Is it time for this 2.5 to quit tennis?

[socallefty]

Try pickleball - I see a lot of lower level tennis players trying pickle ball and liking it much better. If you haven’t improved much in the first couple of years of playing tennis when improvement is the most rapid, it is highly unlikely that it will happen later.

 

[Sunshineanderson44]

Try pickleball - I see a lot of lower level tennis players trying pickle ball and liking it much better. If you haven’t improved much in the first couple of years of playing tennis when improvement is the most rapid, it is highly unlikely that it will happen later.

Ok, I guess I'm officially an unathletic, senior citizen -- no offense to the pickleball community.

 

[S&V-not_dead_yet]

But repeating what exactly? If the fundamentals on groundstrokes and volleys aren't there, you are repeating poor technique which will get you nowhere ... but may invite an injury. I don't think a ball machine is a good choice for any lower level player

Noted. That's why @Fxanimator1 wrote "As long as a coach is involved to ensure proper form, it’s a great way to feel comfortable hitting balls."

Also, I wrote earlier to use video and to share that video with her coach. Not as good as the coach being there but better than practicing the wrong thing for a week before the next lesson.

 

[S&V-not_dead_yet]

I never felt comfortable playing league, but now, a few years later, I kind of feel like I have something to prove to the ladies I used to play with, as I will certainly come across them

This concerns me as it puts the weight of expectations on your shoulders and that can be a heavy burden. Just be mindful about this in the future.

 

[OnTheLine]

I enjoy playing tennis.

I don't enjoy competition (or certain classes I've taken) because I'm not as good as the players I've played against. I first got into leagues because I was encouraged to do so by my then boyfriend, who was a 4.0 and on about 12 teams (no lie -- there's a lot of tennis in my area and neighboring vicinities) in a year. I was playing tennis before I met him, but most people thought he introduced me to tennis. I never felt comfortable playing league, but now, a few years later, I kind of feel like I have something to prove to the ladies I used to play with, as I will certainly come across them, but really the bigger part is my love for the game and wanting to play regularly.

I like the camaraderie but I'm just feeling out my two teams that I'm now because another thing I've learned about tennis is people only really love you when you're good. The captain I had four years ago though was great, very supportive.

I've only used the ball machine once, in my beginner class, and it was a lot of fun so I definitely would like to incorporate that into my training.

I play on roughly 12-14 teams per year and I play on a fewer than some I know, so I get it.

If you are not comfortable playing league and don't enjoy competition .... well, I am at a loss. It is totally okay to play for the joy of playing if you have a group that is of a similar mindset.

I captain on average 6 teams per year. I have stronger players and weaker players ... but all of them love the competition. That is the only thing I look for ... if my weaker players are striving to be competitive and give everything they have win or lose.

A huge percentage of improvement over just the basics comes from one's mental attitude.

This concerns me as it puts the weight of expectations on your shoulders and that can be a heavy burden. Just be mindful about this in the future.

ditto

Ok, I guess I'm officially an unathletic, senior citizen -- no offense to the pickleball community.

Age is not the sole determining factor in improvement/competition. I am 50+ and playing better (much better) tennis than I was a year ago, or 5 years ago, or when I was in my 20s (although I never had coaching then). I have a large group of friends in their 50s and 60s who play and work to improve to win their matches.

I would personally find it hard to put together an improvement plan that was disconnected with "it counts" competition.
It would be like studying a subject but never having a test to gauge if you actually learned anything.

But for some even those that are much younger, they enjoy pickleball and find it fun and demands less athletically.

 

[Creighton]

I enjoy playing tennis.

I don't enjoy competition (or certain classes I've taken) because I'm not as good as the players I've played against. I first got into leagues because I was encouraged to do so by my then boyfriend, who was a 4.0 and on about 12 teams (no lie -- there's a lot of tennis in my area and neighboring vicinities) in a year. I was playing tennis before I met him, but most people thought he introduced me to tennis. I never felt comfortable playing league, but now, a few years later, I kind of feel like I have something to prove to the ladies I used to play with, as I will certainly come across them, but really the bigger part is my love for the game and wanting to play regularly.

I like the camaraderie but I'm just feeling out my two teams that I'm now because another thing I've learned about tennis is people only really love you when you're good. The captain I had four years ago though was great, very supportive.

I've only used the ball machine once, in my beginner class, and it was a lot of fun so I definitely would like to incorporate that into my training.

The only way you're going to get better is by playing.

 

[Sunshineanderson44]

I play on roughly 12-14 teams per year and I play on a fewer than some I know, so I get it.

