No way. Finding the correct grip for yourself is a micro-adjustment process that lasts for years. And without the proper grip, you cannot hit a proper shot.
Are Tennis players the most odd and fussy athelets
- Thread starter dgold44
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No way. Finding the correct grip for yourself is a micro-adjustment process that lasts for years. And without the proper grip, you cannot hit a proper shot.
tennis tom
Legend
Or, he could start out with one grip--the continental--with which he could serve and volley with--Vic Seixas won Wimbledon with that one grip. You can go along way with that ONE grip.
The importance of a REAL coach who knows how to TEACH technique and is a professional and not just a lazy ball feeder from a shopping cart is greatly underestimated. The fundamentals of stroke technique, the grips being a great part of that, can be taught by a professional in twelve privates.
An ex-pro athlete who is motivated, can go from zero to 4 in a year, or maybe less, and to 4.5/5 depending on his age, in a couple of years--bearing in mind that NTRPA ratings when tossed around here are nebulous and open to a lot of provincial variations.
Have you seen the Bryan Brothers play casual table tennis?
They suck.
Even if they get lessons and take it seriously for a few months, they will be beaten by a 10 year old Chinese girl.
tennis tom
Legend
That's why an ex-pro athlete, understands the need for a coach who can teach technique--grips and strokes--and will learn them rapidly, rather then hack-a-way for life, because they are too cheap and oblivious to pay a qualified coach, who knows and cares how to teach tennis.
I see no reason why Mike Phelps would learn a tennis grip faster than someone else
tennis tom
Legend
no I haven't, when I played with them it was on a full size regulation court--next time they are at my club, I'll invite them to play in our ping-pong tournament and take them on--me against the two of them now that you've informed me how sucky they are at it--and I'll be sure to post up the video of me beating them single handedly Australian--or, maybe I'll ask their dad to partner with me.
tennis tom
Legend
He won one of his gold medal races by the length of a FINGERNAIL--I think he understands the importance of the finer points of technique.
He really shouldn't learn a grip faster than any regular joe. Anyone that takes a lesson with a legitimate coach should learn to use the correct grip after one lesson.
tennis tom
Legend
there is a plethora of reasons, number one he has the MOST gold medals of anyone in history--which translates to SUPREME kinesthetic awareness. The techniques of swim strokes and tennis strokes overlap greatly--the kinetic chain of all the body parts--the feel for the catch of the water and the pronations of the arm. He is still competing in swimming so his athleticism has not declined. If he's still smoking pot, he may lack the motivation to learn the game--and hopefully he's recovered from his bout with the shark--that was a close call--he showed a lot of courage racing that shark.
Mongolmike
Hall of Fame
He would self-rate at 3.0, and his form would look terrible. He would have a pancake serve - like most 3.0s, and bunt many balls back - like most 3.0's, and have limited court strategy - like most 3.0's. But unlike most 3.0's, he has ELITE world class athleticism AND he is 6'8".
6'8" tall, with his arm length, and a 28" racquet and superior leaping ability... he is going to swat short lobs like swatting flies with a flyswatter. His stroke technique and serve technique will be awkward, but his athleticism will quickly carry him past 3.0/3.5 given even a minimal amount of coaching and improvement. And at doubles, whatever level he is at, he will quickly be the partner every one wants to be paired with because he will destroy at the net. (And not just LeBron, he just happens to be incredibly athletic and quick AND tall... big bonuses in tennis)
tennis tom
Legend
I bet you don't believe in Santa Claus and the Easter bunny either.
GameSetBeer
Rookie
It's too easy to find reasonable people to play with. I have so many people to play with that I can afford to be picky. Life is too short.
Oh and speaking of fussy, it's "athletes", not "athelets."
TennisDawg
Hall of Fame
I play tournaments and sub in tennis leagues. I seldom turn anyone away if they ask to play at any level. Because, I think most tennis players are flaky and I've been burnt one too many times when it comes to scheduling matches, as a general rule I don't initiate playing matches. I'll show up at a local park and solo practice or find a pickup game either way is fine with me. Iguess I am one of those fussy players, so add me to the list.
