Need advices for 60yrs female beginner

T

TennisSunshine

New User
Last year, I started playing tennis (never played tennis before) and fell in love with tennis......because it helps my fitness and stress relief;

My current conditions are:
-2.5 self rated.
-During Winter 2022: a. 5.5 combo double: lost the first two matches and won the following two matches
b. 6.0 mixed double: won two matches and no lost
c. 2.5 single: lost all three matches
-During Summer 2022, I signed up 2.5 (18+), 3.0 (18+), 3.0 (40+), 5.5 combo mixed double, and 6.0 mixed double

I watches basic skill videos regularly, practices strokes with one hour long ball machine everyday (6 days per week), and attends at least two group lessons per week.

Through the winter leagues, somehow....learned about how to play doubles. I want to keep playing tennis as long as possible and would like to improve my tennis (i.e. wanna be a computer rated 3.0 and good for single matches). I was wondering if you could give me some advices. Or…am I too late to achieve those goals?

Thanks:)
 
Last edited:
Only thing to add is to try to hit with real players (outside of matches) to complement your ball machine usage.
 
Actually I would add to take a one-on-one lesson at least occasionally, substituting that for perhaps some of the time (and money) on the ball machine/group lessons. In group lessons you might get a few pointers but the coach likely isn't going to have time to really break down and help anyone in-depth. A one-on-one lesson would provide that time. You want to be practicing those strokes with as good of strokes as you can. You'd also want to make sure to find the right coach who will help you accomplish your goals (which is another question entirely).

It's good to watch those skill videos (though you have to make sure you're finding the right ones; I know there have been threads--maybe in Tennis Tips/Instruction--about which channels are good and aren't as much) but you still would want someone to observe what you're actually doing (rather than what you think you're doing or trying to do).

I'm basing that advice on a few things--it seems like you want to improve your tennis, and you are allocating the resources already (time and money) into getting better.
 
As tempting as it is to keep watching tennis instructional videos, at some point you're probably doing more harm than good or, at best, not gaining much.

After sampling the lot, I'd stick to one or two channels and focus on just one or two key things, as opposed to 20 channels and 40 different topics. You can always broaden your horizons later.

And don't forget about the less glamorous stuff like the 3Fs [footwork, fitness, focus <mental toughness>, and spacing <the space between your body and the ball>].

Welcome to the game!
 
I think you would enjoy the book "Late to the Ball" a journey into tennis and aging. Even though you might not be a serious as the author it is an enjoyable read and you might pick up some advice that will be helpful.

Late to the Ball: A Journey into Tennis and Aging: Marzorati, Gerald: 9781476737416: Amazon.com: Books

Late to the Ball: A Journey into Tennis and Aging [Marzorati, Gerald] on Amazon.com. *FREE* shipping on qualifying offers. Late to the Ball: A Journey into Tennis and Aging
www.amazon.com
Excerpt:
Being a man or a woman in your early sixties is different than it was a generation or two ago, at least for the more fortunate of us. We aren’t old…yet. But we sense it coming: Careers are winding down, kids are gone, parents are dying (friends, too), and our bodies are no longer youthful or even middle-aged. Learning to play tennis in your fifties is no small feat, but becoming a serious, competitive tennis player at the age of sixty is a whole other matter. It requires training the body to defy age, and to methodically build one’s game—the strokework, footwork, strategy, and mental toughness.
 
You have an ambitious schedule so pay attention to any aches or pain. Rest if needed. FWIW, you should be at NTRP 3.0 by the end of the year.

One point unmentioned is equipment. Depending on eyesight, use frames between 10-11 oz with SG at lower tensions. Go up in tension as you progress. Stay away from polyester strings.
 
Congratulations on finding tennis as a love!

As a female who also started later (48) I will give my 2 cents for what they may be worth.

Personally, I am pretty intense and give whatever I have in order to improve ... I find that those beginners who are a bit older have a different intensity.

I will also state without any hesitation that part of the joy is in being on a team and striving for improvement alongside other beginners ... both for the pure social aspect as well as to be able to push each other to become better.

I did not find that videos were of any use to me. Many are geared to some arcane change to an already developed stroke ... and practicing all by myself is not very joyful for me.

My advice: enjoy your teams, set up as much practice time together as possible. Perhaps employ a coach and split the cost among a few other players. Perhaps an hour a week semi-private lesson, perhaps 2X a week if you can manage it. Doing it with others (but not too many) not only lowers the cost barrier, but also gives you the opportunity to stay physically fresh throughout the lesson ... AND not only are you working on your own strokes, you can then see and understand the corrections when someone else is doing it.

Then play and enjoy matches and put what you have learned into them.

If any ninny tells you to take only lessons and avoid leagues or matchplay until you have learned the sport .... tell them to kick rocks.

