Please rate my strokes...ADVICE?!?

[tominh8r]

Hi all,

Please take a look at my video of my forehands and backhands. Judging from the video, what would you guess is my NTRP rating?

3.0

3.5

4.0

4.5

5.0

or PRO-LEVEL

Just kidding...I'm trying to really get better quickly and I seem to be stuck in my progress. Can you all give me some advice on how to improve my groundstrokes? What do I do well and what do I really need to work on? Thanks!!!

http://youtu.be/C8_y9LhtoUI

 

[LeeD]

Bettern 3.5 prolly not quite 4.5.
Fed balls are easy to hit.
Your form is fine, a little tentative on forehands, but fine. Notice how you lean into backhands, but lean away from forehands.

 

[spaceman_spiff]

One suggestion I'd put forward is to sort out your left hand. When you're hitting forehands, your left hand is up on the hoop of the frame as you prepare. When you're hitting backhands, your left hand is on the handle. That works fine when you're doing drills and you already know which stroke you're going to hit. But, what happens in actual match play, when you don't know where you're opponent is going to hit?

I'd suggest learning how to hit forehands with your left hand on the handle at the ready position rather than on the frame. That way, you can use one ready position that works for both forehands and backhands.

 

[mightyrick]

I have no idea. You have a very nice forehand and backhand when hitting low pace hand-fed balls. I personally would need to see some match play (where we can see your opponent, too).

You might be one of those players who has awesome looking drill strokes... and then in a match if someone gives you a slice... your body does all sorts of violent jigs and you regress into a fetal state.

 

[watungga]

a 4.5 doesn't change intensity of drill after 30mins.

 

[sunof tennis]

I have no idea. You have a very nice forehand and backhand when hitting low pace hand-fed balls. I personally would need to see some match play (where we can see your opponent, too).

You might be one of those players who has awesome looking drill strokes... and then in a match if someone gives you a slice... your body does all sorts of violent jigs and you regress into a fetal state.

I agree. Your strokes look good, but these were fed balls, not teribly deep and you knew where they were going. I would guess 4.5 but once you reach that stage it is all about the results in tournaments, etc.

 

[LeeD]

IF he was 4.5, which he isn't quite yet, he'd not need to ask US what his strokes are doing, and he'd take fed balls with less effort and concentration. Ease of hitting separates the good players from the not so's (like me), and all that effort needed to hit FED balls shows us where he's at.
Nice strokes, don't lean back on forehands, watch the ball better so you move sooner to it.

 

[watungga]

FED balls in the video?!! Umm... maybe its Federer on the other side. As such, the OP rocks!

 

[LeeD]

Yeah, Federer standing at the service line on the other side and underhanding the balls to OP.
Check the bounce angle.

 

[Korso]

Forehand looking good and easy mode. Backhand take back looks to be too big in my opinion. I imagine you have a hard time with your timing against heavy balls. Take a look at Marat Safin's take back. It is not complicated and very smooth.
Can't really comment on your rating without seeing you under pressure nor seeing the rest of your game.

 

[TheCheese]

Pretty good strokes, but not much racket head speed.

 

[Limpinhitter]

Your forehand looks very good. Your backhand looks good but, your backswing is too high and your forward swing seems a bit too compact. I like compact, but, yours seems a bit too compact, from the back side anyway. So, backswing a little lower and smaller, forward swing a little longer. A 2hb is essentially a left handed forehand with a dominant left hand and a passive right hand. It seems to me that you might benefit from a more dominant left hand.

Also, your footwork is a bit ponderous. You did well to get set up for your shots, but, against a big hitter, you need to put more effort and energy into your footwork and shot preparation.

 

[user92626]

OP,

Stroke-wise, you are as advanced as recreational players get. You time the ball very well, strike it clean, balanced and looking easy and having all the control you need! If you could hit like this in matches, you'll probably only lose to those who are more athletic and could out-pace you.

There isn't much to improve in the stroke department except the intensity. I would work on that and spend the rest of the time working on strategies, match experience.

 

[guitarplayer]

OP,

Stroke-wise, you are as advanced as recreational players get. You time the ball very well, strike it clean, balanced and looking easy and having all the control you need! If you could hit like this in matches, you'll probably only lose to those who are more athletic and could out-pace you.

There isn't much to improve in the stroke department except the intensity. I would work on that and spend the rest of the time working on strategies, match experience.

This. Strokes look great.

 

[tominh8r]

One suggestion I'd put forward is to sort out your left hand. When you're hitting forehands, your left hand is up on the hoop of the frame as you prepare. When you're hitting backhands, your left hand is on the handle. That works fine when you're doing drills and you already know which stroke you're going to hit. But, what happens in actual match play, when you don't know where you're opponent is going to hit?

I'd suggest learning how to hit forehands with your left hand on the handle at the ready position rather than on the frame. That way, you can use one ready position that works for both forehands and backhands.

Thanks Spaceman. I didn't even notice I was doing that. So I probably should keep my right hand in the FH grip and the left hand in my BH grip in the ready position?

