mbm0912
Hall of Fame
I failed to see anything "nice looking" in that video.
Chronicling my private lessons quest to go from clueless 3.5 to 4.0
- Thread starter TimeToPlaySets
- Start date
TimeToPlaySets
Legend
Turning as soon as the other player hits the ball. Most people watch the ball, and then turn long after.
The very second you know what side you're going to hit, you need to turn.
This needs to be trained, b/c you will never think to ever do this on your own.
When you hit the ball, bend your knees, you're almost in a crouch, so you're exploding upwards during the swing.
This needs to be trained, b/c you will never think to ever do this on your own.
Kick serve. The ball toss is directly overhead. That means you can't see the ball for a time.
You need to arch your back, and lean backwards. Nothing about this is comfortable or intuitive.
Most people generate ball motion by hitting forward. Not on the kick serve. Racket is not moving forward.
This needs to be trained, b/c you will never think to ever do this on your own.
On your forehand, you need to **** your wrist as you turn your entire body.
The racket is facing straight up, like a bowling pin.
Most people take the racket back horizontally.
Then you drop your wrist so the racket is now under the ball, almost on the ground.
Your swing arc is an extreme low to high, not a flat arc and THEN an up arc after contact.
This needs to be trained, b/c you will never think to ever do this on your own.
You hit the ball in front of you. Farther in front than you think.
Your arms need to be extended. The ball should be hit farther away from your body than you think.
This can be learned on your own.
Volley. You use continental grip. Not forehand grip.
You hinge at your elbow You flatted the racket to almost horizontal.
You cross step forwards. You attack the ball with your entire body moving forward.
Racket never goes down, like in a slam. Racket maintains level height.
This needs to be trained, b/c you will never think to ever do this on your own.
Strategy is an entirely different discussion. When to approach the net.
What side to hit it on. (Are you deep or mid court? Do you hit down the line or cross court?)
This needs to be trained, b/c you will never think to ever do this on your own.
How to hit a ball that has been hit high and deep, and is at eye level, with you backpedaling.
Racket starts high, above your head, and stays high. Nothing like forehand.
This needs to be trained, b/c you will never think to ever do this on your own.
You need to split step. And at a certain time. This takes many hours to become second nature.
This needs to be trained, b/c you will never think to ever do this on your own.
When you hit a groundstroke. Which leg do you plant on?
Do you step forward when reaching for a wide shot?
Do you step into the shot with your left or right leg?
This needs to be trained, b/c you will never think to ever do this on your own.
You need to keep your eye on the contact point of ball AFTER you hit the ball.
Much harder than it looks. Instinct is to look where the ball is going. After hitting, you should still be looking down. You do NOT look where the ball is going.
Particularly, on a low approach shot, while running forwards, while turned sideways.
This needs to be trained, b/c you will never think to ever do this on your own.
The list is endless. Basically every single motion in tennis has a natural incorrect way of doing it.
Everything needs to be demonstrated, taught, drilled, coached, and repeated until automatic.
This needs to be trained, b/c you will never think to ever do this on your own.
The very second you know what side you're going to hit, you need to turn.
This needs to be trained, b/c you will never think to ever do this on your own.
When you hit the ball, bend your knees, you're almost in a crouch, so you're exploding upwards during the swing.
This needs to be trained, b/c you will never think to ever do this on your own.
Kick serve. The ball toss is directly overhead. That means you can't see the ball for a time.
You need to arch your back, and lean backwards. Nothing about this is comfortable or intuitive.
Most people generate ball motion by hitting forward. Not on the kick serve. Racket is not moving forward.
This needs to be trained, b/c you will never think to ever do this on your own.
On your forehand, you need to **** your wrist as you turn your entire body.
The racket is facing straight up, like a bowling pin.
Most people take the racket back horizontally.
Then you drop your wrist so the racket is now under the ball, almost on the ground.
Your swing arc is an extreme low to high, not a flat arc and THEN an up arc after contact.
This needs to be trained, b/c you will never think to ever do this on your own.
You hit the ball in front of you. Farther in front than you think.
Your arms need to be extended. The ball should be hit farther away from your body than you think.
This can be learned on your own.
Volley. You use continental grip. Not forehand grip.
You hinge at your elbow You flatted the racket to almost horizontal.
You cross step forwards. You attack the ball with your entire body moving forward.
Racket never goes down, like in a slam. Racket maintains level height.
This needs to be trained, b/c you will never think to ever do this on your own.
Strategy is an entirely different discussion. When to approach the net.