They don't know what it means to be old enough to know your time may be limited (health and fitness on court.)
 
1. try a gut main poly cross combo.
2. dont be afraid to get a 110 sq. inch-ish, lightweight racket (you can always add lead later to your liking)
3. dont be afraid to film yourself and review the videos.
4. get some actual private lessons
5. play on clay all you can, your knees will thank you for it
6. AS a beginner (dont know your overall fitness level) hit the gym and concentrate on strengthening some of the areas where you might get injured through weakness (shoulder/elbow/wrist). At our age, an injury there can put us out for a whole season pretty quick!
7. have all the fun you can! go to a pro tournament (Cincy is a relative bargain), hit one of the big retailers, demo some different rackets, donate to a local college girls team.
 
sureshs said:
16 years ago, a woman @Cindysphinx arrived on this forum. She was a 2.5 who wanted to improve. She worked her way to a 4.0 and has chronicled her journey here. She has only now reached your age, so your circumstances are more challenging than her. But definitely she has been a source of inspiration for many.
Click to expand...

She's a great storyteller, too.
 
Hey, thanks, ya'all!

OP, I started in my mid-40s as a self-rated 2.5. I'm 60 now. Looking back on it, there are a few things I would do differently, so here goes.

I started off taking group lessons and drill classes. I now think those situations are horrible for a beginner who only has so much time. By that I mean, you cannot go out and hit hundreds of balls because you'll probably hurt yourself, e.g. tennis elbow. The pros in those group classes are not there to help you learn good technique. And you won't. I would suggest weekly one-hour private lessons if you can swing it. If not, every two weeks. Instructional time is valuable to build muscle memory, so don't squander it in a drill class where someone feeds you three FHs, gives no meaningful feedback, and you go to the back of the line to hit three BHs.

OnTheLine gives great advice if cost is an issue. Doing a 90-minute semi-private lesson is a great way to improve. You get a ton of instruction, and you also get to hit balls coming off of your lesson partner's racket. Maybe introduce that once you've developed a relationship with a pro? Also, I am a big fan of "private clinics." This is where you get three others (preferably teammates) to do 90 minutes to two hours with a pro. This helps get you all on the same page regarding positioning and teamwork, which will win you a lot of matches.

Which leads me to my next point: Practice. Practice what your pro is teaching you. I went years only taking lessons and playing matches. It wasn't until I found a practice partner that I really made progress. How do you find a practice partner? Ask your pro to put you in touch with his or her other students. Right now, I am trying to straighten out my net game and FH, and I am using a practice approach I've never done before. I take a lesson and then go immediately to the indoor facility that has a ball machine. I set it to feed balls to work on the exact skill we just worked on (last week, it was stepping into low volleys on both sides). Lo and behold, I volleyed really well this week.

And how do you find a pro? The same way you find a car: test drive them. Because you're 60, there will be pros who will not take you seriously when you say you want to improve. That's OK. Keep looking until you find a good one. The pro is "good" if they focus on building one skill at a time with an emphasis on developing muscle memory. The pro is not good if they blow sunshine up your skirt and take your money.

I would also say it is important to do things properly from the beginning. Use the correct grip, always. Do not take shortcuts to get results now.

And finally, and perhaps most important . . . please do not become a thirsty rating-obsessed diva. It's not the rating that matters. It's the tennis skills. If you improve, you will move up, if that's what you want.

Good luck, and please stick around and tell us about your adventures!
 
DCNJ said:
Actually I would add to take a one-on-one lesson at least occasionally, substituting that for perhaps some of the time (and money) on the ball machine/group lessons. In group lessons you might get a few pointers but the coach likely isn't going to have time to really break down and help anyone in-depth. A one-on-one lesson would provide that time. You want to be practicing those strokes with as good of strokes as you can. You'd also want to make sure to find the right coach who will help you accomplish your goals (which is another question entirely).

It's good to watch those skill videos (though you have to make sure you're finding the right ones; I know there have been threads--maybe in Tennis Tips/Instruction--about which channels are good and aren't as much) but you still would want someone to observe what you're actually doing (rather than what you think you're doing or trying to do).

I'm basing that advice on a few things--it seems like you want to improve your tennis, and you are allocating the resources already (time and money) into getting better.
Click to expand...
Great advice! I contacted several pros in the tennis I currently jointed. Only one pro is available during the summer. I will meet her tomorrow.
 
atatu said:
I think you would enjoy the book "Late to the Ball" a journey into tennis and aging. Even though you might not be a serious as the author it is an enjoyable read and you might pick up some advice that will be helpful.

