Ballinbob vs. Comeback (VIDEO)

C

comeback

Hall of Fame
I had the pleasure of playing rising star Ballin Bob who has taken the TT experts advice and beat me today 6-3, 2-6, 7-5
It was a classic old vs. new; slice/lobs defense against hard serving topspin forehand offense
1st set- Bob won 6-3 hitting big hard topspin forehands and serves.
2nd set - I won 6-2 taking advantage of some errors and using slice, lobs and consistency.
3rd set- Bob jumped out to a 4-1 lead. I came back to lead 5-4 serving with several match points..Bob fought them off with great shots and deservedly won 7-5..Congrats Bob, we'll play again soon
http://youtu.be/shHdu5CdJVw I AM IN THE BLACK SHIRT
 
Last edited:
You sir are a Pusher! But an accurate one with some great slices! Nice consistent serve too. Way to give that young gun a run for his money.

Have you thought about trying to practice / play around with a semi-western grip for your forhand? Your nonslice forehands look a bit labored (primarily b/c of your grip). Maybe try SW just for fun when u have some free time and a wall?

Either way, nice vid, thanks for sharing. (I hope I'm half as effective as you when I'm your age)
 
Last edited by a moderator:
Nice playing. Nice to see some oldie vs young gun vids. Looks like you made BallinBob work over time to earn his points :lol: and BallinBob looked rather uncomfortable up at the net.

I also find it funny that you were losing layers of your top as the match progressed. Strip tennis? :P
 
Interesting match.
Ballin, you need to work on your attacking game -- taking short balls, punishing them, and then moving to the net (with an excellent overhead when you get lobbed). If you don't develop the ability to take control and end the points whenever there is a short ball, guys like comeback will be tough for you.
 
VexlanderPrime said:
You sir are a Pusher! But an accurate one with some great slices! Nice consistent serve too. Way to give that young gun a run for his money.

Have you thought about trying to practice / play around with a semi-western grip for your forhand? Your nonslice forehands look a bit labored (primarily b/c of your grip). Maybe try SW just for fun when u have some free time and a wall?

Either way, nice vid, thanks for sharing. (I hope I'm half as effective as you when I'm your age)
Click to expand...

Thanks, I didn't double fault in 3 sets and can hit that serve with my eyes closed.. I can hit a better forehand sometimes but i agree i pushed the whole match because I'm not used to Bob's hard topspin..The guys i usually play (i'm 64) don't hit that hard :)
 
Last edited:
oble said:
Nice playing. Nice to see some oldie vs young gun vids. Looks like you made BallinBob work over time to earn his points :lol: and BallinBob looked rather uncomfortable up at the net.

I also find it funny that you were losing layers of your top as the match progressed. Strip tennis? :P
Click to expand...


Yes:) we started at around 50 degrees and ended around 75
 
Last edited:
I realize you are much older than your opponent but a little more active feet would reap dividends for your game, also adding a little more drive into your slice could allow you to control the point and pass if necessary. You are very efficient in your style, great vid.
 
It was a fun match. He doesn't have a big game but he's crafty. He made me very, very uncomfortable with his short slices. He was making me move up, down, diagonal, everything.

Thought I served well without too many double faults, but I did feel I was too passive on the first serve. Also thought I returned well but I would appreciate if someone could check my split step/return technique as I'm trying to rework that part of my game. I had poor shot selection with my forehand today...hit very predictable shots and often to the middle

With regards to me putting away short balls: He was giving me LOW short balls, not short weak shots above the net that I can crank for a winner. Being a tall guy, moving from the baseline to the service line to hit a winner off a short slice is just difficult for me. That was the main difference between comeback and your typical pusher (Haven't lost to a pusher in two years). I realize I have a lot to improve upon including my transition game and attacking short balls...I'm just saying these were much lower than what I am comfortable with. I see Federer hitting short slices all the time and nobody except Nadal can tee off on those. It's just a different animal
 
sez said:
I realize you are much older than your opponent but a little more active feet would reap dividends for your game, also adding a little more drive into your slice could allow you to control the point and pass if necessary. You are very efficient in your style, great vid.
Click to expand...
Agree 100%; i only run when i have to..To be honest i've tried "active feet" and it just tires me out..Getting old is a drag:)
 
