Playing Better After Watching Pros?

Dly

Dly

Rookie
I've been watching some youtube videos of pros playing and I somehow feel like my own strokes are getting better, even though I haven't touched a racket in about a week or so. I think visualizing myself executing their perfect strokes kind of shapes my own strokes a little bit. I'm sure many others also feel like they play better after watching a grand slam match.

Although I feel like I can play better, I can't say anything about results because I haven't stepped on the court yet. Has anyone else noticed themselves playing at a higher level after watching Wimbledon or something?

Is there some type of psychological effect? What are your thoughts?
 
Maximagq

Maximagq

Banned
I do agree with you that I do play better after watching professional tennis. I watched the 2013 Wimbledon Final and saw Andy beating Novak. I proceeded to play my Boys' 18s Open semifinal and won my match 6-0, 6-0. I don't think I was on the court that day; Mattvak Linkovic was.
 
B

Bendex

Professional
If you have any Challenger or Futures tournaments in your area, it's a really good idea to go and watch. It can help the rhythm of your strokes. Even the sound off their strings is helpful.
 
C

comeback

Hall of Fame
In the 1980's i was at the US Open , i was at one of those late night matches with Wilander or Pernfors and got home 3am..I played a guy i seldom beat the next morning 9am..I won and played really well from visualizing . I was also more relaxed from less sleep instead of the other way around.
 
sez

sez

Semi-Pro
does that mean I would play worse after watching the videos I see on this section?

I get what you mean it can give me a mental edge , but it can also make me overconfident going for shots that are not in my bag.
 
N

NLBwell

Legend
Waaay back in my memory, I recall that someone actually studied this and, yes, it does make you play better.
 
Cerps

Cerps

Professional
Yeah like everybody have said, if you visualize your perfect strokes you are going to hit a better stroke
 
moonballs

moonballs

Hall of Fame
watching the pros hitting in normal and slow motion is extremely helpful to the mechanics. I believe I personally benefitted a lot from this.

But I think watching pro matches has the opposite effect to most rec players' match results because we would be trying to do all those things we can't really do well.
 
S

sureshs

Bionic Poster
Dly said:
I've been watching some youtube videos of pros playing and I somehow feel like my own strokes are getting better, even though I haven't touched a racket in about a week or so. I think visualizing myself executing their perfect strokes kind of shapes my own strokes a little bit. I'm sure many others also feel like they play better after watching a grand slam match.

Although I feel like I can play better, I can't say anything about results because I haven't stepped on the court yet. Has anyone else noticed themselves playing at a higher level after watching Wimbledon or something?

Is there some type of psychological effect? What are your thoughts?
Click to expand...

Watching pros is the fastest way to improve your game.
 
taurussable

taurussable

Professional
watching pro's play live is kind of useless in helping me play better. it is often too fast i can't follow what they did and no time to think how a point is played.

watching replay slowly helps somewhat.
 
L

LeeD

Bionic Poster
I agree that watching pros play does help your tennis, but.....
Playing right after watching the pros play make my game much worse. Which pro should I copy? Can I dip my racket to volley like McEnroe? Can I hit sidespin forehands DTL like Connors? Can I see the ball like Borg or Kuerten? Heck, I can't swing like those guys, who can I hit their topspin shots?
 
Tight Lines

Tight Lines

Professional
It is amazing to me how mental this game of tennis is. The other day, I had the pleasure of being paired with a 5.0 player. I was serving like crap and double faulting every other point. I asked him if he had any advice. He simply said "well, it is all mental".

After that, my serve improved a 100%. Amazing....

Harry
 
Nostradamus

Nostradamus

Bionic Poster
Dly said:
I've been watching some youtube videos of pros playing and I somehow feel like my own strokes are getting better, even though I haven't touched a racket in about a week or so. I think visualizing myself executing their perfect strokes kind of shapes my own strokes a little bit. I'm sure many others also feel like they play better after watching a grand slam match.

