How good can a beginner get in a year?

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Duff

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hey, I've started playing tennis in my high school this semester as a junior, about 5 months. So far I don't know my ranking, (I've never competed outside just my league) but my friend who's pretty good (4.0-5 he says), tells me I'm about 2.0. I'm pretty dedicated to tennis and I'm competitive, and for a month or so I've been playing 2~3 hours a day. My question is: could I be anywhere near 4.0 or even 4.5 once next spring season comes about? I doubt my parents would let me get a coach but I'm planning on going to a community college to take lessons in summer.
Me and my friend, who's singles one, but was injured and so became doubles #1 with me, are going into the individual doubles tournaments next week, and I'm excited to see how far we could get. If I can play well, I'm hoping semi or even finals. That's one reason why I'm so dedicated, to do well in the tournament. Anyways, going back on track, could I improve about 2 rankings in 9 or so months?
 
That's actually 4 rankings not 2. You forgot the .5 like 2.5 and 3.5. You can probably make it to 3.0 next spring. If you are athletic and naturally have a good serve, that can take you to 3.5. But from there, it will take you increasingly more work to move up each additional level.
 
The Plan

Anyone can learn to play tennis in one year or less.

Takes five years to make tennis player

Ten years to make a champ
:)
 
There is a difference between what one can do and what one will realisticly accomplish.

Anything is possbile really, but realisticly I would agree you will be 3.0-3.5

I have been playing for 9 months very speradicly and beat a couple 3.5, basicly these people can't deal with the spin I give them, I really don't have to aim too much to be honest, I do aim for the back hand or the fore hand though.

The biggest thing to level up is serve and serve return, that is where you can just destroy lower players.

Most lower players just can deal with you hitting flat and then kicking 4-5ft+ to the back hand on the serve, and if they have a slower high serve put that **** away and drive it down their throat.

I see people that are 4.0-4.5 and my ground strokes are better than theirs, but they have a much more consistant serve, far better return of serve, and actually aim.
 
4.0 or 4.5 in one year?

It would be possible if you had a coach working with you 3 or 4 times a week, making sure you don't develop any bad habits, always progressing, and, also, if you're naturally incredibly gifted athletically. And you played 2 to 3 hours a day, almost every day, with plenty of match play with your coach watching and giving you feedback.

So basically, it's impossible. But 4.0 to 4.5 in 3 years is possible.
 
35ft6 said:
4.0 or 4.5 in one year?

It would be possible if you had a coach working with you 3 or 4 times a week, making sure you don't develop any bad habits, always progressing, and, also, if you're naturally incredibly gifted athletically. And you played 2 to 3 hours a day, almost every day, with plenty of match play with your coach watching and giving you feedback.

So basically, it's impossible. But 4.0 to 4.5 in 3 years is possible.
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2-3 hours a day may work. I'd recommend at 'least' 3-4 hours though, if you want to go nuts and insure that you get more playing time, forcing yourself to get better (Yes I know you should never over do things. I'm not suggesting to force yourself even if you were tired or cannot physicially handle the work involved, but rather suggesting as much exposure to experince time exposure.).

If you want to go nuts, spend as much time as you physically can handle, but you do not want to cut short your homework and study time though!

Ususally there is also this dilemma: "Should you play/practice even when you do not feel like it but are physically capable of playing (eg when you are in shape to play but do not feel like it since you're bored with it at the moment)" or "should you take a break so that practice doesn't become a boring chore?"

My answer according to my opinion is that you should practice whenever you are physically and mentally well, and when the time spent practicing does not interfere with anything that's more important.
 
Stop worrying about ratings. Whether we say you can or can't get to a certain level in a year is irrelevant. If you truly like tennis go out and play as much as you can, learn as much as you can from coaches, other better players and see where you are in a year.
 
Rep. Timothy Calhoun said:
2-3 hours a day may work. I'd recommend at 'least' 3-4 hours though, if you want to go nuts and insure that you get more playing time, forcing yourself to get better (Yes I know you should never over do things.
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It's the constant coaching that's critical. Without an instructor around, a 2.0 player won't really know what he should be practicing, he could just as easily be "practicing" a bad habit, developing something that will hinder his development. I know plenty of guys who play almost every day but never improve.
 