If you are not comfortable playing league and don't enjoy competition .... well, I am at a loss. It is totally okay to play for the joy of playing if you have a group that is of a similar mindset.

I captain on average 6 teams per year. I have stronger players and weaker players ... but all of them love the competition. That is the only thing I look for ... if my weaker players are striving to be competitive and give everything they have win or lose.

A huge percentage of improvement over just the basics comes from one's mental attitude.





ditto




Age is not the sole determining factor in improvement/competition. I am 50+ and playing better (much better) tennis than I was a year ago, or 5 years ago, or when I was in my 20s (although I never had coaching then). I have a large group of friends in their 50s and 60s who play and work to improve to win their matches.

I would personally find it hard to put together an improvement plan that was disconnected with "it counts" competition.
It would be like studying a subject but never having a test to gauge if you actually learned anything.

But for some even those that are much younger, they enjoy pickleball and find it fun and demands less athletically.

The competition that comes from my intermediate class feels like "it counts" competition to me because of the proficiency of the other players. I will definitely give it my all in my matches, it's just that often my all isn't good enough.

I do have a group I play with for fun, but it's just once a week and I need more, so that's where the leagues came in.

From what I've seen w/pickleball, there's is more clarity in regards to the player's positions, where to return the ball, etc. I worry about the effects on the back, though. It seems like the players are bent over a lot more than in tennis.

 

[OnTheLine]

The competition that comes from my intermediate class feels like "it counts" competition to me because of the proficiency of the other players. I will definitely give it my all in my matches, it's just that often my all isn't good enough.

I do have a group I play with for fun, but it's just once a week and I need more, so that's where the leagues came in.

From what I've seen w/pickleball, there's is more clarity in regards to the player's positions, where to return the ball, etc. I worry about the effects on the back, though. It seems like the players are bent over a lot more than in tennis.

On Pickleball .... they should be bending at the knees keeping the back straight rather than at the waist.

 

[S&V-not_dead_yet]

The competition that comes from my intermediate class feels like "it counts" competition to me because of the proficiency of the other players.

I think that's a different kind of pressure. I've definitely been the worst in the group but then again, everyone [including me] knows it so that lessens some of the pressure. And the results are not published.

Most people feel official match competition as being a lot more intense because the results will be documented for all time for all to see [even though hardly anyone actually cares that much]. For some reason, this ratchets up the pressure big time.

 

[S&V-not_dead_yet]

On Pickleball .... they should be bending at the knees keeping the back straight rather than at the waist.

Not just in Pball: i have that bad tendency when I volley, also.

 

[BAP]

I'm in my early 50s and I've been playing tennis on and off for 5 years. I took occasional six week classes here and there. I also worked with a team coach once a week when I played league tennis about four years ago (2.5 team) and only won a couple of matches out of I believe six. Since that time, still took the occasional class (combination of drills and match play). I'm clearly not a beginner (other students will often comment on that) but when I take intermediate classes (which usually contain 3.0s/3.5s it's clear that I'm not on their level). I did nothing since March 2020 until the past couple of months, when I've been taking classes (group and private) and playing with friends, on average 3 to 4 times a week. I'm also in two 3.0s league now (there aren't any 2.5 women's 40+ leagues in my area right now), with one team having a weekly practice with a coach. It's obvious from my first practice with the new team that I still have so many deficits. '

Even my serve, which I thought was pretty much set, was a mess during practice. One of my teammates told me to make sure I keep my hand up when the ball comes down, right before I hit it (and this is something I know I should do but for some reason I didn't during practice). She also told me how she practices her serve by taking a ball of baskets to the court and just hitting (I didn't want to tell her that I've done that many times and really if it weren't for that I wouldn't even be using the correct, continental grip). She also got excited when the coach was teaching us how to slice because she said at our age we don't have the power (although I think they all have more power than me) so the slice can be our weapon. Finally, we had some match play where the coach was my partner and when done he asked up what we learned. The same lady was like, "well, obviously she was the weaker player, so I was trying to hit powerful shots to her." I mean, the coach was the stronger player, but I still felt crushed.

I can volley, I did poach a couple of times, but sometimes I get so excited in the game play that I look ahead to where the ball is going and lose sight of it. Also, this coach keeps telling us to keep the eye on the ball at all times, but I've had friends and a really good, USTA coach tell me to watch the ball, but also watch the player on the opposite side of the net -- this coach said I can tell by their eyes and body where the ball is going to go before they hit it. There's just so much strategy and physical prowess involved in a game that I love, and I keep hearing that if I play more advanced people that my game will improve, but here I am, still clearly a 2.5 (maybe a 3.0 on a good day). So, I'm going to play out this short USTA season but I'm wondering if that should be it for me. I've spent what I considered a lot of time and money trying to improve, watching videos along the way as well -- instructional and professional. I'm not in the best physical shape, but neither are the women that are better than me. I think I am a coordinated person, I can follow dance choreography and execute it fairly well and I've even lost a few pounds, but when is it time to throw in the towel, or racket?