Ballinbob said:
With regards to me putting away short balls: He was giving me LOW short balls, not short weak shots above the net that I can crank for a winner. Being a tall guy, moving from the baseline to the service line to hit a winner off a short slice is just difficult for me. That was the main difference between comeback and your typical pusher (Haven't lost to a pusher in two years). I realize I have a lot to improve upon including my transition game and attacking short balls...I'm just saying these were much lower than what I am comfortable with. I see Federer hitting short slices all the time and nobody except Nadal can tee off on those. It's just a different animal
Click to expand...

That's why you need to get better at them. These were certainly attackable balls. If you are in the mode of moving forward quickly and used to attacking these balls, you would do great. Low balls can be a challenge (Arthur Ashe beat Jimmy Connors at Wimbledon that way), but the key is to have the mindset to be coming forward before he hits the ball.
 
I agree for sure. I have a grinder mentality in that I like to hit topspin shots over and over again but actually finishing a point at the net can be difficult. My transition game is weak, probably because of poor anticipation and not getting in position as fast as I should. I'll try and work on that aggressive mindset and see if I can finish points off quicker. Thanks for the comment
 
Ballinbob said:
It was a fun match. He doesn't have a big game but he's crafty. He made me very, very uncomfortable with his short slices. He was making me move up, down, diagonal, everything.

Thought I served well without too many double faults, but I did feel I was too passive on the first serve. Also thought I returned well but I would appreciate if someone could check my split step/return technique as I'm trying to rework that part of my game. I had poor shot selection with my forehand today...hit very predictable shots and often to the middle

With regards to me putting away short balls: He was giving me LOW short balls, not short weak shots above the net that I can crank for a winner. Being a tall guy, moving from the baseline to the service line to hit a winner off a short slice is just difficult for me. That was the main difference between comeback and your typical pusher (Haven't lost to a pusher in two years). I realize I have a lot to improve upon including my transition game and attacking short balls...I'm just saying these were much lower than what I am comfortable with. I see Federer hitting short slices all the time and nobody except Nadal can tee off on those. It's just a different animal
Click to expand...

I thought you did well against a crafty player who can make you play very awkward shots.

The transition game is an issue though. Your split step timing is frequently off
after your approach shots and for return. There are times when you are still moving or begin to split step AFTER he has already hit the ball. This is primary reason why so many lobs went over your head. You need to be more explosive with your first step, but also need to STOP a tempo faster. Remember you split step as your opponent begins to swing at the ball NOT when or after he hits the shot.

In some cases, his racket face is open and the lob seems predictable, but you are still moving forward instead of taking appropriate court position.

The same goes for your return. Also, personally, you look a bit stiff and don't have much rhythm. You want your weight leaning forward. You can take a one step forward then split step.
 
^Who knew spit stepping could be so difficult lol. I ran track and field throughout high school so stopping the tempo to split step isn't natural to me, but obviously something I need to work on. And yes I have a stiff game. I'm trying to do the best with what I got, but yeah, I think just relaxing a bit will help.

Thanks
 
wow look so much fun. I commend Comeback for still challenging a much younger player at his age. I virtually never see any guys above 55 wanting to do any singles. Outside of league that is.
 
junbumkim said:
I thought you did well against a crafty player who can make you play very awkward shots.

The transition game is an issue though. Your split step timing is frequently off
after your approach shots and for return. There are times when you are still moving or begin to split step AFTER he has already hit the ball. This is primary reason why so many lobs went over your head. You need to be more explosive with your first step, but also need to STOP a tempo faster. Remember you split step as your opponent begins to swing at the ball NOT when or after he hits the shot.

In some cases, his racket face is open and the lob seems predictable, but you are still moving forward instead of taking appropriate court position.