35ft6 said:
It's the constant coaching that's critical. Without an instructor around, a 2.0 player won't really know what he should be practicing, he could just as easily be "practicing" a bad habit, developing something that will hinder his development. I know plenty of guys who play almost every day but never improve.
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Yeah. I agree that it's the spending time doing things 'properly' that's important. I did not mention having a coach because it is 'possible' to get away without one (the OP is asking IF this and that were to be possible afterall). I know some self-taught people who are much better than the instructor that they play against, so yes it is possible to self-teach swiftly, effectively.

Some people who only teach themselves will probably not all do it efficiently and effectively though, so that's why you always hear the recommendation of getting formal lessons from teaching pro. Like anything else, there are always the except though.

As far as people who play every day but never improve, I'm all too familiar with people like that. I know guys who've played for decades yet still can't even get the continental serve going. For instance, one of them complains that it's like an adult trying to learn how to pronounce words correctly in a new language, how it is difficult since adults' tongues are hardened therefore that is why kids can emulate the pronunciations a whole lot better. I hear stuff like that.
 
Duff said:
hey, I've started playing tennis in my high school this semester as a junior, about 5 months. So far I don't know my ranking, (I've never competed outside just my league) but my friend who's pretty good (4.0-5 he says), tells me I'm about 2.0. I'm pretty dedicated to tennis and I'm competitive, and for a month or so I've been playing 2~3 hours a day. My question is: could I be anywhere near 4.0 or even 4.5 once next spring season comes about? I doubt my parents would let me get a coach but I'm planning on going to a community college to take lessons in summer.
Me and my friend, who's singles one, but was injured and so became doubles #1 with me, are going into the individual doubles tournaments next week, and I'm excited to see how far we could get. If I can play well, I'm hoping semi or even finals. That's one reason why I'm so dedicated, to do well in the tournament. Anyways, going back on track, could I improve about 2 rankings in 9 or so months?
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Duff, I think you can do it. You have such an advantage being young and in high school. You don't really work and you can play like 4 to 5 hours of tennis a day, everyday, if you wanted to. It's a plus that you are really dedicated to it too.

Maybe I can motivate you with my story. I started playing tennis not too long ago. The reason is that I ran out of availible friends to play basketball or volleyball with (team sports are hard to play when everyone you know has a family or other priorities). At first I was not too good. I served with all arm and wrist. I didnt care about winning, I just wanted to break some sweat. After around 4 months of playing I got good at retrieving the ball and eventually winning points from oppenent's unforced errors. Thats all I had, my friends called me a really good pusher.

I still got beaten quite often until I learned how to retrieve the ball deep back into the court. In addition, I also learned how to serve consistently and correctly by watching videos and practicing by myself for hours and hours. That's when I became practically unbeatable among my friends who have played in highschool. Keep in mind I only play 2, lucky 3 times a week and around 2.5 hrs. each time. I would kill for the time you have as highschoolers.

4 months ago I recently won a 3.5 USTA singles tournament in LA without dropping a set. One opponent I defeated in the quarter finals who also played in the 4.0 finals said that I would have won the 4.0 division as well if I'd entered. I did not know you can enter more than one division at one time, but he did just to play more tennis.

Duff, I reached 4.0 in 15 months and I don't even play tennis everyday. I think with your youth and free time you can do it within 12 months. I recommend taking a couple of lessons at first, because the coach will reconize your flaws right away and you can work and fix them in your spare time. If you can't afford it keep playing against your 4.0+ buddies and ask them questions. (They'll be happy to show you some stuff, just because..) Once you dominate, play against someone better and so on. A month ago I just started playing a big serving 4.5 + ( 4 yrs ago former D2/open): 6-3, 4-6, retired. He gave me a few tips on serving and returning.

