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Legend
After this summer, 20 lessons, I realized a 3.5 basically has no idea how to play real tennis, and has no real understanding of any aspect of the game except topspin.
No learned technique, no real idea what they’re doing, and are basically a random mishmosh of inconsistent inefficient "natural intuitive comfortable" movements. It was a massive eyeopener.
Proper technique takes a lot more energy, which is the opposite of what your body does when trying to conserve energy. (not turning, not bending, not stepping, etc) This is why tennis is a young man's game, and careers are often over by 30.
Tennis is such an efficient optimized science, I now understand why almost all 4.5’s look almost identical in their mechanics.
I have started with a new coach as the summer guy has left.
I will chronicle my journey with this coach in this thread.
First, we adjusted my forehand take-away.
For 30 years, I just had my racket sideways, and applied extreme wristy topspin.
Now, working on taking back racket cocked pointing straight up, wrist cocked.
This is all part of "the turn" (feet, shoulders, arms, hips) which I never did. Turn early!
Then you drop it, and strings facing down, then sweeping upwards.
Of course, follow thru high. I never do, b/c of whipping wristy top spin.
I think I never ended over my shoulder since my entire swing trajectory was too flat.
Now, with the racket drop, there is a more low to high arc, and follow through high is more natural consequence.
This was very apparent on my backhand side. It was hard NOT to end with hands over my shoulders.
I tried to apply this take away to backhand takeaway in lesson #2.
The biggest hurdle was to get the strings facing down when the racket was back.
My natural position has strings facing sideways to the horizon.
To do this, I had to change my backhand grip.
The grip is easily the most confusing aspect of tennis to me.
When he says hold it this way, it can be done 5 ways, since everyone "natural rest position" can vary. Hammer, handshake, etc.
Anyway, for backhand, I used to just use my forehand grip (Semi-W? Slightly closed)
Now, I think I use something that is flat to slightly open (still need to figure this out)
Hard to explain, but my wrist was too cocked during the swing, really locking me up.
Tried to pick a grip where lower hand wrist is still fairly straight, not cocked at 90*
I had to spend a few minutes learning how to hold the racket again.
I was bombing a lot shots into the fence, and some where not even reaching the net, and others landed at the service line, and others were deep. LOL, a lot to work on here.
Feel like ball distance from body is still wrong. Way too tight, and muscling the ball.
One way to start grooving this is doing a “C-loop” with the backhand.
This helps me get the motion, but is a longer swing arc.
There is a LOT going on here, total overload, so it’s going to take a lot of time.
My current backhand, I contact the ball flat, and THEN start the topspin motion.
The correct way is to have the topspin motion already started by point of contact.
Simply brushing up on the back of the ball is not exactly the whole story.
So, I am trying to hit the ball in front of me. This is key to get everything working in synch.
This will take at least 5 practices to get the backhand working and more consistent.
Basically, I am completely junking my entire backhand and rebuilding it from ground zero.
Also adjusted the grip for volley (continental, flat, neutral)
I was doing this totally wrong (just using same forehand grip, which would mean racket face is open on the backhand without cocking the wrist)
Going to start drilling volleys in a few practices, but way too much foundational stuff to focus on for now.
Also, working on the turn on both sides of the ground stroke.
Closing your stance is so hard and awkward, after 30 years of hitting while facing the net.
Turn everything (hips, feet, hands, racket back) as soon as you know what side you’re going to hit.
Totally opposite of instinct. This needs to be trained, or you will NEVER do it.
Footwork is the hardest and most unnatural aspect of tennis.
Anyone with correct footwork has spent $5000 in coaching.
I also realized for 30 years, I never used my legs to generate power.
Or, I’d use the wrong leg (b/c it feels so much more natural)
Now, I see you should use your rear leg on both strokes to push into the swing.
Starting to work on that for a few practices.
Also started practicing approach shots.
My last coach told me to hit approach at 75%, but new coach says to hit at 100% (more spin, drops in)
Main thing with approach is to angle it to pull the player outside.
Then you need to track and follow the ball to the outside for the volley.
Don't get too close to the net, or you will get lobbed.
Soon, I will start to drill volleys and then connect the two.
This is all going to take a lot of work, which is awesome.
The split step is finally starting to come natural.
You do the split step right before opponent swings.
The problem I was having was only taking 1 step after the split step (like in a drill when ball is hit directly to you)
After the split step, you don;t just to the 1-step crossover. You need to run to the ball.
Split step is just a pause, not a destination.
Volleys drilling will start in the next few practices
I will be using a neutral grip for both volleys.