What side to hit it on. (Are you deep or mid court? Do you hit down the line or cross court?)
This needs to be trained, b/c you will never think to ever do this on your own.
How to hit a ball that has been hit high and deep, and is at eye level, with you backpedaling.
Racket starts high, above your head, and stays high. Nothing like forehand.
This needs to be trained, b/c you will never think to ever do this on your own.
You need to split step. And at a certain time. This takes many hours to become second nature.
This needs to be trained, b/c you will never think to ever do this on your own.
When you hit a groundstroke. Which leg do you plant on?
Do you step forward when reaching for a wide shot?
Do you step into the shot with your left or right leg?
This needs to be trained, b/c you will never think to ever do this on your own.
You need to keep your eye on the contact point of ball AFTER you hit the ball.
Much harder than it looks. Instinct is to look where the ball is going. After hitting, you should still be looking down. You do NOT look where the ball is going.
Particularly, on a low approach shot, while running forwards, while turned sideways.
This needs to be trained, b/c you will never think to ever do this on your own.
The list is endless. Basically every single motion in tennis has a natural incorrect way of doing it.
Everything needs to be demonstrated, taught, drilled, coached, and repeated until automatic.
This needs to be trained, b/c you will never think to ever do this on your own.
TimeToPlaySets
Legend
Stuck with Conti grip for my 2H backhand, instead of the extreme top bevel double rotation grip.
Felt good to have a backhand again. Sticking with that for now.,
Felt good to have a backhand again. Sticking with that for now.,
TimeToPlaySets
Legend
Finally learned how to return a big first serve.
Was trying to return with regular swing. Often hitting off the throat
During my lesson today, I practiced returning serves using CONTI grip and basically volley the ball back. You have to commit to that grip before the serve, so you are not going to be taking a groundstroke at the serve. This makes sense for huge 1st serves that you'll never return anyway, barely getting your frame on it.
With the volley grip, you must step and lean into it, or you'll pop it up. Totally counter intuitive to attack a huge first serve, but it was awesome to actually chop it back low and cross court. At 3.5, this can easily be winner return in singles or cause unforced error as a short ball. Almost better percentage shot than overhitting return of 2nd serve.
Was trying to return with regular swing. Often hitting off the throat
During my lesson today, I practiced returning serves using CONTI grip and basically volley the ball back. You have to commit to that grip before the serve, so you are not going to be taking a groundstroke at the serve. This makes sense for huge 1st serves that you'll never return anyway, barely getting your frame on it.
With the volley grip, you must step and lean into it, or you'll pop it up. Totally counter intuitive to attack a huge first serve, but it was awesome to actually chop it back low and cross court. At 3.5, this can easily be winner return in singles or cause unforced error as a short ball. Almost better percentage shot than overhitting return of 2nd serve.
@TimeToPlaySets
Just curious, are you a 4.0 now?
Just curious, are you a 4.0 now?
This is certainly a form of a 'loopy' topspin forehand. But not all players **** the wrist back. And not all players ONLY **** the wrist back. Cocking the wrist back allows you to brush the ball up with a more vertical line - hence the loopier topspin effect.
Djokovic cocks his wrist back more often than not. But he doesn't do what Nadal or Sock typically do and hit with a more vertical line. Djoko will have more of a gradient.
Federer plays with many levels of 'cockness'. He primarily plays with a flatter gradient follow through, but so much RHS the ball is imbued with topspin. Again, Federer will also brush up the ball and hit loopy balls with effective kicks - and this is not always obvious when watching from the TV, but Federer is certainly a player on the circuit that has many different forehands during a single match.
Then there are players like Murray - who NEVER **** their wrist back. He plays with wrist flexion on take-back, but he is still able to mix his vertical line up the ball.
Yes absolutely. But also - if your ready grip is in CONTI, then can work to have exceptionally fast grip changes. You will then be able to reply hard hitting 1st serves with your forehand/backhand drive as well
Moveforwardalways
Hall of Fame
I would also like to know. Are these lessons working?
TimeToPlaySets
Legend
No, but I've stepped in the right direction.
The next step is to start playing matches and being mindful of unforced errors.
I think a year is a decent timeline.
Again, you can push your way to a 4.0, maybe, but I'm not looking to do that.
This takes 100s of hours of drill, at least.
I have done 30 hours of drill since starting in July.
The next step is to start playing matches and being mindful of unforced errors.
I think a year is a decent timeline.
Again, you can push your way to a 4.0, maybe, but I'm not looking to do that.
