How To Improve Past 5.0?

Coolio

Coolio

Professional
Age 22. Playing somewhere between 5.0 and 5.5 at the minute. Finding it very hard to improve past this. My technique is pretty much locked in at this stage. Can't get coaching. I have my hitting partners feed baskets however if needed but I don't even know how beneficial this is.

I am getting about 10 hours practice a week at the minute. No coaching, just hitting with 4.5/5.0 practice partners. Volley Drills, Crosscourt FH's and BH's, X Drills, Baseline Points, Slice Only Drills, Doubles Matches, Singles Matches, Serve and Return Practice, Sometimes I do some basket feeding drills, and copy a few drills I like from Spanish academies e.g X patterns, Approach and Volley Drills etc. Don't even know if this is worth my time though because I feed for my partner aswell so half the time drilling is already used up just feeding and to be honest, I can't confirm that I really feel the benefit of hand feeding drills and basket feeding patterns that are used a lot in Spanish academies any more than normal hitting. I only go by the fact that if top 100 players are doing them, then they must be good right?

My ceiling is probably high 5.5, so maybe it's just a matter of patience. Just looking to maximise my time on court so wondering what is the best way to train?
 
Coolio said:
Age 22. Playing somewhere between 5.0 and 5.5 at the minute. Finding it very hard to improve past this. My technique is pretty much locked in at this stage. Can't get coaching. I have my hitting partners feed baskets however if needed but I don't even know how beneficial this is.

I am getting about 10 hours practice a week at the minute. No coaching, just hitting with 4.5/5.0 practice partners. Volley Drills, Crosscourt FH's and BH's, X Drills, Baseline Points, Slice Only Drills, Doubles Matches, Singles Matches, Serve and Return Practice, Sometimes I do some basket feeding drills, and copy a few drills I like from Spanish academies e.g X patterns, Approach and Volley Drills etc. Don't even know if this is worth my time though because I feed for my partner aswell so half the time drilling is already used up just feeding and to be honest, I can't confirm that I really feel the benefit of hand feeding drills and basket feeding patterns that are used a lot in Spanish academies any more than normal hitting. I only go by the fact that if top 100 players are doing them, then they must be good right?

My ceiling is probably high 5.5, so maybe it's just a matter of patience. Just looking to maximise my time on court so wondering what is the best way to train?
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Talk to Ash
 
Not enough time on court. And you are helping drill another player. So your focused practice with intent and direction is limited. That's why.
 
indianballer said:
Not enough time on court. And you are helping drill another player. So your focused practice with intent and direction is limited. That's why.
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Was hoping for a more helpful answer. Yes, I know I am not doing 20+ a week but I am not full-time. Also, I don't have a coach so I have to manage as it is. What if I add 1 hour a day 5 days a week for serve practice. Then I am 10 hours a week hitting, drilling and matchplay and 5 hours on serve only practice?
 
Coolio said:
What are futures players doing, D1 players doing in training every week?
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It's been a decade and a half while since I was in college but I played DI and we never did any hand feeding drills or anything feeding from a basket. We did everything hitting live balls against a partner - or two if doing 2-v-1's or dubs. We would start with some sort of cooperative drills (rallying in different situations) to get warmed up and grooved, maybe something to get you sweating hard but after that it was all competitive drills (play out the point, keep score) and match play (regular sets, TBs, etc.). In the coop drills both of you need to work hard to hit good shots to make it beneficial for both of you. Feeding is a waste of practice time for one person and slacking off is a waste of both of your time. One of my favorite match play drills was a tournament: 2 out of 3 sets where every set starts at 3-3 and every game starts at 30-all. Every point is a pressure point in that situation and sets go quick so you might get to play 3 or 4 rounds in the same practice session instead of playing against the same guy all day. If you're a 5.0 something like that might be a lot more beneficial at this point than fed ball drills. Get the competitive fire going.
 