I also recommend setting large and small goals for yourself. My short term goal is to strengthen my volleys. Longterm goal is to win an open tournament in the summer of 2008.

Lastly, you must have passion for tennis. Recently, I have become more than passionate, a borderline junkie or addict more like it. For example, I own and watch instructional videos instead of programed TV, I string and customize my rackets and worst of all I have become a tennis warehouse board member. I love it, the board is awesome! Now, I don't feel like such a dork for playing shadow tennis in the living room after reading about what others do with their rackets.
 
Well sometimes what one can accomplish is amazing.
To take golf as an example, when I was a kid the local pro's daughter married a baseball player. He took him under his wing and the son-in-law was a scratch player in less than a year. No joke. Still a pro in Florida today.
And his son wins big tournaments in New England these days.

Now, tennis is a bit different I think because you have to play matches to use and develop one's skills to learn how to win. That takes more time.
 
MoneyBall said:
Duff, I think you can do it. You have such an advantage being young and in high school. You don't really work and you can play like 4 to 5 hours of tennis a day, everyday, if you wanted to. It's a plus that you are really dedicated to it too.

Maybe I can motivate you with my story. I started playing tennis not too long ago. The reason is that I ran out of availible friends to play basketball or volleyball with (team sports are hard to play when everyone you know has a family or other priorities). At first I was not too good. I served with all arm and wrist. I didnt care about winning, I just wanted to break some sweat. After around 4 months of playing I got good at retrieving the ball and eventually winning points from oppenent's unforced errors. Thats all I had, my friends called me a really good pusher.

I still got beaten quite often until I learned how to retrieve the ball deep back into the court. In addition, I also learned how to serve consistently and correctly by watching videos and practicing by myself for hours and hours. That's when I became practically unbeatable among my friends who have played in highschool. Keep in mind I only play 2, lucky 3 times a week and around 2.5 hrs. each time. I would kill for the time you have as highschoolers.

4 months ago I recently won a 3.5 USTA singles tournament in LA without dropping a set. One opponent I defeated in the quarter finals who also played in the 4.0 finals said that I would have won the 4.0 division as well if I'd entered. I did not know you can enter more than one division at one time, but he did just to play more tennis.

Duff, I reached 4.0 in 15 months and I don't even play tennis everyday. I think with your youth and free time you can do it within 12 months. I recommend taking a couple of lessons at first, because the coach will reconize your flaws right away and you can work and fix them in your spare time. If you can't afford it keep playing against your 4.0+ buddies and ask them questions. (They'll be happy to show you some stuff, just because..) Once you dominate, play against someone better and so on. A month ago I just started playing a big serving 4.5 + ( 4 yrs ago former D2/open): 6-3, 4-6, retired. He gave me a few tips on serving and returning.

I also recommend setting large and small goals for yourself. My short term goal is to strengthen my volleys. Longterm goal is to win an open tournament in the summer of 2008.

Lastly, you must have passion for tennis. Recently, I have become more than passionate, a borderline junkie or addict more like it. For example, I own and watch instructional videos instead of programed TV, I string and customize my rackets and worst of all I have become a tennis warehouse board member. I love it, the board is awesome! Now, I don't feel like such a dork for playing shadow tennis in the living room after reading about what others do with their rackets.
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Thnx for everyone's replies, especially MoneyBall's. I am very addicted to Tennis. Although I don't have a coach and my parents would rather have me study than learn tennis, I have a decent friend and like I mentioned, taking tennis over Summer. I'm currently working on my serves. In fact, I'm going to post a video for advice, if I can figure out how to convert a mini-cassette of a camcorder into memory. What I currently do is look at videos of pros, especially Sampras, and get advices from all possible sources on the net, and try to put them to motion.
I am quite concerned about the post that said without coaching I might develop undesired ineffective methods of playing. The reason why I've been working on my serve for 1~2 months was because I started as a eastern, then I tried to use continental but it turned out to be more of an easter (damnit!), and just yesterday I got the hang of continental grip serve. Anyways I'm in class and need to do something (crap!).
 
