My strokes on camera

[tennis_balla]

So I haven't video taped myself in a while and thought it was about time. Surprised I still recognized myself
Its a tough call, considering Top 200 players are rated 4.0 on TW Forums so I'm putting myself no higher then 2.5 though I'm hoping to make that 3.0 milestone soon and start making some money on the Futures circuit :mrgreen:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m9_840isSsI


Update:

Added a short serving video
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G3oXjiBv5J4

 

[Djokovicfan4life]

Great consistency.

You look a little "straight up" on your forehand, and you don't always get your weight into it. Are you using a continental grip for the backhand? I ask because your topspin backswing almost looks like you're going to slice, not that that's a bad thing.

 

[arche3]

Id say 3.5 at most. Lol. backhand is nice. I love the way you hit that. I approve of your tennis video. I can't say ntrp because your form is great. No issues from me just looking. So you could be as high as a pro or as low as 4.0. Depends on match play. Im the same way. I look good playing but sometimes my games don't score the same. I remember one juniors match when everyone was watching.. I think it was a country club in irvine california. I looked freakin amazi.g. I crushed everything. But I got double bagels from some kid with ugly strokes. Peope were like wtf? I pretty much was utterly crushed mentally after that for a long time.

 

[danno123]

Wow. Very nice strokes.

Your strokes are just like mine only I hit a lot more balls into the net . . . and out . . . and a whole lot slower.

 

[dozu]

great stuff

your partner aint bad either.

 

[LeeD]

Another ringer in our midst.
Hope you do good in Q's and Opens.
Don't let your forehand let you down.

 

[tes]

So I haven't video taped myself in a while and thought it was about time. Surprised I still recognized myself
Its a tough call, considering Top 200 players are rated 4.0 on TW Forums so I'm putting myself no higher then 2.5 though I'm hoping to make that 3.0 milestone soon and start making some money on the Futures circuit :mrgreen:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m9_840isSsI

I detect an occaisonal inconsistant seperation of the fingers of your left hand when you hit through your backhand. Sometimes the index finger lifts ever so slightly more than the others. Work on correcting this and you are sure to be a solid 3.5 within 2 years.

Sheeesh...wish I could hit like that.

 

[forthegame]

Bravo!

Consistency++++

I can only dream.

 

[aimr75]

Great strokes balla, thanks for posting

 

[joesucks]

dude, you are awesome!

 

[Dreamer]

So I haven't video taped myself in a while and thought it was about time. Surprised I still recognized myself
Its a tough call, considering Top 200 players are rated 4.0 on TW Forums so I'm putting myself no higher then 2.5 though I'm hoping to make that 3.0 milestone soon and start making some money on the Futures circuit :mrgreen:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m9_840isSsI

I remember you. Great job, All the problems I saw before are not there anymore. Very stable. Your technique is several times better.
Always great to see progress.

I think you need to develop the backhand a bit more. It should be more focused on shoulder and legs. It's almost there, but right now it has a bit too much arm for my liking. The looser arm and stronger use of shoulder/leg to drive the shot will give you more top spin potential.

edit: oh and footwork needs to be sped up a bit. I understand it's a low intensity rally, but even though try to keep up your speed. Slow can become a habit. A lot of the issues can be fixed if you give yourself more time. Both in preparation and recovery.

 

[Dreamer]

^Sorry. Actually I don't remember you. It was another person.

Well geez. No wonder you're so much better haha.

 

[tennis_balla]

I remember you. Great job, All the problems I saw before are not there anymore. Very stable. Your technique is several times better.
Always great to see progress.

I think you need to develop the backhand a bit more. It should be more focused on shoulder and legs. It's almost there, but right now it has a bit too much arm for my liking. The looser arm and stronger use of shoulder/leg to drive the shot will give you more top spin potential.

edit: oh and footwork needs to be sped up a bit. I understand it's a low intensity rally, but even though try to keep up your speed. Slow can become a habit. A lot of the issues can be fixed if you give yourself more time. Both in preparation and recovery.

I think you're mistaking me with someone else. I've never asked for help on here nor have I been working on anything in my game. I actually haven't been playing much, maybe 2-3x a week when I'm lucky because of coaching mainly and the last time I posted a video of myself here was over 2 years ago.

Edit:

haha yea I was wondering, no problem.