Late to the Ball: A Journey into Tennis and Aging: Marzorati, Gerald: 9781476737416: Amazon.com: Books

Late to the Ball: A Journey into Tennis and Aging [Marzorati, Gerald] on Amazon.com. *FREE* shipping on qualifying offers. Late to the Ball: A Journey into Tennis and Aging
www.amazon.com
Excerpt:
Being a man or a woman in your early sixties is different than it was a generation or two ago, at least for the more fortunate of us. We aren’t old…yet. But we sense it coming: Careers are winding down, kids are gone, parents are dying (friends, too), and our bodies are no longer youthful or even middle-aged. Learning to play tennis in your fifties is no small feat, but becoming a serious, competitive tennis player at the age of sixty is a whole other matter. It requires training the body to defy age, and to methodically build one’s game—the strokework, footwork, strategy, and mental toughness.
Click to expand...

Based on your advice, I purchased an audiobook!!! Thanks a lot:)
 
esgee48 said:
You have an ambitious schedule so pay attention to any aches or pain. Rest if needed. FWIW, you should be at NTRP 3.0 by the end of the year.

One point unmentioned is equipment. Depending on eyesight, use frames between 10-11 oz with SG at lower tensions. Go up in tension as you progress. Stay away from polyester strings.
Click to expand...
Thanks for the positive projection:)

I have a Head 360+ Extreme PWR racquet with "53" tension (HAWK 16G String Platinum). Do you think it is a right racquet for me?
 
OnTheLine said:
Congratulations on finding tennis as a love!

As a female who also started later (48) I will give my 2 cents for what they may be worth.

Personally, I am pretty intense and give whatever I have in order to improve ... I find that those beginners who are a bit older have a different intensity.

I will also state without any hesitation that part of the joy is in being on a team and striving for improvement alongside other beginners ... both for the pure social aspect as well as to be able to push each other to become better.

I did not find that videos were of any use to me. Many are geared to some arcane change to an already developed stroke ... and practicing all by myself is not very joyful for me.

My advice: enjoy your teams, set up as much practice time together as possible. Perhaps employ a coach and split the cost among a few other players. Perhaps an hour a week semi-private lesson, perhaps 2X a week if you can manage it. Doing it with others (but not too many) not only lowers the cost barrier, but also gives you the opportunity to stay physically fresh throughout the lesson ... AND not only are you working on your own strokes, you can then see and understand the corrections when someone else is doing it.

Then play and enjoy matches and put what you have learned into them.

If any ninny tells you to take only lessons and avoid leagues or matchplay until you have learned the sport .... tell them to kick rocks.

They don't know what it means to be old enough to know your time may be limited (health and fitness on court.)
Click to expand...

Wow! Almost cried after reading "They don't know what it means to be old enough to know your time may be limited (health and fitness on court.)" Thanks for your understanding:)
 
stapletonj said:
1. try a gut main poly cross combo.
2. dont be afraid to get a 110 sq. inch-ish, lightweight racket (you can always add lead later to your liking)
3. dont be afraid to film yourself and review the videos.
4. get some actual private lessons
5. play on clay all you can, your knees will thank you for it
6. AS a beginner (dont know your overall fitness level) hit the gym and concentrate on strengthening some of the areas where you might get injured through weakness (shoulder/elbow/wrist). At our age, an injury there can put us out for a whole season pretty quick!
7. have all the fun you can! go to a pro tournament (Cincy is a relative bargain), hit one of the big retailers, demo some different rackets, donate to a local college girls team.
Click to expand...
Thanks for your advice!
 
TennisSunshine said:
Great advice! I contacted several pros in the tennis I currently jointed. Only one pro is available during the summer. I will meet her tomorrow.
Click to expand...

Sounds good--I wrote the following paragraphs in another thread, and it's probably something I'd say you should keep in mind--a lot of coaches I think in general try to make the lessons 'fun' (too much so to get a lot of improvement) to keep the adults happy and coming back. Lessons shouldn't be a chore, but on the other hand they should be more drilling and working on specific aspects of strokes if you want to improve. Cindy mentioned something like this in her post as well when she mentioned coaches not taking improvers seriously. Just make sure that the coach and you are on the same page--and also have fun with tennis as well; there should be plenty of opportunity outside of lessons.

----------

I was just going to write something that S&V had just said--I saw you said up to this point you're self-taught but I didn't see anything saying you didn't want/couldn't afford/whatever coaching. So if you do go for coaching (which isn't a bad idea necessarily), so what S&V said above; make sure the coach knows you're not the typical adult tennis player. I've seen a lot of lessons/clinics that have more been 'for fun'. My USTA team might get together 'for practice' but it would just be playing sets. We did get a coach in a clinic type format for a while, and it wasn't terrible but we probably spent more than half the time playing out sets (maybe practicing something during those points, so trying to improve something there, like poaching) and less than half the time drilling (and a lot of that was more-or-less point play but at least structured a bit to practice approach shots/volleys at the net, for instance). It was fun and I enjoyed it, and there were things I took away from those sessions, but they could have been a lot better for my improvement. I think that comes from coaches wanting their adult players coming back, and if it's 'fun' then they'll be more likely to come back, regardless if there is significant improvement.