Simon_the_furry
Hall of Fame
You're not being serious, are you?
Yes, professional athletes can replicate movements very well.
But one coaching session, to reliably be able to keep holding the correct grip and learn how to hit the 3 types of serve?
Absolutely not.
I'm not saying Lebron wouldn't get pretty good quickly, because he would if he was mentally into it.
Speaking of mental, the mental aspect of tennis is completely different from basketball. It would take him years and years to unlearn everything he'd learned from basketball and learn the mental ins and outs of tennis.
What does learning how to hit all 3 serves have to do with being able to hold the racquet properly?
Just because they struggle with the swing path doesn't mean they will struggle holding a continental grip.
Simon_the_furry
Hall of Fame
tennis tom
Legend
12 sessions from a coach who knows how to teach technique--then a million balls to practice it = 4.0 to 5.0 depending on athleticism--average to pro.
tennis tom
Legend
(warning this is long and screw the paragraphs)
Yesterday's mx'er tennis SINario : It's a casual mx'er--paticipants arrive with their game faces on, as if this were a big money grand slam event--it's just tennis folks--maybe you'll make a new friend, and get treated to a free beverage, and some kali dip afterwards. 3.5 level--but 7.0 taste/FUSSINESS regarding ball quality--balls MUST be Costco Penns--3 balls maximum--anything more or less will utterly destroy the delicate balance of play. Tried sneaking in some premium (new) balls from a four ball can---busted---the chorus spoke : "WE HAVE TOO MANY BALLS!!!--"Where did these come from??"--"They're dead (new balls freshly opened)!"--I opened them so we can hit balls in the warm-up, rather then traipsing around the outer reaches of the facility, picking up balls because the gentil members can't warm-up from the baseline without spraying to save their lives. I've found the secret is to sneak in pockets full of balls, you can stuff 4 or 5 into each pocket, (that's why pros use a shopping cart while teaching, but no one seems to object to that.) My illegal, non-conforming extra balls warm-up spheres are relegated to the tea tray, waste bin OR the bench (next to the bags on the bench)--now the real warm-up can begin--spraying balls CC, disrupting the matches in progress, on the two to four adjacent courts. It's VERY important, especially at the 3/3.5 level, that ALL warm-up balls MUST be identical Costco Penns--and, 3 ONLY 3--not four--not six--THREE ONLY!--or, the delicate balance, equanimity, and homeostasis of the players will be totally shot to hell for life!--very fussy "athletes" these. They are all SO focused on the score, that they can never remember it for more then two consecutive points and have to interrupt play for long discussions to debate it--all mx'er scores are reported to the local advertiser paper, just below the scores for Wimbledon. AND of course, NO warm-up serves! during the warm-up--since it's the most important shot in tennis--FBI--accept the last guy who wants to take warm-up serves after the other three have served FBI--about a dozen or so warm-up serves--at least only from the deuce side--this is a good time to hang out at the H20 cooler, apply sunblock or take a quick shower--and then he wants FBI too. One of the gentil ladies,with the best game face, (hasn't been on a date for thirty years--I wonder why?) who's ball toss is too far out in front, no body rotation, straight frying pan serve, double faults an average of twice per service game--that's HALF of all her service points!--but, no need to take practice serves in the warm-up--not enough time left after warming up the legs picking up sprayed balls.
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S&V-not_dead_yet
Talk Tennis Guru
And your complaint is...?
"First pull the holy pin. Then count to 3; no more, no less. 3 shall be the number that thou shalt count and the number of the counting shall be 3. 4 shalt thou not count, neither shalt thou 2, excepting that thou then proceed to 3." *Monty Python and the Holy Grail*, instructions on how to use the holy hand grenade.
Maybe these mixers read from a similar manual on the proper way to warm up?
