MyFearHand
Professional
When I'm playing my best I'm not missing in the net on balls targeted with <1ft clearance.
I guess you’re just better than me!
When I'm playing my best I'm not missing in the net on balls targeted with <1ft clearance.
can i volunteer?I would do a free lesson for someone and video it but I couldn't edit the video and nobody is going to watch an hour video.
J
At some shots yes definitely but you don't need to read it like that.I guess you’re just better than me!
definitely better than me then...When I'm playing my best I'm not missing in the net on balls targeted with <1ft clearance.
Alright I cut together yesterday's footage. We ended up pushing it down the middle for most of the hour anyway since it was so hot & humid. Sadly I was unable to complete the challenge (20 me 20 them in a row) but here's the best I could do:
"26" me and "27" me with breaks in the rally
~25 me 26 them where I may have sent a backhand long in the middle
Rhythm was around 20bpm.
I'll gladly take any feedback!
Thanks for the feedback! Yeah it was pretty bad that day - I've got some old habits that creep in whenever I try to control the ball too much.
I think it ultimately stems from subconsciously wanting to feel the connected & firm right arm/wrist of a 1hbh -- but the conti grip and attached left hand means that I get stuck in an extra low & close "left-pocket" position where I have to open up my body too much in order to swing. To make it worse, I'll often not turn enough when I get in that pushing mindset.
Often I can fix it by telling myself to loosen up, lean forward, separate my arms from my body, and allow my wrist to "break"... but those don't stick very well when I tense up.
Good point re: the takeback though - I'm gonna experiment with forcing my right arm to be more across the body in the takeback (rather than diagonally down), and hopefully that'll force everything else to fall into place with less mental effort.
The trick is that a lot of the balls I target that way aren't full power topspin groundstrokes.definitely better than me then...
I’ve been thinking about this lately: maintaining physical and mental intensity, focus during the whole point. Because I noticed it goes down significantly as the point goes on. I was thinking to myself, why don’t you try to be focused on every ball as much as you do on the return of serve?
"Train good habits"
"Train good habits"
But hey it is a great point. I would say maybe it'd helpful if you make a list of good habits. That would be nice to read in the op.
I feel somewhat validated now after having posted here before about Ruud being a good model for rec players.
Yea, just play like Rudd and you'll do fine.I feel somewhat validated now after having posted here before about Ruud being a good model for rec players.![]()
I heard an ATP pro say the other day: pro tennis is the basics done extremely well. Interesting eh?
Correct. But problem is most don't know the "basics".
I doubt he meant your 17 step forehand by basics!Correct. But problem is most don't know the "basics".
No, it's 7 steps. 7 basic steps.I doubt he meant your 17 step forehand by basics!
None of that either, I’m sure.No, it's 7 steps. 7 basic steps.
As I said most don't even know the basics.None of that either, I’m sure.
Let’s see if it’s on your fh basics list. Here’s the video.As I said most don't even know the basics.
Yes, he states some basics but not all here.Let’s see if it’s on your fh basics list. Here’s the video.
Sure. The point is basics are simple and no rocket science. I don’t agree with your claim that most people don’t know them. Everyone knows/has heard. They’re just too busy with the nonbasics like your 7 steps ina forehand!Yes, he states some basics but not all here.
Sure. The point is basics are simple and no rocket science. I don’t agree with your claim that most people don’t know them. Everyone knows/has heard. They’re just too busy with the nonbasics like your 7 steps ina forehand!
Sounds to me like you have your own unique basics.No, the basics are simple but not simpler, so not 6 steps for example. And they are not trivial so it's not guaranteed everyone has heard about them or worked them out. Some are more obvious than others though so most know some basics but not all.
But how can you know what the bad habits are if you don't know the good?Make a list of bad habits, do the opposite.
Much easier.
J
The point is basics are simple and no rocket science.
The irony!Everyone knows/has heard. They’re just too busy with the nonbasics
Of course, I’m guilty, but rehabilitated sort of.
Why don't you give it a shot.But how can you know what the bad habits are if you don't know the good?
Try this:Why don't you give it a shot.
List 10 bad habits for rec tennis players.
If you need help ask the crowd.
Then I will work some magic on your list.
J
Try this:
1. Turtle arm fh.
2. Fear of flattening.
3. Rolling in the serve.
4. Lazy loss of split stepping.
5. Not backing up or moving forward to set up for ball.
6. Not stepping forward into shot when there is time.
7. Not bending knees for low volleys.
8. Standing too straight on groundies.
9. Not getting weight out inside court on serve.
10. Not moving back first to set up overhead.
That’s a lot to remember for a guy who’s already having short-term memory issues. I think if I could have implemented just one of those, I might have won my UTR match on Tuesday against my 18-year-old opponent.1. Reach out and rotate the ball.
