Dude, you’re not gonna be a 4.5 and it doesn’t sound like you even care to be. You don’t have the time to improve your skills and you’re too old to become an ultra Grindy MEP-style pusher even if you had the time to max your fitness. Just enjoy the sport with the time you do have. Focus on working on one shot at a time.How to do it ? Shot recognition? Better stokes? Strategy? An insane work ethic?
Is it worth the effort? The money into lessons? What's the ultimate reason if I'm not a pro and do not play tournaments? I'm 46 with four kids and a wife at home, working two jobs already.
Is it more fun to be a 4.5 ? Will I enjoy the sport and be more fulfilled? Will I lose more matches but be proud that I am at least competing at a higher level?
How long will it take with a guy like me of moderate ability? Is it even possible since I cannot practice every single day? Is it unrealistic? Should I even care about my NRTP ranking since I just enjoy playing?
Thoughts?
46 is 46 tho. Big difference from a 26 y/o 4.0 without FOUR kids and two jobs asking this question hahahe's 46, not 90...
As someone who used to play 4.0 and bumped up to 4.5 (currently participating in 4.5 leagues while still playing with 4.0 friends casually), the biggest differences I noticed are
(1) more than just consistency (or "keeping the ball in play") - work on your put-away shots, shot/point construction and anticipation: just "hitting it back" doesn't win points any more at 4.5 level,
(2) more control (not necessarily power) on your serves - being able to hit slice serves on FH side and kick serves on the ad side is a must and solid second serves to each side, plus occasional flat serves down the body, and
(3) using different formation (I-Formation, Aussie formation, etc.) & getting used to them (just knowing how to do those is not enough - you should be comfortable as a server or the net player to plan and execute them).
How do you maintain 4.5 play when your friends are 4.0 ? Do you practice regularly with your 4.5 team? Do you play tournaments, lessons, working with the ball machine ? Just curious.As someone who used to play 4.0 and bumped up to 4.5 (currently participating in 4.5 leagues while still playing with 4.0 friends casually), the biggest differences I noticed are
(1) more than just consistency (or "keeping the ball in play") - work on your put-away shots, shot/point construction and anticipation: just "hitting it back" doesn't win points any more at 4.5 level,
(2) more control (not necessarily power) on your serves - being able to hit slice serves on FH side and kick serves on the ad side is a must and solid second serves to each side, plus occasional flat serves down the body, and
(3) using different formation (I-Formation, Aussie formation, etc.) & getting used to them (just knowing how to do those is not enough - you should be comfortable as a server or the net player to plan and execute them).
So you're sayin' there's a chance ...+1 for develop stronger serve and FH. On BH master the slice, lob and IO and II FH.
I'm in my mid fifty's. I've stayed competitive with the young guys without much training. Basically by moving to a crafty old man's game and learning when to cheat a couple of steps in or to the side.
Yea, I hear what you are saying. I've rededicated my self to the game this year and doing thing hat I have never been tried (such private lessons, getting a ball machine, ect). And I am working on one shot at a time... and it will not be the end of the work for me if I never make haha. BUT I figure, heck, I'm playing, why not set that goal?Dude, you’re not gonna be a 4.5 and it doesn’t sound like you even care to be. You don’t have the time to improve your skills and you’re too old to become an ultra Grindy MEP-style pusher even if you had the time to max your fitness. Just enjoy the sport with the time you do have. Focus on working on one shot at a time.
I play 4.5 and will second akeam's comments. This is the USTA rating where players start to develop a clear weapon that they can game plan around. Most commonly, people will have a strong serve/forehand. It comes down to who can leverage their strength more during the match while minimizing their weaknesses - typically the backhand.
I could not have said it better... youtube tennis videos are my best friend. Currenly I'm working on ALL my strokes to one degree or another.I have been playing for a little over 30 years and pretty much a self taught player that came from a tennis family. At 54, I am now a 4.0-4.5 player. I would recommend on focusing on your strokes that need improvement rather than striving to be a 4.5 player. I stopped playing tournaments about 10 years to prevent injuries setting into my knees and shoulder. Nowadays I just work more on technique and play an occasional match. My recent focus over the last year or so was to improve the technique on my serve since it is my least consistent stroke. All the work this Summer is finally starting to pay off. My toss is more consistent resulting in a better serve with good pace and spin that I can rely on. The bottom line is find ways to improve strokes that will make you a better player. There are alot of instructional videos on YouTube that could help you out. I don't care about winning or losing matches! I care about improving as a player!