What I'd want if I were looking for a coach for improvement is someone who would work on a particular shot for at least 10-15 minutes and keep drilling and working on that shot. I've had some lessons (with my primary coach) that have been an hour or an hour and an half where we worked on 2 or 3 things. Perhaps that's 20 minutes on a kick serve and then 20-30 minutes on my backhand. That could also be hand-fed from close, hand-fed or lightly fed (from a racquet) from further away or in a rally--with the coach having a basket next to him to grab quickly when I inevitably miss the shots...
 
Cindysphinx said:
Hey, thanks, ya'all!

OP, I started in my mid-40s as a self-rated 2.5. I'm 60 now. Looking back on it, there are a few things I would do differently, so here goes.

I started off taking group lessons and drill classes. I now think those situations are horrible for a beginner who only has so much time. By that I mean, you cannot go out and hit hundreds of balls because you'll probably hurt yourself, e.g. tennis elbow. The pros in those group classes are not there to help you learn good technique. And you won't. I would suggest weekly one-hour private lessons if you can swing it. If not, every two weeks. Instructional time is valuable to build muscle memory, so don't squander it in a drill class where someone feeds you three FHs, gives no meaningful feedback, and you go to the back of the line to hit three BHs.

OnTheLine gives great advice if cost is an issue. Doing a 90-minute semi-private lesson is a great way to improve. You get a ton of instruction, and you also get to hit balls coming off of your lesson partner's racket. Maybe introduce that once you've developed a relationship with a pro? Also, I am a big fan of "private clinics." This is where you get three others (preferably teammates) to do 90 minutes to two hours with a pro. This helps get you all on the same page regarding positioning and teamwork, which will win you a lot of matches.

Which leads me to my next point: Practice. Practice what your pro is teaching you. I went years only taking lessons and playing matches. It wasn't until I found a practice partner that I really made progress. How do you find a practice partner? Ask your pro to put you in touch with his or her other students. Right now, I am trying to straighten out my net game and FH, and I am using a practice approach I've never done before. I take a lesson and then go immediately to the indoor facility that has a ball machine. I set it to feed balls to work on the exact skill we just worked on (last week, it was stepping into low volleys on both sides). Lo and behold, I volleyed really well this week.

And how do you find a pro? The same way you find a car: test drive them. Because you're 60, there will be pros who will not take you seriously when you say you want to improve. That's OK. Keep looking until you find a good one. The pro is "good" if they focus on building one skill at a time with an emphasis on developing muscle memory. The pro is not good if they blow sunshine up your skirt and take your money.

I would also say it is important to do things properly from the beginning. Use the correct grip, always. Do not take shortcuts to get results now.

And finally, and perhaps most important . . . please do not become a thirsty rating-obsessed diva. It's not the rating that matters. It's the tennis skills. If you improve, you will move up, if that's what you want.

Good luck, and please stick around and tell us about your adventures!
Click to expand...

Thanks for sharing your story!!! Good thing is I am not a thirsty rating-obsessed diva.....However I am a crazy ball machine queen. I will try to find a practice partner:)
 
TennisSunshine said:
Thanks for the positive projection:)

I have a Head 360+ Extreme PWR racquet with "53" tension (HAWK 16G String Platinum). Do you think it is a right racquet for me?
Click to expand...
PWR series will become too powerful as you improve. S series can be used at higher levels. Hawk is a polyester string which will work harden as you use the string. You should plan on restringing with SG after about 10-15 hitting sessions. Poly is dead by then and using dead poly is bad. Pros break thick polys in a few hours. You won’t.

S series can be used by NTRP 4.5s, especially the Prestige and Radicals. You could probably continue with your frame, but will need to use higher tensions to maintain control.
 
esgee48 said:
PWR series will become too powerful as you improve. S series can be used at higher levels. Hawk is a polyester string which will work harden as you use the string. You should plan on restringing with SG after about 10-15 hitting sessions. Poly is dead by then and using dead poly is bad. Pros break thick polys in a few hours. You won’t.

S series can be used by NTRP 4.5s, especially the Prestige and Radicals. You could probably continue with your frame, but will need to use higher tensions to maintain control.
Click to expand...

Thanks for the detailed information! I bought the racquet in January. I may change the string soon.....So, if I switch it to SG, what would be proper higher tension?
 
S&V-not_dead_yet said:
As tempting as it is to keep watching tennis instructional videos, at some point you're probably doing more harm than good or, at best, not gaining much.

After sampling the lot, I'd stick to one or two channels and focus on just one or two key things, as opposed to 20 channels and 40 different topics. You can always broaden your horizons later.

And don't forget about the less glamorous stuff like the 3Fs [footwork, fitness, focus <mental toughness>, and spacing <the space between your body and the ball>].