This is cool:
goran_ace said:
One of my favorite match play drills was a tournament: 2 out of 3 sets where every set starts at 3-3 and every game starts at 30-all. Every point is a pressure point in that situation and sets go quick so you might get to play 3 or 4 rounds in the same practice session
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will try.
 
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goran_ace said:
It's been a decade and a half while since I was in college but I played DI and we never did any hand feeding drills or anything feeding from a basket. We did everything hitting live balls against a partner - or two if doing 2-v-1's or dubs. We would start with some sort of cooperative drills (rallying in different situations) to get warmed up and grooved, maybe something to get you sweating hard but after that it was all competitive drills (play out the point, keep score) and match play (regular sets, TBs, etc.). In the coop drills both of you need to work hard to hit good shots to make it beneficial for both of you. Feeding is a waste of practice time for one person and slacking off is a waste of both of your time. One of my favorite match play drills was a tournament: 2 out of 3 sets where every set starts at 3-3 and every game starts at 30-all. Every point is a pressure point in that situation and sets go quick so you might get to play 3 or 4 rounds in the same practice session instead of playing against the same guy all day. If you're a 5.0 something like that might be a lot more beneficial at this point than fed ball drills. Get the competitive fire going.
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Cheers. I will definitely try that match play drill. I guess basket drills are great to work one player but not as worthwhile if players are taking turns feeding each other and then having to collect the balls aswell.
 
TenFanLA said:
You as a 5.0/5.5 asking forum members how you can get beyond your current level is like a hedge fund manager asking people in the unemployment line how he can make more money.
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There are some players above 5.0 here and also coaches, who work with and spend time around college tennis and futures players, so I think it is a valid question to ask.
 
What do you assess as holding you back from jumping to the next level?

If you're playing at 5.0, you're a solid player. But can you gain athleticism and power? Can you become more consistent? Do you have a shot that you could build a 5.5+ game around, or do you have a particular weakness that keeps you from moving ahead? I think that you need very specific training ideas and a plan to develop to the next level.

I'm not at your level, but I can tell you what I need to work on to win more at the 4.5 level at which I currently play. My biggest weakness is my return of serve. I need it to be rock steady and a weapon on second serve returns. Fitness is also a weakness and causes losses if I go to a third set.

Without knowing your strengths and weaknesses it is hard to tell you how to progress. I would suggest that you not consider your technique completely locked-in. I've seen Djokovic and Nadal change form during their professional career. Of course, you don't have the professional aid in terms of eyes and advice they have, but I think you should keep using video to assess changes that might make your play even more solid.
 
I think you know how - hire a coach - play 20 hours a week - work with a trainer on your fitness. You just want some answer like - join tennisplayer.net - guaranteed to get you up to 5.5.. Sorry man aint happening..
 
Difficult to get into anything specific because there is a lack of information. This can only be done properly and fully with someone who's gone over your training routine and seen you in matches, both practice and tournament.

To give you some ideas however, I'd look into why you're winning and losing matches. Where does your game break down? How do the better players exploit your weaknesses? and so on.
Your strokes are never locked in, they are constantly changing. Take a look at Djoker, Nadal etc 10 years ago and now. As a player you're constantly evolving, don't overlook that.

A big part in moving up a level is playing against players at that level! You can't get to 5.5 training against 4.5's. Just not gonna happen. You need to train and compete against players to hit that type of ball, get pushed around, learn from it and also importantly to be in that atmosphere of better players, and learn from them. The way they act, think etc. Without a coach however.....good luck!

That's a start anyways.
 
WEapons. Study sampras serve technique. Drill on your serving/returning. Drill on your ability to play better while tired or nervous. Intend to hit better, move better, get sideways better, in more rhythm, on the desperate run, so you make the desperation normal, that is, you coil extremely well on the run, have precise footwork on the run, set up extremely well on the dead run, and are able to snap off very offensively on the dead run. Accept the intention to move better in better feel/rhythm/zone acceptance. Learn to access the zone when the score is tight. This takes intention in normal practice. That is, against even or whatever opponents, decide:"I'm going the hit better shots now."
And that means: being confident you can do it while tired, nervous, tight, or have a lot of self currency on the line, and not just friendly hitting in rhythm down the middle for an hour and a half. Practice to improve, and play to destroy.
 
tennis_balla said:
Difficult to get into anything specific because there is a lack of information. This can only be done properly and fully with someone who's gone over your training routine and seen you in matches, both practice and tournament.