This takes 100s of hours of drill, at least.
I have done 30 hours of drill since starting in July.
Moveforwardalways
Hall of Fame
Wait. This whole thread and you haven't been playing matches?
TimeToPlaySets
Legend
Just some informal hitting here and there when you realize the lessons that every single aspect of your game is wrong you realize there's almost no point in playing matches until you develop mechanics and rebuild your entire game forehand backhand no approach shot never learned volley relearning the serve everything better off taking a few months 2 drill twice a week rather than wasting time playing matches where you never learn new mechanics only reinforce old ones
Dragy
G.O.A.T.
Hey bro, some commas for you, just delivered:
,,,,,,,,,, ,,,,,,,,,, ,,,,,,,,,, ,,,,,,,,,,
Sorry for delay and inconvenience caused.
Dartagnan64
G.O.A.T.
Hey, I resemble those remarks.
LOL. I am the "swing at every toss" guy though. Sadly some of my best serves have come from my wildest tosses. But I use a short toss and abbreviated takeback on my serve so it's never too crazy wild. Played someone last week who almost hit the roof on every toss.
D
Deleted member 23235
Guest
Definitely agree with the approach (presuming you can stand the boredom of not competing).
Same approach i took when changing my fh grip from hawaiian to semi-western.
Took 3mo on the ball machine, then 3 more mos of just hitting (ground stroke games etc...), before i tried using my new fh gs in competition... probably another 3mos before i could win from the baseline again (against folks i usually beat).
TimeToPlaySets
Legend
I actually love the drill/feed aspect of private lessons. If I never played another match ever in my life, I actually wouldn't mind much.
I guess it's fun to try your new strategy/technique in the field, (like trying to go to the net, or having a serve that is not a liability), under game conditions, I often find I revert back to old habits. To me, this means the lessons have not yet become muscle memory, which may take years, since I'm basically relearning the entire game. No one gets good at tennis in 2 months.
So, in a way, I prefer the delusional Truman show bubble of lessons, instead of the reality that not much has changed once you're not getting nicely fed balls
I guess it's fun to try your new strategy/technique in the field, (like trying to go to the net, or having a serve that is not a liability), under game conditions, I often find I revert back to old habits. To me, this means the lessons have not yet become muscle memory, which may take years, since I'm basically relearning the entire game. No one gets good at tennis in 2 months.
So, in a way, I prefer the delusional Truman show bubble of lessons, instead of the reality that not much has changed once you're not getting nicely fed balls
Bender
G.O.A.T.
You aren't deluded IMO.
The reason why you shouldn't dive straight into competitive play if you want to be a good player is that because competitive matches don't give you consistent balls (and why would they when it's advantageous not to), you end up developing and grooving a unique stroke that gets the ball in and also fits your movement and contact point.
And because most people will only put in the minimum amount of effort needed to get a ball back, both the contact point and the movement in such players will be minimal, since one necessitates the other:
- Minimal movement means you will be either too late or too early to the ball, meaning that the contact point will almost always be too close to the body. What I mean by this is that players will either duckwalk to a ball that's coming right at them--causing them to hit the ball whilst jammed (late prep certainly makes this worse)--or sprint to a fairly slow ball and stop too late (if at all). This is why they will pretty much always be hitting the ball too close to their bodies. I'm speaking from experience here.
- Because hitting the ball when you are jammed is difficult to do, players will develop a stroke that works no matter the situation (by 'work', I mean getting the ball over the net, nothing more than that). This will almost always be some sort of dink shot, because he larger the overall motion, the more room there is for error--and the dink shot is as close as you can get to a 0 motion stroke. You move your racquet face to the contact point and allow the ball the bounce off of it, as you will be producing minimal follow-through.
In other words, lower level players let the situation dictate fully the development and quality of their technique, since because they never learned what correct technique is, they are forced to become accustomed to a disadvantageous situation and developed the best shot they can that will allow them to hit the ball back from there. Advanced players however, will know what the 'ideal' shot is, and move themselves in the correct position to hit that ideal shot. Players with no formal training will wait for the ideal ball to come to them; players with formal training will create the ideal ball by moving themselves to the ball.
IMO, this is also why people who have received training for an intermediate number of years, say 2-3 years, are in a bit of a pickle--assuming that they don't have one glaring weakness (eg inability to hit a second serve), they possess the looks and technique of 4.5s and higher, but haven't yet got the movement of those players. They will therefore be unable to employ the ideal shot as often as they would like. 3.0-3.5 veteran pushers however, have almost an unlimited margin of error, not only because they have long given up on hitting winners, but because of their minimal swing, there is no room for anything to go wrong, and will therefore be able to bunt balls back all day. They've been hitting from a disadvantageous situation from day 1, and have made that their ideal shot. If your ideal shot is to hit late and jammed, then there is very little others can do to make you uncomfortable.