Although I feel like I can play better, I can't say anything about results because I haven't stepped on the court yet. Has anyone else noticed themselves playing at a higher level after watching Wimbledon or something?

Is there some type of psychological effect? What are your thoughts?
Click to expand...

YES, it is called Visual imprint learning. Your form is much better after watching pros like Federer.....
 
D

Deleted member 734136

Guest
YES, i noticed this a few months ago.

I couldn't play for a few days, and during this time i watched about 5-6 hours of pros practicing, a lot of them were slow motion videos.
When i got back on the court i was hitting a lot better, more spin and more accuracy, and general, my strokes "looked" better.

On the other hand, watching pros during a match, doesn't affect me at all.
 
skiracer55

skiracer55

Hall of Fame
LeeD said:
I agree that watching pros play does help your tennis, but.....
Playing right after watching the pros play make my game much worse. Which pro should I copy? Can I dip my racket to volley like McEnroe? Can I hit sidespin forehands DTL like Connors? Can I see the ball like Borg or Kuerten? Heck, I can't swing like those guys, who can I hit their topspin shots?
Click to expand...

There is that, as in, pick your pro models carefully. Also, you really ought to have a pretty good idea of the fundamentals or you may not be seeing what you think you are seeing. Having said all that, consider the following:

- My winter sport is Masters Alpine ski racing, and typically, in our programs as well as many others, our coaches video us in training and watch and do analysis later with us. Only I don't, because a few years ago, when my coach was Troy Watts, ex-US Ski Team, he told me that the best year he had on the World Cup, he didn't watch his own video, just those of the guys who were winning races.

- One of my ski racing teammates told me about a Division 1 coach who did the following experiment: He had half his team watch their own videos, the other half watched videos of the top ATP pros. After a season, guess who had better results? If you said "the half that watched the ATP pros", you are waaaay ahead of the power curve...
 
B

Bendex

Professional
wercide said:
YES, i noticed this a few months ago.

I couldn't play for a few days, and during this time i watched about 5-6 hours of pros practicing, a lot of them were slow motion videos.
When i got back on the court i was hitting a lot better, more spin and more accuracy, and general, my strokes "looked" better.

On the other hand, watching pros during a match, doesn't affect me at all.
Click to expand...

Maybe because when they're having a practice hitup they are super relaxed and just focused on timing the ball (the way us muggles should be). If you try to emulate their match intensity, you'll end up muscling balls with bad form. They have very strong cores, which allow them to swing fast without much arm muscle involvement.
 
B

BMC9670

Hall of Fame
Well then, someone should take a 5 year old and sit him in front of tennis videos for 10 to 12 years. Think of all the expenses and overuse injuries that could be avoided making the next great champion! A new USTA player development strategy? :shock:
 
M

magnut

Hall of Fame
I have a few highlight dvds i have made over the years. 1/2 hour long. I always drink a cup of coffee and watch one before I hit the courts. Its just something I have always done. I think it just help get my mind focussed before I go out.

whats always amazing to me is how many rec tennis players never watch tennis... ...Kids especially.
 
goran_ace

goran_ace

Hall of Fame
One of my teammates in college refused to watch any tennis before playinjg. He read somewhere that it affects how you see the ball because it's different when you're actually playing.

I pretty much didn't care to watch tennis before a match because I was just trying to relax. It may get you fired up, but I seriously doubt watching someone else play is going to have any effect on how you actually play. If you didn't practice it you're not going to be able to rely on it.
 
crash1929

crash1929

Hall of Fame
Dly said:
I've been watching some youtube videos of pros playing and I somehow feel like my own strokes are getting better, even though I haven't touched a racket in about a week or so. I think visualizing myself executing their perfect strokes kind of shapes my own strokes a little bit. I'm sure many others also feel like they play better after watching a grand slam match.

Although I feel like I can play better, I can't say anything about results because I haven't stepped on the court yet. Has anyone else noticed themselves playing at a higher level after watching Wimbledon or something?

