tlm
G.O.A.T.
Here is a clip from playing some points yesterday. My friend the good player is in the white shirt.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C0QNJ2-3ZOE
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C0QNJ2-3ZOE
Playing Some Points Video
- Thread starter tlm
- Start date
tlm
G.O.A.T.
Well I have a long way to go with the footwork, my friend runs me around pretty well. So I am scrambling a lot and just getting the ball back in play, he does not let me do much attacking.
Good hitting tlm. My own moonballs have gotten much less moon like yours. I think I am a 4.0 now.
I still think your moonballing but you are much more aggressive and are hitting flatter fast topspin shots when able now. But your head/shoulders and body still faces the back fence when you hit a hard fh. Like a spinning top. That would be imo what you need to work on next.
I still think your moonballing but you are much more aggressive and are hitting flatter fast topspin shots when able now. But your head/shoulders and body still faces the back fence when you hit a hard fh. Like a spinning top. That would be imo what you need to work on next.
Topspin Shot
Legend
Nice playing. Is that a different racket?
tlm
G.O.A.T.
Thanks, pretty astute observation on the racket topspin. I am demoing one of the new Pacific bx2's, trying to get more snap back LOL. Actually I am trying to go to a 100 sq. inch racket for a little more free power.
tlm
G.O.A.T.
I still have to work on staying on the balls of my feet. Once I get moving I can cover fairly quickly but I could cover the court better if I can get it ingrained to stay active on my feet.
tlm
G.O.A.T.
It's usually fairly close but he is better than me. In these videos we play a game called 21, first one to 21 wins. He beat me 21-17 the first one and I choked the lead away in the second game and he beat me 22-20.
We play this game a lot indoors because it is quicker with no duce games, you have to get your money's worth when paying for court time.
tlm
G.O.A.T.
I would be happy to reach 4.5, because 5.0 is out of my reach.
tlm
G.O.A.T.
Ya its not very good it is a cheap sharper image, I need to upgrade. I used the I phone before but this small action sharper image camera is much better for mounting and runs longer.
tlm
G.O.A.T.
Here is a clip of the spinning top forehand, checkout the last shot in this clip.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1suBKEVpf-E
Vanhalen
Professional
You guys have great consistency. Your half moonballs give people ample time to get back into position. I wonder ........If you would hit with a little less spin you would be hitting penetrating winners that your opponent wouldn't have time to get to? You would move from a defensive player to an offensive player.
tlm
G.O.A.T.
I am working on that, but I have found my half moonballs to be fairly effective for working the point. But need to get better at attacking the short replies when I get them.
I have found that when I hit a lower flatter shot more that my opponents like that type of ball to hit and they hit it back faster than I do. So it works out in their favor, so I like to move the ball around with a lot of spin and throw in some slices and mix it up. But you are correct the higher balls do give the opponent more time.
I am more of a defensive grinder style player, but I do want to get better at being more offensive. But for what I have right now my grinder style works best, my opponent here is definitely a better player and much better at attacking. I play a little more aggressive when I play a more grinding style of opponent, as opposed to an attacking player like my friend in this clip.
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Cowboyardee
Rookie
I'm noticing that you seem to have a much easier time winning points when you hit your backhands fully crosscourt rather than up the line or somewhere in the middle of the court. By hitting them CC, not only do you tend to hit to the opponent's BH, but you also make it a lot easier for them to hit the next ball either to your FH or to a BH you can run around and still hit a FH and take control of the point. In this video, you seem to have a tendency to hit a few too many of your BHs straight up the middle.
tlm
G.O.A.T.
Your serve and forehand look a bit unorthodox - but effective. Are you self taught? On your serve you seem to whip it past trophy position and on your forehand you seem to have a low takeback.
A lot of motion blur on your camera so its hard to tell..very consistent though and good speed around the court..
A lot of motion blur on your camera so its hard to tell..very consistent though and good speed around the court..
tlm
G.O.A.T.
I took some lessons early on but pretty much self taught. What do you mean by i whip it past the trophy position?
tlm
G.O.A.T.
I have tried some of the spin rackets and they are to powerful for me, I think they are more of a power racket than they are a spin racket.
tlm
G.O.A.T.
That is not my regular racket it is a demo, a Pacific BX2 X Feel Tour. I must say it is a very nice stick, I might be switching to it.
JackB1
G.O.A.T.
You are entitled to your opinion of course, but how can you possibly tell by watching an "edited" video of Tlm playing the same guy he plays over and over? Tennis is all about matchups and how you play matches versus all types of opponents. I managed to win a USTA singles match this past weekend 6-1, 6-1 versus a 4.0 opponent. I just figured out what worked against him, kept doing it over and over and he had no answer. Tlm's videos have been looking better lately and I applaud him for working hard to improve and also for posting video. Now whether or not he can beat me remains to be seen. Get him down to Atlanta and we can find out
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tlm
G.O.A.T.
You are entitled to your opinion of course, but how can you possibly tell by watching an "edited" video of Tlm playing the same guy he plays over and over? Tennis is all about matchups and how you play matches versus all types of opponents. I won a USTA singles match this past weekend 6-1, 6-1 versus a 4.0 opponent. I just figured out what worked against him, kept doing it over and over and he had no answer. Tlm's videos have been looking better lately and I applaud him for working hard to improve and also for posting video. Now whether or not he can beat me remains to be seen. Get him down to Atlanta and we can find out
BTW, anyone else notice how all the guys in this thread that are praising Tlm's play are all "new users"?
Why do you always have to stretch the truth? Five of the comments were not by new users, plus what does that have to do with anything? Are you saying that I am recruiting posters to give me good comments? Sometimes you really make some odd statements.
5263
G.O.A.T.