Eventually however, your movement will improve, and once you are able to move yourself to hit the same ideal shot every time, you will be effortlessly wiping the floor with anyone who isn't technically better than yourself. So no, you aren't deluded. You can take the short, easy path and become an very good mediocre player, or you can take the long, difficult path and become a mediocre advanced player--maybe even a good advanced player. But as everyone knows, it's a long and difficult journey, so the guys who choose the easy route will be seeing less satisfying success a lot sooner and for longer before you hit your stride.
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TimeToPlaySets
Legend
Plus, during match play, you are concerned with winning the match, which is a distraction from developing proper mechanics. You play differently, often reverting back to pushing balls to win. By reducing errors, which is good, but You tend to only optimize the ceiling your already under, rather than push into new territory. Short term vs long term. If I play matches, I don't care if I win or lose.
tlm
G.O.A.T.
It's great to take lessons and drill a lot, but you need to play sets also. You are to hung up on trying to become technically perfect which is not going to happen. Especially when actually playing points. I've watched players take lesson after lesson but rarely play matches and when they do they are lost.
As soon as they are not fed sitters and have to move they are lost. You have to play points along with lessons to develop your game. This dreaming of I will get these great mechanics and then play matches does not work. You need to do both.
heninfan99
Talk Tennis Guru
As long as you compete for every point. I also think scoreboard pressure will cast in iron techniques that work. It could very well re-enforce the new stuff you're working on but you have to trust it. Trust the force, Luke!
I did a hitting group the last two weeks and I noticed when score wasn't kept I didn't try nearly as much.
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D
Deleted member 23235
Guest
True.
But hopefully as lessons progress (presuming continuity) the instructor is progressively making the drills harder and harder, forcing the student into movement patterns that are weak...
If you're just getting a steady diet of mid court sitters, and your killing (in) them with a high %, then it's time to move onto a new coach.
#1 reason to play points... it's the only time folks practice their serve
OP how's your serve looking? How much practice Time do you get in for serving?
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
tlm
G.O.A.T.
True.
But hopefully as lessons progress (presuming continuity) the instructor is progressively making the drills harder and harder, forcing the student into movement patterns that are weak...
If you're just getting a steady diet of mid court sitters, and your killing (in) them with a high %, then it's time to move onto a new coach.
#1 reason to play points... it's the only time folks practice their serve
OP how's your serve looking? How much practice Time do you get in for serving?
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
I agree but no matter how much the instructor increases the difficulty of the drills it will never compare to playing points.
Plus like you mentioned doing real serves and returns, which practicing will never be the same as playing a point you want to win.
I have watched more than a few players think that they can buy a game by taking non stop lessons and have yet to see it workout.
But like my high school hitting partner that I have showed video of in the past is doing both. He drills at least 4 days a week plus plays matches and he has improved big time.
I've heard his coach tell him that he has to play matches with his lessons if he wants to improve. But this kid already had a solid game unlike the OP.
So for OP he definitely needs to be playing points. No matter how many lessons he takes he will not improve much in matches without playing sets.
He is way to hung up on perfect technique and form and thinking that with enough lessons he will suddenly transform from 3.5 to 4.0 or better and this is not going to happen without some consistent match play.
tlm
G.O.A.T.
You don't have to play official matches just play pick up matches. Don't concern yourself with winning instead use what you have learned in lessons and forget the score.
You still want to try and win the point but only if you can do it with your new technique. I have played with guys that have worked with coaches and will practice what they learned in drills while playing sets.
They still try and win but they don't worry to much about the score. They work on their new style under point pressure which is a good way to improve.
It's not easy to say the hell with the score but the guys that I've seen make the best improvement in their game followed this path. They took lessons and played pick up matches also, and gradually worked their improved technique into their game.
Just convince your partner to play some games with you with real scoring instead of "hitting" for the entire duration. I do that every time I hit with someone, and sometimes we even complete a set. Then this whole match anxiety thing is greatly reduced, and a real match starts feeling like a casual hitting session! The concept is turned on its head.
TimeToPlaySets
Legend
I'll show you Sunday, on the court!
I've done a few hoppers and am making progress. My serve has little pace but should work adequately against 3.5 ... Second serve is still weak.
