Experienced players; what do you know now, that you wish you'd known when you started tennis?

Rosstour

G.O.A.T.
Don't punch that wall when you're 34. You'll be paying for it for the rest of your life.

Also, I would have kept playing through college (2000-2004) and afterwards, instead of playing 2-3x/year between the ages of 20 and 30.
 

Fxanimator1

Hall of Fame
Use the technology that is now available. Smartphones are incredible resources, record your strokes and analyze them. What you think you're hitting looks like, is almost always not reality and is usually inefficient.
It's painful to see your own strokes, but that's the only way to truly know how much improvement there is to do.
 
Doubles only advice: Do this drill for awhile, maybe keep score to 50 or something You get 0 points for an ace or return winner. You only get points if your serve sets up your partner or you at the net for a winning shot or if your return (crosscourt, deep, effective or low to the feet of a serve and volley player) sets up you and your partner for a winning shot.
Lesson learned: doubles is about getting in a position to win a point 80% or so of the time, not going for a winner that might happen 30% of the time (fore rec players). Over time this strategy works for everyone.

Volley Drill: have friends first serve at you while you are at the net, improves reflexes or gives you a bruise lol.
 

Steady Eddy

Legend
Practice volleying, a lot. Don't just stand around hitting groundstrokes all day like everyone else.

You will be such a better player in the future.
I've been thinking about this. I'm in a little town, and they guys here don't even warm up with volleys for doubles. I suspect this might be because the volley LOOKS so simple to them, that they think it's a skill that doesn't even need to be learned. Just like I've known some golfers who shun putting because they think "Well, anybody can putt."

When they play doubles they dump many sitters into the net, and are always shocked. Will they ever think, "Maybe I should practice that shot."?
 

Steady Eddy

Legend
I wish someone would have explained how important it is to be relaxed, e.g. no tension in your arm, wrist, etc. I used to try to muscle the ball for some unknown reason.

Also, footwork. That should have been half of every lesson I took. I feel like tennis is 80% footwork.
Carrying unnecessary weight really destroys your tennis. In tennis, unlike golf, the ball isn't just sitting there in front of you, and you get lot of bad hops. So you can be as big as John Daly and still golf. I hardly ever see plus sized tennis players even in local championships. Even if you have great strokes, you have to move well.
 

Steady Eddy

Legend
Get coaching immediately, dont reinforce bad habits and THEN try and change them.

Get a camera (or use a smartphone) and video yourself.
Yes, you can do down a really bad hole and then never climb out. I'm sure many instructors would rather have a complete beginner than someone who has acquired many bad habits.

The problem is, some people cannot afford or are unwilling to pay all the money for coaching. But I believe that if they are resourceful they can still become a formidable rec player.
 

voodoo

New User
Started playing in the 70s, I’ve come from a fairly eastern classic forehand to eventually a modern SW grip ATP style forehand.
Stroke was inconsistent. Eventually figured out I was subconsciously swinging slightly old style at times , particularly in relation to my ELBOW.
This video from 2.20 onwards helped me enormously- rotation of the shoulder bringing the elbow forward and pointing to hip instead of pointing more to the rear. Gets racquet head below ball, easy to get lag, gets contact point out front - just helps the whole low to high and accelerate issue. Thanks Clay!

 

Knox

Semi-Pro
I wish someone would have taught me to forget flat hitting and to focus on learning all the spin variations, especially sidespin....

It took me over a decade to learn that its better to hit every single shot with some sidespin.

Also, open stance. I wish my dad and coaches never discouraged me from using it.

If I had learned open stance and spin focused play when I first started I would have saved years of floundering around playing 3.5 hacker tennis.
 
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Kalyx

New User
I would say start strength training. I was in great cardiovascular shape, but I suffered a number of injuries that slowed my overall progress despite making encouraging improvements in technique. Now that I strength-train regularly (upper body, legs, and core each 2x/week), I haven't had any injuries for a while (knock on wood!) and my movement is SO much better. I can run all-out to chase a ball down and feel confident that I'll be able to stop myself safely and change directions quickly. Being able to get to more balls more quickly enhanced the diversity of my shot repertoire, e.g. trying some defensive forehand slices when really stretched out, going for tough passing shots and topspin lobs on-the-run on the backhand side, playing with different ways to counter a drop shot, etc.
 

