beyond the fitness issue]?

 

[Wise one]

That possibility exists every time you move for the ball and swing. If preventing injury was the top priority, one wouldn't play.

Yes, straining to get that ball that might be just out of reach probably represents a higher risk of injury. But I'm typically not calculating my chance of injury in order to decide whether to go after a ball.

It's easy to fall, to twist knees, ankles, etc., especially on hard courts where friction is higher. When falling on clay or other soft courts, you are less likely to break a bone or injure joints. The lower traction prompts sliding into position for the ball, and this is easier on your body. Where I play (clay courts) many of the male members have old injuries that they have to protect. Knee, leg, and foot surgeries are common (though often from other sports).

 

[Wise one]

Well, if one is too stupid to even have the basic of subconscious decision making skill that I said above, he will lose regardless of whatever he does.

Well, I beat a younger, fitter player by playing S/V, whereas he stayed on the baseline.