To give you some ideas however, I'd look into why you're winning and losing matches. Where does your game break down? How do the better players exploit your weaknesses? and so on.
Your strokes are never locked in, they are constantly changing. Take a look at Djoker, Nadal etc 10 years ago and now. As a player you're constantly evolving, don't overlook that.

A big part in moving up a level is playing against players at that level! You can't get to 5.5 training against 4.5's. Just not gonna happen. You need to train and compete against players to hit that type of ball, get pushed around, learn from it and also importantly to be in that atmosphere of better players, and learn from them. The way they act, think etc. Without a coach however.....good luck!

That's a start anyways.
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I know my strokes may change over time. What I mean is, I am looking at hitting my shots better without making major technical changes to my strokes. My strokes are technically ok and work for me, so I am only looking at effectiveness.

Yes, I know I have to play guys stronger than me. This is tough to arrange at the minute.

What about training. If say I have a group of 5.0 practice partners on tap. What sort of drills should I be doing weekly? Let's say I have 10 hours on court and I will serve myself for 5 extra hours?
 
GuyClinch said:
I think you know how - hire a coach - play 20 hours a week - work with a trainer on your fitness. You just want some answer like - join tennisplayer.net - guaranteed to get you up to 5.5.. Sorry man aint happening..
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No I don't want an answer like that. I am looking for an answer like, what goran_ace suggested to drop the basket feeds and make it all live-ball.

Or an insight into drills used by D1+ level players, when training with each other. How many matches they aim to play in a given week...
 
Coolio said:
No I don't want an answer like that. I am looking for an answer like, what goran_ace suggested to drop the basket feeds and make it all live-ball.

Or an insight into drills used by D1+ level players, when training with each other. How many matches they aim to play in a given week...
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I am not sure whether I am helping you but you may want to see a video
in my thread Biomechanics of serve
I would. to see my thread before it will get nuked
 
I know you don't like the answer, but 10 hours/wk is not enough. The periods in my life when I played at a high 5.5 level were when I was playing almost every day, 2 sessions a day - so maybe 30-40 hrs / week. When real life got in the way, and the time available decreased, my game dropped significantly. I kept it at a decent 5.0 level for years with far less practice through jobs, marriage, and kids, but that 5.5 level required a focus on tennis first.
Some may be able to do it in less time per week because they had more margin for error on their shots and maybe didn't have to be as precise, but certainly not me.
My advice for what will give you the most benefit for the time spent is: practice your serve.
A big enough serve will make you competitive at any level of the game.
 
If you have 10 hours hitting time and no room to increase then you're going to need to maximise the impact of the time you do have.

Get a sheet of paper and develop your "what it takes to win model" - this is your blueprint of how you see tennis matches being won in general and also by you specifically (like @tennis_balla said - your own strengths, over played strengths and weaknesses). Ensure you consider the 4 performance factors (technical, tactical, physical and mental)

Once you have an idea of your "what it takes to win" model you can assign the relevant court time the the appropriate areas in technical and tactical (*HINT - first 3 shots :) ) and then try to maximise your off court time to hit the kpi's in the physical and mental performance factors. I know from our off forum chats that you're addressing the off court physical stuff, so look to make most efficient use of time there to maximise your ROI - also, find 20-30 mins per day to nail your IRM exercises - nothing slows progress more than time off injured.

Tennis is essentially a simple game - you're looking to "steal time and create space" (Copyright @tennis_balla & @Ash_Smith, Prague 2015), so that might give you a heads up for your "what it takes to win"

Essentially, what I'm saying is to maximise your time on task you need to identify where you are best off focussing your efforts. Once you know that you can build more appropriate practices.