 

[SStrikerR]

Your strokes look great, nice spin and pace. All you really need to work on is footwork. Once you get to where the ball is, you stop moving pretty much, If you took some little steps you could get a little better positioning, which would help you hit more accurately, by reducing awkward shots.

 

[jdubbs]

I'd like to see some match play, but at this point I would put you at 4.5 to 5.5. Really nice strokes, I'm not sure how much advice you need!

 

[PeterFig]

Just lovely!

Very nice strokes. They are smooth and uncomplicated. That's a great thing.
Thanks for posting. Gives me some inspiration!

 

[WildVolley]

3.5 at best. My little sister could beat you and she doesn't play tennis.

Tennis Balla, you clearly don't know how to play this game. You're supposed to show a five second clip taken by someone shaking a camera phone up and down. In that clip, you'll hit a backhand into the net and another ball long. People will rate you a 3.0 at best and then you can feign outrage at their idiocy.

When you show a clip in which you are hitting more consistently than Nadal warming up, it makes it hard for us to honestly claim it looks like you don't know how to play tennis.

Do you play college tennis?

 

[Consolation]

If you play like you hit, I suspect you'd settle as a mid 5.0. You're consistency alone is enough to get you by pretty much any true 4.5. But...you're too inconsistent with your preparation and footwork to be beyond that. I suspect you probably play 5.0/open events and win matches here and there, but never end up winning. You have great strokes and a nice natural swing, but even on 1-2 step shots you're often late and off balance. Your reaction and first step is good, but then you're lazy. That suggests you've been there before, but for whatever reason lack motivation now. You look like a lot of former high level college players I hit with that have moved on and are in limbo land. They have the strokes and muscle memory to be much better than they are, but have lost the motivation to do what it takes to play to their ability.

If you were drunk, really tired, etc, during the video, you could easily be a competitive 5.5+ with those strokes, but honestly, I've never seen someone whose lazy/slow in casual hitting actually be consistently aggressive with their balance and movement when playing for real.

 

[tennis_balla]

3.5 at best. My little sister could beat you and she doesn't play tennis.

Tennis Balla, you clearly don't know how to play this game. You're supposed to show a five second clip taken by someone shaking a camera phone up and down. In that clip, you'll hit a backhand into the net and another ball long. People will rate you a 3.0 at best and then you can feign outrage at their idiocy.

When you show a clip in which you are hitting more consistently than Nadal warming up, it makes it hard for us to honestly claim it looks like you don't know how to play tennis.

Do you play college tennis?

Yea sorry I don't yet understand the concept of editing my clips to show only the good parts. Will try harder next time.

I'm too old for college, turned 30 in September :shock:

 

[MNPlayer]

Very nice strokes. Your practice partner also seems very consistent, it would actually be interesting to see you handle more short balls. He's hitting so consistently deep.

 

[tennis_balla]

If you play like you hit, I suspect you'd settle as a mid 5.0. You're consistency alone is enough to get you by pretty much any true 4.5. But...you're too inconsistent with your preparation and footwork to be beyond that. I suspect you probably play 5.0/open events and win matches here and there, but never end up winning. You have great strokes and a nice natural swing, but even on 1-2 step shots you're often late and off balance. Your reaction and first step is good, but then you're lazy. That suggests you've been there before, but for whatever reason lack motivation now. You look like a lot of former high level college players I hit with that have moved on and are in limbo land. They have the strokes and muscle memory to be much better than they are, but have lost the motivation to do what it takes to play to their ability.

If you were drunk, really tired, etc, during the video, you could easily be a competitive 5.5+ with those strokes, but honestly, I've never seen someone whose lazy/slow in casual hitting actually be consistently aggressive with their balance and movement when playing for real.

Thank you for taking the time to analyze my whole approach to the game of tennis and my work ethic from just watching a 6min video of me hitting from the baseline. I don't know, I mean maybe what you see in the video is us hitting right from the beginning of our warm up...maybe.
I apologize for not being up to your usual high standards, will try harder next time.

P.S. I will also re-watch extensively what I taped so I can find all those off balanced and late shots.

 

[KMV]

very nice ground strokes.. like the form on your 1hbh.. also would like to see a clip of higher intensity rallies..

i'd have you at 5.0, maybe higher..