Don’t give up if you enjoy it and when you’re having issues with parts of your game, remember that it’s ALWAYS easier to learn when you’re loose and enjoying yourself; nearly impossible when stressed. Focus on your own, deserved, personal enjoyment

 

[jm1980]

I enjoy the game but when I'm reminded of my deficits, it's more of a chore.

Everyone has deficits in this game, even the pros who are playing on TV and dedicated their entire lives to tennis... So I wouldn't let that discourage me, if I were you

 

[Sunshineanderson44]

Don’t give up if you enjoy it and when you’re having issues with parts of your game, remember that it’s ALWAYS easier to learn when you’re loose and enjoying yourself; nearly impossible when stressed. Focus on your own, deserved, personal enjoyment

Thank you. I’ll do that!

 

[Sunshineanderson44]

Everyone has deficits in this game, even the pros who are playing on TV and dedicated their entire lives to tennis... So I wouldn't let that discourage me, if I were you

True. Thank you!

 

[Dartagnan64]

I thought about golf, but the idea of being outside with mice and other animals as I've been told I'd encounter, is not really appealing to me!

Where the heck are you playing golf? China?

About the only animals I encounter routinely on a golf course are birds, insects and squirrels. The same ones I'd encounter in any public park. Granted I've been on mountain courses and run across black bears, which was more cool than frightening to be honest. But in a normal city course, animals are not an issue. At least in the first world.

I enjoy playing tennis.

I don't enjoy competition

That's an oxymoron to me. Tennis at its heart is a competition since the game pits you against an opponent and keeps score. Sounds more like you enjoy other aspects of hitting a ball with a racket than the actual game of tennis. Which is fine. I know lots of folks at our club that never play the actual game of tennis. They do hitting sessions with humans or ball machines. They go to drill sessions. But they never play the actual sport. They seem to enjoy themselves just fine. But in my opinion, they aren't actually playing tennis.

 

[ttwarrior1]

find 3.5 guys to play with, u get better when u play better players

 

[Sunshineanderson44]

find 3.5 guys to play with, u get better when u play better players

The 3.0s I play with are more like 3.5s, men and women.

 

[Sunshineanderson44]

Where the heck are you playing golf? China?

About the only animals I encounter routinely on a golf course are birds, insects and squirrels. The same ones I'd encounter in any public park. Granted I've been on mountain courses and run across black bears, which was more cool than frightening to be honest. But in a normal city course, animals are not an issue. At least in the first world.



That's an oxymoron to me. Tennis at its heart is a competition since the game pits you against an opponent and keeps score. Sounds more like you enjoy other aspects of hitting a ball with a racket than the actual game of tennis. Which is fine. I know lots of folks at our club that never play the actual game of tennis. They do hitting sessions with humans or ball machines. They go to drill sessions. But they never play the actual sport. They seem to enjoy themselves just fine. But in my opinion, they aren't actually playing tennis.

I like the game, not the league competition (or in class competition if I'm losing...ha). Honestly I try to learn from each loss, but I just hate usually being the least skilled one around. I also see the league as a way of challenging myself, facing my fears.

 

[supermullet]

No offense, but reading this thread after peeking at the srshs thread is absolute comic gold.

 

[MRfStop]

I'm in my early 50s and I've been playing tennis on and off for 5 years. I took occasional six week classes here and there. I also worked with a team coach once a week when I played league tennis about four years ago (2.5 team) and only won a couple of matches out of I believe six. Since that time, still took the occasional class (combination of drills and match play). I'm clearly not a beginner (other students will often comment on that) but when I take intermediate classes (which usually contain 3.0s/3.5s it's clear that I'm not on their level). I did nothing since March 2020 until the past couple of months, when I've been taking classes (group and private) and playing with friends, on average 3 to 4 times a week. I'm also in two 3.0s league now (there aren't any 2.5 women's 40+ leagues in my area right now), with one team having a weekly practice with a coach. It's obvious from my first practice with the new team that I still have so many deficits. '

Even my serve, which I thought was pretty much set, was a mess during practice. One of my teammates told me to make sure I keep my hand up when the ball comes down, right before I hit it (and this is something I know I should do but for some reason I didn't during practice). She also told me how she practices her serve by taking a ball of baskets to the court and just hitting (I didn't want to tell her that I've done that many times and really if it weren't for that I wouldn't even be using the correct, continental grip). She also got excited when the coach was teaching us how to slice because she said at our age we don't have the power (although I think they all have more power than me) so the slice can be our weapon. Finally, we had some match play where the coach was my partner and when done he asked up what we learned. The same lady was like, "well, obviously she was the weaker player, so I was trying to hit powerful shots to her." I mean, the coach was the stronger player, but I still felt crushed.

