How often u need to play/week to maintain a certain NTRP level?

[kimizz]

Assuming your not an ex-pro player how many times/week you need to play to maintain a certain ntrp level. Keep in mind this is about maintaining the level not the road to get there.

I know it can depend a lot from the situation and who your playing with. But I still would like to get some opinions.

My assumptions.
3.0-3.5: once/week
4.0: twice/week
4.5: 2-3 /week
5.0 and up I have no idea...

 

[GuyClinch]

I don't think you can say for sure. I imagine someone who played in college can play at 3.0-3.5 level without any practice as long as they are still in okay shape.

Pete

 

[J011yroger]

I play 1-3X a week over the winter, and can feel my game atrophy. Without the ability to practice I cannot correct things that go bad. In the warm weather I play every day, 20 hours or so a week, but that is with the intent of getting better.

J

 

[kimizz]

Well I guess the 3.0-3.5 might be a level that you might reach very fast even after a long break of tennis.

Right now im in a point where I have to play twice/week or my development stops. If I play once/week the whole hitting session is a waste cause my strokes start to work maybe in the end of the session and then I have no change to improve. 2week pause is a disaster. Im allready feeling that I need to start playing 3-4 times to get to the next level on my game.

I dont have a spesific goal in mind but Ive been thinking I will start competing in amateur level. The problem is that in here(finland) even the lowest levels are pretty tough. Tennis is not popular, there is no 3.0 or 3.5 competitions. If I want to be succesful how often I need to play/week for example in 4.5 level competitions?

 

[Koaske]

The problem is that in here(finland) even the lowest levels are pretty tough. Tennis is not popular, there is no 3.0 or 3.5 competitions.

I think the lowest level tournaments in Finland are 3.0-3.5 tournaments. The players who play these tournaments have ITN of 7 or 6, which would be around 3.0-3.5 in the NTRP system.

 

[J011yroger]

^^ Yea, if you just read the NTRP chart it is very very easy to over rate yourself. The best way is to use the conversion chart if you are from another contry.

J

 

[kimizz]

I never rated myself with the itn, never even heard of it!! Thank you for informing.(Funny to notice my coach is the one giving assesments in my region but he never mentioned me the itn)

The finnish chart says the lowest levels are 4.5 tournaments, level D or ITN 5. But I think the guys in the early rounds might be a bit weaker than the 4.5 level.

But this is not why I started the topic. Doesnt matter if its ITN or NTRP rating. If u are rated in some level(higher than 4.0) pls tell me about your training. How many times you visit the courts in order to maintain the "touch".

 

[J011yroger]

Every day, 20 hours/week. But I am an open player, most 4.5s play 2-3X/week. If they were 5.0/5.5 in the past, and currently are 4.5 due to inactivity, they can pretty much play 4.5 at will. Just like Matts Wilander could pick up a racquet after a year off and play 5.5.

J

 

[SlapShot]

I'm a 4.0 after a 4 year layoff from tennis (quit playing at all my sophomore year of college, started playing again this last fall) and I've been spending 2-3 days/week on the court working on getting my strokes grooved again, including a group lesson 2-3 times per month. When I was in high school, however, I played 6 days/week very seriously.

 

[kimizz]

I'm a 4.0 after a 4 year layoff from tennis (quit playing at all my sophomore year of college, started playing again this last fall) and I've been spending 2-3 days/week on the court working on getting my strokes grooved again, including a group lesson 2-3 times per month. When I was in high school, however, I played 6 days/week very seriously.

thx for the reply. Lets say you could only play once/week for a month. Would it affect your game much?

Sometimes im on fire when playing,I feel unbeatable, but my inconsistency and the ever-challenging forehand is reallly dropping me down. I dont know if I just need to start playing more. The inconsistency I have definetly drops me to 3.5...

 

[SlapShot]

During the winter, I do play only once a week, and it takes me a few weeks of more regular playing to get back to the level I like to play at.

Getting on streaks will happen from time to time, and my goal is to minimize the valleys rather than eliminate the peaks, if that makes sense.