 

[Consolation]

I apologize if I was off base, just saying you look like a lot of guys I hit with that are stuck in the past and are cavalier and slow because of how good they once were.

Again, just going from my experience, guys that are lazy at the beginning of warm up, are gonna be lazy later when they play. Maybe not all the time, but it will happen. If being not-lazy is something you have to warm up into, or concentrate on, then it's not something that will manifest itself consistently.

Anyway, you posted the video. Someone as good as you, who posts a video on this forum has to be looking for affirmation. So, again, I say you have a great game. My opinion, and that's all it is, is the only thing holding you back from being as good as you used to be is you.

 

[tennis_balla]

I'm not looking for affirmation at all. Clint Thompson has posted his videos on here, Tony as well and others. If anyone see's anything I'm open to suggestions, no worries.

I came off sarcastically because to say someone hits easy or lazy means they are lazy on court in a match is untrue. I could use Federer as an example, or Sampras but thats too easy and going right to the top, however many players are like this. Everyone has their own rhythm on court.
First time I saw Sampras warming up on a practice court at a tournament as a kid it blew my freaking mind, and not in a good way. He was walking along like he had one foot in the grave, hit a few balls, went to sit back down, re-wrapped his grip, slowly walked back to the baseline, barely moved his feet and so on but thats his rhythm even in a match he walks around slower then lets say Agassi. Thats just him. Fed is similar, however someone like Nadal is constantly hoping up and down and moving around.

However, I will agree with you on some ex-college guys. Some just aren't getting the hits or competition they're after and it bores them or they just think its good enough where their level is at now and have no intention of working hard again to keep improving their game cause they know in their area its good enough. Big fish, little pond.

 

[Consolation]

First time I saw Sampras warming up on a practice court at a tournament as a kid it blew my freaking mind, and not in a good way. He was walking along like he had one foot in the grave, hit a few balls, went to sit back down, re-wrapped his grip, slowly walked back to the baseline, barely moved his feet and so on but thats his rhythm even in a match he walks around slower then lets say Agassi. Thats just him. Fed is similar, however someone like Nadal is constantly hoping up and down and moving around.

Fair enough, but that's not what I was commenting on. Look at your video around the time when you change perspective. Look at your forehands prior to the change, before you end with the high drive. Look at the first few forehands after the perspective change compared to the several you hit in the next 20-30 seconds. Compare those well balanced coiled shots (as opposed to the others where your center is falling backwards and you pivot) to when you have to take 2-3 steps in the minute that follows.

That's what I'm talking about, and those are the kind of things I notice when I'm warming up with someone.

I've played with a lot of really good tennis players. And while in practice they can be lose, casual, and be reluctant to run balls down, on shots that require very little effort to get into the correct position/balance, they always do...always.

 

[Indiana Puffed]

Keep up the good work Tennis Balla, I think it can be a very positive thing to practice in a relaxed manner. It shows you are comfortable with your strokes. Some higher tempo training is advisable too but I am sure you already know and do that.

On a slightly different note, in a thread I made recently I thanked you for sharing your knowledge of the Spanish Training Method drills. Gutted the youtube links went down. Just this week I, along with my regular practice partner, utilised the hand fed X drill. Was good fun, but a learning cruve. Even feeding at a reasonable pace, height and depth took lots of practice! I hope we can keep at this drill for some time to come, I've no doubt footwork and recovery will improve at a high rate. Once we get good we will use some of the other drills.

What drills to you tend to use in practice?

 

[Hominator]

Yea sorry I don't yet understand the concept of editing my clips to show only the good parts. Will try harder next time.

I'm too old for college, turned 30 in September :shock:

Which Yonex are you using?

 

[lonux]

That forehand reminds me of my own... although mine is a bit more pushy for sure.

Very nice. If I might ask, are you a counter-puncher?

 

[tiochaota]

at most 2.5? gosh im a negative 7.0

 

[Bud]

Are you using a continental grip on the BH side?

 

[crystal_clear]

Nice form~

This court looks familiar to me...Did you hit with a coach?

 

[tennis_balla]

What drills to you tend to use in practice?