The same goes for your return. Also, personally, you look a bit stiff and don't have much rhythm. You want your weight leaning forward. You can take a one step forward then split step.
Click to expand...
In defense of Bob, It was the first time we played and my game is a little foreign to him..I'm sure he will be more ready for this the next time we play..Also if anyone saw Djokovic play Darcis last night in Miami..Darcis a slice expert had the #1 player in the world really frustrated by his slices:)
Bob in his early 20's is also a fulltime student who cannot concentrate on tennis fully..I'm sure with some specific coaching in this area he would indeed get better..Believe me, he has a big serve and forehand and drives his backhand; already the start towards 4.5+-5-0
 
user92626 said:
wow look so much fun. I commend Comeback for still challenging a much younger player at his age. I virtually never see any guys above 55 wanting to do any singles. Outside of league that is.
Click to expand...
Thanks Man, I appreciate it..It's enjoyable to play a young tiger like Bob; but not on a steady diet :)
 
Dolgopolov has also frustrated Novak in the past with his crazy slices. It's a great change up shot and gives you time to recover, takes the pace of the ball, keeps the ball low ect. Against taller players it's even more effective. Federer always makes Raonic look very awkward on court because of his short slice.
 
Looks like a good fun match was had here. Although BB seemed to be doing most of the running.:twisted:
BB you seemed to be trying to hit through comeback, and he was pretty good at redirecting your pace.
I would have tried to move him vertically in the court with droppers and short cross court angles with way less pace.
 
I didn't watch the whole thing, but what I saw was enjoyable. Bob, from your end, I would recommend always approaching to comeback's backhand (why were you approaching on the side he can actually pass you on? :twisted:), hitting more drop shots (not necessarily for winners, even just to draw him in and wear him out), and not going for so many big shots from the backcourt. Comeback, I think you did about everything you could have, Bob's just too young. :)
 
Last edited:
Yes he's very good at redirecting pace. Thank you for the strategic advice, it's always good to hear. I often just get tunnel vision and go into ball bashing mode, which is what I did against comeback. No idea why I was approaching to his forehand, as you guys saw in the video that didn't go well for me lol. I do like the idea of cross court angles
 
Papa Mango said:
Looks like a good fun match was had here. Although BB seemed to be doing most of the running.:twisted:
BB you seemed to be trying to hit through comeback, and he was pretty good at redirecting your pace.
I would have tried to move him vertically in the court with droppers and short cross court angles with way less pace.
Click to expand...
Yes Papa, i just watched it again and you are right BB did most of the running (mostly by running around his backhand)..On the other hand i welcomed the backhand since my forehand is weak too. But it enabled me to kind of stay in the "middle" without having to move too much.
 
Last edited:
Topspin Shot said:
I didn't watch the whole thing, but what I saw was enjoyable. Bob, from your end, I would recommend always approaching to comeback's backhand (why were you approaching on the side he can actually pass you on? :twisted:), hitting more drop shots (not necessarily for winners, even just to draw him in and wear him out), and not going for so many big shots from the backcourt. Comeback, I think you did about everything you could have, Bob's just too young. :)
Click to expand...
Yes agree, 40 years is a lot to give up..But with my "economy of moving" the 3 sets wasn't too difficult..BB either hit a winner or missed..
 
^Haha I think we could all learn a little from that. I feel there is a way to be casual and intense at the same time. Being able to play like that helps you think more clearly on court IMO, something that I struggle with. Usually it's not until after the match do I realize "Oh, if only I hit cross court more I could have made things easier on myself" or whatever. We were on court for over two hours so at a certain point all thinking went out the window for me and I entered ball-bashing mode. Not the smartest of ideas
 
Ballinbob said:
^Haha I think we could all learn a little from that. I feel there is a way to be casual and intense at the same time. Being able to play like that helps you think more clearly on court IMO, something that I struggle with. Usually it's not until after the match do I realize "Oh, if only I hit cross court more I could have made things easier on myself" or whatever. We were on court for over two hours so at a certain point all thinking went out the window for me and I entered ball-bashing mode. Not the smartest of ideas
Click to expand...