I can volley, I did poach a couple of times, but sometimes I get so excited in the game play that I look ahead to where the ball is going and lose sight of it. Also, this coach keeps telling us to keep the eye on the ball at all times, but I've had friends and a really good, USTA coach tell me to watch the ball, but also watch the player on the opposite side of the net -- this coach said I can tell by their eyes and body where the ball is going to go before they hit it. There's just so much strategy and physical prowess involved in a game that I love, and I keep hearing that if I play more advanced people that my game will improve, but here I am, still clearly a 2.5 (maybe a 3.0 on a good day). So, I'm going to play out this short USTA season but I'm wondering if that should be it for me. I've spent what I considered a lot of time and money trying to improve, watching videos along the way as well -- instructional and professional. I'm not in the best physical shape, but neither are the women that are better than me. I think I am a coordinated person, I can follow dance choreography and execute it fairly well and I've even lost a few pounds, but when is it time to throw in the towel, or racket?

Don’t give up…just change your expectations. Or set small goals and work towards them.

 

[antony]

I'm in my early 50s and I've been playing tennis on and off for 5 years. I took occasional six week classes here and there. I also worked with a team coach once a week when I played league tennis about four years ago (2.5 team) and only won a couple of matches out of I believe six. Since that time, still took the occasional class (combination of drills and match play). I'm clearly not a beginner (other students will often comment on that) but when I take intermediate classes (which usually contain 3.0s/3.5s it's clear that I'm not on their level). I did nothing since March 2020 until the past couple of months, when I've been taking classes (group and private) and playing with friends, on average 3 to 4 times a week. I'm also in two 3.0s league now (there aren't any 2.5 women's 40+ leagues in my area right now), with one team having a weekly practice with a coach. It's obvious from my first practice with the new team that I still have so many deficits. '

Even my serve, which I thought was pretty much set, was a mess during practice. One of my teammates told me to make sure I keep my hand up when the ball comes down, right before I hit it (and this is something I know I should do but for some reason I didn't during practice). She also told me how she practices her serve by taking a ball of baskets to the court and just hitting (I didn't want to tell her that I've done that many times and really if it weren't for that I wouldn't even be using the correct, continental grip). She also got excited when the coach was teaching us how to slice because she said at our age we don't have the power (although I think they all have more power than me) so the slice can be our weapon. Finally, we had some match play where the coach was my partner and when done he asked up what we learned. The same lady was like, "well, obviously she was the weaker player, so I was trying to hit powerful shots to her." I mean, the coach was the stronger player, but I still felt crushed.

I can volley, I did poach a couple of times, but sometimes I get so excited in the game play that I look ahead to where the ball is going and lose sight of it. Also, this coach keeps telling us to keep the eye on the ball at all times, but I've had friends and a really good, USTA coach tell me to watch the ball, but also watch the player on the opposite side of the net -- this coach said I can tell by their eyes and body where the ball is going to go before they hit it. There's just so much strategy and physical prowess involved in a game that I love, and I keep hearing that if I play more advanced people that my game will improve, but here I am, still clearly a 2.5 (maybe a 3.0 on a good day). So, I'm going to play out this short USTA season but I'm wondering if that should be it for me. I've spent what I considered a lot of time and money trying to improve, watching videos along the way as well -- instructional and professional. I'm not in the best physical shape, but neither are the women that are better than me. I think I am a coordinated person, I can follow dance choreography and execute it fairly well and I've even lost a few pounds, but when is it time to throw in the towel, or racket?

How can you expect to play at a 3.0/3.5 level if you just started your intermediate classes. Put some more time in! Get private lessons from someone good. Round out your consistency with a ball machine or by drilling with a like-minded improvement-centric partner

 

[Sunshineanderson44]

How can you expect to play at a 3.0/3.5 level if you just started your intermediate classes. Put some more time in! Get private lessons from someone good. Round out your consistency with a ball machine or by drilling with a like-minded improvement-centric partner

I don't expect to play at a 3.0/3.5 level, but I do expect to play at a 2.5/3.0 level and I'm not convinced that I'm doing that. I've had some of the best coaches around -- my area is heavy into tennis. One of the places I've taken classes has produced a well-known professional.