When I'm coaching I use the regular X pattern (deep forehand, short forehand, deep backhand, short backhand) a lot along with one called Approach and Volley or a variation of it Approach and 2 Volleys the most as well as a few hand fed drills depending on the person I'm coaching. They are in this video...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SjbXWfACf2M

The one right at the start at the video, first few seconds is also great and can be done with a racket in hand like Pato is doing or hand fed. Again depends on the skill level of the individual you are coaching.
He's making him move back, and starting in front of the bucket but you can reverse it and make the player start behind the bucket and make them move forward.

Also, the ones I love a lot are the hitting the ball straight down, getting an awkward bounce and having the player adjust and move their feet up and back, side to side to learn how to get into position. Tough drill, you can see it done starting at 10secs into the video, hitting the ball straight into the court, then bumping up a short one so the player has to move forward, etc. Killer drill, and great on the footwork and strokes. They do it with overheads from the baseline as well you can see.

Just be careful you keep the player in control and they are still within their limit, then slowly over time as they get more comfortable and learn to move better, start increasing the intensity and difficulty of the drills. Last thing you want is them to develop bad habits and have them flailing around like a windmill cause they can't keep up.

Which Yonex are you using?

Yonex RDiS 100 Mid

If I might ask, are you a counter-puncher?

I'm 6'4, counter-punching isn't be the best tactic for me.

Are you using a continental grip on the BH side?

It's slightly closed, if I'd stick my arm out and look at it head on I'd be pointing around 1 o'clock or so with the top of the frame (hope that makes sense) but the grip varies slightly depending on the ball. Contact higher up around shoulder level I'll close it a tad more. My slice grip is continental.

I never noticed my racket being kinda open like that on take back, djokovicfan mentioned it also. Maybe its just the camera angle from the back, the camera was somewhat close cause it looks normal to me from the second angle taken head on. I guess its just the way I bring the racket back, I dunno sub conscious I guess

 

[JackB1]

great consistent strokes! What is your level? I would guess at least 4.0 and as high as over 5.0, but without seeing some match play or more demanding shots, it's hard to tell. You hit the ball so easily and effortlessly and thats a great thing. You look like you could rally for a long time and easily wait for your opponent to make a mistake. Only criticism is that you could be a little more deliberate in your footwork and bend you knees more and wind and unwind your shoulders/hips more into the shot.

 

[LeeD]

At 6'4", better NOT to react to opponent's shots, but rather go for your own forcing shots and winners.
Sure, tennisballa can tighten up, but then he's be playing on the Tour.

 

[bradsm01]

Hey tennis balla - in the video, by the way nice strokes, definitely 5.0 at least, are you hitting at the Midtown Athletic Club right off Windy Hills in Marietta, GA ? I was a member a few years ago.

 

[bhupaes]

Very nice strokes, tennis balla. Obviously you are a high level, open class player (5.0 to 5.5). Congratulations on your achievement!

 

[Stiver]

Id say 3.5 at most

Haha bull ****. Inevitably someone gives the guy an incredibly low ball rating.

 

[Stiver]

Disregard my last post. I didn't realize he was joking, lol me bad.

 

[DevilsChildXD]

So Goood!! T_T

 

[gameboy]

Definitely a balla! Great strokes, pleasure to watch.

 

[tennis_balla]

Nice form~

This court looks familiar to me...Did you hit with a coach?

No I was hitting with a friend

Hey tennis balla - in the video, by the way nice strokes, definitely 5.0 at least, are you hitting at the Midtown Athletic Club right off Windy Hills in Marietta, GA ? I was a member a few years ago.

No, I live in Canada. Actually surprised there are even indoor courts in GA, maybe you're further up north

 

[Indiana Puffed]

Also, the ones I love a lot are the hitting the ball straight down, getting an awkward bounce and having the player adjust and move their feet up and back, side to side to learn how to get into position. Tough drill, you can see it done starting at 10secs into the video, hitting the ball straight into the court, then bumping up a short one so the player has to move forward, etc. Killer drill, and great on the footwork and strokes. They do it with overheads from the baseline as well you can see.

Just be careful you keep the player in control and they are still within their limit, then slowly over time as they get more comfortable and learn to move better, start increasing the intensity and difficulty of the drills. Last thing you want is them to develop bad habits and have them flailing around like a windmill cause they can't keep up.

Good stuff! Yeah I would like to involve the ball straight down on court at some point too, they look tough.