Welcome to the game!
Click to expand...
Thanks for the information! I have never thought about the important of "Mental Toughness"before. You made me realize this!!!
 
@TennisSunshine , Depending on court time availability and court cost you might just ask someone who is much better than you to hit with you a couple a times a week to work on things. I'm 67. Every year for the past number of years I have taken on one or two of these sorts of "project players" if they just ask me to help. I have hit regularly with retirement age men and women, but most often it is someone 20-30 yrs younger than me, sometimes a high school age player. I have an assortment of training aids, ball machine and stringing machine.

One of these project players declared to me some weeks ago, "I'm going to buy my own racket because for all the years I have been playing I have been using rackets that you gave me." My baby bird was finally flying on his own:) He got a demo pack and we hit with them. Another, a recent immigrant, calls me his "American dad." One 60 something lady I used to hit with quite often until she talked me into being her mixed doubles partner in a one day tournament. She got so mad that I wouldn't crush the female of of our opposing pair in the first match I should have just walked off the court (which I have done when tennis is played with bad manners). I never hit with her again.

So, again just ask someone who seems to enjoy hitting with a variety of people, you might be surprised. The day before yesterday a guy who used to play D1 college tennis and is 10 yrs my junior called me up for a tuneup hit before a tournament he is in today. We even played some points and then he asked if I cared about winning or losing. I told him in every point I want to hit some good shots knowing full well that unforced errors are generally the "king" of tennis and that I don't mind losing points if I have given a good effort. Although I played/coached a number of sports, all the way from 1st grade through my military career, I find myself just enjoying hitting tennis balls. I do like to figure out how to beat some people on occasion just because that aspect can be interesting, but I find that is even tertiary to the enjoyment I get from just hitting tennis balls. Plus I like to laugh and for some reason there is ample opportunity for laughter when hitting tennis balls.
 
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DCNJ said:
What I'd want if I were looking for a coach for improvement is someone who would work on a particular shot for at least 10-15 minutes and keep drilling and working on that shot. I've had some lessons (with my primary coach) that have been an hour or an hour and an half where we worked on 2 or 3 things. Perhaps that's 20 minutes on a kick serve and then 20-30 minutes on my backhand. That could also be hand-fed from close, hand-fed or lightly fed (from a racquet) from further away or in a rally--with the coach having a basket next to him to grab quickly when I inevitably miss the shots...
Click to expand...

+1.

It is important to set improvement goals that last more than a lesson or two. I have many friends who tell me about their lessons, and they are happy that they got "tips" or "feedback" on many different shots over the course of one lesson. But how can you build any muscle memory and reverse bad habits is you are constantly jumping from thing to thing? Very little will stick.
 
TennisSunshine said:
Last year, I started playing tennis (never played tennis before) and fell in love with tennis......because it helps my fitness and stress relief;

My current conditions are:
-2.5 self rated.
-During Winter 2022: a. 5.5 combo double: lost the first two matches and won the following two matches
b. 6.0 mixed double: won two matches and no lost
c. 2.5 single: lost all three matches
-During Summer 2022, I signed up 2.5 (18+), 3.0 (18+), 3.0 (40+), 5.5 combo mixed double, and 6.0 mixed double

I watches basic skill videos regularly, practices strokes with one hour long ball machine everyday (6 days per week), and attends at least two group lessons per week.

Through the winter leagues, somehow....learned about how to play doubles. I want to keep playing tennis as long as possible and would like to improve my tennis (i.e. wanna be a computer rated 3.0 and good for single matches). I was wondering if you could give me some advices. Or…am I too late to achieve those goals?

Thanks:)
Click to expand...
FIrst of all - have fun!
Practice whenever you can. Find a good wall to practice on - repetitions are critical for you now - at your pace.
Have fun.
Work on good fundamentals, foot work among others.
Have fun!
Get as fit / strong as possible - wrist, grip in particular. That will eliminate some limitations.
Of course have fun!
Don't give up!
 
Cindysphinx said:
+1.

It is important to set improvement goals that last more than a lesson or two. I have many friends who tell me about their lessons, and they are happy that they got "tips" or "feedback" on many different shots over the course of one lesson. But how can you build any muscle memory and reverse bad habits is you are constantly jumping from thing to thing? Very little will stick.
Click to expand...

Thanks--

Also just wanted to add one additional thing--depending on how well your coach already knows your game, I wouldn't be averse to having the coach assess your game (maybe through just warming up with the coach, maybe some "random" hitting after warm up, particularly if you've already warmed up) just so the coach can see where you're at and can suggest the biggest issues to address. So a rally just hitting balls back and forth "without purpose" wouldn't necessarily be pointless. Though if the entire lesson is essentially that, it would be my last lesson with that coach.