TimeToPlaySets
Legend
I agree with playing sets. Look at my user name! I took 30 lessons and now am starting to play matches for the winter, in order to apply my new technique in game conditions. Need both sides of the coin, I agree
I will not be taking lessons indoors, where the cost would be triple my current outdoor $50/hr rate.
I will not be taking lessons indoors, where the cost would be triple my current outdoor $50/hr rate.
TimeToPlaySets
Legend
I agree that serve practice is huge. Return of serve as well. I spent half my last lesson on these. Like addict said, play match, then address issues during lesson,. Refine. Addict clearly knows what's he's taking about.
This is an area where having a coach or paid hitting partner can pay dividends. I really hate getting blown off the court by a big serve. It gives me a lot of confidence going into a match knowing that there is no way my opponent has as big a serve as my hitting partner.
TimeToPlaySets
Legend
I bailed out on the volley return of serve, as it was too anemic, and went back to forehand grip block back.
TimeToPlaySets
Legend
I just re-read Benders post. What a great post. I agree wholeheartedly.
tlm
G.O.A.T.
Well that's good get out there and start playing sets and see how you do. One thing that drills can never teach you is to become match tough and be able to adapt during a match.
tlm
G.O.A.T.
I like this, I've noticed the same thing. Guys that can push me around are always up to play. But players that I used to lose to and now can beat do not want to play anymore.
Couple of guys avoid me now, even though they play only doubles, ever since I beat them when on the opposite side in doubles. One of them has a D2 daughter and kept telling everyone she could beat any guy, which seemed to be irrelevant. Once he lost 2-6 to me, and since then averts his eyes, I think I know the reason: somehow he thought as a D2 girl's father, he would also be better than others LOL.
There was a singles guy from Craigslist I lost this way. He showed up saying he prefers to play singles. He lost 3-6. I emailed him again, and he said he only plays doubles.
Be a loser, and you will be a winner, because you will play more and improve!
TimeToPlaySets
Legend
Weird. I assume that anyone who beats me will never play with me again.
I have ZERO interest in playing with people who suck.
I have ZERO interest in playing with people who suck.
D
Deleted member 23235
Guest
it's important to play against different levels
* better
* same
* worse
seems universal for tennis and bjj.
people worse, you can try out new tactics or strokes, that you haven't yet mastered, or are dabbling with (eg federer through in the SABR and S&v, often with to practice with folks he was crushing), but only used it sparingly against top competition.
people better, help you see what you need to get to... always playing people better than you can actually hurt you because they won't let you "play your game" so you end up playing an overly defensive game, and you don't get to practice you offensive game.
people same level, "play your game", and typically use your A game/plan.
* better
* same
* worse
seems universal for tennis and bjj.
people worse, you can try out new tactics or strokes, that you haven't yet mastered, or are dabbling with (eg federer through in the SABR and S&v, often with to practice with folks he was crushing), but only used it sparingly against top competition.
people better, help you see what you need to get to... always playing people better than you can actually hurt you because they won't let you "play your game" so you end up playing an overly defensive game, and you don't get to practice you offensive game.
people same level, "play your game", and typically use your A game/plan.
tlm
G.O.A.T.
Just because you lose does not mean you suck. I'm still talking about a good competive match where the opponent is just a little to good for you to beat. I play guys that are better most of the time but they still have to play well to beat me. I'm not talking about getting double bageled not many guys want to play you if you are no competition.
You need to play more matches and then you will understand the different level of players. Once you get a group of different players that you play fairly regularly you will know where your at and understand what I am talking about.
tlm
G.O.A.T.
I agree you need a variety but ideally I like to play guys that are a little better than I am most of the time.
D
Deleted member 23235
Guest
fun hitting with you on sunday, @TimeToPlaySets
keep up lessons and practice, groundies are looking solid for someone who's just recently started playing!
keep up lessons and practice, groundies are looking solid for someone who's just recently started playing!
The secret is to keep the losing margin small. If you play to lose, you are actually more relaxed and will win more because of that, resulting in a small losing margin.
Rec players do not have sufficient skill and weapons to plan for a win. There are some exceptions, especially in doubles, where the partners really practice seriously in order to win. But in singles, either you got it or you don't. You will improve with time, of course. But at the end, you will play only at your inherent level (which includes fitness and ability to withstand boredom). So either way, if the guy who beats you does not want to play with you, that means he thinks your inherent level is low, and he won't. Just move on and another guy will be happy to play with you. Or even the same guy who cannot find players anymore because he has turned away a bunch of them.
