How to get from 4.0 to 4.5?
- Thread starter Bergboy123
- Start date
I think advice about playing higher level of competition is basically good. But, do not agree that you should play only against higher ranked players. A lot has been written about knowing how to win. You need to play players of even level to know how to play and win in a close tense match. You also need to play players at a little lower level than your level to know how to handle the pressure of expectations - you are expected to win. Many players choke if a player perceived as "lower level" starts playing them close.
If you are practicing with a player at a lower level, play their strengths such as hit everything to their forehand to get a good workout. Or, work on your weaknesses such as playing serve and volley.
So, yes, play up a fair amount of the time, but play at your level and below your level too.
Ballinbob
Hall of Fame
This and this exactly. This is what got me to 4.5.
And I didn't read the whole thread, but if the OP is having trouble serving and is double faulting, he needs to get that fixed ASAP. I rarely ever see a 4.5 with a weak serve, and if they do, they can move the serve around and back it up with good groundstrokes. You NEED a reliable serve to succeed at this level. It's not really an option
Bergboy123
Semi-Pro
I think you discovered a few things about practicing. The type of practice you do affects the results you get. Also, it takes a while of consistent practice to see results.
Even though you didn't get the results you were hoping for, you should still be happy one aspect of your game improved so much. I would not completely stop what you were doing since you don't want your gains to disappear and go back to your baseline level. Instead, just go into maintenance mode meaning do it less often like maybe once a week, and don't try to keep pushing yourself in that area.
So the question is, "what should I be practicing/drilling to improve?" Actually, you first need to ask yourself, "what part of my game should I improve to get to the next level?" I will say that I don't recommend weight lifting to improve the pace on your groundstrokes or serve. That is just so naive, and hopefully with the internet, that advice will go the way of the dodo so people don't waste their time.
Since your goal is to get to the next level (another question people need to first ask themselves: what are their goals) and based on what you said, I would recommend improving your serve first. Even that is a giant task that you will need to break into subtasks. For example, you need to develop a better second serve and work on spin. Then you need to develop your first serve as a weapon by adding pace. Then you need to be able to place your first serve. After doing all that, then you can focus on the other parts of your game like your return of serve. Or you can decide to improve your serve more!
You'll have to set some serve goals like I want to serve 90mph or practice my serve for 3 months. Your serve regimen could be practicing 3x a week for 20-30 minutes each time. Practice ad+duece side hitting cones placed on the T, middle, and corner. Maybe practice topspin serves until you can get 90% of them in.
You don't have to follow my advice; This is a rough plan anyways. But hopefully this will give you an idea of what you have to do to improve. With a good plan, I believe most people will improve faster than just mindlessly hitting and practicing a lot. Who knows? Maybe you'll decide to use your newfound footspeed and be a counterpuncher or play defense like Nadal!
Even though you didn't get the results you were hoping for, you should still be happy one aspect of your game improved so much. I would not completely stop what you were doing since you don't want your gains to disappear and go back to your baseline level. Instead, just go into maintenance mode meaning do it less often like maybe once a week, and don't try to keep pushing yourself in that area.
So the question is, "what should I be practicing/drilling to improve?" Actually, you first need to ask yourself, "what part of my game should I improve to get to the next level?" I will say that I don't recommend weight lifting to improve the pace on your groundstrokes or serve. That is just so naive, and hopefully with the internet, that advice will go the way of the dodo so people don't waste their time.
Since your goal is to get to the next level (another question people need to first ask themselves: what are their goals) and based on what you said, I would recommend improving your serve first. Even that is a giant task that you will need to break into subtasks. For example, you need to develop a better second serve and work on spin. Then you need to develop your first serve as a weapon by adding pace. Then you need to be able to place your first serve. After doing all that, then you can focus on the other parts of your game like your return of serve. Or you can decide to improve your serve more!
You'll have to set some serve goals like I want to serve 90mph or practice my serve for 3 months. Your serve regimen could be practicing 3x a week for 20-30 minutes each time. Practice ad+duece side hitting cones placed on the T, middle, and corner. Maybe practice topspin serves until you can get 90% of them in.
You don't have to follow my advice; This is a rough plan anyways. But hopefully this will give you an idea of what you have to do to improve. With a good plan, I believe most people will improve faster than just mindlessly hitting and practicing a lot. Who knows? Maybe you'll decide to use your newfound footspeed and be a counterpuncher or play defense like Nadal!
Bergboy123
Semi-Pro
Firstly, I do NOT want to just play counterpuncher/defense! That's just not fun to me, I prefer to be in the points and to some extent to control them. I hate just running back and forth waiting for an error. :\
Secondly, I think you're very right about specific goals. I think I'm going to go make a list just to break things down. And again, you're right about the serve. I lost my last tournament pretty much only because of my serve
The only discouraging thing is that a few months back I spent almost a few hours a week serving, but I was never able to translate the consistency/improvement into match play!
ccmtennis
Semi-Pro
Personally I based on what you have described on your game I would work hard on improving both your serves AND returns. It took me a while to realize the old saying that you are only as good as your second serve is pretty true but it is the same for returns. At any point in the match you are either serving or returning so a strong game here allows you to dictate the points on your terms. I even had a training partner help feed me a couple of balls close to the baseline after my serve which is even better and helps me force a short back swing and also return a deep return well.