Is there some type of psychological effect? What are your thoughts?
Click to expand...

yes you do play better watching (live is best) and visualizing. you learn about this if freshman psychology class. Today for example i practiced staying upright like the pros (there is a video on this) and I was hitting smoother and nicer.
 
GregSV

GregSV

Semi-Pro
Visualization has helped me tremendously and I try to watch the pro’s everyday, especially practice sessions when good form is maintained. The key is to watch players with a style that suites your game. I’m a big guy myself so watch Del Potro. Mecir for balance/posture. Thank you Youtube!

To note: on the tennis academy in David Foster Wallace’s novel Infinite Jest there is a video screen showing slomo images of pro’s in endless loops. Students watch them when they’re not playing.
 
X

xFullCourtTenniSx

Hall of Fame
sez said:
does that mean I would play worse after watching the videos I see on this section?
Click to expand...

TW forums cancerous to tennis players confirmed.

So wait, is this why I've gotten worse? Cause I don't watch videos of pro tennis anymore?

I guess I should watch pros do forehand volleys. Mine could use a boost in performance.
 
movdqa

movdqa

Talk Tennis Guru
I've seen this effect in me and in others. I think that it's learning new tactics or noticing a technique difference.
 
GregSV

GregSV

Semi-Pro
sureshs said:
Does reading the posts on this forum also make you better? Serious question.
Click to expand...
I think it does, I think reading about tennis, watching tennis, even thinking about tennis all helps in a way. It's called the principle of immersion.
 
B

BMC9670

Hall of Fame
sureshs said:
Does reading the posts on this forum also make you better? Serious question.
Click to expand...

Do't know about reading, but I recall a discussion on this a while back and it was determined that post count directly correlates to NTRP rating. Evidence = LeeD :wink:
 
L

LeeD

Bionic Poster
Absolutely!
Bazillion posts, lowest possible 4.0.
Breakpoint? What's his level?
Suresh? We know.
 
H

hawk eye

Hall of Fame
I'm definitely playing better after playing a few sets of TE (Tennis Elbow), my favourite tennisgame. You get to watch the pros and play them at the same time. When i'm on court and in the zone I sometimes don't realize if i'm playing real tennis or TE.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-qlEvwsB_co
 
Last edited:
S

sureshs

Bionic Poster
GregSV said:
I think it does, I think reading about tennis, watching tennis, even thinking about tennis all helps in a way. It's called the principle of immersion.
Click to expand...

I am already thinking about the match I am going to be playing tomorrow noon
 
Fuji

Fuji

Legend
GregSV said:
I think it does, I think reading about tennis, watching tennis, even thinking about tennis all helps in a way. It's called the principle of immersion.
Click to expand...

This is actually quite an interesting concept to me. I recently read an interview from Andrew Ference (NHL Hockey player) who noted that what works best for him personally is to give 110% while practicing and in games, but to not think about hockey at all outside of when he is actually doing it. He notes that the best players he know have multiple hobbies and activities to do outside of the rink.

With food a focus, Ference doesn’t spend all his time thinking about hockey, though. He’s of the practice that when it is hockey time, whether practice, games or scouting, he’s 100 percent in. Outside the rink, he finds it healthy to get away. Ference spends his time exploring cities, whether a museum or sites around town—spending time away from teammates, of course—for a balance.

"That is the thing I’ve learned from the best players I’ve played with," he says. "Rarely do they only have hockey in their lives. Having an escape and interest helps them be better players."
Click to expand...

Here is the link for full interview. It's a great read. http://www.si.com/edge/2014/11/25/on-the-road-how-edmontons-andrew-ference-handles-nhl-travel

Just some food for thought I've been considering lately.

-Fuji
 
Maximagq

Maximagq

Banned
BMC9670 said:
Do't know about reading, but I recall a discussion on this a while back and it was determined that post count directly correlates to NTRP rating. Evidence = LeeD :wink:
Click to expand...

Maximagq: 6294 posts = 5.0 NTRP rating.
 