 

[antony]

I don't expect to play at a 3.0/3.5 level, but I do expect to play at a 2.5/3.0 level and I'm not convinced that I'm doing that. I've had some of the best coaches around -- my area is heavy into tennis. One of the places I've taken classes has produced a well-known professional.

It’s called “Great Expectations”. Believe in yourself, it’s so doable. Now put more higher level energy into tennis and you’ll reap the benefits

also group lessons sometimes just suck

 

[supermullet]

You've mentioned your age, but what about your overall level of strength and flexibility? Without a strong athletic foundation for your tennis, maximizing your technique is pretty much impossible.

Strength and flexibility help you in every area of tennis or any sport you participate in. Your next step may be take a beginner's strength training class rather than focusing solely on tennis.

Also, there is wild variation in people's general athletic ability and it's generally significantly lower for women. The reality is, some people are just very poor athletes. Likely, you're somewhere in the fat middle of the bell curve, somewhere in the lower end of the 2/3 middle of the curve. Others are naturally gifted and can excel with relatively little effort.

The bottom line is you enjoy tennis and that's all that matters in your decision to continue or not.

 

[sureshs]

Stop wasting money on lessons. Use the free tennis instruction videos on the Internet and the Tips section of this board. Taking lessons for 5 years and remaining at 2.5 means something is wrong and it is time to change.

 

[S&V-not_dead_yet]

Taking lessons for 5 years and remaining at 2.5 means something is wrong and it is time to change.

She hasn't been taking lessons for 5 years:

"I've been playing tennis on and off for 5 years. I took occasional six week classes here and there. I also worked with a team coach once a week when I played league tennis about four years ago."

 

[vandre]

please allow me to answer your question with a question: are you having fun?

if you're still having having and you want to get better, then don't try to fix everything at once. work on improving one part of your game at a time. one of the easiest ways to improve at that level is consistently hitting the ball deep. if that is not your problem then you can obviously start somewhere else.

 

[eah123]

The other night the team coach (who I've had private lessons with before) was like, "I see I need to teach you about the triangle". I know what the triangle is, how much court I should cover, but I didn't do it -- he, of course, didn't say anything else about it or teach me about the triangle.

Ideas like the "triangle" -( for movement pattern of the "net" player) - are an example of traditional doubles teaching that works well for high-level players, but is completely misguided for recreational doubles at the 2.5-3.5 level.

In the California Doubles system (covered in Pat Blaskower's book), the net player remains 4 feet off the net and moves laterally only, mirroring the location of the ball in front of him/her. This is a far simpler movement pattern which takes less energy and results in more points won. Angles are cut-off, and put-away volleys are greatly simplified.

 

[Sunshineanderson44]

please allow me to answer your question with a question: are you having fun?

if you're still having having and you want to get better, then don't try to fix everything at once. work on improving one part of your game at a time. one of the easiest ways to improve at that level is consistently hitting the ball deep. if that is not your problem then you can obviously start somewhere else.

After losing 6-0, 6-1 today, even with a very supportive partner (we are both 2.5s and we played against two 3.0s, one of whom was a 2.5 when I played four years ago) who said I was doing everything right, but the other team was just better (even though I know I blew a few key shots), I can honestly say, no, I'm not having fun anymore.

 

[OnTheLine]

After losing 6-0, 6-1 today, even with a very supportive partner (we are both 2.5s and we played against two 3.0s, one of whom was a 2.5 when I played four years ago) who said I was doing everything right, but the other team was just better (even though I know I blew a few key shots), I can honestly say, no, I'm not having fun anymore.

Oh I am so sorry to hear that.

If I were to play a high 4.0 team with my 3.5 partner, we would absolutely lose by that score or worse. That is to be expected.

Honestly getting even a game in a match that was so unbalanced is great and you should be proud of that! If you went to deuce even a few times that also would be fantastic.

A pair of 3.0 players should beat a pair of 2.5 players 0&0 in maybe 45 minutes max.

Find your joy. If that is on the tennis court in a non-competitive environment, that is okay!

 

[Sunshineanderson44]

Oh I am so sorry to hear that.

If I were to play a high 4.0 team with my 3.5 partner, we would absolutely lose by that score or worse. That is to be expected.

Honestly getting even a game in a match that was so unbalanced is great and you should be proud of that! If you went to deuce even a few times that also would be fantastic.

A pair of 3.0 players should beat a pair of 2.5 players 0&0 in maybe 45 minutes max.

Find your joy. If that is on the tennis court in a non-competitive environment, that is okay!