Lastly I was very reluctant to play on clay as well as doubles. The both are very useful but I think clay is really good for most. It will make you learn to play out and construct a point well especially with a player close to your level. Balance, footwork and the value to varying pace and spin is something no coach or ball machine can teach you better than match play on clay
Lastly I was very reluctant to play on clay as well as doubles. The both are very useful but I think clay is really good for most. It will make you learn to play out and construct a point well especially with a player close to your level. Balance, footwork and the value to varying pace and spin is something no coach or ball machine can teach you better than match play on clay
A good way to evaluate your game is to see how many games you are holding for your serve. Same for return, how many games you are breaking. I think trying to improve your serve first is easier because you don't need a partner, and you can spend as much time as you want on it. It's also the one stroke in which you have complete control over, so there's no excuse why it should be subpar.
It's not surprising that your gains didn't transfer over to match play, but you shouldn't be discouraged. If you read other threads on how to practice and how to learn, you'll see why that is. I don't want to regurgitate everything, so I'll just summarize it and say you to practice good technique all the time, push yourself a little bit more every time, and practice a lot.
To make the point clear how much work is required, I've seen videos of coaches spending months with their students working on the serve. They would practice nearly every day for an hour or so, and they would repeat basic drills over and over for days until bad habits were broken. After the point of boredom, the coach would drill it in some more. Usually by the end of summer, what was probably the weakest part of the kid's game was becoming one of the strongest. By a couple years time, the serve would become a major weapon.
I know how you feel since I've been going through the same thing with my serve. But you need to work on your gains and keep practicing. Once you feel you can do it consistently in practice, you need to over practice until it feels like you can do it in your sleep. Only then, you can expect your serve to perform during a real match.
It's not surprising that your gains didn't transfer over to match play, but you shouldn't be discouraged. If you read other threads on how to practice and how to learn, you'll see why that is. I don't want to regurgitate everything, so I'll just summarize it and say you to practice good technique all the time, push yourself a little bit more every time, and practice a lot.
To make the point clear how much work is required, I've seen videos of coaches spending months with their students working on the serve. They would practice nearly every day for an hour or so, and they would repeat basic drills over and over for days until bad habits were broken. After the point of boredom, the coach would drill it in some more. Usually by the end of summer, what was probably the weakest part of the kid's game was becoming one of the strongest. By a couple years time, the serve would become a major weapon.
I know how you feel since I've been going through the same thing with my serve. But you need to work on your gains and keep practicing. Once you feel you can do it consistently in practice, you need to over practice until it feels like you can do it in your sleep. Only then, you can expect your serve to perform during a real match.
roman40
Rookie
Coach and lots of practice
It's simple, you have to start serving bagels and pretzels to 4.0 players in your area, and occasionally beating some 4.5 players. Note that some 4.0 players are pretty much 4.5, so there will be exceptions. It's important to have tennis partners that you play on regular basis, this way you will have a good "baseline" against which you can measure your progress. Record your matches against these players on video, and determine why you are losing, and why you are winning points. Once you know your strengths and weaknesses, you can work on improving your strengths (reinforcing them), and getting rid of your weaknesses (usually requires some change to technique/footwork/etc.). You need a coach, a good one, someone who is also teaching 4.5+ players, to guide you, it's unlikely you'll be able to improve to 4.5 level all by yourself, if you aren't there already.
Playing against the same opponents will make your progress or lack thereof very evident. If you're not making progress, and doing everything your coach is telling you, change your coach (give it a month or so). You should playing at least 2 matches a week, and doing drills at least 3 times a week (can be done on the same day). Match play doesn't substitute for drills, but you can do drills on the same day as a match.
It's simple, you have to start serving bagels and pretzels to 4.0 players in your area, and occasionally beating some 4.5 players. Note that some 4.0 players are pretty much 4.5, so there will be exceptions. It's important to have tennis partners that you play on regular basis, this way you will have a good "baseline" against which you can measure your progress. Record your matches against these players on video, and determine why you are losing, and why you are winning points. Once you know your strengths and weaknesses, you can work on improving your strengths (reinforcing them), and getting rid of your weaknesses (usually requires some change to technique/footwork/etc.). You need a coach, a good one, someone who is also teaching 4.5+ players, to guide you, it's unlikely you'll be able to improve to 4.5 level all by yourself, if you aren't there already.
Playing against the same opponents will make your progress or lack thereof very evident. If you're not making progress, and doing everything your coach is telling you, change your coach (give it a month or so). You should playing at least 2 matches a week, and doing drills at least 3 times a week (can be done on the same day). Match play doesn't substitute for drills, but you can do drills on the same day as a match.
Old thread.
FWIW, after reading the very detailed description, I'd say work on serves and returns, in that order.
On the first serve, you need more than 80 mph. I'm guessing that's an approximation, but at 5'11" and 165 lbs., and assuming no shoulder issues, you should be able to get some decent pace on the ball for a "flatish" serve with some spin to pull it in and make it jump. Along with this you also need decent placement. You don't have to paint lines or anything, but if you can at least do fh, bh, and body you can probably cause your opponent some pain.
It sounds like that solid kick serve should be your bread and butter second serve. At the level you're talking about if you can hit 70-ish mph and get it to the fh and bh as desired you're probably in good shape.
It's hard to say anything about the returns other than it's the second most likely shot to hit unless your opponent is kind enough to double fault most of the time. If he's a good server then getting a decent ball back to him is a big advantage. Make him hit a ground stroke. Even if you don't hurt him on the return, even a decent return has just neutralized the serve advantage for that point. Big servers hate that. They want those freebies off the serve. If the opponent has a weaker serve then the ball starts looking more and more like a short ground stroke.
My $0.02.