Hope that makes sense!
 
You're a 5.0, and you hit with 4.5/5.0 hitting partners. That is not going to get you to 5.5 and beyond. No matter how many hours you put in, or what you focus on. The game is different at 5.5 and open level. If you can, pay an open level player(s) to hit with you.
 
Ash_Smith said:
If you have 10 hours hitting time and no room to increase then you're going to need to maximise the impact of the time you do have.

Get a sheet of paper and develop your "what it takes to win model" - this is your blueprint of how you see tennis matches being won in general and also by you specifically (like @tennis_balla said - your own strengths, over played strengths and weaknesses). Ensure you consider the 4 performance factors (technical, tactical, physical and mental)

Once you have an idea of your "what it takes to win" model you can assign the relevant court time the the appropriate areas in technical and tactical (*HINT - first 3 shots :) ) and then try to maximise your off court time to hit the kpi's in the physical and mental performance factors. I know from our off forum chats that you're addressing the off court physical stuff, so look to make most efficient use of time there to maximise your ROI - also, find 20-30 mins per day to nail your IRM exercises - nothing slows progress more than time off injured.

Tennis is essentially a simple game - you're looking to "steal time and create space" (Copyright @tennis_balla & @Ash_Smith, Prague 2015), so that might give you a heads up for your "what it takes to win"

Essentially, what I'm saying is to maximise your time on task you need to identify where you are best off focussing your efforts. Once you know that you can build more appropriate practices.

Hope that makes sense!
Click to expand...

Will digest your post and get back to you. What is 20-30mins every day to nail IRM exercises?
 
KPIs + IRM = "what it takes to win"
It worked for this player
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I suggest finding a pro that is better than you and hiring him for 1 hour playing lesson per week. You want some tips during the lesson but the basic goal is for the pro to push you hard with placement, spin, pace and consistency. A good pro will work in baseline and net drIlls and wear you out in an hour. Seeing bigger better shots will also make shots from players at your level easier to handle.

I also like idea of adding service practice hours as you can do that without partner.

Live drills and competitive games with less feeding is also a good idea.
 
Find out if there are coaches at Bolls or Newks or other places whom you can visit for a personalized camp with drills, match play, video analysis, and fitness tips. I am sure they can tailor-make a custom program for you so you don't fall into the usual adult camps for low-level players.

Then play as many Open level tourneys that you can enter. Try to contact the local college team coaches whether they will let you be a hitting partner for their men or women. Even if that doesn't work out officially, you will make private contacts with any students who want to hit. You can also talk to head coaches at clubs with a lot of juniors. For example, the head pro at my club has brought in visiting players from South America to hit with his top juniors.

Offer yourself as a high-level hitting partner to advanced juniors through craigslist. Now, that can be tricky, because you will need to state a fee, else if you say you will do it for free, some parents might get nervous.
 
Coolio said:
Age 22. Playing somewhere between 5.0 and 5.5 at the minute. Finding it very hard to improve past this. My technique is pretty much locked in at this stage. Can't get coaching. I have my hitting partners feed baskets however if needed but I don't even know how beneficial this is.

I am getting about 10 hours practice a week at the minute. No coaching, just hitting with 4.5/5.0 practice partners. Volley Drills, Crosscourt FH's and BH's, X Drills, Baseline Points, Slice Only Drills, Doubles Matches, Singles Matches, Serve and Return Practice, Sometimes I do some basket feeding drills, and copy a few drills I like from Spanish academies e.g X patterns, Approach and Volley Drills etc. Don't even know if this is worth my time though because I feed for my partner aswell so half the time drilling is already used up just feeding and to be honest, I can't confirm that I really feel the benefit of hand feeding drills and basket feeding patterns that are used a lot in Spanish academies any more than normal hitting. I only go by the fact that if top 100 players are doing them, then they must be good right?