Thank you. There were definitely a lot of competitive games where it was 30-40 or deuce before they won the game. There was also the issue of one of the players foot faulting quite a bit -- my partner pointed it out to her but we didn't count it against her in the game. She seemed surprised and got a little better in the second set, but when my partner mentioned it again she got a little defensive. I think we played a little over an hour.

 

[OnTheLine]

Thank you. There were definitely a lot of competitive games where it was 30-40 or deuce before they won the game. There was also the issue of one of the players foot faulting quite a bit -- my partner pointed it out to her but we didn't count it against her in the game. She seemed surprised and got a little better in the second set, but when my partner mentioned it again she got a little defensive. I think we played a little over an hour.

Then you should be proud of that match ... not unhappy with it at all!

Manage your expectations, celebrate this as a positive, because it is!

 

[SeeItHitIt]

Find three other guys at your level of skill, set up an hour and a half 2x a week and get what you can out of the game. Playing and losing 2.5 tennis isn’t doing anyone any good.

 

[S&V-not_dead_yet]

Ideas like the "triangle" -( for movement pattern of the "net" player) - are an example of traditional doubles teaching that works well for high-level players, but is completely misguided for recreational doubles at the 2.5-3.5 level.

I'm not a coach. But 2.5-3.5 does not necessarily mean "unathletic". If my students were less athletic or mobility-restricted, I'd start with lateral movement and then hopefully eventually move on to diagonal movement. But if they had regular athleticism, I might just go straight to diagonal.

In the California Doubles system (covered in Pat Blaskower's book), the net player remains 4 feet off the net and moves laterally only, mirroring the location of the ball in front of him/her. This is a far simpler movement pattern which takes less energy and results in more points won. Angles are cut-off, and put-away volleys are greatly simplified.

4'? That sounds awfully close, close enough to invite lobs.

 

[S&V-not_dead_yet]

After losing 6-0, 6-1 today, even with a very supportive partner (we are both 2.5s and we played against two 3.0s, one of whom was a 2.5 when I played four years ago) who said I was doing everything right, but the other team was just better (even though I know I blew a few key shots), I can honestly say, no, I'm not having fun anymore.

You should realize that the most likely outcome of team1 a level higher than team2 is 0&0.

You blowing a few key shots did not contribute meaningfully to the double bagel. They were simply better than you.

And we've all been in the position of having done everything right and still losing. That's the way the cookie crumbles.

Let me give you some encouragement: I used to be dead even with my buddy. Both of our USTA matches he won in 3rd set TBs. The most recent match he beat me 0, 0, & 1 in 100 minutes [including warmup]. He has gotten a lot better so I don't feel bad at all.

If you need a confidence booster, don't play people a level above you. Play peers or even those a level below to build confidence.

It sounds like you are tying your enjoyment to the outcome. I would suggest changing your focus to the process of improvement and let the results take care of themselves.

 

[eah123]

I'm not a coach. But 2.5-3.5 does not necessarily mean "unathletic". If my students were less athletic or mobility-restricted, I'd start with lateral movement and then hopefully eventually move on to diagonal movement. But if they had regular athleticism, I might just go straight to diagonal.



4'? That sounds awfully close, close enough to invite lobs.

If you watch 2.5-3.5 doubles, most net players stand in one place, in the middle of the service box, and don't even move laterally!

California Doubles system includes how to handle lobs that go over the net player. But what happens quite often is that the lob is not high enough, and hitting an overhead when you are 4' off the net AT the opposing net player is extremely easy and results in a winning point close to 100% of the time. One or two of those will get them to stop attempting lobs real quick!

 

[Sunshineanderson44]

You should realize that the most likely outcome of team1 a level higher than team2 is 0&0.

If you need a confidence booster, don't play people a level above you. Play peers or even those a level below to build confidence.

It sounds like you are tying your enjoyment to the outcome. I would suggest changing your focus to the process of improvement and let the results take care of themselves.

I think playing socially people below me is what lead to a false sense of security. I'm having a difficult time because I feel like at this point I should be much further along. It would have been nice to be paired with a 3.0 today, but I guess we were lucky to get two other players to agree to play so we wouldn't default the third court and I think my partner and maybe only one other person on the team is a 2.5. For my other 3.0 team, there are a lot of 2.5s.

 

[S&V-not_dead_yet]

I'm having a difficult time because I feel like at this point I should be much further along.

This is what I alluded to in my initial response:

Don't compare yourself to others; work out a timetable that's acceptable to you and ignore what others are doing. Too often I hear the complaint "So and So just started playing x months ago and is already better than I am after y years; I should quit.", ignoring that So and So might just have more aptitude and talent and athleticism, etc.

