How to Improve from a 3.5

[kenshireen]

i am 59 yo... fast and in good shape.. beat most other 3.5 players by always getting the ball back and letting the other person make a mistake(usually by overhitting). I have been playing for almost 40 years and cannot seem to make a significant improvement...My serve is good.. I am a LH and can control the direction and angle.. It is not overpowering but opponents can rarely tee off on it. FH is primary offensive weapon...BH is consistent but is more of a putback shot. I usually block the ball deep and position where the ball goes but not with much pace. I am comfortable with my BH but it is rarely a winner.
My return of serve is usually a block and in singles is often short (which often wins points). I can lob a serve back deep 90% of the time, but if my opponent has a good OH he can step in and smash. Volleys and OH are not strong. Although in singles I volley much better than in doubles because I am always moving...I am a better singles player than doubles and that is because i am quick and play better on the run.
I have beat "better" players by always getting the ball back. I rarely net a ball and when I lose a point it is usually because I have hit a floater or a short shot. If my opponent comes in behind his serve he can oftentimes pick off my shots..especially by BH.
Question.. how do I imrpove my game. I have taken private lessons. My coach pointed out the following:
1-I take my FH too late as the ball is sinking (i use an Eastern grip).
2-I take long steps to get to my BH and my balance is oftentimes leaning on my back foot.
3-I don't move my feet well on doubles volleys

Sorry for the long post

 

[Marius_Hancu]

it seems to me your takeback for FH is too late and don't move well on BHs because you're not properly using the split-steps and the associated footwork

you might want to check
"footwork and split-step"
by Noelle in the Sticky; it has good links

you should start turning your shoulders as soon as you see the direction of the incoming ball and not later than when it crosses the net

this also means improving your anticipation
check my posting
Watching the ball
in the Sticky

 

[Geezer Guy]

Ken - Sounds like you're a very defensive player. Most (not all) of the 4.0 players that I play against are very offensive-minded. They have at least one go-to weapon, and they beat you merciless with it. True, there are a few pusher-types at the 4.0 level, but not most (from what I've seen anyway - I'm a 3.5 player but occasionally play in 4.0 leagues). The 4.0 pushers are VERY good and VERY VERY consistent.

Here's what I suggest, take it or leave it:
1) Get some good solid instruction on how to shore up your weaknesses. If you can afford to go to a week-long camp, you can benefit A LOT from that week. Be sure to pick a camp that has LOTS of instruction. Don't pick a fancy resort with a few clinics and game matching - you need lots of instruction.
2) You need a weapon. From the instruction your received in #1 above, develop and hone a weapon that will WIN you points. PRACTICE that weapon with a ball machine, hitting against a wall, having a practice partner, whatever. Practice the CRAP out of that weapon!
3) Develop a match strategy that will maximize your weapon. Learn how to impose your game on your opponent. Learn how to be mentally tough. Learn how to play against each of the major styles of play. There are lots of good books about the many mental aspects of the game.
4) Lastly, don't be afraid to get beat. Play better players. It's nice to win, but you can often learn more from a loss.

Now, all that being said, I think you CAN be a better 3.5 player. However, at 59, you may or may not ever get bumped up to 4.0 or beyond. That doesn't mean that you can't beat most of the 3.5 players you face, and can even play a good match against many 4.0 players. You sound like you're still in very good shape. I think you still have lots of potential to improve.

 

[Geezer Guy]

I should probably throw in a disclaimer that I'm a 50 YO 3.5 player. I've been playing for 10 years. If I really knew how to improve past 3.5 I'd be doing it instead of just talking about it. Well, maybe that's a bit harsh - I AM a better player now than I was a few years ago (but I still haven't broken out of the 3.5 category). However, I'm working hard and I'm improving, and I still THINK I have a shot.

 

[bluegrasser]

In Brad Gilbert's book " Winning Ugly " he said club players should either be attacking (s/v) players or consistent baseliners, and he also stated that the baseliner shouldn't go for winners all the time, but wait on a real short ball, then go for the winner.

I think you should develop your bhnd to keep it deep consistently and with a little topspin. You should also go over your losses and ask yourself - why. Having said all that, I'm right there with you...