My ceiling is probably high 5.5, so maybe it's just a matter of patience. Just looking to maximise my time on court so wondering what is the best way to train?
Click to expand...
Buy a flex bar, green and start doing the exercises I describe. It will speed you up, improve your form/fh/serve, improve your elbow/shoulder/arm invulnerability, and balance out left/right side. Do every night while tv. Get faster and more violent with the exercises. The game is violent at higher levels. You need to accept that in your mind and in your practices, intentions, thoughts, feelings, and disciplines. Not everyone is smart/ in this way. Takes a unique person, to rise above and keep rising, not just plateau. All top players keep rising. Discipline to do so is intended, not just learned. YOu are your own best coach. You are your own best parent., Learn to forearm bar groundies, and serve. Forearm bar: full extension on impact, and using the weight and mass of the longer lever arm in all shots is the forearm bar, in a way: that transmits your greatest power.
 
I know you don't like the answer, but 10 hours/wk is not enough. The periods in my life when I played at a high 5.5 level were when I was playing almost every day, 2 sessions a day - so maybe 30-40 hrs / week.
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This. Not convinced you can even maintain 5.0 at 10 hours a week - unless you were a former 5.5/6.0. 10 hours a week is hobby level of tennis... Most people watch more tv then that..
 
indianballer said:
Is sureshs injured? Why doesn't he swing at the ball?
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What do you mean? It's a beautiful buggy whip forehand.:):) He made a last minute adjustment in his swing when he realized that the side spin Cheetah put on that ball was making the ball curve away more than he thought. :D:D

Harry
 
NCAA limits for DI athletes is 20 hours a week, max of 4 hours a day. This includes things like strength and conditioning and isn't just the on court time. Most college teams practice 2-3 hours a day. 10 hours a week is a pretty light load, but don't think you have to go crazy on practice hours (e.g. 30 hrs/wk) to maintain a high level of play. Also, practicing 40-50 hours a week won't necessarily make you a better player either. How you use your hours is much more important than clocking hours. If you are doing 4-5 hours straight through every day you probably aren't training/playing with much intensity. If you're missing a lot of balls in practice you're not focused. As a junior my coach talked a lot about perfect practice sessions. Keep your focus, work hard, give it everything you've got. Make every shot count.
 
I think you need to play high-level tournaments, and after matches, write down all the parts of your game that your opponents were able to exploit, and any weaknesses you notice in your game.

Then formulate plans to improve those areas.

I like to use a Mind Map to formulate these plans. If you want to learn more about them, you can check out a post I made about Mind Maps here: tennisfiles.com/mind-map-tennis-goals

Also, as mentioned above, play with more elite practice partners.

Best of luck, and remember to focus your energy on the parts of your game that need improvement the most.
 
Coolio said:
Age 22. Playing somewhere between 5.0 and 5.5 at the minute. Finding it very hard to improve past this. My technique is pretty much locked in at this stage. Can't get coaching. I have my hitting partners feed baskets however if needed but I don't even know how beneficial this is.

I am getting about 10 hours practice a week at the minute. No coaching, just hitting with 4.5/5.0 practice partners. Volley Drills, Crosscourt FH's and BH's, X Drills, Baseline Points, Slice Only Drills, Doubles Matches, Singles Matches, Serve and Return Practice, Sometimes I do some basket feeding drills, and copy a few drills I like from Spanish academies e.g X patterns, Approach and Volley Drills etc. Don't even know if this is worth my time though because I feed for my partner aswell so half the time drilling is already used up just feeding and to be honest, I can't confirm that I really feel the benefit of hand feeding drills and basket feeding patterns that are used a lot in Spanish academies any more than normal hitting. I only go by the fact that if top 100 players are doing them, then they must be good right?

My ceiling is probably high 5.5, so maybe it's just a matter of patience. Just looking to maximise my time on court so wondering what is the best way to train?
Click to expand...

Hey dude,

If you look at the statistics, most points on the pro tour are over in 4 shots or less. It's all about first-strike tennis. So your intuition is correct - just feeding isn't going to get you to the next level. You're basically practicing skills you'll never use in a match.

