I am 16 and have 7.8 utr

[marfathetennisdog]

I am almost 16 and have 7.8 utr, I have been jumping around 7.6 to 7.9 utr for over a year now. I won six girls with 8 utr(sometimes in 2 sets) during that time but because I occasionally lose to lower-ranked players my utr has not become 8. I have been working on my weaknesses and improving my strength for this past year I think I am improving but my rankings don't reflect that. It's not like I was sitting on the couch doing nothing. If anyone has any tips that will be a great help.
some other things about me:
I am an aggressive baseliner, 5 feet 5 inches in height, do at least 4 hours of tennis + matchplay a day, also do fitness every day(weights, footwork, plyo,...)

 

[TennisBro]

My tip is to play in Europe or North America where the UTR is inflated upwards. Even if you lose more than win, you will improve your UTR which seems you care so much about. My son's also 16 but we care more about world rankings than his less than 12 UTR that he may have got playing solely on those two continents now. I guess that female tennis players at 8-9 UTR may be quite decent hitters. Anyhow, chose your locations/tournaments carefully to bump up your rating with the so weird UTR corps.

 

[Roller_coaster1015]

For me, i just turned 15 and I'm a 6.5, took some time off from tournaments to get better and push to a 7 and 8 by 16, so dn if you'll take my advice, but what I've been working on that has brought me much success and I will for sure bring into my tournaments when I start back up again with them are two key things.

1. heavy to the backhand.

I'm a lefty, so it comes easier for me, but it's still possible to really attack a player's backhand with heavy shots, not hard. people train from day one to hit a ball under their shoulders, not above.

2. net.

net is important, and even more important as a put away shot. why get stuck with these stupid pushers who keep giving you easy shots to smash, or all these lucky spins players get some time, when you can build, approach and just volley it away like that. this is especially helpful to aggressive baseliners like you and I. we rely on baseline to help us inch our way forward and build, at which we use our speed to come forward and put the ball away quickly.


there helping me so i think they will help you. I train around the same amount as you, started tennis at 12, and seem to have a similar game style, so i think those are going to really help!

 

[atatu]

I am almost 16 and have 7.8 utr, I have been jumping around 7.6 to 7.9 utr for over a year now. I won six girls with 8 utr(sometimes in 2 sets) during that time but because I occasionally lose to lower-ranked players my utr has not become 8. I have been working on my weaknesses and improving my strength for this past year I think I am improving but my rankings don't reflect that. It's not like I was sitting on the couch doing nothing. If anyone has any tips that will be a great help.
some other things about me:
I am an aggressive baseliner, 5 feet 5 inches in height, do at least 4 hours of tennis + matchplay a day, also do fitness every day(weights, footwork, plyo,...)

Sounds like you're on track to becoming a very good player, what is the goal ?

 

[marfathetennisdog]

For me, i just turned 15 and I'm a 6.5, took some time off from tournaments to get better and push to a 7 and 8 by 16, so dn if you'll take my advice, but what I've been working on that has brought me much success and I will for sure bring into my tournaments when I start back up again with them are two key things.

1. heavy to the backhand.

I'm a lefty, so it comes easier for me, but it's still possible to really attack a player's backhand with heavy shots, not hard. people train from day one to hit a ball under their shoulders, not above.

2. net.

net is important, and even more important as a put away shot. why get stuck with these stupid pushers who keep giving you easy shots to smash, or all these lucky spins players get some time, when you can build, approach and just volley it away like that. this is especially helpful to aggressive baseliners like you and I. we rely on baseline to help us inch our way forward and build, at which we use our speed to come forward and put the ball away quickly.


there helping me so i think they will help you. I train around the same amount as you, started tennis at 12, and seem to have a similar game style, so i think those are going to really help!

thank you. your tip is very helpful. I have started doing more swing volleys and transition game in general. I also started doing dropshots because when I play the girls are usually face in the fence after and before I would try to go for a faster ball and miss but now the dropshots are really working.

 

[marfathetennisdog]

Sounds like you're on track to becoming a very good player, what is the goal ?

professional tennis player

 

[andfor]

thank you. your tip is very helpful. I have started doing more swing volleys and transition game in general. I also started doing dropshots because when I play the girls are usually face in the fence after and before I would try to go for a faster ball and miss but now the dropshots are really working.

Conversely, when you get drop shotted and run it down, work on drop shotting back or a replying with a sharp touch angle. Most girls, including many pros, when they run down a drop shot they drive it back deep, low ball, high ball, doesn't matter. Observe some of what I'm describing, it's true. Learn to drop shot back, it will win you points.

 

[safin2hbh]

That's awesome, congrats on the high UTR! My buddy who played ITFs said his biggest regret as a junior was not playing against enough good opponents. He played Orange Bowl and USTA events as a 14-16 year old, but after that he was stuck in Canada for a few years. He ended up playing against the same juniors there all the time, and his rate of improvement fell. Without quality opponents, he says it was hard for him to learn how to lose, which I think just means 'get your butt kicked without losing your confidence.' Tennis is like anything in life, it's about the quality of the people you surround yourself with, and that includes your opponents. Find some really good ones and learn from your defeats!