I'm worried that I do not play enough...

[karlovicfan#1]

I am going to try out for my high school tennis team next year (I am a rising freshman). It is very competitive, unlike many other tennis teams. Last year, the lowest player on the team ladder was a former freshman who plays novice tournaments and has good success in them, and the fifth-lowest guy and up were guys who play in open tournaments. I only play 4x a week, (a total of 6 hours a week,) plus a practice match every 2 weeks or so. I currently take 1 1-hour private lesson, 2 1.5-hour group lessons and 1 2-hour group lesson, along with practice matches, and I bet there are many people who practice far more than I do. I don't know if that will be enough playing time to let me make the team next year, but I can't find any other lessons for players of my level near my area. Should I start playing novice tournaments to accelerate my progress?

 

[Nonentity]

definitely play some kind of competitive matches, if you aren't already. The difference between practice and an actual match is night and day, so make sure you have match experience.

 

[Blake0]

People in that high school play in open tournaments?:shock: I'd like to go to that school to play tennis at . (that too the 5th lowest guy!)

Well..i'd say for getting to play at that tennis team..you'll want to start playing any tournaments right away. i'd say you need to play atleast 10-15 hours a week..so maybe 3 hours 5 days a week if possible, if not try 2 hours 5 days a week so you get atleast 10 hours a week.

 

[karlovicfan#1]

People in that high school play in open tournaments?:shock: I'd like to go to that school to play tennis at . (that too the 5th lowest guy!)

Well..i'd say for getting to play at that tennis team..you'll want to start playing any tournaments right away. i'd say you need to play atleast 10-15 hours a week..so maybe 3 hours 5 days a week if possible, if not try 2 hours 5 days a week so you get atleast 10 hours a week.

open junior tournaments. I think there are novice, challenger, then open, at junior levels. lol, not like they play the junior us open, none of them are that good, but there are many other open tournaments at junior level.

would serving practice by myself be okay for one day? because I have been searching for extra lessons... can't find

 

[karlovicfan#1]

definitely play some kind of competitive matches, if you aren't already. The difference between practice and an actual match is night and day, so make sure you have match experience.

Maybe when I say practice matches, is misleading. we are both playing to win, but it is not in a usta tournament, is what i mean.

 

[Blake0]

open junior tournaments. I think there are novice, challenger, then open, at junior levels. lol, not like they play the junior us open, none of them are that good, but there are many other open tournaments at junior level.

would serving practice by myself be okay for one day? because I have been searching for extra lessons... can't find

What i meant was that you're group lessons and stuff are great for what you do, but also find some time to hit with someone, not doing drills but just hitting for practice. Maybe some games to 21, or playing the points out without keeping score, so you can work on point construction while not having to worry about unforced errors so much.

So i guess its sorta of the same thing as zats, champ, and supers here..i was thinking dang, 5th lowest guy playing open tournaments..:shock:..good luck getting in there.

 

[Blake0]

Maybe when I say practice matches, is misleading. we are both playing to win, but it is not in a usta tournament, is what i mean.

usta tournaments are important too though, you feel a different kind of pressure, which you'll need to be able to play in.