can’t get past this hump

kittycattennis

New User
I can do fine against 4 utrs but I have difficulties winning 5 utrs

If you have been in this situation before, how did you get over it….

i feel like the main problem is with my consistency? I make more mistakes than a 5 utr

but I have no idea how to fix this

is there any distinguishing factor(s) between a 4 and 5 utr , and how do I improve what that factor is to get to a 5 utr?

I just feel kind of demotivated right now because my results aren’t coming even though I’m working hard and some people can get from 5 utr to 7 utr in half a year but I’m not improving even half as fast

I need some goals
 

LuckyR

Legend
Good for you in making the observation that you are losing more points than the other guy is winning. So let's drill down. Do you miss going for lines or on neutral balls?
 

kittycattennis

New User
Going for balls mostly, I try to hit cross court or down the line or deep and i miss it by a few inches to a feet
sometimes I can have trouble with neutral balls too but I make less mistake on neutral than going for balls
 

LuckyR

Legend
Going for balls mostly, I try to hit cross court or down the line or deep and i miss it by a few inches to a feet
sometimes I can have trouble with neutral balls too but I make less mistake on neutral than going for balls
OK. Thanks for the follow up. So, are you going for lines routinely (too soon)? Meaning are you uncomfortable rallying, waiting for a weak shot to attack? Or are you rallying then missing on the kill shot?
 

nyta2

Legend
I can do fine against 4 utrs but I have difficulties winning 5 utrs

If you have been in this situation before, how did you get over it….

i feel like the main problem is with my consistency? I make more mistakes than a 5 utr

but I have no idea how to fix this

is there any distinguishing factor(s) between a 4 and 5 utr , and how do I improve what that factor is to get to a 5 utr?

I just feel kind of demotivated right now because my results aren’t coming even though I’m working hard and some people can get from 5 utr to 7 utr in half a year but I’m not improving even half as fast

I need some goals
step #1, ignore UTR.
focus on the tangible stuff you have control over...
how to achieve consistency:
* improve my footwork and spacing to the ball... use a topspin pro, can you get perfect spacing from varying distances from a ball that's not moving? can you do dead ball feeds to yourself (or tossed by a partner), from varying distances and heights and directions (in front of you, laterally, behind you), and hit a target say 5ft in diameter, consistently?
* improve your conditioning... can you do the above drill for an hour straight?
Going for balls mostly, I try to hit cross court or down the line or deep and i miss it by a few inches to a feet
sometimes I can have trouble with neutral balls too but I make less mistake on neutral than going for balls
what's the shape of your shots? are you getting good arc (eg. topspin)... at utr5, moonballing deep alone will win you alot of matches....
 

austintennis2005

Professional
How fast can you run a spider drill?
( place 5 balls along baseline and service boxes and bring them one by one back to the center of baseline) look it up on google.
Please do it and let me know your avg time over a few attempts
 

kittycattennis

New User
OK. Thanks for the follow up. So, are you going for lines routinely (too soon)? Meaning are you uncomfortable rallying, waiting for a weak shot to attack? Or are you rallying then missing on the kill shot?
more of the former, Im not that patient rallying, want to finish the point sooner, that’s probably a reason why I’m missing
but I feel like if I’m not going for lines or changing the direction of the ball my opponent might take advantage and put me in defense
mahbe my balls aren’t deep enough
step #1, ignore UTR.
focus on the tangible stuff you have control over...
how to achieve consistency:
* improve my footwork and spacing to the ball... use a topspin pro, can you get perfect spacing from varying distances from a ball that's not moving? can you do dead ball feeds to yourself (or tossed by a partner), from varying distances and heights and directions (in front of you, laterally, behind you), and hit a target say 5ft in diameter, consistently?
* improve your conditioning... can you do the above drill for an hour straight?

what's the shape of your shots? are you getting good arc (eg. topspin)... at utr5, moonballing deep alone will win you alot of matches....
ok that’s good advice. I think i need to work on hitting targets consistently. But also i have a hard time getting good spacing/timing when the ball is moving. not so much when it’s not moving

my shots are mostly flat…
How fast can you run a spider drill?
( place 5 balls along baseline and service boxes and bring them one by one back to the center of baseline) look it up on google.
Please do it and let me know your avg time over a few attempts
haven’t done a spider drill, for a while but in 30 secs and see how many times I can go back and forth running between and touching the service line and singles line I get usually around 30 touches every time
 

Dragy

Legend
There are very many variations of what exactly holds you from going up. Best would be if you post a match video for analysis.