Duff, another thing you should do by yourself to take your game to the next level is hit against the wall for hours when you have no one to play with. It gets really boring after 40 mintutes but there is no short cuts to success. I usually have my MP3 player in my ear so it helps. Again set small goals and make it fun for yourself. See how many forehands, slices, or backhands you can hit in a row. Alternate shots, the combinations are eandless. Mine was around 50 or so backhands/ 30 forehands (they are tougher than my 2hbh for me), and 80 slices. Speaking of the wall, I need to get back to it to work on my volleys.
 
Duff said:
What I currently do is look at videos of pros, especially Sampras, and get advices from all possible sources on the net, and try to put them to motion.
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I know he's the GOAT, but I wouldn't necessarily recommend copying Sampras' strokes to a beginner. He hits his forehand with a grip that's between a continental and eastern, and he somehow managed to hit his topspin backhand with a continental grip and a bent elbow.

His volleys are well worth imitating, and maybe his serve even though the wong stance isn't very common. His slice backhand also.

There are a lot of things a pro does that's worth imitating -- constant motion of their feet, the way they use their left arms to stabilize and as a counterweight, early preparation, etc. -- but, again, maybe pick a player with more conventional strokes/grips. Less idiosyncratic strokes.
 
MoneyBall said:
Duff, another thing you should do by yourself to take your game to the next level is hit against the wall for hours when you have no one to play with. It gets really boring after 40 mintutes but there is no short cuts to success. I usually have my MP3 player in my ear so it helps. Again set small goals and make it fun for yourself. See how many forehands, slices, or backhands you can hit in a row. Alternate shots, the combinations are eandless. Mine was around 50 or so backhands/ 30 forehands (they are tougher than my 2hbh for me), and 80 slices. Speaking of the wall, I need to get back to it to work on my volleys.
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I think MoneyBall has given good advice in this post, I may be biased and I know people all have different ways of learning (some are more visual, some need more instruction and technical advice, etc.) but I am totally self-taught. I never took any lessons or had exposure to coaching until my strokes were already developed (I tell this to people I give lessons to all of the time to let them know there are different ways to learn) and I did not start at a very young age (I was about 14). The only technical advice I ever got was what an eastern forehand grip looked like from my Dad. His advice was similar to MoneyBall's and I think it worked for me. Watch the best players, not just one but many, and copy. I watched the pros and what I thought were the best players at my local club and tried to do what they did (and the wall was always there for me!). I don't think you will develop strokes that are exactly like a particular player but strokes that are unique to you. You will develop the important elements, consistency and fluidity that are necessary with practice. I can't really say how long it will take for you individually and what you need to work on most, but you can make a lot of progress quickly with daily practice, I think 3.5 to 4.0 is not unrealistic if you are dedicated.

The funny thing is, over the years a lot of people that I have taught have said that my strokes are really very good and are the best part of my game. Then they ask me who I took lessons from or how I learned. Go figure.
 
35ft6 said:
I know he's the GOAT, but I wouldn't necessarily recommend copying Sampras' strokes to a beginner. He hits his forehand with a grip that's between a continental and eastern, and he somehow managed to hit his topspin backhand with a continental grip and a bent elbow.

His volleys are well worth imitating, and maybe his serve even though the wong stance isn't very common. His slice backhand also.

There are a lot of things a pro does that's worth imitating -- constant motion of their feet, the way they use their left arms to stabilize and as a counterweight, early preparation, etc. -- but, again, maybe pick a player with more conventional strokes/grips. Less idiosyncratic strokes.
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I misstated on that part. I watch his serve to make my serve better. And it has gone a lot better, just yesterday and today ( although I've slumped a little bit). I think, although getting the advices is very helpful, like hip stretch, bent knee, exploding to the ball, fast racquet speed, etc. A slow demonstration is what helps a person most(when he knows what to look for). I've just picked Sampras because my very first racquet by wilson was titled "Sampras Grandslam." And he is the baddest goat in the history of tennis :D
I'd really like to put a video and get the people here's advices and comments. With a high school coach who never let us do drills but only makes us play games against each other, I need all the help I can get.
I'm currently working on switching to a semi-western forehand and on my footwork. (and making my serve ever so fast!)
 