Good point Bob, 3 long sets in wind,sun etc... emotions always play a part in decision making...There is no substitute for match play.The league/tournament players know that "real" matches are what separates the men from the boys..
 
comeback said:
I had the pleasure of playing rising star Ballin Bob who has taken the TT experts advice and beat me today 6-3, 2-6, 7-5
It was a classic old vs. new; slice/lobs defense against hard serving topspin forehand offense
1st set- Bob won 6-3 hitting big hard topspin forehands and serves.
2nd set - I won 6-2 taking advantage of some errors and using slice, lobs and consistency.
3rd set- Bob jumped out to a 4-1 lead. I came back to lead 5-4 serving with several match points..Bob fought them off with great shots and deservedly won 7-5..Congrats Bob, we'll play again soon
http://youtu.be/shHdu5CdJVw I AM IN THE BLACK SHIRT
Click to expand...
comback, your game is annoying and I hate it. I played against an older person like you just a few days ago and he beat me in straight sets. I was trying to attack more and my balls were flying. Possible because my back was very sore and I could rotate much (lots of arm use). The older person I played against did have a good and awkward put away forehand from inside the baseline, which was surprising. When I switched to play this own style of game I did better BUT when I went for more I would just hit it long.

Good for you to stay active. You certainly dominate your own style of game. You would probably beat me most of the time. Good luck on your future matches!
 
Merlin703 said:
comback, your game is annoying and I hate it. I played against an older person like you just a few days ago and he beat me in straight sets. I was trying to attack more and my balls were flying. Possible because my back was very sore and I could rotate much (lots of arm use). The older person I played against did have a good and awkward put away forehand from inside the baseline, which was surprising. When I switched to play this own style of game I did better BUT when I went for more I would just hit it long.

Good for you to stay active. You certainly dominate your own style of game. You would probably beat me most of the time. Good luck on your future matches!
Click to expand...
Thanks Merlin, it took years and many matches to get to this level of annoyance to other players..If a guy cannot serve big or hit me off the court, make volley winners/hit overheads etc .. i feel like i always have a chance..I can play offensive tennis too..BB just didn't let me.:)
Here is another match i played 2 weeks ago against a strong 4.0+ that i won 6-2, 5-7, 11-9 (i was down 8-4 in the STB) http://youtu.be/fFOqq86ER8k
I video almost all my matches now and am still trying to improve at this late age of 64
 
Last edited:
Yes, Comeback is a pusher and a good one. Someone please keep this link for when someone says Murray is a pusher.

That style of play makes the most sense as you get older. I am 43 but I've started to switch over to more shots like that...instead of digging hard for a 2 handed backhand, just reach out and slice..instead of moving hard to get to a short ball, get under it, and hit with topspin...just slice it. Call it being lazy or getting old.

You can also push via topspin moon balls, but that takes more energy. A guy like Bob makes enough errors to let you get away with dead fish moonballs to the point that the results are at least neutral..this match was very close.
 
dman72 said:
Yes, Comeback is a pusher and a good one. Someone please keep this link for when someone says Murray is a pusher.

That style of play makes the most sense as you get older. I am 43 but I've started to switch over to more shots like that...instead of digging hard for a 2 handed backhand, just reach out and slice..instead of moving hard to get to a short ball, get under it, and hit with topspin...just slice it. Call it being lazy or getting old.

You can also push via topspin moon balls, but that takes more energy. A guy like Bob makes enough errors to let you get away with dead fish moonballs to the point that the results are at least neutral..this match was very close.
Click to expand...
Yes Pusher for my game cannot be argued Dman....I like to think of myself as a pusher/counterpuncher..I like offense and volleys like some i hit here
http://youtu.be/fFOqq86ER8k
But big hard servers and topspin forehand guys like Bob leave me no choice:)
 
Last edited:
I got your email comeback, thanks. And yeah I haven't played against a guy like comeback in awhile so he was very tricky. I would go hot for 5-7 mins then make errors for 5-7 mins ....pretty much the story of the match. He absorbs pace well. There were balls I smoked at him which he got back deep
 
Moveforwardalways said:
Slice does not = pusher.
Click to expand...

