Moveforwardalways
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Almost any accomplished player with a 1HBH has a huge forehand. There is a reason for that.
Just wasn't feeling confident. Honestly, I was mostly just trying to weather the storm because I literally was just playing defense about 80% of the match.
His forehand is monster. It's so fun to battle against it forehand to forehand.Your opponent has a great forehand. If anything I want to learn from the video, its that forehand. Its compact, simple, powerful, and aggressive.
Man, it's been a while since I posted an update. Hope everyone is doing well. Just wanted to say thanks for the support over the last year and a half. I think I am playing solid 5.0 tennis. I still take lessons each week with the same pro in my previous videos. For about the past two weeks, I've been working with a tennis fitness coach (one on one) three times per week. I plan to work very hard this off season on fitness to be ready next season. I plan to play 5.0 tournaments next season and my goal is to try and make the year end Gran Prix for 5.0. Here is a video from the other day against a great player named Franck. We were playing best of five sets, but we didn't get to finish the match. The score was 3-6, 4-6, 7-5, 6-4. He has a huge forehand. I lost so much footage due to a counterfeit SD card and this is what I was able to salvage. Let me know what you guys think? Do you see improvements from my first few videos to now? Things I need to improve: fitness (working on it), take a bit more time before serving (I tend to rush), hit bigger first serves (I've been spinning them in lately and it's killing me), take back on forehand and backhand needs to be quicker, finish at the net as soon as I can. I am curious to know if any fellow tt members here get bumped up? If so, what level did you get bumped to?
Haha. Yeah I haven't hit at those public courts for a while and it was during the early day so it wasn't crowded. I like that they have so much space to play deep. Helps when I am facing big servers or big hitters.Good stuff. You have a very well rounded game while he is looking forehand all the time (and has the footwork to pull it off).
What were you doing slumming on the public courts? Maybe you were defensive because of the rif raff that hangs out there lol.
J/K you are hitting really well and you'll do well this year in the 5.0's.
We both struggled serving that day. I haven't been going for my first serve lately which is a bad habit. I've just been spinning them in.Nice play. Seems like both of you have better forehands than serves? Is it just the video?
J
It's the 97LS@tofast4u05 , is that RF97A you're playing with?
Myth busted. You can be a good player with a light racket!It's the 97LS
Do you have a video from 2015, when you first started this thread?
It would be fun to compare your progress.
Lots of buggy whip in this video. Some buggy whip is ok. But don't need it on cross court rally balls on every shot. Might have been a footwork related issue.
Impressive robotic rally consistency. I see you are up to 4.39 on TR. You are almost to your goal!We back from the dead. Man it's been a solid 6 years since I made this thread and recording video. It's crazy to see my first videos to current. I highly recommend anyone to record themselves to see how you actually hit and move so you can improve. If anyone is in Sacramento area and wants to play practice matches/record let me know. I'm trying to get back into recording. Also, is anyone familiar with Swingvision? Want to know if it's easy to use and accurate.
Also, is anyone familiar with Swingvision? Want to know if it's easy to use and accurate.
We back from the dead. Man it's been a solid 6 years since I made this thread and recording video. It's crazy to see my first videos to current. I highly recommend anyone to record themselves to see how you actually hit and move so you can improve. If anyone is in Sacramento area and wants to play practice matches/record let me know. I'm trying to get back into recording. Also, is anyone familiar with Swingvision? Want to know if it's easy to use and accurate.
We back from the dead. Man it's been a solid 6 years since I made this thread and recording video. It's crazy to see my first videos to current. I highly recommend anyone to record themselves to see how you actually hit and move so you can improve. If anyone is in Sacramento area and wants to play practice matches/record let me know. I'm trying to get back into recording. Also, is anyone familiar with Swingvision? Want to know if it's easy to use and accurate.
Of course anytime I get down there I'm always down to play. Same coach still. Basically didn't play any competition or even play much since Covid hit in early 2020. Had ruptured disks that kept me out. But feeling better now and looking to get out more.Nice. To my eyes, you seem more relaxed in your swing and follow-through than in years past. Same coach?
If you ever return to the southland, let me know and we'll try to set up another hit.
Of course anytime I get down there I'm always down to play. Same coach still. Basically didn't play any competition or even play much since Covid hit in early 2020. Had ruptured disks that kept me out. But feeling better now and looking to get out more.