My strong suggestion, if you want to be happy playing tennis, is to forget thinking about where you should be and instead concentrate on where you are and how to get to where you want to be.

Here's an example: during a match, some people spend too much time in the past [lamenting past errors] or in the future ["If I just hold serve, I'll win the set"]. Most high-performance coaches tell you to stay in the present. Worry about the most important point: the one you're about to play or in the middle of playing. Everything else is a distraction.

The same thing can apply to your expenditure of energy on where you are in your tennis journey: by all means, learn from past mistakes and don't repeat them and also plan for the future. But the present is where things will happen.

If you're serious about improvement, one path is to stop playing matches and focus on lessons and practice to at least establish a foundation. Only then introduce match play back slowly.

The drawback of continuing to play matches while trying to rebuild your game is that during matches, you will revert back to your old habits, which will hinder your progress.

Again, talk this over with your coach and make a plan.

 

[golden chicken]

Guys are dancing around it a little bit.

STOP worrying about your results. It's very hard to let go, but it's the key to enjoying the game again.

When your are learning/practicing how to stay in the moment and not worry about the results, a great example to emulate is Maria Sharapova.

See how she gets the ball and still goes to the back fence to pick at her strings? Do you know what she's thinking? She's mentally reviewing the previous point. If she has any negative emotions she doesn't turn back to the court until she's processed them. Then she turns back to the court, does a little skip-step and encourages herself to focus on the point at hand. By the time she starts dribbling the ball to serve all thoughts of the previous point are gone. She knows as well as any other top player that it's a waste of mental resources to dwell on the past point or carry negative emotions into the next point.

Being tense, worried about how you'll perform, worried about how you'll be perceived for not performing...it's all a negative feedback loop. Those emotions prevent you from executing your strokes and then that cycle spirals out of control if you let it. Being loose, self-confident, and unconcerned with the results is a positive feedback loop.

Personally, I had to play and lose so much that I basically became numb to it. But when I resigned myself to losing, I discovered a freedom to enjoy the process and once I experienced that freedom, I actually started to win!

Another thing to remember before beating yourself up too much is that even pros make unforced errors, and lose close to half the points played, even when they win!

 

[Sunshineanderson44]

Guys are dancing around it a little bit.

STOP worrying about your results. It's very hard to let go, but it's the key to enjoying the game again.

When your are learning/practicing how to stay in the moment and not worry about the results, a great example to emulate is Maria Sharapova.

See how she gets the ball and still goes to the back fence to pick at her strings? Do you know what she's thinking? She's mentally reviewing the previous point. If she has any negative emotions she doesn't turn back to the court until she's processed them. Then she turns back to the court, does a little skip-step and encourages herself to focus on the point at hand. By the time she starts dribbling the ball to serve all thoughts of the previous point are gone. She knows as well as any other top player that it's a waste of mental resources to dwell on the past point or carry negative emotions into the next point.

Being tense, worried about how you'll perform, worried about how you'll be perceived for not performing...it's all a negative feedback loop. Those emotions prevent you from executing your strokes and then that cycle spirals out of control if you let it. Being loose, self-confident, and unconcerned with the results is a positive feedback loop.

Personally, I had to play and lose so much that I basically became numb to it. But when I resigned myself to losing, I discovered a freedom to enjoy the process and once I experienced that freedom, I actually started to win!

Another thing to remember before beating yourself up too much is that even pros make unforced errors, and lose close to half the points played, even when they win!

I always found it funny when players look at their racket strings after an error -- it's like it was the racket's fault -- ha! But I like your explanation better.

If I were a singles player I don't think the losses would phase me as much, but with doubles I feel like I'm disappointing my partner and the team. It's also embarrassing to me to encounter people from my past who have advanced faster than me and I'm not handling my business, so to speak.

 

[golden chicken]

I always found it funny when players look at their racket strings after an error -- it's like it was the racket's fault -- ha! But I like your explanation better.

If I were a singles player I don't think the losses would phase me as much, but with doubles I feel like I'm disappointing my partner and the team. It's also embarrassing to me to encounter people from my past who have advanced faster than me and I'm not handling my business, so to speak.

That is totally understandable. But trying your best and having fun doing it make you a fun partner, regardless of your results. Showing your partner that you don't cling to your own errors helps them be comfortable with theirs.

 

[Sunshineanderson44]

That is totally understandable. But trying your best and having fun doing it make you a fun partner, regardless of your results. Showing your partner that you don't cling to your own errors helps them be comfortable with theirs.

Great point, and my partner did a great job of pointing out what she could have done in certain instances without clinging to her errors.

 

[jm1980]

Stop wasting money on lessons. Use the free tennis instruction videos on the Internet and the Tips section of this board. Taking lessons for 5 years and remaining at 2.5 means something is wrong and it is time to change.