I have no idea how I will switch back and forth between forehand grip (slightly closed), backhand grip (flat to slightly open), and volley (flat, neutral)
No learned technique, no real idea what they’re doing, and are basically a random mishmosh of inconsistent inefficient "natural intuitive comfortable" movements. It was a massive eyeopener.
Proper technique takes a lot more energy, which is the opposite of what your body does when trying to conserve energy. (not turning, not bending, not stepping, etc) This is why tennis is a young man's game, and careers are often over by 30.
Tennis is such an efficient optimized science, I now understand why almost all 4.5’s look almost identical in their mechanics.
I have started with a new coach as the summer guy has left.
I will chronicle my journey with this coach in this thread.
First, we adjusted my forehand take-away.
For 30 years, I just had my racket sideways, and applied extreme wristy topspin.
Now, working on taking back racket cocked pointing straight up, wrist cocked.
This is all part of "the turn" (feet, shoulders, arms, hips) which I never did. Turn early!
Then you drop it, and strings facing down, then sweeping upwards.
Of course, follow thru high. I never do, b/c of whipping wristy top spin.
I think I never ended over my shoulder since my entire swing trajectory was too flat.
Now, with the racket drop, there is a more low to high arc, and follow through high is more natural consequence.
This was very apparent on my backhand side. It was hard NOT to end with hands over my shoulders.
I tried to apply this take away to backhand takeaway in lesson #2.
The biggest hurdle was to get the strings facing down when the racket was back.
My natural position has strings facing sideways to the horizon.
To do this, I had to change my backhand grip.
The grip is easily the most confusing aspect of tennis to me.
When he says hold it this way, it can be done 5 ways, since everyone "natural rest position" can vary. Hammer, handshake, etc.
Anyway, for backhand, I used to just use my forehand grip (Semi-W? Slightly closed)
Now, I think I use something that is flat to slightly open (still need to figure this out)
Hard to explain, but my wrist was too cocked during the swing, really locking me up.
Tried to pick a grip where lower hand wrist is still fairly straight, not cocked at 90*
I had to spend a few minutes learning how to hold the racket again.
I was bombing a lot shots into the fence, and some where not even reaching the net, and others landed at the service line, and others were deep. LOL, a lot to work on here.
Feel like ball distance from body is still wrong. Way too tight, and muscling the ball.
One way to start grooving this is doing a “C-loop” with the backhand.
This helps me get the motion, but is a longer swing arc.
There is a LOT going on here, total overload, so it’s going to take a lot of time.
My current backhand, I contact the ball flat, and THEN start the topspin motion.
The correct way is to have the topspin motion already started by point of contact.
Simply brushing up on the back of the ball is not exactly the whole story.
So, I am trying to hit the ball in front of me. This is key to get everything working in synch.
This will take at least 5 practices to get the backhand working and more consistent.
Basically, I am completely junking my entire backhand and rebuilding it from ground zero.
Also adjusted the grip for volley (continental, flat, neutral)
I was doing this totally wrong (just using same forehand grip, which would mean racket face is open on the backhand without cocking the wrist)
Going to start drilling volleys in a few practices, but way too much foundational stuff to focus on for now.
Also, working on the turn on both sides of the ground stroke.
Closing your stance is so hard and awkward, after 30 years of hitting while facing the net.
Turn everything (hips, feet, hands, racket back) as soon as you know what side you’re going to hit.
Totally opposite of instinct. This needs to be trained, or you will NEVER do it.
Footwork is the hardest and most unnatural aspect of tennis.
Anyone with correct footwork has spent $5000 in coaching.
I also realized for 30 years, I never used my legs to generate power.
Or, I’d use the wrong leg (b/c it feels so much more natural)
Now, I see you should use your rear leg on both strokes to push into the swing.
Starting to work on that for a few practices.
Also started practicing approach shots.
My last coach told me to hit approach at 75%, but new coach says to hit at 100% (more spin, drops in)
Main thing with approach is to angle it to pull the player outside.
Then you need to track and follow the ball to the outside for the volley.
Don't get too close to the net, or you will get lobbed.
Soon, I will start to drill volleys and then connect the two.
This is all going to take a lot of work, which is awesome.
The split step is finally starting to come natural.
You do the split step right before opponent swings.
The problem I was having was only taking 1 step after the split step (like in a drill when ball is hit directly to you)
After the split step, you don;t just to the 1-step crossover. You need to run to the ball.
Split step is just a pause, not a destination.
Volleys drilling will start in the next few practices
I will be using a neutral grip for both volleys.
I have no idea how I will switch back and forth between forehand grip (slightly closed), backhand grip (flat to slightly open), and volley (flat, neutral)
Last edited:
OP was claiming as '3.5'
