Feedback on Practice Match

[nick102potter]

Hey guys! So I played a practice match against my good friend to prepare myself for league matches. I started playing tennis when I was 14 and after high school, I stopped for a while and concentrated on basketball in college. After 5 years, I started playing again last year.

In this match, I got creamed 3-6 0-6. First set I was playing pretty well while 2nd set is basically me having no energy to play at all due to poor conditioning. I'm the one wearing yellow shirt btw. Any feedback/tips/critique is greatly appreciated.

NTRP-wise would I be at 3.0 or 3.5? I posted a video last year on Youtube and a commenter there said that I'm about 3.0. I had even worst serve back then though ahaha. Kinda curious because we don't use NTRP rating in the league that I'm playing in. Just that you started from lower division and work your way up. Currently on a 6-4 record, in the 5th place.

 

[Vox Rationis]

Definitely 3.5. In my opinion your technique is already way too good for 3.0, you're just inconsistent, which will only get better over time. You're also fast and athletic which tends to compensate for a lot in league tennis. Your game looks promising. I could honestly see you becoming a 4.0 in a few years with more experience under your belt.

I will warn that it's not good to try to judge rating levels based off skill. It really is more results based. Before I joined USTA I was playing local tennis ladders. They were 4.0 ladders with mostly 3.5s playing up in it. During warm ups people used to think I was a 4.5 and joke that they were about to get their butts kicked. Then I went out and lost to some of them. My ability to win was about a 3.5 even though I looked like I was really good.

My point is you should look up some of the people you've had close matches with to see if they have a USTA rating. That's the best way to see where you may fit in.

 

[nick102potter]

Definitely 3.5. In my opinion your technique is already way too good for 3.0, you're just inconsistent, which will only get better over time. You're also fast and athletic which tends to compensate for a lot in league tennis. Your game looks promising. I could honestly see you becoming a 4.0 in a few years with more experience under your belt.

I will warn that it's not good to try to judge rating levels based off skill. It really is more results based. Before I joined USTA I was playing local tennis ladders. They were 4.0 ladders with mostly 3.5s playing up in it. During warm ups people used to think I was a 4.5 and joke that they were about to get their butts kicked. Then I went out and lost to some of them. My ability to win was about a 3.5 even though I looked like I was really good.

My point is you should look up some of the people you've had close matches with to see if they have a USTA rating. That's the best way to see where you may fit in.

Thanks for the comment. I'm actually from Malaysia, so we don't use NTRP ratings for our tournaments/leagues. Just curious at what rating my game is because some people actually asked what NTRP rating my skill level is at even though we don't actually use them. I'm not sure what to answer them because whenever I see the videos on Youtube, the rating seems to be different from one state to another....

I agree that I am still wildly inconsistent, especially on my serve and forehand which is funny because I was basically a human backboard back in high school. Then again, back then I hit only moonballs all day and relied on my opponents' errors. Whenever I went against those who know how to attack moonballs, I always got destroyed, especially by my friend who was a nationally ranked player back in his junior days.

 

[High Lama]

Yeah I’d agree with the vox comment. The serve and approach shots/ transitional to net need some practice. You’re probably a decent 3.5 but too good for 3.0 for sure. 3.0 is the land of elderly men with knee braces. The comment about results based is spot on. I’m rated 4.5 but you’d probably laugh if you saw a video of me. The mastery of consistency, shot selection and mental toughness can take you to 4.0 easily.

 

[Vox Rationis]

Thanks for the comment. I'm actually from Malaysia, so we don't use NTRP ratings for our tournaments/leagues. Just curious at what rating my game is because some people actually asked what NTRP rating my skill level is at even though we don't actually use them. I'm not sure what to answer them because whenever I see the videos on Youtube, the rating seems to be different from one state to another....

I agree that I am still wildly inconsistent, especially on my serve and forehand which is funny because I was basically a human backboard back in high school. Then again, back then I hit only moonballs all day and relied on my opponents' errors. Whenever I went against those who know how to attack moonballs, I always got destroyed, especially by my friend who was a nationally ranked player back in his junior days.

Ah, sorry for assuming you lived in The States. I'd say you hit 4.0 level shots occasionally, but not consistently enough yet. Hence why you'd be a 3.5. But I like your game. You'll be very good if you keep working at it!