First of all, when I use that term it's not an insult.

Second, he's pushing. He's barely lifting his racquet up and barely swinging on groundstrokes. That's pushing/dinking/whatever it is. He's good at it. He hung right in there with a kid who was nailing the ball, but isn't quite consistent enough to make it stick.
 
dman72 said:
First of all, when I use that term it's not an insult.

Second, he's pushing. He's barely lifting his racquet up and barely swinging on groundstrokes. That's pushing/dinking/whatever it is. He's good at it. He hung right in there with a kid who was nailing the ball, but isn't quite consistent enough to make it stick.
Click to expand...

Can't disagree Dman in this match..But if you watch the other match i posted, i do some other things:)
 
Comeback, again, no insult. You have tremendous accuracy, a really consistent and solid serve, you're really good at half volleys...you're playing smart for a guy your age against a player like Bob.
 
dman72 said:
Comeback, again, no insult. You have tremendous accuracy, a really consistent and solid serve, you're really good at half volleys...you're playing smart for a guy your age against a player like Bob.
Click to expand...
Sure Dman, I appreciate your input..I usually don't get compliments on my serve and you noticed it is good..I seldom double fault and i win a lot of points with accuracy. I remember when i first took up tennis in 1971 there was a 50yr old in shape guy who sliced and lobbed all the young guys to death..We all measured ourselves against him..When one of us beat him we knew we moved to the next level..I am that guy now
 
Last edited:
@comeback: Very commendable, especially at 64. And your match video with BB was pretty entertaining to watch, so thanks to you both!
 
RajS said:
@comeback: Very commendable, especially at 64. And your match video with BB was pretty entertaining to watch, so thanks to you both!
Click to expand...

Thanks Raj, there are other senior guys here like LeeD and TIM that are good too..It's great to be excited about tennis at this age :)
 
Nice play..

But let's be honest Ballinbob should have killed comeback. He was playing right into his hands. Hit approaches and go to the net. Yeah you can't rip those low slices but you can go in behind them.

You should really practice this - its going to open up your game and make pushers like that cake. I do give comeback some credit - a real pusher - not just a bad player who is resorting to pushing out of fear. He uses like 30% of his power on all shots.. His serve looks like he is warming up all the time..
 
GuyClinch said:
Nice play..

But let's be honest Ballinbob should have killed comeback. He was playing right into his hands. Hit approaches and go to the net. Yeah you can't rip those low slices but you can go in behind them.

You should really practice this - its going to open up your game and make pushers like that cake. I do give comeback some credit - a real pusher - not just a bad player who is resorting to pushing out of fear. He uses like 30% of his power on all shots.. His serve looks like he is warming up all the time..
Click to expand...

That's one way to look at it..and easier said than done..I have played defense against net rushers my whole life and it doesn't bother me..Bob has some areas that could improve ie transition;split step; correct volley technique etc. But i think you're misinterpreting levels a little..If Bob was a college player 4.5+-5.0..Then he should kill me..But he's a fulltime college student only; who is working on his game in his spare time. Bob is somewhere between 4.0-4.5 (and rising)..I am in that level also but falling. On a good day anything can happen..
 
Last edited:
That's one way to look at it..and easier said than done..I have played defense against net rushers my whole life and it doesn't bother me..Bob has some areas that could improve ie transition;split step; correct volley technique etc. But i think you're misinterpreting levels a little..If Bob was a college player 4.5+-5.0..Then he should kill me..But he's a fulltime college student only; who is working on his game in his spare time. Bob is somewhere between 4.0-4.5 (and rising)..I am in that level also but falling. On a good day anything can happen..
Click to expand...

NTRP levels are only relevant if you were playing in a league. Since you are bringing it up - I'd wager that you are not playing in one. I'd be frankly shocked if you were playing in a 4.5 league and winning half your games - but that's entirely off the subject. Why bring it up?

Anyway my point was that Ballinbob should be forcing you to try to pass him. I don't believe you can hit effective passing shots with your strokes. Staying back and hitting groundstrokes against you plays into your hands.

