First 'real' (non-club) league match today

[Deleted member 776614]

I signed up for UTR and am pretty excited! I've been playing for 10 months and have played in a few club league singles matches, but mostly 3.5 as there aren't many active 3.0s playing singles. I've been playing a lot since I started, just not in league play; it seems like most people around here want to play doubles so I was stoked to find an active singles flex league.

I'm pretty excited - also a little anxious since I've been experimenting with rackets and just settled on a new one last night (went from TF40 for 6mos, then RF97 for 3 months, now PS97 and I love it.) My timing is a little off with the new stick and therefore my confidence and directional control aren't great, so I guess my focus will just be on not making mistakes and observing what I can improve on for next match.

OH - and I am STOKED for SETS!! Club league matches are all 8-game pro set. UTR is best of 3 with tiebreaker.

I'm in 3 weekly clinics so hopefully it won't be long before I'm back to full comfort and confidence in the new stick.

 

[Moon Shooter]

My wife bought me a Head TI S6 about a year after I was playing (had been using a $30 buck prince Walmart racquet). It is very light and has a 115 head. I tried some other racquets but this one is just so easy to use. I did add some weight to it. I don't know maybe some day I will get another racquet.

They say you should be used to the new racquet after a day or two. Good luck at your tournament and let us know how it goes. I heard the UTR tournaments involve quite a few children so be ready to play some younger players.

 

[Dartagnan64]

My wife bought me a Head TI S6 about a year after I was playing (had been using a $30 buck prince Walmart racquet). It is very light and has a 115 head. I tried some other racquets but this one is just so easy to use. I did add some weight to it. I don't know maybe some day I will get another racquet.

They say you should be used to the new racquet after a day or two. Good luck at your tournament and let us know how it goes. I heard the UTR tournaments involve quite a few children so be ready to play some younger players.

I played 3 matches in the last 24hr with 3 different frames (Phantoms 107G, 100 18x20 and 93P). Had been playing with the 107G for about a year now but I broke a string in the first service game of my second match. Finished the match with the 100 18x20. Then played singles this morning with the 93P before I took the 107G in for a string job.

I'd say it took me about 2-3 games to dial in the frame and get back to my usual standard of play. i think people over think their equipment. And I definitely think people undervalue comfort and overvalue power in their equipment.

OH - and I am STOKED for SETS!! Club league matches are all 8-game pro set. UTR is best of 3 with tiebreaker.

This is all well and good until you face some moonballing pusher and you are on the court for 3 hours.

 

[taylor15]

And I definitely think people undervalue comfort and overvalue power in their equipment.

Couldn’t agree more. Can always throw in a multi/poly hybrid and add back some power with even more comfort if you need.

 

[Deleted member 776614]

360 grams to 335 grams strung is a pretty big difference. I know I'll adapt completely, but probably not be before this match is over.

Some people are more motion-based and others more feel-based. Motion based people can play well with almost any racket, any golf club, etc. as they have good awareness of their body motion and position. Others (like me) are feel-based and need sensations and stimuli to respond and adjust to, and it takes time to re-calibrate that with new equipment. Being that way is not by choice.

 

[Moon Shooter]

As far as racquets I would just say whatever works. My racquet is very light and therefore lacks power. But I can move it in position so the ball tends to go where I want it more than with the several other racquets I tried.

 

[Deleted member 776614]

Well I don't mind losing to a 9 rear old (hypothetically) but teenagers changing plans an hour before the match kinda sucks. I’ll use the time to dial in with the new stick. I love how it feels.

 

[socallefty]

So, you’ve been playing tennis for 10 months and you’ve changed racquets 3 times already! I don’t know what advice can be given to you to redeem you from life as a crappy tennis player. All I can say is to stop changing racquets.

 

[Deleted member 776614]

Technically I changed twice but I’m done messing with rackets. TF40 grip was too small. I got tired of messing with grips and heat shrink sleeves and was given the RF to use. It seemed great in clinics and rec play but was a bit much in match play, so I got a PS97 (second change) and love it.

