Is taking a break now good

[Mxnh]

So basically I've just finished a huge year of tennis for me, from being completely new to tennis to a solid 3.5 player. I've played an average of 12 hours a week, even more in the spring and as of late. However, 3 things make me want to take a break:

1. My arm has been sore (not hurt, sore) as of late whenever I play sets or hit hard. My elbow has also been slightly uncomfortable lately.
2. I just want to focus on other things for a while
3. I feel that I've plateaued for a while since about september - my form goes up and down but my average performance remains the same. Normally a break and coming back after pretty much anything either sets me back a lot lot or makes me like 2x better.

the two things that make me reluctant to take a break are:
1. I don't want to get rusty and I do want to prepare for the upcoming HS tennis season starting in mid-february.
2. I'm in the form of my life right now - I recently played an L7 tournament with low 3 to mid 3 utrs (I'm a 3.8 utr) and bageled every one of my opponents. Didn't drop a game the entire day. utr flex league matches have been similar - average of 3 games conceded in a bo3 match with a 3rd set match tiebreak; won 3 and lost 1 to a 4.7 utr 3-6 6-3 8-10, etc. I just don't want to waste this crazy form I'm in rn

Just wanted to get some opinions on if I should take a break and for how long I should take the break if I should at all - keep in mind my season begins mid-feb

Thanks!

 

[nyta2]

my .02 - random thoughts, no particular order
don't take a break. especially not from serving... if you take a break from hitting, still serve 30m a day... not hard, just focus on toss location & spinning it in with good arc.
but maybe cut down on the time... an hour a day for example (which cuts your playing time in half)
figure out why your arm is sore (technique? string? racquet? overuse)
maybe take a break from heavy hitting.. just do coop rallies, focusing strictly on technique/not power
tennis always feels like a plateau

if you're going out for the team, is a utr3.8 good enough? if not, definitely don't take a break ;P

 

[sureshs]

So basically I've just finished a huge year of tennis for me, from being completely new to tennis to a solid 3.5 player. I've played an average of 12 hours a week, even more in the spring and as of late. However, 3 things make me want to take a break:

1. My arm has been sore (not hurt, sore) as of late whenever I play sets or hit hard. My elbow has also been slightly uncomfortable lately.
2. I just want to focus on other things for a while
3. I feel that I've plateaued for a while since about september - my form goes up and down but my average performance remains the same. Normally a break and coming back after pretty much anything either sets me back a lot lot or makes me like 2x better.

the two things that make me reluctant to take a break are:
1. I don't want to get rusty and I do want to prepare for the upcoming HS tennis season starting in mid-february.
2. I'm in the form of my life right now - I recently played an L7 tournament with low 3 to mid 3 utrs (I'm a 3.8 utr) and bageled every one of my opponents. Didn't drop a game the entire day. utr flex league matches have been similar - average of 3 games conceded in a bo3 match with a 3rd set match tiebreak; won 3 and lost 1 to a 4.7 utr 3-6 6-3 8-10, etc. I just don't want to waste this crazy form I'm in rn

Just wanted to get some opinions on if I should take a break and for how long I should take the break if I should at all - keep in mind my season begins mid-feb

Thanks!

You went to 3.5 from a beginner in one year?

 

[ErrorMachine]

Maybe find a bigger tournament coming up before the season starts. Better competition to motivate you to get better plus valuable experience. Try different drills and try to make a game out of them. Could also hit the gym. Don’t have to go wild, but a little strength training goes a long way

 

[fecund345]

Take care of your injuries but start playing again asap. I have been put on a permanent break from tennis because of polyneuropathy ( not peripheral neuropathy, diabetes) and I miss being able to play. Everything above the knees work but below the knees the brain signals don't get through, scrambled and calves and feet 70 % numb. No balance and can trip over a pebble because of drop foot.

So enjoy it while you can.

 

[jimmy8]

Stop using babolat and your arm will get better.

 

[Mxnh]

You went to 3.5 from a beginner in one year?

Always been quite talented at sports

 

[tendency]

So basically I've just finished a huge year of tennis for me, from being completely new to tennis to a solid 3.5 player. I've played an average of 12 hours a week, even more in the spring and as of late. However, 3 things make me want to take a break:

1. My arm has been sore (not hurt, sore) as of late whenever I play sets or hit hard. My elbow has also been slightly uncomfortable lately.
2. I just want to focus on other things for a while
3. I feel that I've plateaued for a while since about september - my form goes up and down but my average performance remains the same. Normally a break and coming back after pretty much anything either sets me back a lot lot or makes me like 2x better.

the two things that make me reluctant to take a break are:
1. I don't want to get rusty and I do want to prepare for the upcoming HS tennis season starting in mid-february.
2. I'm in the form of my life right now - I recently played an L7 tournament with low 3 to mid 3 utrs (I'm a 3.8 utr) and bageled every one of my opponents. Didn't drop a game the entire day. utr flex league matches have been similar - average of 3 games conceded in a bo3 match with a 3rd set match tiebreak; won 3 and lost 1 to a 4.7 utr 3-6 6-3 8-10, etc. I just don't want to waste this crazy form I'm in rn

Just wanted to get some opinions on if I should take a break and for how long I should take the break if I should at all - keep in mind my season begins mid-feb

Thanks!

Personally, I'd listen to your body/mind and take some time off. You've practiced/played very hard for 12 months and the wear and tear is starting to add up. The last thing you want is to get a more serious injury. Also, respect the burnout factor. If you're young-ish there's plenty of time.

When I was a kid we always alternated between winter and summer sports and it was never that big of a deal to get back in the swing of things when transitioning.

 

[tendency]

Always been quite talented at sports

Yeah totally doable if someone is a good athlete and grew up playing sports (especially if they practice/play 12 hrs/week - that's alot). I've seen a number of people do it on 5-6 hours practice/play per week.

Now going from 3.5 to 4.0 ... that's a whole nother can 'o worms.

 

[sureshs]

Always been quite talented at sports

Post a video here

 

[tlm]

You should do some strength training if you have time, this will definitely help cut down the arm pain and improve your game.

 

[Bagumbawalla]

Something is causing your soreness and elbow problem which could be
any of a variety of things, hitting off center, technique problems,
stiff racket, poly strings. You might take a break, but if you don't find and correct
the cause of the problem it may very well return when you return from the break.

If you are developing tennis elbow, you should take time for the injury to heal, then
when you are ready to resume playing make whatever change is necessary to
prevent it returning. Change rackets, try different strings/tensions, have someone
watch your technique and make suggestions.

Years ago, when I began to develop tennis elbow, I switched to a Pro Kennex
racket and never was troubled again.