Here are two things that will have an immediate impact on your game:

1) Practice serving out wide on both the deuce and ad court, and hitting a FOREHAND off of the return at a right-hander's backhand side. That 1-2 punch is very powerful (and safe for you), and it's staple on the pro tour.

2) Practice your second serve return of serve. Drive it straight back at the returner. Aim for whichever side has a bigger backswing, even if you're aiming at their strength. Coming out of the service motion, you can rush your opponent by going at the side that "takes longer to do." Djokovic uses this very effectively against Nadal - he returns at Nadal's forehand, despite that being his best shot once the rally starts.

I learned these two tactics from Craig O'Shannessy. You can check out his website at braingametennis dot com. He's a stats wiz, and if you're looking to optimize/get the most out of your practices, I would highly suggest you check out his research. Most cutting-edge stuff there is out there.

Hope that helps!

Will

P.S. In re-reading your post just now, one other thing stands out. You're practicing A LOT of different stuff. Too much bro :-)

The 80-20 rule (Pareto Principle - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pareto_principle) applies here. 80% of the results you'll get will come from 20% of the effort. Narrow what you're practicing to the things that make the most difference (serve and return - the start of points).
 
wihamilton said:
Hey dude,

If you look at the statistics, most points on the pro tour are over in 4 shots or less. It's all about first-strike tennis. So your intuition is correct - just feeding isn't going to get you to the next level. You're basically practicing skills you'll never use in a match.

Here are two things that will have an immediate impact on your game:

1) Practice serving out wide on both the deuce and ad court, and hitting a FOREHAND off of the return at a right-hander's backhand side. That 1-2 punch is very powerful (and safe for you), and it's staple on the pro tour.

2) Practice your second serve return of serve. Drive it straight back at the returner. Aim for whichever side has a bigger backswing, even if you're aiming at their strength. Coming out of the service motion, you can rush your opponent by going at the side that "takes longer to do." Djokovic uses this very effectively against Nadal - he returns at Nadal's forehand, despite that being his best shot once the rally starts.

I learned these two tactics from Craig O'Shannessy. You can check out his website at braingametennis dot com. He's a stats wiz, and if you're looking to optimize/get the most out of your practices, I would highly suggest you check out his research. Most cutting-edge stuff there is out there.

Hope that helps!

Will

P.S. In re-reading your post just now, one other thing stands out. You're practicing A LOT of different stuff. Too much bro :)

The 80-20 rule (Pareto Principle - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pareto_principle) applies here. 80% of the results you'll get will come from 20% of the effort. Narrow what you're practicing to the things that make the most difference (serve and return - the start of points).
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Hey Will,

on #1, in the ad court if you hit out wide, why not go to the open court or FH side? If I am going to the bh side thats a tough shot to hit if I have them off the court.
 
Hey Shroud,

Can you msg me your contact info? Matt is trying to get a hold of you and the rest of your crew but nobody is giving up their digits.
Get back to me.

Thanks.
 
NCAA limits for DI athletes is 20 hours a week, max of 4 hours a day. This includes things like strength and conditioning and isn't just the on court time. Most college teams practice 2-3 hours a day. 10 hours a week is a pretty light load, but don't think you have to go crazy on practice hours (e.g. 30 hrs/wk) to maintain a high level of play. Also, practicing 40-50 hours a week won't necessarily make you a better player either. How you use your hours is much more important than clocking hours. If you are doing 4-5 hours straight through every day you probably aren't training/playing with much intensity. If you're missing a lot of balls in practice you're not focused. As a junior my coach talked a lot about perfect practice sessions. Keep your focus, work hard, give it everything you've got. Make every shot count.
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This is not entirely true and NCAA players have already developed their skill set before going to college. A frequently complaint about the NCAA is it hurts basketball development compared to the pros in Europe which allow the unlimited supervised practice.