Moneyball you’re my twin. I too have only been playing for a little over a year and if I were in HS I would be going to states like the kid I just beat today. I think I'm about a 4.0 too due to the fact I'm an obsessive-compulsive tennis player like you. I have 2 nSix-One's and a tour, and my holy grail the PS 6.0 85. I've gone threw so much string and I'm always tinkering with tension and hybrids. I just so happen to live on a corner house with an alley and there is a parking lot with a 20ft building. So whenever I'm bored or itching to hit balls I go out there and blast away for about an hour. I do this just about everyday, sometimes a couple times a day. Even when it's wet out I grab my backup six-one and hit. I swear it’s my therapy. That is probably why I hit with more power, spin and consistency than anyone I have played so far. My real test will be this September when I try to make my college club team that claims that have all their players between 4.0 - 5.0+. The only thing I don't get from the wall is serve return, but my improving strokes are starting to make up for my lack of experience. So to reinforce your advice/example...You basically have to be an obsessive tennis player that lives to hit balls and a is compulsive perfectionist in terms of technique. Ohh yeah it doesn't hurt to be an ex track runner and a just as obsessed Table Tennis player (my first love).

-Geese
 
well.. I've taken lessons before, but I was ranked 10 in our varsity team when I joined. I practiced 3 hours a day, 6 days a week just during the spring season, and ranked 1
 
Count me in. I'm a noob, but already an addict. In fact a crew is laying a 30x50 concrete slab in my backyard next week and the 20' Bakko single curved backboard is on order. The great thing about a good wall is that in about 30 minutes you can hit as many balls as you will in a full match. Whether I need to hit 50,000, 500,000, or 5,000,000 balls to get there, I figure a wall in my backyard is the fastest and most efficient way (short of a full court and ball machine)
 
limitup said:
Count me in. I'm a noob, but already an addict. In fact a crew is laying a 30x50 concrete slab in my backyard next week and the 20' Bakko single curved backboard is on order. The great thing about a good wall is that in about 30 minutes you can hit as many balls as you will in a full match. Whether I need to hit 50,000, 500,000, or 5,000,000 balls to get there, I figure a wall in my backyard is the fastest and most efficient way (short of a full court and ball machine)
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Oh, so you got the curved board? Can you tell us how you came to this decision? Also, where do you live so I can come over and use your board. ;)

But like 35ft said, it is also the fastest way to solidify poor technique and lousey play. :)
 
Ya I narrowed it down between the sportwall and bakko boards. The sportwalls are literally almost twice as much, and after talking to some people I decided there is no way the sportwall is worth twice as much as a bakko board. The courts I play at have bakko boards and they are great. And those are only the cheap/entry level ones. I found a curved bakko board in the area and went and tested it out, and the bounce is much better than a flat wall, so I went with that one. Not cheap but one day I will have a real court and I will want to have a nice backboard so I figured I'd just get a good one now.
 
There was an interesting study I read about several years back. Basically, it was about Incompetent People Are Too Incompetent to Recognize Their Own Incompetence. One of the most common ways this manifested was that incompetent people consistently underestimated the amount of time and practice it required to master a skill they themselves have never attempted.

(I don't mean incompetent as in "stupid." It can simply mean "inexperienced.")

Just bringing this up because I think the key to becoming good in the shortest amount of time is making sure you minimize "getting off track," that your progress stays as true to a straight line as possible. A straight line being the shortest distance between two points, and the two points in this thread being "beginner" and "advanced."

Having a qualified instructor tweak your strokes regularly, so that you don't develop some crazy grip or swing that can set you back YEARS, is key.
 
geesechops said:
Moneyball you’re my twin. I too have only been playing for a little over a year and if I were in HS I would be going to states like the kid I just beat today. I think I'm about a 4.0 too due to the fact I'm an obsessive-compulsive tennis player like you. ...You basically have to be an obsessive tennis player that lives to hit balls and a is compulsive perfectionist in terms of technique. Ohh yeah it doesn't hurt to be an ex track runner and a just as obsessed Table Tennis player (my first love).