Using tennis instruction videos is a surefire way to never improve. Getting tips from this board you will be lucky to not regress. OP, don't do this.

 

[S&V-not_dead_yet]

Great point, and my partner did a great job of pointing out what she could have done in certain instances without clinging to her errors.

Your partner understands high-level doubles.

 

[Bagumbawalla]

Here are my 3 steps to playing well.

1. Learn the basic strokes. How to hit them perfectly in relation to your body.
Find that position where the ball is the right height, the right distance, the perfect relationship to you
as you set up to hit it back. This will apply to volleys, groundstrokes, lobs, overheads and so on- there is always an
optimal position that you need to be in to hit the perfect ball back. Remember that position.

2. Next, you need to work on your movement- so you can get into to that perfect position so you can strike each of those ball as
much as possible the same way every time.

3. Lastly- and this will come with time- you need to learn where to place the ball to disrupt the opponent's game
and set yourself up for a winning shot.

So, really, rather than dealing with a thousand ideas, positions, placements- you try to make the game as simple and "boring"
as possible. The rest is just the fun of doing something you enjoy.

 

[Sunshineanderson44]

Here are my 3 steps to playing well.

1. Learn the basic strokes. How to hit them perfectly in relation to your body.
Find that position where the ball is the right height, the right distance, the perfect relationship to you
as you set up to hit it back. This will apply to volleys, groundstrokes, lobs, overheads and so on- there is always an
optimal position that you need to be in to hit the perfect ball back. Remember that position.

2. Next, you need to work on your movement- so you can get into to that perfect position so you can strike each of those ball as
much as possible the same way every time.

3. Lastly- and this will come with time- you need to learn where to place the ball to disrupt the opponent's game
and set yourself up for a winning shot.

So, really, rather than dealing with a thousand ideas, positions, placements- you try to make the game as simple and "boring"
as possible. The rest is just the fun of doing something you enjoy.

These are all excellent points, but how do I find those positions? Private coach who is feeding me balls at various positions? The classes (drills plus match play) aren't helping me find/remember the position.

Also, I just found out we only won the singles court. The two other doubles courts lost 6-3, 6-4 and 6-1, 6-1, so I guess the other team overall is stronger.

 

[golden chicken]

These are all excellent points, but how do I find those positions? Private coach who is feeding me balls at various positions? The classes (drills plus match play) aren't helping me find/remember the position.

Also, I just found out we only won the singles court. The two other doubles courts lost 6-3, 6-4 and 6-1, 6-1, so I guess the other team overall is stronger.

I honed my ball striking position while rallying with friends. But it was something I decided to focus on before going out to hit with them.

When coaching adult beginners I had them hold their racket out at their imagined ideal contact point. Then I press against their racket face and have them move around until they feel strongest behind the racket. Then I stick a ball in the fence and have them swing their racket to the ball, touch it, and press against the fence. Once they feel comfortable with the spacing, I have them move around before stepping up to swing their racket to the ball in the fence. This gets them comfortable moving into the correct spacing. Then we move onto live feeds.

 

[Sunshineanderson44]

I honed my ball striking position while rallying with friends. But it was something I decided to focus on before going out to hit with them.

When coaching adult beginners I had them hold their racket out at their imagined ideal contact point. Then I press against their racket face and have them move around until they feel strongest behind the racket. Then I stick a ball in the fence and have them swing their racket to the ball, touch it, and press against the fence. Once they feel comfortable with the spacing, I have them move around before stepping up to swing their racket to the ball in the fence. This gets them comfortable moving into the correct spacing. Then we move onto live feeds.

Wow! Where are you located?

 

[AmericanTwist]

Don't give up OP...Tennis is life-long sport. Makes you focus and practice. When you get really old like 85+ then you can play pickle ball lol.... Try hitting closed stance and don't worry as much about what your opponent is doing. At this point you need to hone strokes, focus on the ball, and have the correct foot work, and be at the optimal spot to hit the ball. Open stance swings have a tiny window. If the player is off by a bit, their ball will be way off or have no power. Try to play with others your level. Maybe take lessons from another coach.

 

[golden chicken]

Wow! Where are you located?

Massachusetts. But I'm no pro coach, just officially coached two kids' classes one summer 15 years ago, and "coached/taught" a few friends (and my wife) how to play along the way. A lot of the suggestions I give are ones I read here or in books that I thought would work if someone showed me them as a beginner. I think I have good proprioception and an ok ability to put what I feel when I hit or swing the racket into words and progressive drills to get other people to experience what I experience.