But in fairness to the NCAA - it allows unsupervised practice - so you could go out a hit serves for 5 hours a week - and still not violate any NCAA rules. That's a big deal in tennis - and many kids practice way more then 20 hours. You could follow a coaches program in the weight room (as long as no coaches are present).


http://archive.news-leader.com/assets/pdf/DO174693522.PDF
 
Coolio,

If it is difficult to find higher level players to practice against, try to do 1 on 2 practices when possible. One of the things that often distinguishes one level from another is the ability to hit quality shots when under pressure and/or on the run. When doing 2 on 1, tell your two practice partners to try and mostly hit forehands. You should also aim for the singles court instead of doubles while playing 2 on 1.

I think this will increase the quality of shots your practice partners can hit and they should also make less errors against you and make it more difficult for you to win points or a set if you play a set.

To simulate returning a better serve, you can also have your practice serving from inside the baseline.

When practicing your serves, work on adding better variety of spins and better placement with your second serves. From what I remember of the video you posted of your serve, you could also improve your kick serve.
 
I suggest finding a pro that is better than you and hiring him for 1 hour playing lesson per week. You want some tips during the lesson but the basic goal is for the pro to push you hard with placement, spin, pace and consistency. A good pro will work in baseline and net drIlls and wear you out in an hour. Seeing bigger better shots will also make shots from players at your level easier to handle.
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It's hard finding pros that are 5.5. You need a young healthy guy off the satellite or something. I don't think you should worry about that - find the best pro possible. But here is the thing - its not likely to work. Just imagine you want to be good at something - anything. But so does another guy. That guy can work 2x - 3x as much as you on whatever that is.

It's REALLY hard to do that - and remember that person might be talented, intelligent etc. Whether its race car driving or golf or chess - it's going to be hard to be better then everyone while working radically less.
 
Coolio said:
What are futures players doing, D1 players doing in training every week?

Describe your training week for you or aspiring futures players you train with @santihaas?

Can you add anything to this thread based on your experience @J011yroger?
Thanks
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Hey. I do the same training routine as the ATP players who practice with me.

From monday to friday : Morning tennis session (1 hour and a half), followed by fitness (1 hour) and then tennis in the afternoon (1 hour and a half)

Saturday : Morning tennis session followed by fitness and no practice in the afternoon

Sunday : Rest

It is also recommended to do stretching at night.

Of course you can't do this routine while playing tournaments, and you have to adjust
 
santihaas said:
Hey. I do the same training routine as the ATP players who practice with me.

From monday to friday : Morning tennis session (1 hour and a half), followed by fitness (1 hour) and then tennis in the afternoon (1 hour and a half)

Saturday : Morning tennis session followed by fitness and no practice in the afternoon

Sunday : Rest

It is also recommended to do stretching at night.

Of course you can't do this routine while playing tournaments, and you have to adjust
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Please describe your training Monday through to Saturday? Go through an example of exactly what goes into a week's on court tennis training?
Thanks for your reply
 
Shroud said:
Hey Will,

on #1, in the ad court if you hit out wide, why not go to the open court or FH side? If I am going to the bh side thats a tough shot to hit if I have them off the court.
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Ya good point. I think it's situational. Against a fast opponent who is running to cover the forehand side, going at the backhand will wrong-foot them, and almost guarantee a short ball. Against a slow opponent who is still off the court when you're hitting, then the open court is probably the right move - particularly if the return was down the line, or in the middle of the court, because then you can hit cross court.
 
NLBwell said:
I know you don't like the answer, but 10 hours/wk is not enough. The periods in my life when I played at a high 5.5 level were when I was playing almost every day, 2 sessions a day - so maybe 30-40 hrs / week. When real life got in the way, and the time available decreased, my game dropped significantly. I kept it at a decent 5.0 level for years with far less practice through jobs, marriage, and kids, but that 5.5 level required a focus on tennis first.
Some may be able to do it in less time per week because they had more margin for error on their shots and maybe didn't have to be as precise, but certainly not me.
My advice for what will give you the most benefit for the time spent is: practice your serve.
A big enough serve will make you competitive at any level of the game.
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GuyClinch said:
This. Not convinced you can even maintain 5.0 at 10 hours a week - unless you were a former 5.5/6.0. 10 hours a week is hobby level of tennis... Most people watch more tv then that..
Click to expand...