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Maximagq

Maximagq

Banned
forthegame said:
I tend to play better after/during Aussie Open and Wimbledon, esp Wimby...
Click to expand...

I noticed this too for Wimbledon and the U.S. Open. Mostly because it is summertime as well and I have more time to play tennis, and I was usually playing a lot of tournaments during the summer as a junior. I never really watched Roland Garros because it was in the end of the school year and I watched the Australian Open for good matches, but I didn't really notice any improvements because I usually was too busy to play a tournament during January.
 
sez

sez

Semi-Pro
I play better when Fed is playing well. I'm dead serious. I just fantasize I'm a young unpolished upstart playing Wimbledon with a hostile crowd whose favor I'm trying to win but that's neither here nor there.
 
GregSV

GregSV

Semi-Pro
Fuji said:
This is actually quite an interesting concept to me. I recently read an interview from Andrew Ference (NHL Hockey player) who noted that what works best for him personally is to give 110% while practicing and in games, but to not think about hockey at all outside of when he is actually doing it. He notes that the best players he know have multiple hobbies and activities to do outside of the rink.



Here is the link for full interview. It's a great read. http://www.si.com/edge/2014/11/25/on-the-road-how-edmontons-andrew-ference-handles-nhl-travel

Just some food for thought I've been considering lately.

-Fuji
Click to expand...

Fuji, I think it might be different for pro players who spend hours on court/the rink daily and need to get away from it after to prevent mental fatigue, than for your average recreational player who hits 3 times a week and has a job, a family and a social life and maybe a hobby or two.

Speaking for myself, whatching Del Potro's groundstrokes 10 min before hitting the court helps me maintain good form. And incidentally last week, Tomaz from feeltennis had a great blog on the concept of "two timings" and "swinging blindly" which helped me clear my mind on deep balls on which I tend to be late. A clear mind means less thinking, less thinking means more time, and we all know what having more time means in tennis. So yes, I think this principle of immersion (which comes from language learning) is very much applicable in tennis, whether it's visual or concept/language based.
 
T

TimothyO

Hall of Fame
Bendex said:
If you have any Challenger or Futures tournaments in your area, it's a really good idea to go and watch. It can help the rhythm of your strokes. Even the sound off their strings is helpful.
Click to expand...

^^^ This.

We try to attend as many pro/ITF events as we can. They're usually dirt cheap or free and you can watch from virtually court level since they're so poorly attended.

Doing this helped me a lot with the angle of my racquet face and stroke angle. I was shocked at how closed their racquet faces were. Combined with a steep stroke angle I learned to hit more aggressively and with more spin. If looking at the all from court side with 3 being the direction of the hitter and 9 being the target's direction it feels like the point of contact is 2 but the stringbed is gripping the ball and spinning it up over the net and down into the court.

It also helped with timing. Higher level players have a pronounced pause before striking as they prepare and focus intently on the ball. Combined with the observation above I developed more confidence in my strokes. I stay more focused on the ball and now it seems to slow down as I prepare to hit.

There's no way to see these things on TV or even training videos. Seeing it in person was an epiphany.
 
Capulin Zurdo

Capulin Zurdo

Hall of Fame
I'm glad this topic was brought up; and I do agree with everyone here. Usually when I watch any professionals or anyone that is of high level, I draw inspiration from them. That makes me feel better playing and I do feel the difference.
 
S

sureshs

Bionic Poster
Let us examine the flip side. Will watching club players make you worse? They are disgusting to watch, for sure, but will it harm your game?
 
T

torpantennis

Legend
Whenever I watch pros too much, I play much worse. The #1 key point of successful tennis, playing the percentages, gets lost after I watch them rip the ball, and I turn into a ballbasher error machine that tries to rip all the balls like the pros. :mad:

Instead, what we should learn from pros is to always stay in YOUR OWN comfort zone. Even though the pros do rip the ball, they still stay in their comfort zone and so should us!
 
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