 

[S&V-not_dead_yet]

NTRP-wise would I be at 3.0 or 3.5? I posted a video last year on Youtube and a commenter there said that I'm about 3.0. I had even worst serve back then though ahaha. Kinda curious because we don't use NTRP rating in the league that I'm playing in. Just that you started from lower division and work your way up. Currently on a 6-4 record, in the 5th place.

I only watched 2 games but no way you're a 3.0. I'd estimate 4.0. Your FH is relaxed and you use the kinetic chain well. Your BH is less smooth and a bit abrupt but you still get it in. And that passing shot at 1:43 was no 3.0 shot by any means.

Some observations:
- Your back foot moves past [laterally] your front foot when you serve, thus potentially prematurely rotating your body and losing stored energy. I'd recommend either stopping your back foot when it reaches your front foot [watch any pro] or change to a platform stance like Federer.

- As I commented before, your BH is a bit abrupt, not the flowing stroke like your FH. Maybe you're too tense? Try to relax a bit.

- Nice active footwork.

- Good court recognition to attempt that drop shot [great get by your opponent].

I'd say you have a lot going for your game.

 

[nick102potter]

Yeah I’d agree with the vox comment. The serve and approach shots/ transitional to net need some practice. You’re probably a decent 3.5 but too good for 3.0 for sure. 3.0 is the land of elderly men with knee braces. The comment about results based is spot on. I’m rated 4.5 but you’d probably laugh if you saw a video of me. The mastery of consistency, shot selection and mental toughness can take you to 4.0 easily.

Honestly, I've seen old guys with unorthodox strokes defeating top state players in doubles with smart shot selection and tactics so I definitely wouldn't be surprised that you are ranked at 4.5 even with unorthodox. Even my coach back in high school played very unorthodox game, like hitting everything with continental grip. He handled pace and spin so well whenever I saw him playing against younger nationally ranked kids who hit with so much spin and pace.

Yup, I definitely need to clean up my approach shots. And learn how to volley properly. Most of the time I just sticks my racket out when volleying. I'm just not confident at volleys, especially my backhand volley, which is why I don't attack the net as much.

Ah, sorry for assuming you lived in The States. I'd say you hit 4.0 level shots occasionally, but not consistently enough yet. Hence why you'd be a 3.5. But I like your game. You'll be very good if you keep working at it!

Honestly I can be impatient, which is partly why the consistency is not there yet. And I mishit a lot on the forehand side too because I can be a bit too wristy with my forehand at times urghh...

I'll definitely work on my game so that I can be at least be a challenge to my friend back in high school. That guy was a nationally ranked junior player back then and he bagelled me every time we played.

 

[nick102potter]

I only watched 2 games but no way you're a 3.0. I'd estimate 4.0. Your FH is relaxed and you use the kinetic chain well. Your BH is less smooth and a bit abrupt but you still get it in. And that passing shot at 1:43 was no 3.0 shot by any means.

- As I commented before, your BH is a bit abrupt, not the flowing stroke like your FH. Maybe you're too tense? Try to relax a bit.

Ahaha thanks for the tips. My backhand is actually my stronger side as I am much more consistent on that side. Most of my errors are from my forehand. But I think I can improve by making my backhand smoother as you said.

Actually when I see my first video, my backhand looks smoother. I think because I used another racket back then. I just started using BLX 6.1 95 again last week after I broke my racket as it slipped out of my hand during serve. Once I got used to it again (haven't touch the racket for 6 years), maybe I will be more confident to swing without hesitation and with that, I can be smoother and more relaxed on my backhand side.

Some observations:
- Your back foot moves past [laterally] your front foot when you serve, thus potentially prematurely rotating your body and losing stored energy. I'd recommend either stopping your back foot when it reaches your front foot [watch any pro] or change to a platform stance like Federer.

I will try out both of your recommendations for my serve and see which feels more natural to me. Serve is always a weakness for me due to the fact that I'm 167cm (5'6"). Anything that can help improve my serve is always welcomed.

- Nice active footwork.

That active footwork can be attributed to the fact that I also play basketball. You always have to move your feet when defending so I guess that's how I have active footwork. Though I do need to work on my split step.

- Good court recognition to attempt that drop shot [great get by your opponent].

Sadly the ball is too high and there's not enough backspin to make it an effective dropshot. I didn't be on guard ready to volley when he managed to return the ball.