 

[ChrisG]

I think that at your level you should be using a more user friendly frame. RF97 or even PS97 are for advanced players and require proper technique. A 100sq / 300g could be more useful imho

 

[Dartagnan64]

I think that at your level you should be using a more user friendly frame. RF97 or even PS97 are for advanced players and require proper technique. A 100sq / 300g could be more useful imho

I'm more inclined to recommend arm friendlier set ups for new players as they go through their tennis journey, especially if they are beyond their mid 30's. Blade/Clash/Phantom/Gravity lines are the comfiest.

The best ability in tennis is availability. If you can't play you can't get better. Accept that this sport is hard on the body and do things right from the beginning with your racket set up and footwear.

It's like I always tell beginning snowboarders: Dress for hockey not for skiing.

 

[Deleted member 776614]

This is me getting used to my new Pro Staff, just a clip of me playing with trajectory and shape as I normally hit a bit flatter. I have plenty to work on but think I will grow into it just fine.

 

[Dartagnan64]

This is me getting used to my new Pro Staff, just a clip of me playing with trajectory and shape as I normally hit a bit flatter. I have plenty to improve upon but think I will grow into it just fine.

Yes you definitely hit the ball well enough to use a ProStaff. It's not for advanced players only. The RF version probably should be wielded by advanced people but the regular version is pretty user friendly at all levels. My problem with the ProStaff is that I don't find them as comfortable as the Blade, so I gravitate to that Wilson line more.

 

[Deleted member 776614]

I was playing well in clinics, lessons, and rallies with the RF, and even in my first club match with it. In the second (most recent) match I found that it was hard to generate enough spin and shape from inside the service line without hitting long. It was then that I realized that I'm limited in my shot selection because of the extra weight - I was doing well at using the kinetic chain to drive through the ball, but struggled to generate lift with it when I had limited distance. I think some of that was not extending my arm low enough below the ball before contact, but still I remember noticing the weight when playing and thinking that kind of thing doesn't need to be clogging my brain during a match.

It was taking too long to upload videos so I just have the short clip above, but the rest of the video is me using the same energy and position and adjusting how deep the ball was landing, from inside the service line to the baseline, so I know I have the ability to hit with margin - assuming I'm playing well enough.

I find the TF40 to be really comfortable, but I also find the direct connection of the Pro Staff to be down right addictive. I'm the kind of guy that likes to feel the bumps in the road - I play golf with blades, use street race settings on my bike suspension, etc. If my arm starts to hurt I'll try softer strings, then can always go back to the TF40 if the PS is too stiff long-term.

 

[Deleted member 776614]

...I don’t know what advice can be given to you to redeem you from life as a crappy tennis player...

Until this point you were one of the people who's posts I've appreciated and respected the most, but I think this one was a little harsh considering you know nothing about how I play.

 

[socallefty]

Until this point you were one of the people who's posts I've appreciated and respected the most, but I think this one was a little harsh considering you know nothing about how I play.

I agree - harsh. Just trying to shock you out of your racquet changing ways. 3 racquets in 10 months since starting tennis is not the way to become a good player. All the best!

 

[Moon Shooter]

I am not familiar with the variety of racquets you use. But I do wonder if your clinics involve more play against each other as opposed to getting certain feeds from the coach. Because clinics can vary. If in your matches against 3.5s you feel you are getting good contact with the strings and not hitting the ball late then the racquet might be good for you. But I would focus on the match play or at least something other than feeds.

For me the advantages of the beginner racquet only come into play when I am stressed to hit a ball. I don't frame the ball as much due to the bigger sweet spot, and it is light enough where I can make small changes when I realize the ball is bouncing in a way I didn't expect. The lighter frame also allows me to get my racquet in place quicker to make up for a general lack of anticipation and timing. All of this I believe helps my game. But for hitting feeds I would probably feel much better off with a heavy racquet with a smaller head for more control. In fact I was thinking of getting a heavier and racquet with a smaller head just to hit with a ball machine to see how it feels. I'm not saying you just hit feeds. I am just saying the advantages of the beginner racquet don't really come into play when you are hitting feeds.