I mention the 'without purpose' as I do remember some lessons (hour long) that might work on just one stroke (perhaps a high forehand) where things might start with hand-fed balls, then fed from across the net, and then into rallying where the coach was trying to hit as many high balls to my forehand as possible. That is purposeful and a good way to try to build that muscle memory that Cindy was mentioning. Just hitting it 'randomly' as I might do with friends when I just want to hit the ball around is something, well, that I can do with friends.
 
TennisSunshine said:
Thanks for the detailed information! I bought the racquet in January. I may change the string soon.....So, if I switch it to SG, what would be proper higher tension?
Click to expand...
The manufacturer’s range is 52-62# for regular nylon strings. 16 ga or 1.30 mm is fine. Something like Prince Orig SG or Gosen Orig Sheep Micro (no sheep died to make the string) or any SG your shop may have. I would tension between 55 and 57# , probably 55. You can play with SG until it breaks or until you cannot control your shots because of tension loss.

Back in the Jurassic was when I learn how to play tennis, drills to embed muscule memory were important. There is no shortcut to doing that. Needs to be automatic which is what practice is about. I am at least a generation ahead of most of the posters here.
 
No. I am not deranged.

gut mains will dramatically soften the impact on the elbow and arm of a beginner.
gut mains will do the same for an over 60 player.
She is an over 60 beginner (both).

I blew out my elbow and had to default my first tournament ever at 63 while playing 20 ga. hyperG at 56 lbs.
thought I was going to have to quit the game. Then I did a string job full gut. better but too mushy.
hybrid-ing was the sweet spot.

cost of materials? about $5 for a buttery slick cross, about $15.00 for a 1/2 set of Klip gut
cost of labor? about the same whether multi or hybrid
Will it last as long as a multi or syn gut job? if she hits kinda flat, as most 2.5s and over 60 players do (and she is both)
I submit that the difference is longevity is not much at all.
 
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TennisSunshine said:
Thanks for sharing your story!!! Good thing is I am not a thirsty rating-obsessed diva.....However I am a crazy ball machine queen. I will try to find a practice partner:)
Click to expand...
Make good friends with a convenient wall. Hitting against the wall is like teaching yourself to juggle. It feels frustrating at first, because you can’t keep the rally going. But if you keep trying, eventually you can hit one more ball than you could before. Eventually you’ll reach a threshold where you can keep it going indefinitely. Once you have sufficient control to keep it going, then you can move on to working on different things. Don’t just work on your groundstroke wall rally. Try to do volley wall rally too.
 
Before I play, I have a 10 minute wall routine / warm-up that I do that helps me a lot. Whenever I miss it I do not play as well. Many fiends wonder why and can't be bothered - but most of them have been stuck at the same level since I've known them. During that same time, others and myself included have continued to improve, because we are willing to put in the effort, practice, study, improve fitness, lessons.
Pick an area focus on it, then move on to your next area. The great thing about a wall is that the wall is more consistent than most hitting partners, never gets tired, never complains and you can do it by yourself.

For me I like to focus on the things that will have the most impact and impact all parts of my game. Grip, footwork (including developing a solid wide stance) and fitness. Of course there are many many many finer points, but these areas provide benefit for players across all strokes.
 
stapletonj said:
No. I am not deranged.

gut mains will dramatically soften the impact on the elbow and arm of a beginner.
gut mains will do the same for an over 60 player.
She is an over 60 beginner (both).

I blew out my elbow and had to default my first tournament ever at 63 while playing 20 ga. hyperG at 56 lbs.
thought I was going to have to quit the game. Then I did a string job full gut. better but too mushy.
hybrid-ing was the sweet spot.

cost of materials? about $5 for a buttery slick cross, about $15.00 for a 1/2 set of Klip gut
cost of labor? about the same whether multi or hybrid
Will it last as long as a multi or syn gut job? if she hits kinda flat, as most 2.5s and over 60 players do (and she is both)
I submit that the difference is longevity is not much at all.
Click to expand...
i understand the gut softening impact... but why the poly?
personally i'd suggest syn gut, looser tension, because 99% of poor shots will not be because of the strings...
i find, that for most beginners, they are often in sticker shock when they find out their string job costs 30-100% of what they paid for their racquet :P
 
I have to dissent about the advice to hit against the wall.

I think beginners really struggle with this, and it contributes to developing bad habits.

Take "finishing over your shoulder." With wall hitting, the ball comes back at you quickly, which tends to cause beginners to shorten their swings.

Better, I think, is for OP to have a hopper of balls and drop feed. Then OP can concentrate on a long swing with proper finish, along with keeping head down, bending knees, contact point in front. Getting those things down will go a long way.
 
Cindysphinx said:
I have to dissent about the advice to hit against the wall.

I think beginners really struggle with this, and it contributes to developing bad habits.