But based on what you wrote and generally, there are two major ideas:
- ignore UTR, get better in tennis all around; just work on improving your everything, and applying it into matchplay
- opposite, the shortest: hit only those shots, where you are 100% sure you make it, but those are full confident shots, not poking the ball over the net; don’t “go for balls”, only put them away or pressure them if you get short one, open court, etc. And again don’t overcook them, just make them.

Even if you don’t feel in control of every point, percentage will shift in your favor, and you will win more matches. That’s how competitive tennis seems to work.
 

tendency

Semi-Pro
I can do fine against 4 utrs but I have difficulties winning 5 utrs

If you have been in this situation before, how did you get over it….

i feel like the main problem is with my consistency? I make more mistakes than a 5 utr

but I have no idea how to fix this

is there any distinguishing factor(s) between a 4 and 5 utr , and how do I improve what that factor is to get to a 5 utr?

I just feel kind of demotivated right now because my results aren’t coming even though I’m working hard and some people can get from 5 utr to 7 utr in half a year but I’m not improving even half as fast

I need some goals

..pretty sure this is a troll ..
 

kittycattennis

New User
genuinely not a troll lol I wish getting past a 4 utr was as easy as 1+1 for everyone but some like me are just not that good at tennis :rolleyes:
 

jimmy8

G.O.A.T.
It is consistency combined with a little more pace. NTRP 3.0 people dink the ball or mash the ball and hit it out most of the time. 3.5 hit with a little more pace than a 3.0 and mash the ball and hit it in a little more than a 3.0. Same progression for 4.0 and up. 1 UTR is about 0.5 NTRP. You need to add a little more pace on your ball than you are currently hitting and combine that with the same or better consistency.

If you play at least 3 times a week you should see an improvement in your play. Get a partner and drill down the line shots on both sides. Or buy a ball machine and drill down the line shots on both sides.

If your serve has room for improvement, practice serving a lot. This will help in getting to that next level.

Drill volleying and overheads. When in a match, if you see your shot is about to go into a corner, charge the net.
 
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mad dog1

G.O.A.T.
I can do fine against 4 utrs but I have difficulties winning 5 utrs

If you have been in this situation before, how did you get over it….

i feel like the main problem is with my consistency? I make more mistakes than a 5 utr

but I have no idea how to fix this

is there any distinguishing factor(s) between a 4 and 5 utr , and how do I improve what that factor is to get to a 5 utr?

I just feel kind of demotivated right now because my results aren’t coming even though I’m working hard and some people can get from 5 utr to 7 utr in half a year but I’m not improving even half as fast

I need some goals
Sounds like working with a good coach could help you.
 

nyta2

Legend
genuinely not a troll lol I wish getting past a 4 utr was as easy as 1+1 for everyone but some like me are just not that good at tennis :rolleyes:
it's easy for folks that are already past utr4, to describe what it takes to get there... but the work to do it is still not easy.
it's hard to see the minute 1% progress you are making from day to day, and easy to get off track and think there is some other magic bullet to help you improve faster
you were already on the right track when saying you need to improve your consistency (1), then mentioned that it's hard to find your spacing to a moving ball... (1), and lastly that you tend to hit flat (1)... in this 1+1+1 =
a. hit alot of balls where you need to move to a ball, both while the ball is moving, and when it's stationary
b. get fit... to be able move over and over again to the ball
c. get more shape on the ball (topspin), so it's not so flat (risky hitting the net)
 

LuckyR

Legend
more of the former, Im not that patient rallying, want to finish the point sooner, that’s probably a reason why I’m missing
but I feel like if I’m not going for lines or changing the direction of the ball my opponent might take advantage and put me in defense
mahbe my balls aren’t deep enough
There's your problem. Either your neutral rally balls are too short and your opponent tees off on short ones for winners, or you can prevent that but you don't BELIEVE you can. If the former you need better consistancy on deep, solid strokes if the latter you need shot tolerance (a rare commodity in amateur tennis).

Make the decision to be a high consistancy player and make him hit winners, that you're not going to give him the match.
 
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