It wasn't enough for you to beat him - he still beat you playing his game. But he could have won in straight sets with a better strategic plan - and perhaps some improved volleying skills.
 
GuyClinch said:
Nice play..

But let's be honest Ballinbob should have killed comeback. He was playing right into his hands. Hit approaches and go to the net. Yeah you can't rip those low slices but you can go in behind them.

You should really practice this - its going to open up your game and make pushers like that cake. I do give comeback some credit - a real pusher - not just a bad player who is resorting to pushing out of fear. He uses like 30% of his power on all shots.. His serve looks like he is warming up all the time..
Click to expand...

I honestly thought I would too until I played him. I went to the net a lot early on and got lobbed every time....and then I stayed back. He was just awkward to play. I can pull up videos of mine that make me look like a good 4.5 when my opponent gives me rhythm and pace to work with, but against comeback I constantly had to generate all the pace. Also for whatever reason that day, my inside out forehand footwork was slightly off and I was dumping the simplest of balls into the net. This isn't to make excuses, but it is true.

One good strategy someone mentioned in this thread that I could actually pull off is hit sharp angles with my forehand, but it never occurred to me while playing for some reason. From what you saw, would you agree that my biggest weakness is my transition game?
 
GuyClinch said:
NTRP levels are only relevant if you were playing in a league. Since you are bringing it up - I'd wager that you are not playing in one. I'd be frankly shocked if you were playing in a 4.5 league and winning half your games - but that's entirely off the subject. Why bring it up?

Anyway my point was that Ballinbob should be forcing you to try to pass him. I don't believe you can hit effective passing shots with your strokes. Staying back and hitting groundstrokes against you plays into your hands.

It wasn't enough for you to beat him - he still beat you playing his game. But he could have won in straight sets with a better strategic plan - and perhaps some improved volleying skills.
Click to expand...
I tried to answer your original comment with a meaningful explanation using NTRP levels..But as usual you have twisted my words into something else..
 
I tried to answer your original comment with a meaningful explanation using NTRP levels..But as usual you have twisted my words into something else..
Click to expand...

I play some USTA tennis - so I am familiar with NTRP. I am not sure you do..So I asked you if you did.

Why you think that is 'twisting' is beyond me. Like I said I'd be shocked if you played 4.5 league tennis and won half your matches.. I think you understimate NTRP tennis in most areas by at least 1 level. But I could be wrong.

You just got defensive and refused to answer the question..

There is no 'twisting' here. Are you playing in USTA league currently?
 
comeback said:
I tried to answer your original comment with a meaningful explanation using NTRP levels..But as usual you have twisted my words into something else..
Click to expand...

You are wasting your time explaining these issues, lol. The avg player thinks you must bring solid heat about 90% of the time to get their respect. There is little respect for a crafty player with loads of variety, that also includes power. I have played so many matches where despite hitting more clean winners and hitting the biggest shots of the match, the opponent laments that you are just consistent, thus hard to beat.

And then you also have that swing with that looosy goosy wrist action that is very noticeable. Really hard to have a personal style like that and have people appreciate much besides your record. For me it is just the opposite, as I tend to look a bit mechanical and stiff. In the end, everyone likes and judges by the young guns in the college and pro game; me included to a large extent.

Nice playing against an up and coming young player. Way to go making him work hard for that victory.
 
Last edited:
Just got my new Nike Vapor 9.5's in so Comeback you have no chance now ;) Just waiting for my improved volley skills to arrive now...where are those things?
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

C
Ballinbob vs Comeback II
Replies
46
Views
3K
Ballinbob
Ballinbob
Diablo_Lover
Opinion: UTR algo should care about winning
Replies
10
Views
1K
schmke
schmke
B
YOUR GREATEST COMEBACK...HERE'S A FEW OF MINE!!!!!
Replies
33
Views
3K
goblake14
goblake14
W
Your biggest comeback...?
Replies
3
Views
839
FedFan07
F
D
another critique request 4.5 v 4.5 (both a bit rusty)
Replies
39
Views
5K
hi10spro
hi10spro
Back
Top