 

[FiveO]

...Question.. how do I imrpove my game. I have taken private lessons. My coach pointed out the following:
1-I take my FH too late as the ball is sinking (i use an Eastern grip).
2-I take long steps to get to my BH and my balance is oftentimes leaning on my back foot.
3-I don't move my feet well on doubles volleys...

What's been said above is good. Having a true weapon or two is great. But sometimes hitting shots harder gets the player out of his inate comfort zone. I'm not saying not to try to add it to your bag of tricks but do it within what you do best. Work on developing a weapon or two but what I see based on the above observations made by your instructor is symptomatic of reliance on speed and lack of focus on anticipation and quickness. You can be flat out fast and still lack quickness around a tennis court.

Quickness starts with your focus being on the ball as it leaves your opponent's string bed. At higher levels, before the ball leaves your opponent's strings. Many players struggling with being late become conscious of the incoming shot's direction and depth too late, as the ball is crossing the net or later. Seeing the ball that late is common and while not fatal it is extremely limiting. Late contact, contact at less than optimal height (too low) and/or contact heights which vary on almost every stroke are symptoms of this. Many players are never conscious of the depth of an incoming shot. Focussing on depth will get you there earlier without thinking of getting there. Focus on direction and depth and you'll find yourself getting there more efficiently. Effort making contact in your optimal hitting zone as often as possible. This will mean that on wide balls especially that you move forward on a diagonal in order to prevent yourself from moving too far and catching the ball too low.

Balance is another key to quickness. Long strides can be fast, but not necessarily efficient on a tennis court because they sacrifice balance and body control. Don't think about your stride length per se. Become more aware of your balance while moving and hitting. Don't dwell on it, but be more aware of it. Have that balance program, running in the background, during your next session. Efforting to stay in balance during every movement on court will shorten your strides, keeping your feet under you and have you hitting cleaner, more efficient shots, effortlessly.

You sound like you play a defensive game-style. You can play that style while playing aggressively in terms of your positioning in the court and footwork. Playing closer to, even on or inside the baseline more often will make your game more aggressive while not straying too far from your inate style. You will rob the opponent of time by shortening distances and not necessarily hitting harder than you may be comfortable doing. Again, it will require the quickness I mentioned above. The same groundie hit sooner will have you putting the opponent in emergencies more often even without hitting harder. At what I believe to be Agassi's zenith, under Gilbert, he became the grinder, by hitting safely, sooner, dictating the point w/o hitting many winners and just wearing opponents out. Playing closer to the baseline opens a world of angles that aren't available from deeper positions behind the baseline too. In short:

1) stand in, do everything sooner but relaxed
2) be more aware of direction and depth off your opponent's racquet
3) stay in balance every milli-second on court

I think these things will help every aspect of your game, even volleying in doubles.

Good luck.

 

[Marius_Hancu]

>>2-I take long steps to get to my BH and my balance is oftentimes leaning on my back foot.

for wide shots:
you must focus on having a strong split-step, the unit turn (rotating the shoulders and the hips), a first relatively large lateral step to your BH or FH, followed by a sequence of small steps, which allow you to move in a stable stance, also to reach the exact destination, followed again by a large step, transferring weight into the ball (the platform plant); and you should be ready for recovery to the center

that first large step to the side must be quick and triggered by the split-step; it's the most important thing you can do in order to get quickly to the ball in a stable position

Guga's crosscourt BH:
http://www.uspta.com/html/e-lesson-xcourt backhand.swf

Borg's and Fed's FH:
http://www.ultimatebalance.com/art2_tennisone.html

 

[Kaptain Karl]

Ken -
1 - Read, print and save FiveO's post. Read it often, especially before and after practicing.

2 - Paul Wardlaw has an excellent video to help you understand his "directionals". It's called High Percentage Tennis and it's available right here on TW for less than $30 bucks.

