El Pelele
Banned
Yes I would like to see it because I read over here in some other threads (don't remember which) that he was a 5.0, so I'd like to see if that's true.
My Tennis Videos
- Thread starter SlapShot
- Start date
Yes I would like to see it because I read over here in some other threads (don't remember which) that he was a 5.0, so I'd like to see if that's true.
El Pelele
Banned
Oh, I didn't know there was a singles match of you, I'm checking it out right now.
TonLars
Professional
Technically im a 5.5-6.0, id say closer to a 5.5. I play 5.0 league here in my area because there isnt enough depth for a 5.5 league. I can show you my league and tournament results, probably better indicator than video.
El Pelele
Banned
5.5-6.0? Is there such a big gap between 6.0 and 7.0, which would be pro?
TonLars
Professional
Id be a low end 6. And yes, there is a big gap! You cant really tell from just watching shots because its similar, but the small differences in the better players add up over the long run.
Please go to my thread so we dont hog up Slapshot's space here, and we can talk
El Pelele
Banned
Oh, ok then.
J011yroger
Talk Tennis Guru
Nice vids SS! I love the footwork one, great quality and size.
J
J
TonLars
Professional
I just watched the the footwork video right now and again im seeing the same stuff that Nellie said. And its not new because we've talked about it before. But just want to reinforce that I think you can hit the ball more out in front on the forehand; extension instead of hitting cramped up near the body or too far behind. And the serve toss definitely can be more into the court by a bit. You have been hitting really well though lately so its probably coming along, and you definitely have the capability of serving some big ones!
Thanks J. I'm in a similar boat to you (didn't pick up a racquet from 18-23, but because of being burned out on competition rather than having an injured shoulder) and it's coming along. Slowly, but I feel that I'm definitely making positive progress.
pushing_wins
Hall of Fame
pushing_wins
Hall of Fame
J011yroger
Talk Tennis Guru
Technically 0.0.
I don't know how T ratings are issued, so I figure they will give me one when they damn well please, or not.
I have met up with and hit with over 30 board members, so maybe they can give you a better perspective of what it is like to play/hit with me. Feel free to ask them.
Hopefully we will be able to get a hit in one of these days, I am sure we will end up nearby each other at some time, as I love to travel. (Don't plan on any trips to Ont. untill our dollar picks it self up out of the gutter though. lol.)
In other news my wrist is almost 100% better, and I am dangerously close to being pleased with the way I am hitting, so I am actually happy to be out on court now.
J
RoddickAce
Hall of Fame
Jollyroger, tonlars, balla and wilsondude having a showdown would be cool 
Jollyroger, tonlars, balla and wilsondude having a showdown would be cool
Wilsondude would most likely get bageled by tonlars and jolly, havnt seen enough of balla to judge that.
tennis_balla
Hall of Fame
Ok I only looked at your groundies/footwork and serving video for now.
Groundies/Footwork:
The main thing I noticed is how late you hit the ball especially on the forehand side. You'll notice how your wrist rolls over because of this. This isn't you trying to hit with topspin but because you hit it late your wrist rolls over trying to keep the ball in play. You backswing is late I would say which is the cause of this. That would be the first and foremost thing I would work on with you..earlier preparation. One thing I do sometimes in my lessons and I learned this from a great coach I had as a junior is take 3 balls and feed them one after the other. Feed the first one and once the player makes contact your feed the second and again once contact occurs you feed the third all in the same spot, or slightly shorter each ball. People I've done this with love the drill as they get to work on their footwork, balance, early preparation and they don't have time to hit and look where the ball is going so their recovery has to be quick. They notice how slow they are after hitting a shot with their recovery.
Also when you get a wide ball you end up further back behind the baseline then when you started because again you're late on it and trying to buy time. Not all balls of course you'll be able to hit perfectly, but what I would work on especially on hard courts is for example have a coach feed you wide forehands and backhands and you have to hit them with your front foot inside the baseline. You're on hard courts and should not be backing up so much. If I were to play you I would try and expose that as much as I could and end up having you on your back foot hitting short mid court balls.
Serve:
I was watching the angle where you had the camera behind you and I said to myself that toss has got to be way too much behind him. Then the side view came up and sure enough. You do bring your right foot a little too forward but when you watch the side view of your serve and pause it at contact you'll notice how far ahead your body is of the ball and how off balanced you are after contact because of it.
Groundies/Footwork:
The main thing I noticed is how late you hit the ball especially on the forehand side. You'll notice how your wrist rolls over because of this. This isn't you trying to hit with topspin but because you hit it late your wrist rolls over trying to keep the ball in play. You backswing is late I would say which is the cause of this. That would be the first and foremost thing I would work on with you..earlier preparation. One thing I do sometimes in my lessons and I learned this from a great coach I had as a junior is take 3 balls and feed them one after the other. Feed the first one and once the player makes contact your feed the second and again once contact occurs you feed the third all in the same spot, or slightly shorter each ball. People I've done this with love the drill as they get to work on their footwork, balance, early preparation and they don't have time to hit and look where the ball is going so their recovery has to be quick. They notice how slow they are after hitting a shot with their recovery.