We back from the dead. Man it's been a solid 6 years since I made this thread and recording video. It's crazy to see my first videos to current. I highly recommend anyone to record themselves to see how you actually hit and move so you can improve. If anyone is in Sacramento area and wants to play practice matches/record let me know. I'm trying to get back into recording. Also, is anyone familiar with Swingvision? Want to know if it's easy to use and accurate.
Honestly for me there's really no # I can say. It just depends on the type of ball I get and how confident I feel.How often do you hit as hard as you can for rallies?
I blast ~5 balls per rally to the 5.0
As efficiently as I can
I still have some issues but most days are good.Ouch. I hope everything's OK with the spine now.
A good footwork drill that helps wake up my feet is up and down each foot on the service line for like 30 seconds. Don't know what it's called but definitely helps me out.I watched your volleys in slow motion and appreciated your split steps. It's something I am sort of working on but I have found it is not really something I can force. I just try to make sure I recenter my balance when my opponent hits even if I feel out of position and try to keep a wide stance on my toes and a bounce in my step.
I'm not sure what you are describing.A good footwork drill that helps wake up my feet is up and down each foot on the service line for like 30 seconds. Don't know what it's called but definitely helps me out.
Tennis Footwork - 5 Drills To Improve Your Footwork and Movement - YouTubeI'm not sure what you are describing.
Sorry, 5.0s would destroy these balls. They give so much time to hit them back. Even I could blast it back during a match for at least a set.Honestly for me there's really no # I can say. It just depends on the type of ball I get and how confident I feel.
At 2:11 my forehand is probably 90%. Other than that I usually hit around 60-70% power on both wings. No real reason for me to hit as hard as I can because it's too risky and you lose control.
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I'm not really understanding your post. We're certainly not hitting a slow ball and disagree that it would get destroyed.Sorry, 5.0s would destroy these balls. They give so much time to hit them back. Even I could blast it back during a match for at least a set.
Not saying one way is wrong or anything. Some people loop it high so it's harder to time during a match.
But that's why I'm not 5.0 Usually if you give the opponent time, then you've already lost the point at 5.0+ level.
Just imagine 2 ppl cutting each other's recovery times. What would it do to their legs during the point
Sorry, 5.0s would destroy these balls. They give so much time to hit them back. Even I could blast it back during a match for at least a set.
But that's why I'm not 5.0 Usually if you give the opponent time, then you've already lost the point at 5.0+ level.
Sorry, 5.0s would destroy these balls. They give so much time to hit them back. Even I could blast it back during a match for at least a set.
Not saying one way is wrong or anything. Some people loop it high so it's harder to time during a match.
But that's why I'm not 5.0 Usually if you give the opponent time, then you've already lost the point at 5.0+ level.
Just imagine 2 ppl cutting each other's recovery times. What would it do to their legs during the point
Many players claim to be 5.0s, but only a few really are.So many lower level players don't have an accurate understanding of higher level rec tennis (AKA NTRP 5.0). This is a prime example of that.
They think that NTRP 5.0 is this magical land where every shot is a winner and every shot is monster huge. The reality is, that's what it feels like in person for these low level players, so when they go to watch video of actual players at that level they're dumbfounded. They don't understand the difference between being on the court and watching video of it. Maybe it's a lack of actually seeing video of themselves?
As someone who frequently plays 5.0 and wins against mid 5.0s in singles -- this guy is hitting rock solid shots, 5.0s would not destroy these balls.
Here's some real 5.0s. Real power tennis. I witnessed him bagel another guy who's 5.0
This is the most valid point one can make. We recorded a hitting session recently and my hitting partner's first comment was 'man the ball seems so much faster in person'- Video makes everything look slower; it's a different matter when one is on the court
Many players claim to be 5.0s, but only a few really are.
Here's some real 5.0s. Real power tennis. I witnessed him bagel another guy who's 5.0
They both played 5.0 league matches.
You cannot win high level matches without power. Even Santoro has power. His racket's like 15oz.
You both already think you're so good. Sigh.
Just look at how you're supposed to rally at 5.0+level
Some other 5.0s posted here too. Looks similar.
I watched your volleys in slow motion and appreciated your split steps. It's something I am sort of working on but I have found it is not really something I can force.