Thanks for the encouragement and realistic adviceI would not listen to the guys saying you can not improve to 4.5, thats BS, 4.0 to 4.5 is definitely doable. The easiest way to get better is to focus on one thing and improve it. So if your backhand is weak, then just focus on improving your backhand every practice and even in match play, and little by little you'll get more confident with it.
The joy is finding ways to improve your game!I could not have said it better... youtube tennis videos are my best friend. Currenly I'm working on ALL my strokes to one degree or another.
As someone who used to play 4.0 and bumped up to 4.5 (currently participating in 4.5 leagues while still playing with 4.0 friends casually), the biggest differences I noticed are
(1) more than just consistency (or "keeping the ball in play") - work on your put-away shots, shot/point construction and anticipation: just "hitting it back" doesn't win points any more at 4.5 level,
Who is MEP ?To go from 4.0 to 4.5, you're need a decent dose of athletic ability and have to play a lot of tennis. You generally see better technique at 4.5 but some make it with ugly technique and outstanding athleticism and good hands. MEP in Atlanta wins at 4.5 level and has an ugly game in my opinion. Don't get me wrong, I respect MEP for what he's done but I wouldn't want to play like he does. When I move up to 4.5 I was in my 20s and playing on average 2+ hours per day and 6 days a week. I played in lots of leagues and a few tournaments. Took a fair number of team lessons and a few individual lessons with a couple of week long tennis camps thrown in. Personally, I suggest concentrating on technique to make your shots stronger and to eliminate glaring weaknesses.
Who is MEP ?
Beat all the 4.0's in your area.
i've seen adult rec go from 3.5 to 5.0. rare, but possible.As far as moving from 4.0 to 4.5... I've never seen an adult rec player do this in real time.
but 4.5 is not a huge skill level to achieve... ok if you're targeting top of the 4.5's, low 5.0... maybe that's alot, but 4.5 is very doable imo with focused practice (ie. a good coach vs. mindless baseline hitting).46 is 46 tho. Big difference from a 26 y/o 4.0 without FOUR kids and two jobs asking this question haha
As far as moving from 4.0 to 4.5... I've never seen an adult rec player do this in real time.
I would like to know who that is, I have a feeling that 3.5 to 5.0 was already a 5.5 in past life, he/she fooled you and made you think they were 3.5 but in fact they are just so much better.i've seen adult rec go from 3.5 to 5.0. rare, but possible.
for the few that i know that went through that journey, i think the big difference was taking regular lessons (2-3x/week) with a good coach, and practicing the right things, along with fitness, etc...
the folks (several) that i know were absolutely 3.5's (3.0's even) - didn't even know what grips to use when i first met them.I would like to know who that is, I have a feeling that 3.5 to 5.0 was already a 5.5 in past life, he/she fooled you and made you think they were 3.5 but in fact they are just so much better.
I would like to know who that is, I have a feeling that 3.5 to 5.0 was already a 5.5 in past life, he/she fooled you and made you think they were 3.5 but in fact they are just so much better.
I think the rating has age group as well but yea, hard work and constantly thinking and compete is the only path to improving your game.There is a guy at our club, who is now in his later 30's, that was a mid- to high 3.5 player when he first joined about ten years ago. Right now, he's a strong 5.0, possibly on the verge of 5.5, having won numerous open level tournaments in doubles, including our state open. I don't recall seeing him take many lessons, and he did not come from a distinguished athletic background. His game seems pretty much unchanged from when he first started playing, but his timing is superb and so are his reflexes. He is 4-0 this year and 11-3 last year in various leagues playing doubles.
There's another guy at our club who was a college baseball player. He's in his early 50's now. I think he first took up tennis when he was about 40. He's 5.0 rated now. He doesn't have textbook strokes, and he looks attackable in many ways but isn't, and he gets everything back, can hurt you if you leave one sitting short, and makes good contact almost every shot.
My co-captain on our club's 55+ 9.0 team went from 3.5 to 4.5, where he is now, in the space of about five years, without taking many, if any, individual lessons and while working a full time plus job. This all happened when he was in his 40's. There's another guy who captains a bunch of 9.0 teams at our club who also made the 3.5 to 4.5 leap in his 40's and also without many, if any, individual lessons.