2. Attack with courage when opportunity arises.
3. Attempt to start the point to your advantage on serve.
4. Split step deliberately on every ball.
5. Move forward or back to hit the ball at optimal height.
6. Shift weight into the shot when possible.
7. Get to the level of the ball on volleys.
8. Maintain a wide and low base on baseline shots.
9. Use legs to organize momentum on serve.
10. Immediately power cross backwards to set up overheads.
J
For some reason, the courage thing used to come naturally for me in my youth, but not these days. it cost me my match this time because I abandoned my most successful play (S&V) when it got to a super and my old legs felt tired.
I recall a match 30+ years ago, when I was 17 years old, trying to serve out the match in the third set for one of my better wins of my brief junior career.what is courage but the fear of a missed opportunity![]()
I recall a match 30+ years ago, when I was 17 years old, trying to serve out the match in the third set for one of my better wins of my brief junior career.
The voice in my head was chanting “serve don’t fail me now.” I listened and went for my serves and it worked.
This week, when I got to the super, the voice said “you are probably too tired out to execute S&V, so just stay back and be conservative.” Shouldn’t have listened.
@J011yroger
Do you really hold the racket with your nondominant hand?
I guess in theory it makes sense but doesn’t sound very intuitive and very difficult to do unless you were told to do so when you first started learning tennis. I suspect 99% of rec players don’t do it. Do even pros really do it as described in the video. Again the tip makes perfect sense to me. But how likely is it to develop this habit after so many years of holding the racket with dominant hand?
Sure. With regards to holding the racket only with the nondominant hand at ready position and during the whole takeback, do you and a lot of other advanced players really do that?You can accomplish a lot if you're willing to be uncomfortable.
J
I'm pretty sure if I know the bad ones I can change the phrasing to express them as good instead. What I can't do is populate content I don't know exists. But here is my meagre contribution:Why don't you give it a shot.
List 10 bad habits for rec tennis players.
If you need help ask the crowd.
Then I will work some magic on your list.
J
Return of serveI added volley stuff to the op yesterday.
Any suggestions for the next thing?
J
You really need to quit watching this type of crap. I promise, this is the exact thing that keeps you from learning. This guy sticks his yellow-shoed foot in his mouth right off the bat. He should have opened with “this advice will get you nowhere!” Give up on watching people that can’t teach a modern forehand and stick with yours. It is kinda old-school but you do one important thing really well and that is to get into a great position at contact.@J011yroger
Do you really hold the racket with your nondominant hand?
I guess in theory it makes sense but doesn’t sound very intuitive and very difficult to do unless you were told to do so when you first started learning tennis. I suspect 99% of rec players don’t do it. Do even pros really do it as described in the video. Again the tip makes perfect sense to me. But how likely is it to develop this habit after so many years of holding the racket with dominant hand?
As I said it makes sense in theory but not sure how doable it is especially in match play. If you can develop it I believe it could help you become loose and have a nice easy racket drop.You really need to quit watching this type of crap. I promise, this is the exact thing that keeps you from learning. This guy sticks his yellow-shoed foot in his mouth right off the bat. He should have opened with “this advice will get you nowhere!” Give up on watching people that can’t teach a modern forehand and stick with yours. It is kinda old-school but you do one important thing really well and that is to get into a great position at contact.
Now, work on the backhand!
It was already developed. Tennis “pros” undeveloped it. With video!As I said it makes sense in theory but not sure how doable it is especially in match play. If you can develop it I believe it could help you become loose and have a nice easy racket drop.
He says hold the racket with left hand and right hand barely holding it. I do the opposite.It was already developed. Tennis “pros” undeveloped it. With video!
I’m talking about the entire stroke he doesn’t understand. What good is that tip going to do for you? Everyone knows you should have a light grip with the hitting hand. The racquet weighs 13oz. Why worry about that silliness. Guy is making up little thing and getting clicks. You ever see anyone that doesn’t put their off hand on at all and plays pro? Better send this tip to them.He says hold the racket with left hand and right hand barely holding it. I do the opposite.
You can’t be loose if your footwork, positioning and timing is not there anyway.I’m talking about the entire stroke he doesn’t understand. What good is that tip going to do for you? Everyone knows you should have a light grip with the hitting hand. The racquet weighs 13oz. Why worry about that silliness. Guy is making up little thing and getting clicks. You ever see anyone that doesn’t put their off hand on at all and plays pro? Better send this tip to them.
It doesn’t matter if you can get somewhere if you don’t know what to do when you get there. What does a football quarterback do first, learn to throw a ball or learn a five-step drop?You can’t be loose if your footwork, positioning and timing is not there anyway.
Sure. My point was that it’s not possible to avoid tension when you’re unbalanced and rushed. And tension, tightness ruin execution.It doesn’t matter if you can get somewhere if you don’t know what to do when you get there. What does a football quarterback do first, learn to throw a ball or learn a five-step drop?