Getting back into the game

[RJ-L]

I've been reading for some time on this forum but recently i decided to buy myself a camera and record my progress hoping for some usefull tips and feedback.

My story:
I started playing tennis at the age of 9 till the age of 15.
then i quit tennis for 11 years due to injuries in my shoulder, back and knee's, now i'm trying to get back to my old level of play from my junior years.

My shoulder still isnt 100% pain free especially when its cold but we are on the right way.

Some warmup hitting(in the one near the camera):
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d2FSqJk_XLc

Warmup before doubles practice(near camera in green) :
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=awNcadt6Tcg

First game(near camera in green):
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vqRNY67UPL8

My own observations:
-i need to work on my footwork getting in the right position sooner.Partially caused by the court im used to playing on gravel and smashcourt, not on concrete which has no sliding ability. Maybe its a good thing sometimes because it forces me to watch my footwork.
- Shorten my swing on the forehand side, the backswing is a bit loopy from time to time.
- Not every ball can be a winner.
- Video edit skills

any input is welcome.

 

[RJ-L]

any advice would be appreciated

 

[LeeD]

Get purple shirt partner to stand in the middle of his box, but bend over and crouch until after your ball whizzes by his head. He's doing you no good protecting the alley, and is left out when you serve.
Nice game, lefty. Guess you did play for your high school.

 

[Bagumbawalla]

Well, I watched only half of the first "warm-up" video, and half of "first game", but that was enough for me to agree with your own assessment. There were a lot of lunging, awkward, out of position shots-- and a few good ones.

Keep at it. Strive for good form, keep it up. Improvement will come. Your serve is not bad. Keep practicing.

 

[LeeD]

1st vid...
Keep your feet on the ground for now, like your 2hbh.
You jump and then mishit some of your leaping forehands, not creating any power.

 

[Steady Eddy]

In that doubles game, those courts have a lot of room to the back fence. Either that or the camera makes it look that way.

 

[5263]

Well, I watched only half of the first "warm-up" video, and half of "first game", but that was enough for me to agree with your own assessment. There were a lot of lunging, awkward, out of position shots-- and a few good ones.

Keep at it. Strive for good form, keep it up. Improvement will come. Your serve is not bad. Keep practicing.

I agree...maybe think of it as really moving to create a very good contact point for each shot.

 

[gmatheis]

Agree with the footwork ... it's one of the 2 most important things

the other is focus/watching the ball/concentration however you want to label it.

Too many unforced errors, keep your focus on your own side of the court and on the ball until AFTER you have completely finished your stroke.

Tell yourself that if they cut off your shot it's ok, if they hit a winner it's ok ... hit your shot solid and force them to beat you ... you looked like you were beating yourself because you are too eager to be ready for what comes after your shot.

 

[RJ-L]

Thanks for the input.

The unforced errors are mainly because of my footwork and partly mental.
Im trying to make shots which i made when i was playing 4-5 times a week at high level.

My backhand is pretty steady when it comes to balance, my forehand however isnt going so well.
I'm falling to the wrong side and stepping in completely wrong especially when im under pressure, if im controling the point and get to step into the court its a guaranteed for success.

The next week i'm working on my forehand.

I shot some new footage yesterday on my home court, where the backfence isnt miles away from the court .

 

[Zolar]

I'm not a stroke expert by any means, but my first reaction was that you didn't transfer much weight into the ball. Lots of arm action. But then, I got tired of the long wait between points. Sorry!
Maybe I could comment on the "editing" part though. Looks like you are using a GoPro and could go to a medium field of view (if you aren't there already). I use a QM-1 to get the camera on top of the fence for a better angle, it's in-expensive easy to use, but there are other mounts too. For editing, I use final cut pro on my macbook pro and it's really easy to cut out the dead spots. I think you'd get better feedback with a more "efficient" edit.

 

[RJ-L]

Yes im using a GoPro, still testing with settings.

Some new footage from this weeks practice(this time with the boring parts cut out:
Warm-up:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jDefNcxDY9E&feature=youtu.be
Point play:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xdf9GISVy38&feature=youtu.be

My Main concern is still my forehand, it feels like its on tension not allowing my arm to swing free.

Next week some focus on just my forehand, hoping its less chilly, which makes the court a lot quicker and bouncier.

 

[spun_out]

Yes im using a GoPro, still testing with settings.

Some new footage from this weeks practice(this time with the boring parts cut out:
Warm-up:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jDefNcxDY9E&feature=youtu.be
Point play:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xdf9GISVy38&feature=youtu.be

My Main concern is still my forehand, it feels like its on tension not allowing my arm to swing free.

Next week some focus on just my forehand, hoping its less chilly, which makes the court a lot quicker and bouncier.

So which shoulder hurts? Does the left shoulder hurt on the forehand or the right shoulder on serve?

If you want to get the loose relaxed feeling on the forehand, maybe try a bigger loop and accentuate the movement of gravity bring the racquet down with relaxed arm. But the bigger problem, I think, is that you seem to be bringing the racquet back with your hand, sometimes without shoulder turn and other times after shoulder turn has already happened. If you put your off hand on the racquet throat and turn your shoulders, your racquet is basically in a position to swing, and you don't have to tense up your left arm.

 

[RJ-L]

So which shoulder hurts? Does the left shoulder hurt on the forehand or the right shoulder on serve?

If you want to get the loose relaxed feeling on the forehand, maybe try a bigger loop and accentuate the movement of gravity bring the racquet down with relaxed arm. But the bigger problem, I think, is that you seem to be bringing the racquet back with your hand, sometimes without shoulder turn and other times after shoulder turn has already happened. If you put your off hand on the racquet throat and turn your shoulders, your racquet is basically in a position to swing, and you don't have to tense up your left arm.

The right shoulder hurts, thats why my serve toss is a bit on the low side.

I will watch my shoulder turns next time im going out to hit.

Thnx