-Geese
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I have not met anyone who can top me in table tennis,(I have been playing since 7) a matter of fact I have a stiga paddle in it's cover(of course) in my tennis which is in my car almost at all times along with my bball/athletic gear. You don't know when some friendly banter becomes a reality..For me it doesn't hurt to have played college vball for 3 seasons.

My brother in law, his friend and I have are going to have a "friendly" competition that includes tennis, golf and basketball in about 2 months (1st place gets 60 pts, 2nd 40, & 3rd 20)...And already the trash talking has already started..It's months away and our gf/wife are getting a little tired of hearing about it, you know this event is going to be big..I can't imagine when this thing is all said and done...It's all about respect, pride, and most importantly trash talking material that will last for years, possibly a decade..I am going to lose in golf, because I have never played before and these guys have been playing all their lives. I will give them that, but all I need is to finish first in tennis and basketball to win. It doesn't hurt that I am in better shape than both of them and I've played HS bball either. My broher aim is to finish 1st in tennis and golf..He has been golfing 3 days a week, 5 am in weekdays.. And he has been taking long road trips(an hour plus) to get private tennis lessons from a buddy/coach who lives 90 miles away on saturdays. He has perfect stroke in tennis since he's been playing since seven, but he's a headcase and I have owned him for the last 3 months. As for me I have been taking group(3) tennis lessons for the last 4 weeks.

I know this doesn't relate to the wall but I wanted to share this with Geese and other tennis nut/sports fanatic that lives for moments like this. Damn! I sound like a guy talking about his glory days in HS football..(ala Al Bundy)

Back to the wall: The wall has gotten me very far, but I needed lessons to take it above 4.0. So far, it has paid off, recently perfected slice approaches and improved on my volleys. Now, that I have good technique I going back to the wall and droping these group lessons soon. I am going enter a 4.5 tournament in a few months and see if these lessons have really pay off..
 
MoneyBall said:
I have not met anyone who can top me in table tennis,(I have been playing since 7) a matter of fact I have a stiga paddle in it's cover(of course) in my tennis which is in my car almost at all times along with my bball/athletic gear. You don't know when some friendly banter becomes a reality..For me it doesn't hurt to have played college vball for 3 seasons.
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I play 2400 in the ITTF ratings (once 2700, but because of a computer's error). Feel free to visit me in ARG to play some balls. I can't say I'll beat you, but I can give you a good run for your money, at least :)
 
It's difficult to find good competition in anything at this age..I am at the stage of starting a career and a family...It's refreshing to hear your respond so promptly. I guess you still have that FIRE, unlike many slackers I know.. Tennis is like one of the few sports that you only need another person to get a good game.
 
MoneyBall said:
I have not met anyone who can top me in table tennis,(I have been playing since 7) a matter of fact I have a stiga paddle in it's cover(of course) in my tennis which is in my car almost at all times along with my bball/athletic gear. You don't know when some friendly banter becomes a reality..For me it doesn't hurt to have played college vball for 3 seasons.
.
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You live in SoCal and never met anyone that can top you in table tennis? What level do you play at? Have you entered any tournaments? Or do you mean that you can beat all your friends and co-workers at it?
 
I haven't doesn't mean I am really good..I guess I could have been but now I only play for fun and I rarely find good opponents. This isn't china...Maybe I should find a club or something to get a competitive pong game going. My table tennis game is a lot stronger than my tennis game, I wish it's the other way around, but that's not saying much since my tennis game is around 4.5. Maybe I should have focused on pong as a kid but it wasn't cool. Again this is not china.. No table tennis team in H.S. either, tennis was barely a sport in my HS. It was for guys who couldn't make it in any other sport. In HS I was busy playing basketball and volleyball.
 
Sure this isn't china but SoCal has tons of competitive table tennis players. There are tournaments, leagues and a rating system just like there is in tennis.
 