Also when you get a wide ball you end up further back behind the baseline then when you started because again you're late on it and trying to buy time. Not all balls of course you'll be able to hit perfectly, but what I would work on especially on hard courts is for example have a coach feed you wide forehands and backhands and you have to hit them with your front foot inside the baseline. You're on hard courts and should not be backing up so much. If I were to play you I would try and expose that as much as I could and end up having you on your back foot hitting short mid court balls.
Serve:
I was watching the angle where you had the camera behind you and I said to myself that toss has got to be way too much behind him. Then the side view came up and sure enough. You do bring your right foot a little too forward but when you watch the side view of your serve and pause it at contact you'll notice how far ahead your body is of the ball and how off balanced you are after contact because of it.
J011yroger
Talk Tennis Guru
I rarely serve bagels. Almost always manage to screw up 4 points in the same game no matter how lopsided the matchup looks.
Especially first set in the wintertime, it takes me forever to get warmed up and loose.
Just a defective unit I guess
Seriously though, if anyone lives nearby to me and wants to have a hit I gladly will come springtime.
J
I rarely serve bagels. Almost always manage to screw up 4 points in the same game no matter how lopsided the matchup looks.
Especially first set in the wintertime, it takes me forever to get warmed up and loose.
Just a defective unit I guess
Seriously though, if anyone lives nearby to me and wants to have a hit I gladly will come springtime.
J
How in gods name do you produce so much racket headspeed? Especially with such a heavy racket...when I watch you its like your swinging a feather.
Do you just work out your arms a lot or something?
Thanks for the feedback. I've actually noticed a huge difference in my strokes (especially my FH side) since I posted this, and I think that TonLars would agree with me.
A lot of what you mention is what I noticed when I watched the video, and when I attached a visual with the muscle memory, it was much easier to "feel" where my strokes were struggling.
I should really take video again soon and post that up as a follow up - maybe once life settles down a bit after Christmas.
tennis_balla
Hall of Fame
Yea I'm rather late as I noticed you initially posted these videos in the beginning of October, would be good to see something more up to date and see how you've progressed. Also, I forgot to mention is how quick you serve once you get the ball from your coach. Theres no need to rush, serve like you would in a match or you will develop this bad habit more and more. You're building muscle memory when you're practicing your serve and that goes from your ritual when you step up to the baseline to your toss, contact, finish, the whole deal. You get the ball, look once, bounce and start your motion. I hope you don't rush like this during a match, if not then serve like you would if you were playing one and if you do rush then slow down and know where you're gonna serve. Don't rush it like you're doing cause that to me says you didn't really care about that serve. I'm not saying pull a Djokovich and bounce the ball 20 times but you get my point.
New serve video (from a month or so ago) up now.
http://www.vimeo.com/3140134
Definitely a better toss location and much better rotation through my shoulders. Sorry for the terrible camera location - it's the only place I could find to put it.
http://www.vimeo.com/3140134
Definitely a better toss location and much better rotation through my shoulders. Sorry for the terrible camera location - it's the only place I could find to put it.
Ambivalent
Hall of Fame
You need to work on the backhand. Try to hit the ball in your strikezone instead of either too far or too close to the body. From what i saw, you dont have a slice at all and your 2hbh is weak and inconsistent.
Forehand looks good, but same thing; place yourself more carefully with better footwork.
Forehand looks good, but same thing; place yourself more carefully with better footwork.
J011yroger
Talk Tennis Guru
My backhand is actually my more consistent and stronger stroke - it doesn't break down even at 4.0 and 4.5 level play. My forehand is much better since this video was taken, but still runs hot and cold.
The form looks good. It looks like you are getting a lot of sidespin action on that ball, because you are coming strong across the back. I think that you could get a little more pop if you thought of hitting more up and through the ball instead of out. You acceleration just seems a little slow prior to contact, compared to racquet speed slightly after contact. Do you feel like you are still getting good pace, because I know it was pretty fast before.
S
Slicendicer
Guest
Your serve looks pretty good. I have to say...
all due respect, but where exactly do you play 4.5 tennis? I watched all of your videos and he was correct that your BH needs a lot of work, the footwork is not there. Your FH is also not really there either. Maybe 4.0 player, but there is no way you could be playing 4.5 tennis competitively.
I am just as critical of my tennis, so I mean not to offend. I couldn't play 4.5 singles if I wanted... my cardio and my footwork are ****. I hit the ball as good as anybody, just can't NOT trip over my feet. The important thing to realize is where you are at... because you're there.
If I remember correctly, I was hitting my usual first serve in the video, which isn't truly flat - my grip is between continental and eastern BH. When I flatten out, I can probably push 120 or so - those, I'd bet, were probably 105, maybe a hair more. If only I could get the flat ball in more often.
I don't play 4.5 league yet, but I have played both singles and doubles with 4.5 players on multiple occasions and the strokes are there, the mental aspect isn't yet (but that'll come in time). The videos in the OP were from September and I've actually made some significant improvements in my game since then. I've been meaning to get a new video, but haven't gotten to it yet.
