NTRP 0 to 5 in a year - Video Diary 2013

[geepeeone]

... ignore the NTRP rating and simply strive to say, beat a 4.5 player three times by the end of the year. That's the same goal, but is instead stated in a more meaningful and satisfying fashion.

This is a more concrete and easier to grasp goal because it acknowledges progress by competing against other players to gauge your level.

I have a similar goal, to progress from 3.0 to 4.0 in 12 months. To assess my progress, I am going to sign up to a local 3.5 tourney this January (my sixth month); a 50% win/loss result should make me a legit 3.5 (at least in my area). If there aren't any tourneys, then maybe play matches against 3.5 players with minor bets (to make it competitive enough). 10 matches should do the trick.

I'll do the same on my 12th month to assess how much of the goal I've achieved: 25% win (acceptable), 50% (mission accomplished!), 75% (I should strive for 4.5).

Again like what pvaudio has said, this is a more meaningful and, to me, a more concrete way of redefining how you assess your accomplishment.

 

[NotSoSuper]

Double post....

 

[NotSoSuper]

I read some of these replies and i cant help but smh.. some of you people really dont grasp the 'levels' in tennis.

I play on a D1 team, and was formerly ranked in the top 50 in the juniors.. Let me tell you, i would toy with a 5.0. a 5.0 is hardly the pinnacle of tennis achievement.

As someone said, it is probably the max a rec player can reach however, as to progress further you need near flawless technique and intense racket head speed and control. But with some serious training it is certainly possible to obtain with the natural gift of athleticism and talent.

I still get my *** handed to me on several occasions in college. Some of the athleticism out there is unreal, how hard they hit the ball is scary, and the power they possess on some shots is certainly pro level, and even the top college players get beat badly by pros struggling to make it on tour!

Anyways, I just wanted to rant to all those ignorant 3.0's out there who think the 5.0 level is untouchable... Please people go watch live high level tennis and you will see!!!!

 

[WildVolley]

I read some of these replies and i cant help but smh.. some of you people really dont grasp the 'levels' in tennis.

I play on a D1 team, and was formerly ranked in the top 50 in the juniors.. Let me tell you, i would toy with a 5.0. a 5.0 is hardly the pinnacle of tennis achievement.

As someone said, it is probably the max a rec player can reach however, as to progress further you need near flawless technique and intense racket head speed and control. But with some serious training it is certainly possible to obtain with the natural gift of athleticism and talent.

You make some good points but I still have some quibbles with your post.

As a top junior, you know that it is extremely rare for a player to go from a beginner to a 5.0 in a year. I think the skepticism toward the OP's goal is warranted.

Also, to play above 5.0 doesn't actually take flawless technique or intense racket head speed. I coached high school tennis for some years and saw several players (on other teams) go on to winning careers at Division 1 schools. One guy I'm thinking about didn't have flawless technique, in fact his game was extremely ugly, but he was mentally strong and sharp and definitely was winning ugly on scholarship playing above a 5.0 level in Division 1 singles. Obviously, good technique and athleticism can make playing at that level a lot easier.

The average rec-player will never advance beyond 4.0. While it might be possible for the OP to reach 5.0, I think it would take him a minimum of five years of serious play to have a shot.

 

[NotSoSuper]

You make some good points but I still have some quibbles with your post.

As a top junior, you know that it is extremely rare for a player to go from a beginner to a 5.0 in a year. I think the skepticism toward the OP's goal is warranted.

Also, to play above 5.0 doesn't actually take flawless technique or intense racket head speed. I coached high school tennis for some years and saw several players (on other teams) go on to winning careers at Division 1 schools. One guy I'm thinking about didn't have flawless technique, in fact his game was extremely ugly, but he was mentally strong and sharp and definitely was winning ugly on scholarship playing above a 5.0 level in Division 1 singles. Obviously, good technique and athleticism can make playing at that level a lot easier.


The average rec-player will never advance beyond 4.0. While it might be possible for the OP to reach 5.0, I think it would take him a minimum of five years of serious play to have a shot.

Hmm Yes, like you say it is possible to have incorrect technique and still play at a high level, but it is difficult, and something needs to make up for it. And again you are right it is probably impossible for a player to go from a 0-5.0... I mean even if you trained ALL day for a year it would be a struggle, and thats not even realistic. My post was more aimed at a lot of ignorant posts ive seen recently on here about 5.0's taking on retired pro's or something of that sort. Im not sure why people here think 5.0 players are so great.

 

[lightthestorm]

5 years might not be the case. Y'all definitely don't play as much as the OP.... the OP's whole day is tennis centered for now and he works with an ATP pro. Might be different.