 

[tominh8r]

Bettern 3.5 prolly not quite 4.5.
Fed balls are easy to hit.
Your form is fine, a little tentative on forehands, but fine. Notice how you lean into backhands, but lean away from forehands.

You're dead on. I've been playing 18 months and I have a lot of inconsistent performances. I think it's a direct result my lazy footwork. I beat adult 3.5 players and usually win against 4.0 players by a single break in each set.

 

[tominh8r]

OP,

Stroke-wise, you are as advanced as recreational players get. You time the ball very well, strike it clean, balanced and looking easy and having all the control you need! If you could hit like this in matches, you'll probably only lose to those who are more athletic and could out-pace you.

There isn't much to improve in the stroke department except the intensity. I would work on that and spend the rest of the time working on strategies, match experience.

Thanks! So what I'm hearing is that I need to ramp up my intensity including my footwork, swing speed, and watch for swinging more forward into my ground strokes.

Did I miss anything else? Thanks for all the advices as they are very helpful.

 

[jmnk]

Bettern 3.5 prolly not quite 4.5.
Fed balls are easy to hit.
Your form is fine, a little tentative on forehands, but fine. Notice how you lean into backhands, but lean away from forehands.

next time I see 3.5 USTA player hit like OP it will be the first time. And I immediately file grievance.....

 

[vil]

Your shots look nice and clean but very difficult to rate you. You need to show video from a match play to see your movement, hitting on the run, shot selection, volleys, overheads etc.. I like your forehand btw .

 

[asusundevils1971]

Video's

Why does everyone who wants advice on their strokes never actually show in match strokes?. They want advice on whether they are 3.0 - 5.0 but never show us how they construct points, or how they take an oppositions strokes. There is a lot more to having a rating then just how do you look hitting a ball. You see people warming up in tournaments and think WOW they can hit a ball, but when the match starts it is like watching under 14 tennis.

 

[mightyrick]

next time I see 3.5 USTA player hit like OP it will be the first time. And I immediately file grievance.....

You need to see OP in match. Stroke form alone wins you no points. I've seen guys at 4.0 who *shock* me they are at that level with the way their strokes look.

 

[jmnk]

You need to see OP in match. Stroke form alone wins you no points. I've seen guys at 4.0 who *shock* me they are at that level with the way their strokes look.

could you provide video evidence of those shockingly good looking players that struggle at 4.0?

 

[ATP100]

You are hitting fine at this point in your development, I know it is hard, but stop "Thinking so much". Relax, you hit good.

Remember, learn it now, practice and play the same.

 

[mightyrick]

could you provide video evidence of those shockingly good looking players that struggle at 4.0?

You're misunderstanding me. I'm saying that it shocks me how many players do fine at 4.0 with unorthodox or questionable form. I'm only saying at that level that form isn't everything.

 

[tennis_balla]

Was this videotaped with/by your tennis coach?
I'm actually quite appalled that he allows you to play tennis in running shoes. Hopefully it was just that day, and you wear tennis shoes the rest of the time.

 

[tominh8r]

Was this videotaped with/by your tennis coach?
I'm actually quite appalled that he allows you to play tennis in running shoes. Hopefully it was just that day, and you wear tennis shoes the rest of the time.

LOL yeah I always wear my real tennis shoes in real matches. Sometimes in practices we run, work out, and they're so comfortable so I play in Adidas running shoes.

Besides the shoes, did you see something else I need to work on?

 

[Limpinhitter]

Why does everyone who wants advice on their strokes never actually show in match strokes?. They want advice on whether they are 3.0 - 5.0 but never show us how they construct points, or how they take an oppositions strokes. There is a lot more to having a rating then just how do you look hitting a ball. You see people warming up in tournaments and think WOW they can hit a ball, but when the match starts it is like watching under 14 tennis.

Haha! High level 14 year olds tear the cover off of the ball in practice and in match play. And, in international events, some of them look more like 18 year olds. I wonder if they have to produce "long form" birth certificates?

 

[jmnk]

next time I see 3.5 USTA player hit like OP it will be the first time. And I immediately file grievance.....

You need to see OP in match. Stroke form alone wins you no points. I've seen guys at 4.0 who *shock* me they are at that level with the way their strokes look.

could you provide video evidence of those shockingly good looking players that struggle at 4.0?

You're misunderstanding me. I'm saying that it shocks me how many players do fine at 4.0 with unorthodox or questionable form. I'm only saying at that level that form isn't everything.

well, fair enough. Now I do not quite see the connection between bad-looking players playing at 4.0 and OP, with very good looking form, being rated as a mere 'high 3.5'. Of course there are all kinds of folks playing at 4.0. But there are no folks with strokes like OP playing at 3.5.

 

[rkelley]

Why does everyone who wants advice on their strokes never actually show in match strokes?. They want advice on whether they are 3.0 - 5.0 but never show us how they construct points, or how they take an oppositions strokes. There is a lot more to having a rating then just how do you look hitting a ball. You see people warming up in tournaments and think WOW they can hit a ball, but when the match starts it is like watching under 14 tennis.

So true.