- KK

 

[ohplease]

i am 59 yo... fast and in good shape.. beat most other 3.5 players by always getting the ball back and letting the other person make a mistake(usually by overhitting). I have been playing for almost 40 years and cannot seem to make a significant improvement...My serve is good.. I am a LH and can control the direction and angle.. It is not overpowering but opponents can rarely tee off on it. FH is primary offensive weapon...BH is consistent but is more of a putback shot. I usually block the ball deep and position where the ball goes but not with much pace. I am comfortable with my BH but it is rarely a winner.
My return of serve is usually a block and in singles is often short (which often wins points). I can lob a serve back deep 90% of the time, but if my opponent has a good OH he can step in and smash. Volleys and OH are not strong. Although in singles I volley much better than in doubles because I am always moving...I am a better singles player than doubles and that is because i am quick and play better on the run.
I have beat "better" players by always getting the ball back. I rarely net a ball and when I lose a point it is usually because I have hit a floater or a short shot. If my opponent comes in behind his serve he can oftentimes pick off my shots..especially by BH.
Question.. how do I imrpove my game. I have taken private lessons. My coach pointed out the following:
1-I take my FH too late as the ball is sinking (i use an Eastern grip).
2-I take long steps to get to my BH and my balance is oftentimes leaning on my back foot.
3-I don't move my feet well on doubles volleys

Sorry for the long post

Sounds like you've pretty much figured out how to beat most club players - get the ball back.

Now, if you want to win in a different way, or beat players where your current style of play doesn't work, you're in for some work. Simply getting one more lofty, bloopy ball back won't be enough any more.

The first part of the transformation is you need to embrace good errors, making the mental adjustment so that missing with purpose is better than mindlessly getting it back. This will be especially hard for you as you're coming from a successful (if limited) style of play. You'll give away a lot more points, and you'll lose more games and sets than you used to - but that's ok. One step back, two steps forward in this case.

The second part is learning to use your speed and court sense in a different way. Right now, you use it to emphasize your defense, in an effort to make the other guy donate the point to you. What you should do is use your speed to get yourself into a position, balanced and ready, to execute your offense. Take points, don't wait for them. If that means you give some away, that's ok as you're making both physical and more importantly mental adjustments.

Bear in mind that after making these changes you might be a better player, but your results might not reflect that. If you're not comfortable with that reality, you might be better off sticking with what you know.

 

[kenshireen]

great replies.... especially five0...I do win on defence and i must admit that it does not make me feel real good to hit a short return of serve (by accident) and have a 4.0 take a mighty swing and have the ball go deep by an inch or two. Yes, I win the point but i really shouldn't have since my return sucked.
I didn't hit it short on purpose to bring the player in, I just didn't take a full swing.
My return of serve is particularly weak, especially on easy bloopy second serves. On fast serves, I actually take a step back with by back foot and oftentimes muscle the ball back with arms and shoulders and wrists. I do not mind losing..at this point in my life..I want to improve...I need to move forward instead of backing up. I wrist alot of deep balls. On slow balls to my fh I bend low and whip the shot effectively... But if the ball is hit to my fast and catch it on my back leg.. This is just poor anticipation on my part. I need to improve my mental acuity and focus on the ball leaving my opponents racket.
I intend to change my style and hit out more often.. If I net the ball or go deep that will be OK. The worst part of my game is Ret of serve. I instinctively take a step back. As I turn, my back foot goes back. Not Good..but a habit I have matured over many years.

Thanks again

 

[FiveO]

...My return of serve is particularly weak, especially on easy bloopy second serves. On fast serves, I actually take a step back with by back foot and oftentimes muscle the ball back with arms and shoulders and wrists....The worst part of my game is Ret of serve. I instinctively take a step back. As I turn, my back foot goes back. Not Good..but a habit I have matured over many years....

Not unusual at all. No one, save the pros, most good junior development programs and college programs devote enough time to the return, if any time at all.

Hell we don't spend enough time on it here! Of the 210 Sticky Threads to date, guess how many are devoted to the return. ONE!

It's the second most important phase of the game, just after serving, yet almost no one practices it or works on refining the techniques unique to its proper, efficient execution. The only time people return IS under match conditions.

Here's one that may help, and I'm going to post a Sticky on returns with a few threads later:

http://tt.tennis-warehouse.com/showthread.php?t=59679&highlight=short+hip+turn

Good luck.

 

[Marius_Hancu]

Here's one that may help, and I'm going to post a Sticky on returns with a few threads later:

http://tt.tennis-warehouse.com/showthread.php?t=59679&highlight=short+hip+turn

The return has been discussed extensively here.

I added another post to the Sticky. We should be covered now