First time to post in the junior forum, so forgive me if this has been discussed in the past. I've got a 16 year old son who is a solid, but not great open junior tournament player. He only started at 14, so his game is still developing. I'm a former college player who still plays well, having held a top 25 national senior ranking within the past couple of years. Getting started I just worked with me son all the time, basically having daily workouts with a mix of stroke training, and point play. Our club limits court time to 1.5 hrs, so we go hard and heavy for that time, hardly taking breaks. Unfortuantely I've got the old school "classic" game with somewhat flat strokes, lots of slice backhands, etc. Of course all the juniors in tournaments have the Nadal game hitting monster topspin, so my son is not ready to handle the extra spin. I've made efforts to find other good junior players for my son to practice with, but they all just train at an area academy. My son has just started working a couple of sessions per week after school with them, which is great. Problem is it seems the academy might be an all or nothing option for the summer, 6 or 7 hrs per day, 5 days per week. Son also plays high school basketball and has had a couple of overuse / stress related joint injuries already, so don't think he would have the interest to train that hard, beside my concerns for working that hard. There are limited adults available at the club we practice at that can give him a match. Just frustrating, I was a pro long ago and taught kids a lesson or two per week, and the rest of the time they were on the courts practing with their buddies. Times seem to have really changed. Anyone dealing with this issue, and have any suggestions?
Junior Tennis - Limited Practice Partners
- Thread starter lstewart
- Start date
GRANITECHIEF
Hall of Fame
I'd suggest trying to incorp more topspin in your game when you practice with him. Its not so hard to do, even Roddick can do a Nadal impression.
http://youtu.be/59qgmchvbL8
http://youtu.be/59qgmchvbL8
Yes, he does have a high school team, but he is the only serious tennis player on the team. High school tennis is a fall sport here, and he was the #1 player on the team, and all conference. But none of the other kids on the team have much ability or play outside of their season, so hitting with them is not a solution. I do try to hit more topspin that usual, and not slice as much. I agree that is smart, but my game can't really simulate what he sees from the top juniors. That would be more like asking McEnroe to hit like Nadal effectively, since Roddick has the same basic modern game to begin with.
justinmadison
Semi-Pro
I have faced this problem myself. I don’t know if it will help you but these are some of the things I did. If you have a USTA league in your area there will be younger singles players who hit with a modern game. I was in a USTA 4.5 league and found several 25ish players that agreeded to play with my son. He started playing at an earlier age than your son and eventually he was able to beat them every time. I then went to the local junior college and started paying some of the players $15 / hour to hit with him. After a while he started beating them. I progressed to the local D1 school and started paying those players to hit with him. He has not grown past them. 
You will have to find the right level for your son. My guess is you can still beat him. Can you join a USTA league to get to know some of the players? It might do the trick.
You will have to find the right level for your son. My guess is you can still beat him. Can you join a USTA league to get to know some of the players? It might do the trick.
Justin, all excellent ideas, and all things I am trying, or have tried. I play regular and senior 4.5 league tennis. There are a couple of guys on our regular 4.5 team that fit the what I need. One of them hits with us some. I had asked him if he could hit this summer with my son during the day for pay, but he will not be here (college student). I am alot better than the other guy, but hope to get him worked in some. Yes, I can beat my son about as bad as I want to at this time. I've also talked to the asst coach for our local D-1 team, who invites me down for some dubs every couple of weeks. If one of those guys is around this summer, that might help. Unfortunately there is just a big gap here in available talent. Of the guys on my regular 4.5 team, half of them are teaching pros, play at my level, and want $50 an hour for lessons. Too expensive for regular practice partners, and generally they also have games like mine. Thanks for the ideas though.... very good.
tacoben
Semi-Pro
Network/exchanged phone numbers with other parents/kids at tournaments to schedule hitting sessions with. Some may not get back to you but some will. Put out an add for hitting partner in Craiglist with requirements you are looking for, 4.5-5.0 level, former college players, etc. I hire a HS kid in my area who also plays a lot of USTA tourneys, to hit with my girl...I pay him $20 an hour, he is more than eager cause it covers part of his private lessons. If you have a ball machine or can rent one out, set the dial to heavy topspin so your son can learn to handle the topspin. Good luck!
Thanks, good suggestions. Older son was a top level junior / college golfer. Much easier to develop in that sport.... just leave him at the golf course all day every day in the summer! Ball macine is not a bad idea... club has one but have never used it. Ideal summer scenerio would be to find a college player available during the day to train for pay with my son, and then I could work out with him at night.