Duffman here, not to be confused with Duff. Anyway, it is possible to move up quickly ratings wise. I went from never having played tennis before last year and playing at the 3.0 level to beating 4.5 players on a regular basis this year. I won at the 3.0 level based soley on athletic ability, the key to really improving came when I started hitting with a 4.5 player on a regular basis. This is when I learned many of the fundamentals and strategies needed to succeed at the higher levels.

So get yourself a good hitting partner or coach and you'll improve quickly. Also, don't get too caught up with your rating, remember to have fun as well!
 
Hey moneyball, I used to reside in SoCal. What you need to do is hit up the San Diego TT club. Those guys don't mess around and I'm sure you'll get quite the challenge, and I know you’re up for that. I think they might have the Cali state champ there, but I'm not sure. I do know it's the biggest club in SoCal.

And your so right about finding someone that wont get off their arse. I'm 25 and I have to play my brothers high school tennis team to get some competition that doesn't carry a beer gut. Don't feel too bad about So Cal, I live in the most obese part of the country "Southeast Michigan."

Anyhow I'm packing heat in the form of a Joo Se Hyuk blade with tackfire drive 2.0 (speed glue)FH, TSP spectol 1.5 BH. That’s right MAD chopper baby!! I'm lucky to have a club by my house that has top ten players in the state, I love getting my but kicked almost as much as I like dishing it out. Gotta get better right.

The only thing that might be a problem is that on my 1HBH in tennis a put my thumb on the flat part of the handle similar to my TT backhand. It seems to work great for me now, but I'm having doubts about how it will hold up in the future. I'm quite the stickler on my technique. Any thoughts...

-geese
 
The only thing that might be a problem is that on my 1HBH in tennis a put my thumb on the flat part of the handle similar to my TT backhand. It seems to work great for me now, but I'm having doubts about how it will hold up in the future. I'm quite the stickler on my technique. Any thoughts...

-geese[/QUOTE]

I used to go to college in la jolla, san diego. anyways, I did attend one TT meeting they had on campus after vball practice and boy let me tell these guys meant business..Most of them were Europeans too!? They had gear I had never seen before nor dreamt of owning..I didn't play against anyone but rallied with a couple of members. I needed at least a couple of weeks of serious ball training in order to complete with these guys. They were very consistent.

My tennis technique at first was to wristy, very much like tt tennis. Not good, but it's taken over a year to adjust and improve. I have always been solid in return of serve and I credit that to playing table tennis..(that's odd that geese, you are not an excellent service returner) The harder the serve the more the easier it is. Just stab at the ball, just like returning a smash in table tennis. By the way make a video of yourself hitting..I am sure people will suggest or comment on it.
 
goober said:
Sure this isn't china but SoCal has tons of competitive table tennis players. There are tournaments, leagues and a rating system just like there is in tennis.
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Holy toledo! Are you serious? That's my calling! I have been in a tennis slump this week...

Last week I beat a former college player. This week I can't even beat a 50 yr old, and tonight I got killed, straight 3 sets by I guy who is slower, and older. My game this week, particularly tonight has been terribly inconsistent. These tennis lessons that I have been taking are giving new weapons but I am not consistent with them. So in games I have been trying them out, unfortunately, most (60%) were too long or wide. However, if I don't play aggressive, SV mode, I will never take my game to the next level. The retrieving more or less a pusher style that I first started playing with would have ran this guy off the court and fustrate him. I need to be more patient with my strokes.
 
MoneyBall said:
I have always been solid in return of serve and I credit that to playing table tennis..(that's odd that geese, you are not an excellent service returner) The harder the serve the more the easier it is. Just stab at the ball, just like returning a smash in table tennis. By the way make a video of yourself hitting..I am sure people will suggest or comment on it.
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I never said I wasn't a good serve returner, that's one of my strongest points. I'm more comfortable returning serve than serving. And your right it's all about that TT reaction time. I'll see about that video though, sounds like fun.

-geese
 
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