Hit 'em clean

Semi-Pro
I spent a lot of time solely focused on hitting the ball hard and maximizing contact. I loved just hitting the ball cleanly with as much pace and spin as I could muster. I wish I would’ve been exposed or had the information available to me on strategy and playing points. Which is why pushers can drive me up the wall. Played a long time simply trying to hit through people.
 

sredna42

Hall of Fame
Get coaching immediately, dont reinforce bad habits and THEN try and change them.

Get a camera (or use a smartphone) and video yourself.
Solid.
I would add, rallying is barely more than exercise, and to improve most effectively you have to perform focused practice regularly. ChaelAZ is right too, endless footwork/fitness.

There is a whole other aspect thats hard to quantify re awareness on court, clarity, intent, detached calmness, etc that i would focus on too. You can easily see a person's defective strokes, but harder to see how they view the incoming ball, whats distracting them, etc.
 

fuzz nation

G.O.A.T.
Any tennis wisdom from all those court hours?

After I got into coaching high school teams and some teaching, I eventually also found a copy of Mental Tennis by Vic Braden. I see my tennis life as pretty much two distinct phases; before Braden and after. I don't remember when this book first came out - I found an affordable copy in paperback around '04 - but if I had read this back in high school or college, it would have probably altered the course of my life.

I could blather about this and that, but the bottom line is that I can't recommend this book enough. After reading and chewing over Vic's wisdom, I became a substantially better coach and player. Bonus points for easy reading - his style of storytelling was hilarious (y)
 

Steady Eddy

Legend
After I got into coaching high school teams and some teaching, I eventually also found a copy of Mental Tennis by Vic Braden. I see my tennis life as pretty much two distinct phases; before Braden and after. I don't remember when this book first came out - I found an affordable copy in paperback around '04 - but if I had read this back in high school or college, it would have probably altered the course of my life.

I could blather about this and that, but the bottom line is that I can't recommend this book enough. After reading and chewing over Vic's wisdom, I became a substantially better coach and player. Bonus points for easy reading - his style of storytelling was hilarious (y)
Vic Braden was awesome. He had a big role in popularizing tennis. RIP Vic.
 

norcal

Legend
I would have seriously avoided any lessons on strokes and taken all lessons on footwork.
Let's be realistic here. In a perfect world sure, but how many people would stick with tennis if they had to first focus on footwork and fitness? Beginning players ARE working on footwork and fitness by playing tennis.

Once you plateau then you start looking at footwork drills and off court fitness.
 

La Grande

G.O.A.T.
Terrific thread, some great answers. I would echo the sentiments of others, fitness and movement is 80% of the game.

Other points
- Practice your serve as much as you hit. Things like ball toss consistency, height and position need to be drilled in.

- Get accustomed to hitting short, low shots in the no mans land. Ask your opponent to hit dead or sliced balls short and practice racket control and generating topspin from awkward angles.

- Keep moving your feet and split stepping, even when in control. I don't know how many rallies I've been in where I thought my opponent was done and I started walking or stood still, only for him to hit a winner or an awkward shot out of nowhere. Of course, flat-footed, I was not ready.

- Overhead and volley drills are also important. I've been burnt enough times by the dropshot-lob combo and all that stops me countering it is a good overhead. That and lack of fitness/speed. See below.

- As I mentioned above, anything you can do to make moving around easier and strengthening your body, do it. (losing weight, extra cardio outside tennis, weight training - compound lifts). Like everyone else, I love hitting for hours, in the middle of the court or cross court but I fall apart when someone gives me something awkward (short and low). In a match, sometimes it feels like the latter shots are ALL you get. Nothing is easy.

- Don't overhit, but trust the strokes you've practiced. The better your first couple of shots in the rally are, the less control your opponent can get in the rally. It really tends to be the first few shots are the average recreational level. They get you running and you never recover. The first few shots set the tone. So hit the shots you know you should be hitting, when they're there to be hit. otherwise you'll be scrambling around the court and constantly on the defensive.