Take "finishing over your shoulder." With wall hitting, the ball comes back at you quickly, which tends to cause beginners to shorten their swings.

Better, I think, is for OP to have a hopper of balls and drop feed. Then OP can concentrate on a long swing with proper finish, along with keeping head down, bending knees, contact point in front. Getting those things down will go a long way.
Click to expand...
I can see your point, but I think both are necessary. The wall is important because it is more difficult. Also, the live ball action is not replicate in drop & hits. A player will never get used to moving for the ball and not realize the importance of controlling the ball. I love drop & hits too, but I get more repetitions in a shorter period of time on the wall. I can also do other throwing exercises (tennis and 2-handed medicine ball style) and footwork routines. Lastly, if the ball come back too quickly, move back or don't hit so hard to give yourself enough time.
 
stapletonj said:
No. I am not deranged.

gut mains will dramatically soften the impact on the elbow and arm of a beginner.
gut mains will do the same for an over 60 player.
She is an over 60 beginner (both).

I blew out my elbow and had to default my first tournament ever at 63 while playing 20 ga. hyperG at 56 lbs.
thought I was going to have to quit the game. Then I did a string job full gut. better but too mushy.
hybrid-ing was the sweet spot.

cost of materials? about $5 for a buttery slick cross, about $15.00 for a 1/2 set of Klip gut
cost of labor? about the same whether multi or hybrid
Will it last as long as a multi or syn gut job? if she hits kinda flat, as most 2.5s and over 60 players do (and she is both)
I submit that the difference is longevity is not much at all.
Click to expand...

Federer uses gut mains and poly crosses. It is called a reverse hybrid setup.

Hybrid Stringing - Roger Federer's Stringing Method of Choice - peRFect Tennis (perfect-tennis.com)

Federer's exact setup is known as a reverse hybrid as he uses natural gut in his main strings and Luxilon in the cross strings. That setup gives a livelier feel on contact but also gives plenty of spin potential and has paved the way for players like Serena Williams, Kei Nishikori and Grigor Dimitrov to also use a hybrid string setup.
 
sureshs said:
Federer uses gut mains and poly crosses. It is called a reverse hybrid setup.

Hybrid Stringing - Roger Federer's Stringing Method of Choice - peRFect Tennis (perfect-tennis.com)

Federer's exact setup is known as a reverse hybrid as he uses natural gut in his main strings and Luxilon in the cross strings. That setup gives a livelier feel on contact but also gives plenty of spin potential and has paved the way for players like Serena Williams, Kei Nishikori and Grigor Dimitrov to also use a hybrid string setup.
Click to expand...
Or the Champions choice as it is called by Wilson.
 
nyta2 said:
i understand the gut softening impact... but why the poly?
personally i'd suggest syn gut, looser tension, because 99% of poor shots will not be because of the strings...
i find, that for most beginners, they are often in sticker shock when they find out their string job costs 30-100% of what they paid for their racquet :p
Click to expand...
the slickness of a soft smooth round poly (like isospeed cream) allows for movement, spin etc., more easily
actually might last longer than syn gut, depending (you are not looking for poly crispness, so it is not the usual "gotta string every 4 hours of play obsession)
Syn gut is fine too as a cross.
 
Cindysphinx said:
I have to dissent about the advice to hit against the wall.

I think beginners really struggle with this, and it contributes to developing bad habits.

Take "finishing over your shoulder." With wall hitting, the ball comes back at you quickly, which tends to cause beginners to shorten their swings.

Better, I think, is for OP to have a hopper of balls and drop feed. Then OP can concentrate on a long swing with proper finish, along with keeping head down, bending knees, contact point in front. Getting those things down will go a long way.
Click to expand...
you can combat the speed of return by letting the ball bounce twice

of course that does mean that you tend to hit a lot of low balls

I don't think hitting against the wall is bad but it's certainly not the only thing I'd be doing
 
Cindysphinx said:
I have to dissent about the advice to hit against the wall.

I think beginners really struggle with this, and it contributes to developing bad habits.

Take "finishing over your shoulder." With wall hitting, the ball comes back at you quickly, which tends to cause beginners to shorten their swings.

Better, I think, is for OP to have a hopper of balls and drop feed. Then OP can concentrate on a long swing with proper finish, along with keeping head down, bending knees, contact point in front. Getting those things down will go a long way.
Click to expand...
i’ve done lessons on the wall with beginners. some tips:
*use red ball
*if not if position, stop and reset
*aim for a specific square in the wall, one shot at a time
*take a shortened backswing, and don’t finish over the shoulder (finish in front/slightly across the face)

do wall drills in conjunction with self hand feeds
 
J011yroger said:
Or written by people who have never taught 60 year old beginners.