One of the links that is now down had Luis Mediero feeding from the opposite court side. I think it went something like forehand xcourt hit, backhand xcourt hit, forehand dtl or crosscourt? (can't remember) then two volleys to finish. I think it was a 5 ball drill maybe. I liked the look of that one too.

Cheers.

 

[arche3]

All I have to say is I wish I was 6'4"... guys this size easily crush the ball at will. I have to work at it. It is not fair dammit.

 

[tennis_balla]

Good stuff! Yeah I would like to involve the ball straight down on court at some point too, they look tough.

One of the links that is now down had Luis Mediero feeding from the opposite court side. I think it went something like forehand xcourt hit, backhand xcourt hit, forehand dtl or crosscourt? (can't remember) then two volleys to finish. I think it was a 5 ball drill maybe. I liked the look of that one too.

Cheers.

There are some really good drills in that video Spanish Training Methods from Luis Mediero, the one I posted parts of on Youtube then it got deleted because of a complaint from USPTA
I haven't found that DVD on the USPTA website anymore, maybe its still there but funny enough several people told me they purchased that DVD from USPTA because they saw what I posted. Ah well, anyways hope you got a copy or can still track one down. If you really want to understand the drills and learn how to teach them properly then head over to Barcelona and take the week-long coaching course at Academia Sanchez-Casal with Daniel Sorribas. Best money I've ever spent, however its not a course for someone just getting into coaching (I'm not sure of your background so its just a heads up). Its training methods, philosophies and so on and not how to conduct tennis lessons, etiquette, or that you have to say a persons name at least 6 times during a private lesson in order to pass like with the USPTA exam.

 

[Kirko]

watched it a few times >>

and enjoyed watching you hit. you're there kiddo ! certainly put the time into it and it shows. if you serve as well as you hit groundstrokes you have a fabulous handle on playing tennis. very very good !

 

[NLBwell]

Very nice.
Only criticism I would have (constructive, I hope) is while you smoothly gather power throughout the stroke on the forehand side, you do rush the backhand some to get to the contact point. I would suggest working on getting the racket moving forward sooner on the backhand. It might enable you to get a little more body and power into the shot.

 

[tennis_balla]

Hmm thats interesting cause if any stroke that I would like to hit earlier (contact point) its my forehand and not my backhand, where I'm pretty far out in front already but I'll check it out again and see where my contact is at next time I play on the backhand

My racket keeps moving more on my forehand side, I don't really stop it unless I'm too early but on my backhand I do the more conventional classic type of backswing where I stop and then start up again. That tends to make the forehand look more relaxed I would say. Anyways, thanks for the input I'll check it out

 

[NLBwell]

Maybe, but not necessarily, where the contact point is - it was a little hard to tell because the video wasn't directly from the side - but more that you seemed to rush the stroke to get there.

 

[0d1n]

You are a 2.0 to 2.5 on the BfTT@TWTRP (Bud from Talk Tennis @ Tennis Warehouse Tennis Rating Program) scale.
But don't worry, that means you're a damn good player. Nadal is in the upper 4.0 range.

great consistent strokes! What is your level? I would guess at least 4.0 and as high as over 5.0, but without seeing some match play or more demanding shots, it's hard to tell. You hit the ball so easily and effortlessly and thats a great thing. You look like you could rally for a long time and easily wait for your opponent to make a mistake. Only criticism is that you could be a little more deliberate in your footwork and bend you knees more and wind and unwind your shoulders/hips more into the shot.

JackB1, I'm not from the States but I can tell you for sure those are not "4.0" NTRP strokes. That type of hitting starts with a 5.

 

[bad_call]

Hmm thats interesting cause if any stroke that I would like to hit earlier (contact point) its my forehand and not my backhand, where I'm pretty far out in front already but I'll check it out again and see where my contact is at next time I play on the backhand

My racket keeps moving more on my forehand side, I don't really stop it unless I'm too early but on my backhand I do the more conventional classic type of backswing where I stop and then start up again. That tends to make the forehand look more relaxed I would say. Anyways, thanks for the input I'll check it out

BH looks good and strokes look similar to mine...tho you're taller, slimmer and younger.

btw - changed my FH to be a bit more loopy than yours so to get more net clearance. i'd hit with you.

forgot to ask: what FH grip do u use? looks to be a bit SW.