TimeToPlaySets
Legend
To clarify, I haven't recently started playing. I slapped the ball around as a kid, and on and off over the years, but never with any serious thought to practice and drill.
Moveforwardalways
Hall of Fame
In this thread, why are 3.5's "clueless" and 4.0's are not? It's not like 4.0 is some elite level of tennis. And not all 3.5's are a bunch of losers.
TimeToPlaySets
Legend
Because it's my thread, and that's what I've decided is the truth.
Moveforwardalways
Hall of Fame
Fair enough. But when you finally reach the elite promised land of 4.0 tennis, you will realize that they are really just 3.5s who don't miss as much. You don't actually even need good technique or lessons to play 4.0. People who can really play ball generally demolish the 98% of 4.0s who are not sandbagging. Just watch a few 8.5 combo matches and you will realize the 4.0s have serious flaws in their games that are easily exploited. And these flaws are actually the same flaws that 3.5s have, just hidden better.
Excellent! Love it!
TimeToPlaySets
Legend
I'll agree that a 4.0 is not some holy grail level, and that one can be a mediocre pusher 4.0
But, I think 4.0 is the level where players start to exhibit correct mechanics and have taken proper lessons. 4.5 even more so.
4.0 is where I consider the line of semi_serious tennis player..
But, I think 4.0 is the level where players start to exhibit correct mechanics and have taken proper lessons. 4.5 even more so.
4.0 is where I consider the line of semi_serious tennis player..
TimeToPlaySets
Legend
Played 2 sets today.
I was mindful of split step on return of serve.
I tried to returned to turn as soon as possible.
I ditched the conti grip and just tried to hit it back.
Was happy with ground strokes.
Forehand can sometimes get loopy and deep in a good way
Back hand was stable, need to drill that more for proper take away, hiding hands.
I tried to think about hitting to opponent backhand, and then charge net. Still going on way to late, or on a bad shot like to his forehand.
I still forget to split step before volley.
I got better at switching to CONTI for volley.
Serve was decent. Lots of spin and got me some service points.
Need to adjust toss for more effective spin. Slice serve toss it more to the side.
Kick serve more above my head.
Endurance was not an issue. Short points.
Pleased, consistent was better than usual.
I was mindful of split step on return of serve.
I tried to returned to turn as soon as possible.
I ditched the conti grip and just tried to hit it back.
Was happy with ground strokes.
Forehand can sometimes get loopy and deep in a good way
Back hand was stable, need to drill that more for proper take away, hiding hands.
I tried to think about hitting to opponent backhand, and then charge net. Still going on way to late, or on a bad shot like to his forehand.
I still forget to split step before volley.
I got better at switching to CONTI for volley.
Serve was decent. Lots of spin and got me some service points.
Need to adjust toss for more effective spin. Slice serve toss it more to the side.
Kick serve more above my head.
Endurance was not an issue. Short points.
Pleased, consistent was better than usual.
Imago
Hall of Fame
What is a good losing ratio? Is 0:6 good enough?
D
Deleted member 23235
Guest
good stuff.. this is how i write notes to myself... after every match and hitting session
TimeToPlaySets
Legend
Played some doubles last night.
Slice serve is starting to take shape.
Got 2 aces! Not from pace, but from placement.
My biggest issue is that I toss the ball into a "safe" visible spot.
That is the wrong spot and the ball goes long.
For the slice first serve, I need to throw it out to the side.
To the point where it feels like a mis-toss.
The mis-toss is actually the right toss.
At one point, after 5 long first serves, I got pissed, and said just throw it to the damn SIDE.
I sliced the crap out of it, and served an ace.
Need this to become the normal.
For 2nd serve, kick, I need to toss the ball more overhead.
Once I get this down, I will increase racket speed to get a kick that's worth something that confuses the returner.
Slice serve is starting to take shape.
Got 2 aces! Not from pace, but from placement.
My biggest issue is that I toss the ball into a "safe" visible spot.
That is the wrong spot and the ball goes long.
For the slice first serve, I need to throw it out to the side.
To the point where it feels like a mis-toss.
The mis-toss is actually the right toss.
At one point, after 5 long first serves, I got pissed, and said just throw it to the damn SIDE.
I sliced the crap out of it, and served an ace.
Need this to become the normal.
For 2nd serve, kick, I need to toss the ball more overhead.
Once I get this down, I will increase racket speed to get a kick that's worth something that confuses the returner.
