My Videos......

[pabletion]

Hey everyone, I guess I'll start a thread sharing videos of me playing so you can comment and even give me tips if you got em. The first one I had already posted, its a vid of me practicing serves, the second one, although low quality and short, shows a couple of good backhands..... I'll be posting more vids as I record myself, enjoy and Happy New Year!!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nkHkxLoBg9Y&feature=channel
me serving


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5kptEfioDkU&feature=channel
couple of backhands

 

[GeorgeLucas]

I'm honor'd to be the first commenter.

Well a few small things before other posters pick you apart : Keep the takeback fluid - it strikes me that you're kind jerking the racquet back last second. It doesn't preserve momentum very well... You may need a heavier racquet or something to see this more clearly. For your serve, you're supposed to wait for the ball to drop in trophy position, not with your racquet head pointing at the ground.

On the other hand, strokes are solidish and your footwork doesn't smell of dead fish. Just work on smoothing everything out.

Edit: A big one - keep your body sideways during your serve (kick serve ESPECIALLY). You're opening up way too early and that's making you arm the ball

 

[LeeD]

Agree with GL...
On serves, don't lay your hand down low. Low at quarterbacks and baseball pitchers for a hint on prep. Consistency, not utmost hand speed, is the goal.
You look much more fit in the groundie vid.
Groundies. You hit off your back foot and jump. That incoming ball might sometimes bounce deep, but it's slow. You should be feet planted and finish like a golfer, off the backfoot and onto the front, back knees bent.
Don't move back during groundies.

 

[BestLefty UK]

I think you're preparing too late. Try and judge the ball's flight and get that racket back as early as you can

 

[Azzurri]

I guess you really are a guy. I was wrong to think you were a female.

I don't know why, but the guy in the videos look different. They are both of you?

The serve looks ok. You have some balance issues (we all do), but you seem to have good control. The other video...I don't know if that is you. They look like too different. Did your weight fluctuate?

 

[pabletion]

Yeah its me, maybe I was a bit lighter on the 2nd vid, plus its the exact same shirt im wearing on both hehe.

Well, thanks for the comments and suggestions. I would agree that I seem to be preparing a bit late on the strokes, Im working on it... I was a bit behind maybe, not stepping in prob because we were just warming up, the guy I was hittin with has some serious topspin, and hes tall, about 6'2" with very good strokes.
The serve is a work in progress, thats the way it was at the beggiing of november, after overhauling it, but its going ok, its the most consistent Ive ever had it, but like I said, its a work in progress, thanks for your observations, and I'll be sure to keep postin new vids as soon as I get them!

 

[herosol]

no comments, since most have been said.

but able to play 5.0 level with what you have is really good.
I guess you don't need to be super solid lookin' to be 5.0

I mean other then the technicalities of the serve, it is nice and simple.
There's no extra motion, and again, despite the technicalities, any player can see that you have a good amount of experience with the serve.

 

[LeeD]

NO excuse whether opponent is 6'6 or 5'2".
I hit and play regularly with 6'6" Men's 6.0 or higher.
I also hit with a 5'3" woman who was #1 NorCal A Womens.
Your opponent is the ball !!
You should not hit off the backfoot unless you are overwhemed by a hard hit fast spinning ball that gets you out of position.
Easily 3/4 or you shots should be hit with weight transfer to your front foot.
Accept no less.

 

[pabletion]

Two new vids, taken today. Practicing topspin serves out wide (Im the one with white shirt black shorts, barricades).

I wanna get a vid of me rallying or playing, gonna try and do that tomorrow.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3RXXkwRiDqI&feature=channel

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

 

[LeeD]

OK, you asked for it...
Of the three, all three of you have major hitches and problems with timing, toss, and consistent motions.
Big wide guy can't be serious with that high racket takeback. He's not MartinaNav, should lower the takeback.
Huge tall guy in dark has a inconsistent takeback, a loopy forward inconsistent stroke, but he's a huge tall dark guy
YOU have the most practiced motion. However, that low racket hand takeback, down around your thighs, will KILL your consistency when you start to play for real against good players. Way too much motion, none of which is needed for a serve. Really TRY to shorten your rackethand drop when you toss the ball. Think short, compact motion. It will NEVER be short, because it's waaay too long right now.
One key is to bend at the elbow for the trophy position. Not trying to make you serve like a USPTA clone, but your motion is just too far off, and much worst than your groundies.

 

[pabletion]

^ thanks. Both of the other guys have very good serves, obviosly they could be better if they work on those hitches. Wide guy has a huge 1st serve, when its on, but a very very unreliable 2nd serve, and double faults a lot, since he tries to put too much on it. Tall guy, hes very flexible and great athlete, and has a nasty topspin serve (I hate it!!!), and a big flat one when he mixes it up. I agree he needs to work on it, specially on toss (you can see on one of the vids the coach talks about it with him, no audio); IMO he should add a bit more height to the toss and extend more.
Yeah, I dont like my low racquet set up while I toss. Its something the coach wants me to get rid off, but as of now, when I try it, I feel outta rithm. Im serving as good as Ive ever served, good 1st serves, and very reliable 2nd with very good placement and topspin. I know it would be much better if I can get rid of that low start, and I'll work on that, but right now, I have a tournament on sat and cant change it from here to there.
Im trying to have a motion that is as simple as possible.

 

[LeeD]

Hope you do well in the tournament.
Good you are NOT changing right now.
I like to think of a serve as a cross between a baseball pitcher's motion...long, fast, and that of a catcher's throwback motion....short, quick,simple, easily replicatable.
Most catchers can throw over 85mph with that short motion. That handspeed should translate well over 120 in ball speed. That's fast enough for a start.
Yeah, huge guys have huge first serves.
And strong wide guys can hit really fast serves.
But surprisingly, trained 5'11" x 155 lbs.er can hit faster serves!

 

[Slicendicer]

BH: Stop kicking up the left leg when you hit the ball... either step in and hit earlier or step back and hit after apex.

The "fade out" open stance FH you must keep your feet apart and push off with the right leg back towards the hash mark, but always keep your feet apart.

 

[maverick66]

as long as his weight goes forward he can kick his leg. i see no issue with that if hes ok doing it. just make sure to push forward with that jump.