 

[kevhen]

Those numbers look pretty similar to my own progression up the NTRP ladder. You do have to play more as you move up to stay competitive at that higher level although muscle memory is pretty strong so you don't fall off too far if you take a little time off. But I do try to play 2-3 times per week year round to stay at a high 4.0/ weaker 4.5 level.

 

[shindemac]

Assuming your not an ex-pro player how many times/week you need to play to maintain a certain ntrp level. Keep in mind this is about maintaining the level not the road to get there.

I know it can depend a lot from the situation and who your playing with. But I still would like to get some opinions.

My assumptions.
3.0-3.5: once/week
4.0: twice/week
4.5: 2-3 /week
5.0 and up I have no idea...

These are a little low. I would add 1 or 2 for each level.

 

[BounceHitBounceHit]

Those numbers look pretty similar to my own progression up the NTRP ladder. You do have to play more as you move up to stay competitive at that higher level although muscle memory is pretty strong so you don't fall off too far if you take a little time off. But I do try to play 2-3 times per week year round to stay at a high 4.0/ weaker 4.5 level.

I agree. As you get better, you tend to become more able to tolerate 'time off' without major regression. Most of the 4.5-5.5 folk I know work out and/or play at least 4 days a week. Some go 5-7 days a week, especially in the summer.

CC

 

[travlerajm]

I agree. As you get better, you tend to become more able to tolerate 'time off' without major regression. Most of the 4.5-5.5 folk I know work out and/or play at least 4 days a week. Some go 5-7 days a week, especially in the summer.

CC

I think the cumulative hours on the court matter.

 

[SlapShot]

I think the cumulative hours on the court matter.

Yep.

I pretty much grew up on tennis, and after a long layoff, I'm starting to get back to it now, and it's coming back pretty quickly once the rust has been knocked off.

I think in order to IMPROVE, you need to spend a lot more time on the court, but once the muscle memory has been developed, it comes back quicker, and maintaining a level is easier.

 

[BounceHitBounceHit]

I think the cumulative hours on the court matter.

Agree 100%! CC

 

[J011yroger]

^^^ A lot of former 5.0-5.5 players that have not played with anyone who can thump in a long while struggle mightily to return my ball the first time we play/hit, because they are so not used to the pace and spin, but after about 3 sessions with me they usually get the hang of it and make all necessary adjustments, and even if they are not thrilled with how they are hitting or playing, can at least reliably return my ball.

But the bottom line is that the ability is there from 20+ years of playing tennis at a high level, and that doesn't just go away.

Reading over what I wrote, I am not sure if it is at all relevant to the topic at hand, but I have been known to prattle on off topic before

J

 

[kimizz]

So I read muscle memory stays with you. This older guy sayd its like riding a bike and I thought its BS. But Im starting to believe it...

 

[shindemac]

Yes, when you're young you think all the old people are full of crap and trying to keep u down. Then u learn they weren't BSing u and u cry that you didn't listen to them sooner.

 

[35ft6]

All I know is that when I was a junior playing almost every day in the summer, I thought my strokes got worse if I even skipped a day. Now I think twice a week is the minimum if you hope to maintain your form. You can only hope to improve playing twice a week if you're a total newbie.

 

[BounceHitBounceHit]

^^^ A lot of former 5.0-5.5 players that have not played with anyone who can thump in a long while struggle mightily to return my ball the first time we play/hit, because they are so not used to the pace and spin, but after about 3 sessions with me they usually get the hang of it and make all necessary adjustments, and even if they are not thrilled with how they are hitting or playing, can at least reliably return my ball.

But the bottom line is that the ability is there from 20+ years of playing tennis at a high level, and that doesn't just go away.

Reading over what I wrote, I am not sure if it is at all relevant to the topic at hand, but I have been known to prattle on off topic before

J

I think this is actually very accurate.

And non-prattling............

If I haven't hit with anyone who REALLY brings heat in a while, it will take me a set or two to adjust, but then I am fine.

CC