 

[JoelDali]

This is like saying we could turn Fedace into a concert pianist doing solo shows at Lincoln Center in a year if we hired the right instructor.

 

[HunterST]

Hmm Yes, like you say it is possible to have incorrect technique and still play at a high level, but it is difficult, and something needs to make up for it. And again you are right it is probably impossible for a player to go from a 0-5.0... I mean even if you trained ALL day for a year it would be a struggle, and thats not even realistic. My post was more aimed at a lot of ignorant posts ive seen recently on here about 5.0's taking on retired pro's or something of that sort. Im not sure why people here think 5.0 players are so great.

I think you're underrating 5.0s. I know a guy who is a strong 4.5 and had a very competitive match (lost 7-5, 7-6) to a 4 star recruit. That suggests to me that a 5.0 is at least equal to a strong 4 or weaker 5 star recruit. That's a darn high level of tennis. It is certainly good enough to play collegiate tennis, even division one. Granted, a 5.0 would probably play at a 5 or 6 spot or for a weaker program.

 

[pushing_wins]

I read some of these replies and i cant help but smh.. some of you people really dont grasp the 'levels' in tennis.

I play on a D1 team, and was formerly ranked in the top 50 in the juniors.. Let me tell you, i would toy with a 5.0. a 5.0 is hardly the pinnacle of tennis achievement.

As someone said, it is probably the max a rec player can reach however, as to progress further you need near flawless technique and intense racket head speed and control. But with some serious training it is certainly possible to obtain with the natural gift of athleticism and talent.

I still get my *** handed to me on several occasions in college. Some of the athleticism out there is unreal, how hard they hit the ball is scary, and the power they possess on some shots is certainly pro level, and even the top college players get beat badly by pros struggling to make it on tour!

Anyways, I just wanted to rant to all those ignorant 3.0's out there who think the 5.0 level is untouchable... Please people go watch live high level tennis and you will see!!!!

what ntrp is that?

 

[Topspin Shot]

Most likely he is a 6.0.

 

[LeeD]

6.0 is reserved for the TOP Div1 players, and possibly a handful of other's who can successfully go multi rounds in Q's and Futures tourneys.
Less than a handful of juniors for sure, possibly NONE, unless you're talking about non college non US players.
And NO, OP does NOT play tennis all day, even most days. He's constantly injured, he's tired from working for a living, and he starts out at much less than an average athletic ability.
NO CHANCE, not even giving him another 3 years.

 

[pushing_wins]

6.0 is reserved for the TOP Div1 players, and possibly a handful of other's who can successfully go multi rounds in Q's and Futures tourneys.
Less than a handful of juniors for sure, possibly NONE, unless you're talking about non college non US players.
And NO, OP does NOT play tennis all day, even most days. He's constantly injured, he's tired from working for a living, and he starts out at much less than an average athletic ability.
NO CHANCE, not even giving him another 3 years.

so notsosuper is only a 5.0-5.5 himself?

 

[LeeD]

"only a 5-5.5 himself"....
Do you know what it takes to make 5.0 tennis?
For most players with great genes, athletic, not having to work, maybe 4 years total of tennis, 5 days a week, 3 hours a day on court.
Obviously, it takes some dedication and hard work.
And well over 100 matches, easily over 1,000 sets of tennis play.
OP has not played ONE set yet.

 

[Topspin Shot]

Look at this chart; I'm guessing 6.0 based on his description, but at worst, he is a strong 5.5. As for whether the OP can make 5.0 in a year, the answer is probably not. http://assets.usta.com/assets/1/15/ExperiencedGuidelines_02142011_V2pdf.pdf

 

[pushing_wins]

I read some of these replies and i cant help but smh.. some of you people really dont grasp the 'levels' in tennis.

I play on a D1 team, and was formerly ranked in the top 50 in the juniors.. Let me tell you, i would toy with a 5.0. a 5.0 is hardly the pinnacle of tennis achievement.

As someone said, it is probably the max a rec player can reach however, as to progress further you need near flawless technique and intense racket head speed and control. But with some serious training it is certainly possible to obtain with the natural gift of athleticism and talent.

I still get my *** handed to me on several occasions in college. Some of the athleticism out there is unreal, how hard they hit the ball is scary, and the power they possess on some shots is certainly pro level, and even the top college players get beat badly by pros struggling to make it on tour!

Anyways, I just wanted to rant to all those ignorant 3.0's out there who think the 5.0 level is untouchable... Please people go watch live high level tennis and you will see!!!!

do you mean nationally?