Playing Like a Drunkard: going from indoors to outdoors.

[HunterST]

Since I started playing, almost all of my tennis experience has been indoors. Unfortunately, most tournament and league matches are outdoors. Even more unfortunately, I play 100 times worse outside. My timing and depth perception seem off. I double faults and mishits shoot way up.

Any advice on how to adapt better? I know a lot of people who play outside have trouble going indoors, have you guys dealt with that problem? I suppose it's just a matter of playing outdoors more.

 

[Fedace]

Since I started playing, almost all of my tennis experience has been indoors. Unfortunately, most tournament and league matches are outdoors. Even more unfortunately, I play 100 times worse outside. My timing and depth perception seem off. I double faults and mishits shoot way up.

Any advice on how to adapt better? I know a lot of people who play outside have trouble going indoors, have you guys dealt with that problem? I suppose it's just a matter of playing outdoors more.

I am a high level player and i have the Exact same problem until This year. it has to do with difference in light intensity. Sunny intense light will throw off your depth perception. you will notice it isn't so bad in Cloudy days. It takes playing about 3 times per week for 4 weeks Outdoors on sunny day to adjust to the conditions. More head light racket makes the adjustment little easier.

As far as the wind goes, it is same for everyone. your problem has to do with Light intensity and your eyes trying to adjust to it.
This year i started to take high intensity vitamin. Go to GNC and ask for Vitamin that helps with Eye and vision health. This helped me a great deal but i can't garantee, it will do the same for you.

 

[HunterST]

I am a high level player and i have the Exact same problem until This year. it has to do with difference in light intensity. Sunny intense light will throw off your depth perception. you will notice it isn't so bad in Cloudy days. It takes playing about 3 times per week for 4 weeks Outdoors on sunny day to adjust to the conditions. More head light racket makes the adjustment little easier.

As far as the wind goes, it is same for everyone. your problem has to do with Light intensity and your eyes trying to adjust to it.
This year i started to take high intensity vitamin. Go to GNC and ask for Vitamin that helps with Eye and vision health. This helped me a great deal but i can't garantee, it will do the same for you.

I agree about the light intensity, because the problem becomes much less severe at night. Plus, people who play mostly outside always say the indoor lighting throws them off.

So it took you 3X per week for a week to get it down? I'll have to try to get that in once summer and the USTA tournies roll around.

 

[Fedace]

I agree about the light intensity, because the problem becomes much less severe at night. Plus, people who play mostly outside always say the indoor lighting throws them off.

So it took you 3X per week for a week to get it down? I'll have to try to get that in once summer and the USTA tournies roll around.

Play 2 hours session about 5 times in sunny conditions and you should be set and ready. and Try that Eyecap, it is very helpful. It isn't just for Old people. What is a Human racket ?? Is that the new name for new Roger Federer racket that Wilson will be releasing in 2012 ??????????

 

[MyFearHand]

I play mostly outdoors and then in the winter when I go in doors I have to wear glasses otherwise I literally cannot time the ball at all. Outdoors I can play without glasses unless it gets dark.

 

[HunterST]

I play mostly outdoors and then in the winter when I go in doors I have to wear glasses otherwise I literally cannot time the ball at all. Outdoors I can play without glasses unless it gets dark.

Yeah, I know a lot of people who say that about going indoors. You're lucky, though, because most real matches are outdoors! I always feel a little out of my comfort zone when I play a tournament match.

 

[sandiegoman]

I'm the opposite! It's hard for me to play at noche

 

[Magnetite]

You gotta learn to play in the cold, the wind, the heat, the sun, the humidity and occasionally on a bad surface. Learning to deal with variation makes people better.

For instance, when it's windy you can hit ridiculous shots you simply cannot hit without the wind. Crazy passing shots that are going way out but curl inside after passing wide of your opponent.

I'm not saying I enjoy playing in the wind, but you have to look on the bright side!

Just give it a few sessions to get dialled in.

Also, going from outside to indoor tennis is fun. I personally feel like I'm in god mode. The ball moves so much faster through the air, and I feel like almost any shot could go for a winner (not that they always do, it just feels like they could). Serving too, is a joke indoors - no wind, no sun to blind you, no blue sky to mess with depth perception.

 

[Timbo's hopeless slice]

Fedace is a high level player???

I thought you were a 4.5?????

(no offence, but that is low level rec tennis, sorry, but it is)

 

[dr325i]

Fedace is a high level player???

I thought you were a 4.5?????

(no offence, but that is low level rec tennis, sorry, but it is)

4.5 is a high level, BTW.
Many here want to believe that they are there or close to it. In reality, a VERY smal percentage of the USA amateur population is at 4.5 or higher...

 

[maggmaster]

4.5 is high level rec tennis. It is the highest level that can reasonably attained without daily practice and conditioning. It spans a broad range of used to be college/junior players and up and coming recreational players.

 

[Torres]

Since I started playing, almost all of my tennis experience has been indoors. Unfortunately, most tournament and league matches are outdoors. Even more unfortunately, I play 100 times worse outside. My timing and depth perception seem off. I double faults and mishits shoot way up.

Any advice on how to adapt better? I know a lot of people who play outside have trouble going indoors, have you guys dealt with that problem? I suppose it's just a matter of playing outdoors more.

I know how you feel....I play a large part of the winter season on indoor carpet simply because alot of people at my club move indoors over the winter. Yet for competitive or club matches, the outdoor courts and those with a 'bubble' are always used - would unfair on other clubs otherwise.

The biggest adjustment for me is the difference in bounce and timing in terms of the speed of the ball off the surface. The only thing you can really do is just try and keep up the practice outdoors. I usually try and arrange a 3-4 hour hitting or match practice session outdoors in the days leading up to matches.

 

[thug the bunny]

I don't play indoors much, but I have come to notice that there are some outdoor courts where I just don't play well. My home court, a local HS court, and a court in DC are all fine. But there's another HS court, and the court at our CC where I just cannot hit the ball. My timing is always off and I can't seem to see the ball well. It's wierd, you would think outdoors is outdoors.

 

[Timbo's hopeless slice]

4.5 is a high level, BTW.
Many here want to believe that they are there or close to it. In reality, a VERY smal percentage of the USA amateur population is at 4.5 or higher...

Sorry, I guess I didn't word it well, I didn't realize he meant 'high level rec player', I just thought he meant he was an actual high level player.

To me, that is 5.5 and up, not really rec level at all..

my bad