Many players claim to be 5.0s, but only a few really are.
Here's some real 5.0s. Real power tennis. I witnessed him bagel another guy who's 5.0
They both played 5.0 league matches.
You cannot win high level matches without power. Even Santoro has power. His racket's like 15oz.
You both already think you're so good. Sigh.
Just look at how you're supposed to rally at 5.0+level
Some other 5.0s posted here too. Looks similar.
Many players claim to be 5.0s, but only a few really are.
Here's some real 5.0s. Real power tennis. I witnessed him bagel another guy who's 5.0
They both played 5.0 league matches.
You cannot win high level matches without power. Even Santoro has power. His racket's like 15oz.
You both already think you're so good. Sigh.
Just look at how you're supposed to rally at 5.0+level
Some other 5.0s posted here too. Looks similar.
So, in summary, what you believe to be a typical NTRP 5.0 player based on videos you've watched is actually NTRP 5.5. You have a warped perception based on not understanding the gradients of the higher levels due to no experience at those levels. I used to practice quite a bit with a player at that level who could hit forehand winners from anywhere on the court against me. He also beat NTRP 5.0s 6-0, 6-0 typically.
Remember that there are a lot of people that say MEP isn’t a 4.5 also. His results speak otherwise and playing in the Atlanta area isn’t a cakewalk of opponents either.If you're referring to @jdawgg's post about playing against plenty of 5.0s, I believe he was talking about opponents where their NTRP was known [as opposed to a random park encounter with a guy claiming to be 5.0].
Are the players in your videos representative of the entire range of 5.0? Doesn't seem like it. There are plenty of 5.0s that do not hit with that sort of power.
Power is a weapon but it's not the only weapon.
Where did I imply that I'm "so good"? I even specifically wrote how I'm not good relative to 5.0 [I'm a mid-4.5]:
"I've managed to stay somewhat close to a low 5.0 [lost 3/3] but would get clobbered by most others."
I've played against 5.0s [maybe 10] and only a couple of them flat-out overpowered me [and @tofast4u05 has better GSs than I].
You have a narrow view of what a 5.0 looks like so anyone who doesn't fit your model must not be a 5.0.
Find a few opponents who are at the bottom of 5.0 and see if they destroy your GSs. I'm betting they won't.
Remember that there are a lot of people that say MEP isn’t a 4.5 also. His results speak otherwise and playing in the Atlanta area isn’t a cakewalk of opponents either.
I never understand why everyone has a model for each level.
I think this is the main thing that everyone struggles with. The higher someone is up the tree, the fewer people there are and so the greater amount of variance you see between individuals - but also the further they are from your own experience, so the harder it is to see the differences (they are just lumped into one big group of 'people way better than me')You have a warped perception based on not understanding the gradients of the higher levels due to no experience at those levels.
I suspect if you showed separate videos of a competitive match between two players ranked ~1000 vs two players ranked ~100, unless they recognised the individals a lot of people on this forum would be unable to tell which is which
Well, did you get good?I am a 4.5 player and I play leagues and tournaments in Northern California. I am trying to get to the next level. I am looking for any constructive criticism with my form to help improve and get to the next level. I've only recently started taking lessons because I can only do so much by myself. I'm mainly looking to improve form. I'm also focusing more on point construction and playing higher percentage points to decrease unforced errors. I find at this level and above it's about playing smarter and being patient and knowing what shot to play and where to place it. Any feedback is greatly appreciated. I will be updating this thread as time goes by so you can see the changes made since lessons began.
My USTA Profile
https://www.ustanorcal.com/playermatches.asp?id=158661
Updated Video - 12/15/17
Good question. I don't know.Well, did you get good?
Just saw your latest upload and it appears that you didGood question. I don't know.
No didn't play Matt or Tim. I was in contact with Tim to setup but schedules didn't workout. I think it would be a good match to film with either.@tofast4u05 Could swaer you played Matt or Tim before at 4.5? Tim was bumped to 5.0 I think last year. Matt is a solid 4.5 and we could always grab @J011yroger in as a 5.0 as well for @jz000 to Have reference for 'real' 4.5/5.0 "looking" play.
For better reference, here is the USTA 5.0 Nationals I watched at our Surprise AZ facility.
Anyway, back to the threads vids. Cheers.