- Last but not least, record yourself! All you need is a camera phone and a cheap tripod from amazon. The first time you watch, you will be disgusted at all the things you're doing wrong but also humbled and have a clear idea what you need to improve.
 

vectorthurm

Rookie
This may be controversial to some but honestly I don’t think you should keep score for a while. Give yourself the chance to learn mechanics from a pro and get them really grooved in.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 

mnttlrg

Professional
There is never one exact perfect technique.

The least complicated way to do something is usually the best choice for your tennis.

Don't listen to people on Talk Tennis. They are constantly wrong! :-D
 

5263

G.O.A.T.
I'd like to have known the differences between classic instruction fundamentals vs top player instructional fundamentals.
 

Slicerman

Professional
-Get some real tennis shoes
-Learn how to serve and play points early on
-Play with a variety of different people
-Don't feel intimidated to play/practice with more advanced players
 

giantschwinn

Semi-Pro
-Switch to poly strings sooner and keep them fresh by restringing them once a month
-Play with a variety of different people ... join a ladder
-initiate the service motion with leg drive first
 

RyanRF

Professional
  • Always stretch. Even if you don't feel you need it. Even if you think you're not that old and are feeling fine. Stretch anyways. Make it a habit, even on non-playing days. You know those times where it feels like you do need to stretch? By then you've already strained something.
  • Differentiate between mental mistakes and execution mistakes. Don't beat yourself up over execution mistakes.
  • Proclaiming weaknesses becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy, especially if you neglect those shots (i.e. always running around backhand, never approaching net, or only hitting one kind of serve)
 
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mcs1970

Hall of Fame
Strictly for rec adults who take the game up later in life...My advice would be to not take yourself too seriously. If you want to copy a pro even if it makes you inconsistent go ahead. If you want to find your own style and play safe but consistent, go ahead. Most of us will plateau as mediocre rec players anyway in the grand scheme of things. So play the style that gives you the most personal enjoyment.

Enjoy the time you get to be on the court and count it as a blessing. If you do make some imprisonments in your game think of it as a bonus. Don’t get too caught up in your own hype.
 

HuusHould

Hall of Fame
playing with different ways to counter a drop shot, etc.

I remember when I first started playing seriously, I read Vic Bradens "tennis 2000" in which he said to "win your national title before you start to drop shot, especially on big points." While I think there were some useful things in the book, I would've ignored this advice as I think the drop shot (and volley for that matter) is a useful even essential shot to have in the arsenal, at any level, including when dealing with the drop shot. I would've drilled dealing with the drop shot more if I had my time over.

Any tennis wisdom from all those court hours?

If I was advising someone starting to play tennis competitively, I would caution against being overcoached, I think you have to take ownership of your own development. You have to find out the techniques (and tactics) that work for you in certain situations, which is largely trial and error (this can be sped up with the right guidance). I would advise them to have fun and enjoy the journey (the process), don't get too caught up in the outcome (or the destination). I would tell them not to be afraid to fail, losing is a part of the journey and highlights where you need to improve, avoiding it will be detrimental to your long term development. Be in it for the long haul, it's a constant process if tweaking your game, honing your strengths and addressing your weaknesses. Don't judge yourself on one or two performances.

Along with the virtues of the double handed backhand, I wish I'd known the importance of;
1- stretching and of having injuries treated immediately, 2- being able to attack the return of 2nd serve, 3 disguise and deception on serve.

If I had my time over I'd also place more emphasis on developing footwork.
 
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HuusHould

Hall of Fame
One other thing that's become apparent to me over time is the importance of specificity in your training (the more specific the better). That's specificity regarding the situations you need to work on, as well specificity regarding what you want to achieve.
Eg you might rock up to a tennis lesson and tell the coach you want to work on your backhand. But it's much more useful to be able to pinpoint situations where you have trouble with the backhand (outlining as much detail as possible), that the teaching pro can simulate and you can nut out technical and tactical solutions together. What are your objectives in this situation- do you need more power, control, disguise, deception, more options etc

I agree with the posters who've recommended videoing yourself, I really don't think you can do it too much. That said I've always been slack in that regard.
 
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