J
Click to expand...
I actually have "taught" 60 yr old beginners.... and they have more money to spend on their hobbies than a lot of 20 somethings.

look at game improvement clubs in golf vs. "blades".... look at the price for the Yonex Astrel 115 compared to the regular yonex line.
older people will pay for something that makes them better or helps avoid pain or injury.
 
TennisSunshine said:
Last year, I started playing tennis (never played tennis before) and fell in love with tennis......because it helps my fitness and stress relief;

My current conditions are:
-2.5 self rated.
-During Winter 2022: a. 5.5 combo double: lost the first two matches and won the following two matches
b. 6.0 mixed double: won two matches and no lost
c. 2.5 single: lost all three matches
-During Summer 2022, I signed up 2.5 (18+), 3.0 (18+), 3.0 (40+), 5.5 combo mixed double, and 6.0 mixed double

I watches basic skill videos regularly, practices strokes with one hour long ball machine everyday (6 days per week), and attends at least two group lessons per week.

Through the winter leagues, somehow....learned about how to play doubles. I want to keep playing tennis as long as possible and would like to improve my tennis (i.e. wanna be a computer rated 3.0 and good for single matches). I was wondering if you could give me some advices. Or…am I too late to achieve those goals?

Thanks:)
Click to expand...

I'd try to get some individual instruction as well to ensure your technical foundation is sound. As far as your goals, those are 100% achievable. Playing against human players in both cooperative practice and competitive situations is also very helpful for reactions/ handling different kinds of shots-- especially at your level, some players are unorthodox/unpredictable and will be good practice for your movement and reactions.
 
stapletonj said:
No. I am not deranged.

gut mains will dramatically soften the impact on the elbow and arm of a beginner.
gut mains will do the same for an over 60 player.
She is an over 60 beginner (both).

I blew out my elbow and had to default my first tournament ever at 63 while playing 20 ga. hyperG at 56 lbs.
thought I was going to have to quit the game. Then I did a string job full gut. better but too mushy.
hybrid-ing was the sweet spot.

cost of materials? about $5 for a buttery slick cross, about $15.00 for a 1/2 set of Klip gut
cost of labor? about the same whether multi or hybrid
Will it last as long as a multi or syn gut job? if she hits kinda flat, as most 2.5s and over 60 players do (and she is both)
I submit that the difference is longevity is not much at all.
Click to expand...

Before reading this, yesterday I changed my poly string to multi gut (A-Addixion Natural 16G) string with 53 tension. I tried to changed to SG based on the esgee48 's advice. However, the shop lady recommended the multi....I accepted her suggestion :(
Today, I did one hour ball machine and one practice game with new string. Holy cow! I felt much softer when hitting balls (It should be much better for my right shoulder) and could hit without too much effort; but too often balls passed beyond the baseline. I had to give more top spine.

Next time, I may try hybrid string too. Thanks!
 
TennisSunshine said:
Before reading this, yesterday I changed my poly string to multi gut (A-Addixion Natural 16G) string with 53 tension. I tried to changed to SG based on the esgee48 's advice. However, the shop lady recommended the multi....I accepted her suggestion :(
Today, I did one hour ball machine and one practice game with new string. Holy cow! I felt much softer when hitting balls (It should be much better for my right shoulder) and could hit without too much effort; but too often balls passed beyond the baseline. I had to give more top spine.

Next time, I may try hybrid string too. Thanks!
Click to expand...

I would have said to string in either SG or multi, as in my opinion either would have been fine for you. SG would likely have been a bit cheaper for the materials, but likely you're talking about 5-10 dollars at the most (in US $). I don't think you need Nat gut (though there's nothing wrong with it for you) and I would NOT suggest poly. So you're likely fine with whatever was put in (It's great you know both the type/brand/name of the string, the gauge--16 in your case--and the tension, though I'm not familiar with the particular string you used).

I would suggest sticking with one setup for your strings, both tension and particular choice of string. If you start changing string around, as you've already found out a bit, you'll have different feel to the strings. That could be in terms of power (poly is particularly low powered and multi/SG/NG are higher powered) and comfort (poly is particularly 'harsh' and the others tend to be fairly softer). There are variations within each type as well though (poly to poly, SG to SG, multi to multi). Changing strings would likely mean an adjustment period until you get comfortable and used to how much spin and power you get from the strings as well as how the ball comes off the strings.

Though--if you know what you're doing or have someone who can advise you well, you could see what you like about this string and then make a selection for a future string based on that. What I mean is that if you didn't like all the power you were getting, it's likely there is a similar string with a bit lower power. Or if you wanted more spin, or something else. I've had times where I've used different types of poly and couldn't get along with one of them -- kept putting balls long -- and was doing great with the other. And actually that was with those different strings as just the crosses--I had the same string in both racquets for the mains--and the crosses contribute about 30% of the feel of a string bed. So having all those different options can be good if you're intentionally switching, but I wouldn't switch just to switch.
 
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