Good, nice to see this.
tlm
G.O.A.T.
Okay thanks, I don't know if you noticed but I commented in you thread about the slice backhand. I am in the same boat as you are when it comes to trying to hit topspin backhands and break away from the slice.
Seriously, who gives a cr*p?
Tim, you're looking better. You need to get your shoulders tilted more on the serve though. I think working on your serve would pay dividends. I'm sure it's adequate at 4.0 but your technique is not too sound so you have a lot of room to improve it.
Tim, you're looking better. You need to get your shoulders tilted more on the serve though. I think working on your serve would pay dividends. I'm sure it's adequate at 4.0 but your technique is not too sound so you have a lot of room to improve it.
tlm
G.O.A.T.
What do you mean by getting my shoulders more tilted on the serve?
Fxanimator1
Hall of Fame
I could be wrong, but I think he's suggesting to raise your left arm up more and for a longer duration and also get your hips more over your front foot to give that sort of bow-like form of stored energy. So more tilting of your upper body/shoulders, with your left shoulder and arm leading the way.
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tlm
G.O.A.T.
Okay that makes sense I think I am mostly just using the arms now.
JackB1
G.O.A.T.
I have the same issue. One simple drill that helps is to just practice getting into a proper trophy position...have someone else check your key points ( back elbow, shoulder tilt, racquet face, etc.) while you pause. Once you feel like you are hitting the correct marks, do the serve without pausing at trophy.
BTW Tlm...when I post videos now to YT, I disable comments. Something you might want to consider too. It doesn't give the kiddies a place to play and post immature comments. Just a suggestion...
That plus the fact his right arm is at maybe a 45degree angle at impact when it should be more like 100. To do that and keep the arm/shoulder angle in a safe range he needs to get his right shoulder higher at impact.
So he needs to get his shoulder line steeper at both trophy and impact, just with opposite shoulder higher.
With his current motion, I can't imagine he can hit anything but a slice serve.
tlm
G.O.A.T.
Ya I do hit mostly slice serves, I will try to get the shoulder higher. Is it like I am throwing 3/4 instead of straight over the top?
Exactly. I realized I messed up the angles I gave in my prior post. I was in a rush and confused matters by using angles that were measured differently.
The point is you want your right arm pretty close to vertical. It won't be vertical, because you want an angle between the racquet and your forearm. But you don't get that position just by raising your arm. That puts a lot of stress on your shoulder. You have to bend sideways and get your shoulders tilted to do it.
tlm
G.O.A.T.
Okay thanks I will work on that today in practice.
Power Player
Bionic Poster
Dang, I missed the drama NTRP here. Well, saw some on youtube.
TLM, nice movement and retrieval. Keeps you alive in some points. You opponent is not putting some shots away that he could, but he is playing lower risk tennis.
Keep in mind that some players will attack you a little more efficiently.
Examples - weak overhead at :20. Still a good point, and not really much to point out there. Good dropshot by you. If you get a guy in that situation, the lob is never a bad choice, but keep working on your backhand. You will be able to hit a nice relaxed, medium paced winner in those situations too. I think that is just getting the confidence in the stroke, but you can already hit that shot most likely.
But this is all pretty nice stuff. Your footwork on the FH is still wonky, but you hit one at 2:05ish that is nice. Watch that one and try to replicate that footwork more. Also notice how the ball sounded cleaner and the shape was much more optimal.
That may help. But you are moving a lot and things look a lot better. The backhand defense is smart - you hit it deep and high. If you want to take things up a notch you will want to hit that backhand more often so you gain directional control. But that takes some time. I'd suggest practice sets in which you make yourself hit 2 handed backhands and avoid slicing except in obvious situations. I do that a lot and it helped me develop a DTL backhand, which is a really nice weapon to have when it is going in.
TLM, nice movement and retrieval. Keeps you alive in some points. You opponent is not putting some shots away that he could, but he is playing lower risk tennis.
Keep in mind that some players will attack you a little more efficiently.
Examples - weak overhead at :20. Still a good point, and not really much to point out there. Good dropshot by you. If you get a guy in that situation, the lob is never a bad choice, but keep working on your backhand. You will be able to hit a nice relaxed, medium paced winner in those situations too. I think that is just getting the confidence in the stroke, but you can already hit that shot most likely.
But this is all pretty nice stuff. Your footwork on the FH is still wonky, but you hit one at 2:05ish that is nice. Watch that one and try to replicate that footwork more. Also notice how the ball sounded cleaner and the shape was much more optimal.
That may help. But you are moving a lot and things look a lot better. The backhand defense is smart - you hit it deep and high. If you want to take things up a notch you will want to hit that backhand more often so you gain directional control. But that takes some time. I'd suggest practice sets in which you make yourself hit 2 handed backhands and avoid slicing except in obvious situations. I do that a lot and it helped me develop a DTL backhand, which is a really nice weapon to have when it is going in.
tlm
G.O.A.T.
Thanks PP, I hope that I am showing that I am trying to improve and listen to the advise that many have offered. Ya your right my footwork on the forehand is still a little wonky, I like that word it fits me pretty well LOL.
Thanks to for driving through how much I need to work on my footwork, I never knew how bad it was until I started filming. I still have a long way to go but at least now I realize it and every practice I keep telling myself to stay active on my feet. Hopefully one day it will become automatic.
You have a good suggestion on the backhand also, I have gotten a lot better with the 2 hander but definitely lack confidence in it. Your right I just have to say the heck with the score in practice sets and commit to it.
tlm
G.O.A.T.
Are you related to Al or Ted bundey?
tlm
G.O.A.T.
That is possible.
tlm
G.O.A.T.
I like it Al Bundey LOL.