One time I was warming up for a match and my opponent was just knocking me back with the pace of his strokes. Nice, easy smooth form, tons of power. My first thought was if he hits like this in the match I'm toast. I did notice that he hit everything flat and he had low net clearance.

Long story short, he fell apart in the match. I did somethings to help that process along, but eventually balls were flying everywhere except inside the lines.

 

[asusundevils1971]

Did you actually read my post?. Did I ever mention "high level 14 year olds". I stated that it is hard to rate someone with just showing them hitting ground strokes. There is more to a rating then just nice strokes. There is a lot of parts with the game that give you a rating. Most people that reply to the posts talk about foot movement and how the person posting don't move into their strokes on either wing. They fall away from them and most time it is on the forehand side. There is the mental, construction of the point, and also how you respond to what your opponent is doing. And that is small part of what it takes to be a good quality tennis player. Not showing some groundstrokes and then ask " what is my rating ".

Haha! High level 14 year olds tear the cover off of the ball in practice and in match play. And, in international events, some of them look more like 18 year olds. I wonder if they have to produce "long form" birth certificates?

 

[TennisCJC]

your fh looks solid.

Try this on your BH, don't drag you back foot thru the shot so much. You can hit open stance, or neutral, or closed and open hips and shoulders into shot; but try keeping back foot back more. It should stop even with or slightly behind front foot. You are dragging the back foot thru and frequently ending with it in front. I think you will get better balance and upper body rotation is you stop it and don't drag it around.

 

[tominh8r]

Thanks for the comment. I see the foot drag and I'm trying to change it by pushing off the left foot but this will not help me open up my hips then my shoulders like on the on the forehand side? Is that right?

In other words, my plan is to use more of an open stance (or neutral sometimes if I'm closer to the center mark), load on the outside foot which is the left, then try as much to start my uncoiling process starting from the hip to the shoulders and then left the left side go through the shot fully extending into the court. This way I don't have to drive into the shot by stepping in like I did previously.

Do you think this is a good solution? I'm supposed to use open stance anyway for outwide balls anyway so why not use it for the majority of my backhands right?

 

[spaceman_spiff]

Thanks Spaceman. I didn't even notice I was doing that. So I probably should keep my right hand in the FH grip and the left hand in my BH grip in the ready position?

If you can learn to do that comfortably, then it's a good way to go. That way, if it goes to your forehand, you're already set, and if it goes to your backhand, your left hand is already set and can control the racket as you start your backswing.

 

[sportsfan1]

Regardless of the facts that the balls were fed or the video doesn't include match play, those are smooth and grooved strokes, certainly on the FH side. I don't know anything about BHs myself.

 

[Bobby Jr]

Your forehand looks very good. Your backhand looks good but, your backswing is too high and your forward swing seems a bit too compact. I like compact, but, yours seems a bit too compact, from the back side anyway.

Also, your footwork is a bit ponderous. You did well to get set up for your shots, but, against a big hitter, you need to put more effort and energy into your footwork and shot preparation.

This ^. Good calls here.

I'd like to have seen how he handles lower balls off both wings. Being able to handle low balls, fast or hit on the run shows the real strengths or flaws in a stroke.

 

[rajah84]

Your mechanics are better than most D1 players. But that's based on what I see in the video. You should film yourself in a match and see what you look like.

Keep your left hand on the throat not the head.

 

[tominh8r]

Wow that's a huge compliment. My goal is to play D1 tennis. I was almost 15 when I started two years ago so I've got a lot of improving to do before that can happen and every little details counts so thanks for the advice and compliment.

 

[carnaval09]

I'm not a coach so I can't say for sure but I think your shoulders and hips open up too soon on the FH. Take a look at 18 second of the video for example, your racquet is still in the slot position but you a shoulders and hips already parallel to the baseline. Once again, I'm not a coach and this is just my pure vision.
Maybe someone else can comment on that. Good luck.

 

[carnaval09]

I can't comment on the BH side much as it's hard for me to judge from the FH angle.
Also it's hard to rate you based on this video as people already mentioned here the game play is another story. I personally can rally with 5.0 players on the baseline but my serve REALLY SUCK and since I'm somewhat new to tennis I can't construct points as solid players do, although I'm getting better at it.

 

[TennisDawg]

Tomin, you're strokes look pretty solid too me. Based on your form from a pro fed ball feed, I would rate you somewhere between 4.5 to 5.0. If I saw the complete package, I might rate you 5.0. Pretty hard to tell unless you watch someone play points.
I'm a 3.5, but I've been playing long enough to spot good form and movement.

 

[ductrung3993]

3.5-4.0 I think.

It would be better if you have a new clip with the camera behind your back

 

[ringingpeace]

You seem very lazy on this video, not moving so well even in this easy drill that you showed us. You have a good technique on this easy balls but I would like to see those shots in game-play situation especially on the run. And tennis is not all about fh and bh there are lot of other shots,

 

[anubis]

Looks good but can't tell much from watching you hit predictably-fed balls. How do you do vs. a computer rated 3.5? Or a 4.0? Can you beat them regularly? Match play = skill level, not while just "hitting around".