 

[Deleted member 776614]

@Moon Shooter everything you said is exactly what happened.

@socallefty good redemption, thank you. Believe me, I am thrilled to settle on a racket and focus 100% on playing now. I know I lost a few months of progress and it bothers me, but I believe it was worth ultimately finding the right stick.

 

[optic yellow]

@socallefty I don't understand your posts. Are you thinking of that stereotype of the player who blames their equipment rather than thinking it might be something they are doing that is holding them back from getting better? That should be criticized but also equipment does matter and experimenting with equipment can be part of the fun of learning a game.

 

[socallefty]

don't understand your posts. Are you thinking of that stereotype of the player who blames their equipment rather than thinking it might be something they are doing that is holding them back from getting better?

What I’m saying is not that complicated. If you are new to tennis, just focus on learning the game. Your racquet is not an impediment to learning the game as long as it is is not too light (<10 ozs) or too heavy (>12 ozs). If you think your equipment is the reason why you are playing good or bad when you have played for less than a year, you don’t know enough about tennis to be able to self-analyze why you are playing bad because your technique and footwork are not developed enough. If you think changing racquets is part of the fun of learning tennis, that is fine, but that is a rabbit hole you are going into.

 

[Deleted member 776614]

I totally agree, despite being stubborn and having to learn the hard way. I was making amazing progress for 6 months, then fell deep down that rabbit hole and lost a ton of momentum.

 

[Bambooman]

That's normal even if you start out with the perfect racket.

 

[Deleted member 776614]

Not if your progress was disrupted by equipment distraction.

 

[Bambooman]

That would be in your head. Racquets these days are just not that limiting.

 

[graycrait]

I had a great time playing today with a 65" headed 13.5oz wood racket after warming up with a Head Ti Radical 107, then, on to another comparative graphite granny stick, a 98" C10 Pro, before moving to the wood racket. I haven't played that much with a wood racket since the late 70s when I was in my mid 20s. I'm going to stick with wood for a few weeks just to make me focus a bit on keeping my head still. I also had a lot of fun with an 11oz Ti 6 a few years ago. Changing rackets is fun.

P.S. unless you are UTR 12.5+ woman/14.5+ man no one wants spend much time watching you play tennis except for your boy/girl friend/parents/close friends. I sure wouldn't So that means everything else has to be for internal fun and/or self gratification. At my age I could care less about beating someone in tennis, especially after spending many years in a much more "final" occupation. What I do care about is incremental improvement, joy on the court and encouraging others to embrace a life sport like tennis. What clothes, rackets, etc., has little to no relevance for me.

 

[optic yellow]

What I’m saying is not that complicated. If you are new to tennis, just focus on learning the game. Your racquet is not an impediment to learning the game as long as it is is not too light (<10 ozs) or too heavy (>12 ozs). If you think your equipment is the reason why you are playing good or bad when you have played for less than a year, you don’t know enough about tennis to be able to self-analyze why you are playing bad because your technique and footwork are not developed enough. If you think changing racquets is part of the fun of learning tennis, that is fine, but that is a rabbit hole you are going into.

I guess I was just trying to understand the aggressiveness of your tone. I read your explanation but did not see why that was necessary for someone who had said they finally settled on one. Agree of course that tinkering with equipment can be a dangerous rabbit hole so should be done with caution.

That would be in your head. Racquets these days are just not that limiting.

He means that he made no progress because all his focus was placed on figuring out the racket rather than continuing to build on the new skills he was learning. I think you are right however that plateauing is unavoidable even in optimal circumstances since there are times the mind just needs a break from a certain task to process and recover. Just gotta recognize when those times are and vary the activities to keep progressing rather than trying to force something that isn't there.