I get your point but are you not exaggerating a little guys?
What you are saying is depressing. No point even trying to get past 5.0 unless you can do 20+ hours a week.
5 hours gym work.
10 hours hitting.
5 hours serving.
Don't tell me that is not enough to improve. Maybe it will take me longer but what you are suggesting that 10 hours won't even keep me at 5.0 is BS.

You make it out like this....
Q: Can you do 20+ hours a week?
A: No = Don't even bother playing tennis as you can't get better only worse.
A: Yes = You have a chance at improving.
 
Hey Coolio, I'm about 5.5 level currently, used to be 6.0 many years ago (tried to play futures, but didn't get very far). Now I'm playing tennis 3-4 times a week, mostly for fun and workout. The only way you can get better is if you play someone better than you, or someone who can beat you at least half the time. You got to play points with someone who forces you play your very best all the time. You're 22, so you don't have to worry about fitness (especially since you play 10 hours per week, that's more than enough to stay in shape). Forget drills. Unless you have a serious problem with one of your shots. If you do, just practice that shot over and over until you're confident. But if all your shots are solid, then go and play matches. Go sign up for local tournaments. That's where you meet good players, and maybe you will be able to arrange to practice with them later. Keep in mind that playing a single match per week with a good player is better for your game that playing 10 hours with guys who suck (if you consistently beat them, they suck).
Oh yeah, one more thing - don't look at what how ATP players practice. What they do is not relevant to you, so focus on what you need to do (see above).
 
michaelk said:
The only way you can get better is if you play someone better than you, or someone who can beat you at least half the time. You got to play points with someone who forces you play your very best all the time.
Click to expand...
Thanks for the post.
Problem is this is hard for me to find without paying former ATP pro's for coaching. In summer months I can play all the open tournaments and will get to play D1 college players and former and current ATP players but for practice, I have only two 5.0 partners to train with, that I am slightly better than and some 4.5's so it is not ideal. What do you suggest?
 
Well, then try to create a handicap for yourself when playing those 5.0 players. For example, start every game at 0-15 or 0-30 disadvantage. Or force yourself to go to the net on every point. Or go for winners from the baseline on every shot. Make it harder for yourself, and make sure you still win.
 
Without knowing you and your game, its hard to give specifics, but I can try to give some general ideas of things that might help.
1) Fitness is crucial as you get into the higher levels of the game. If you can find just 45 minutes or an hour to get into the gym, it will pay huge dividends. Increasing strength, core stability, footwork, and balance are definitely big things. Training your body to handle greater loads will also greatly help you to avoid injuries, which would be a huge setback. Stretching can also be a big part of this. It doesn't take much time at all. Just a few minutes after a hitting session or while you're watching tv. I wouldn't worry about doing extra sprint work or anything like that- you should be getting a lot of that if court time is being used wisely.
2) You have to make the most of your on court time. I would recommend avoiding basket drills for the most part. If there is something that needs fixing badly, they can be a useful tool, but aside from that, it's not going to be the most efficient use of your time. Everything should be done at high intensity. Playing actual points against the best players you can find is going to be big for you. Aside from that, drilling is great- hit tons and tons of quality balls. Crosscourt and down the line games at high intensity. I love the butterfly drill- one player only hits down the line, and the other only hits crosscourt. It ends up in a figure 8 sort of thing. Its a super conditioning intensive drill.
3) Try to find things you can do with your partners that fit both of your needs. Instead of feeding balls, find a way to incorporate both people into it. If you need to work on your serve and your partner wants to work on returns, have him get down there and return your practice serves. Figure out what each of you needs to work on, and set it up so each of you gets the maximum amount of quality reps in.
 
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