Practice Game Video

[SDCHRIS]

Hey guys, here is a video of me playing a couple of practice games. Would like your comments on what I can improve on.
No service returns since we only served on the camera side and the my opponent serve needs work(lots of DF in the video).

Oh since lots of people are obsessed with NTRP ratings you might as well debate what I am. I have a general idea what my
rating is with some data to back it up.

 

[Hmgraphite1]

Looks good , getting serve in good technique, backhand looks strong and focused. Your forehand looks to need some more oomph and directional control. I think you would have trouble against the 4.0 players, so I would say 3.5

 

[jm1980]

Looks like a decent 4.0 level. Mostly solid technique all around and no obvious weaknesses (aside from a wonky looking overhead), decent movement.

If I were to work on one thing, it would be the forehand. Your preparation seems fine, but you look late on a lot of your swings, and it's preventing you from getting good pace/spin on the shot. You'd also be better served going more crosscourt to the ad corner with the forehand against a righty. It's very central or DTL right now and it doesn't look like a deliberate strategy

Just my 3 cents

 

[S&V-not_dead_yet]

Hey guys, here is a video of me playing a couple of practice games. Would like your comments on what I can improve on.
No service returns since we only served on the camera side and the my opponent serve needs work(lots of DF in the video).

Oh since lots of people are obsessed with NTRP ratings you might as well debate what I am. I have a general idea what my
rating is with some data to back it up.]

Strengths:
- footwork
- balance
- prep
- consistency
- point construction
- patience

Things to work on:
- serve [power and spin]

 

[SDCHRIS]

Looks like a decent 4.0 level. Mostly solid technique all around and no obvious weaknesses (aside from a wonky looking overhead), decent movement.

If I were to work on one thing, it would be the forehand. Your preparation seems fine, but you look late on a lot of your swings, and it's preventing you from getting good pace/spin on the shot. You'd also be better served going more crosscourt to the ad corner with the forehand against a righty. It's very central or DTL right now and it doesn't look like a deliberate strategy

Just my 3 cents

Thanks, forehand is my weaker stroke and I’m still working on it. My general strategy is to move opponents side to side so I do go DTL often. I need to work on better cross court to the ad side.

 

[SDCHRIS]

Strengths:
- footwork
- balance
- prep
- consistency
- point construction
- patience

Things to work on:
- serve [power and spin]

Thanks. Serve is brand new, first time playing with it after two practice buckets. Still a work in progress.

 

[BetaServe]

.... so I would say 3.5

Nah. He's more or less around @FiReFTW level but below @nytennisaddict. You can tell he has quite a lot of of match experience and his strokes are really solid. These guys know how to play tennis.

 

[Hmgraphite1]

Nah. He's more or less around @FiReFTW level but below @nytennisaddict. You can tell he has quite a lot of of match experience and his strokes are really solid.

I watched it again, there were some good fh in there. There were no put away serves or put away fh though. Heavy pace. Not sure I've seen fireftw in matchplay against equal like player. The nytennisaddict video from 5yrs ago is one-two levels above this.
Player moves well though. I've seen 4.0 with a lot of consistency at this pace.

 

[jm1980]

Thanks, forehand is my weaker stroke and I’m still working on it. My general strategy is to move opponents side to side so I do go DTL often. I need to work on better cross court to the ad side.

You should only go DTL when there is an opening (eg: ball is short, or opponent is slow to recover)

Otherwise you are going to be in for a lot of running once you start playing better players

 

[pencilcheck]

Of course this is just my feelings and not accurate, my feeling is you are a strong 3.5, but not quite yet 4.0.

 

[NuBas]

Its hard to tell from one video and a few points but no higher than a Strong 4.0.

You have good defense and a good technique in general. Anticipation could be better. Everything is alright, more play and you should improve if that's what you want.

 

[FiReFTW]

Nah. He's more or less around @FiReFTW level but below @nytennisaddict. You can tell he has quite a lot of of match experience and his strokes are really solid. These guys know how to play tennis.

Thanks for the compliment, but I dont have a lot of match experience yet..

 

[BetaServe]

Thanks for the compliment, but I dont have a lot of match experience yet..

No I meant to say despite of your "4.5" looking strokes, you're not better than him.

 

[FiReFTW]

No I meant to say despite of your "4.5" looking strokes, you're not better than him.

Oh I see! Thats probably very accurate.

 

[FiReFTW]

I agree with @S&V-not_dead_yet and @BetaServe

Their strokes/serve dont have alot of spin or pace, but people often overlook other things and look only at that.
They have good footwork, consistency, point construction, placement.. and its very clear they have a lot of playtime and experience behind them.

But people specially on this forum are clueless and dont even see any of these things, only judge level by stroke pace and spin lol.

 

[SDCHRIS]

I consider myself 4.0. Strong or weak is debatable. Im in San Diego if makes a difference. i played one USTA 4.0 tournament last year. Won 1st match and lost to the eventual tournament winner in 3 sets , he is ranked #5 4.0 in SD for 2018. I regularly play against the #8 ranked 4.0 player and we split our matches. I just beat the #11 ranked 4.0 in a flex league match.

 

[StringSnapper]

Your technique is nothing flashy, it doesn't look the best.

I've played league matches for around 2.5 years now, and I can tell you would be a tough competitior desite a lack of flashy strokes. You have really good concentration, and you get the ball back over and over. Your fitness looks solid. I think to beat you, one would have to really go after their shots while maintaining consistency or just be fitter.

There is a saying around here, focus on the three F's to get really good at recreational tennis: Fitness, focus and footwork. You've done that. IMO very solid 4.0

To get to 4.5 you'll need a bigger serve and a weaponized side off the ground - its a long road to develop a big effortless serve though. I'm working on it now...

 

[Deleted member 54265]

Oh I see! Thats probably very accurate.

Dont be too humble

 

[SDCHRIS]

Your technique is nothing flashy, it doesn't look the best.

I've played league matches for around 2.5 years now, and I can tell you would be a tough competitior desite a lack of flashy strokes. You have really good concentration, and you get the ball back over and over. Your fitness looks solid. I think to beat you, one would have to really go after their shots while maintaining consistency or just be fitter.

There is a saying around here, focus on the three F's to get really good at recreational tennis: Fitness, focus and footwork. You've done that. IMO very solid 4.0

To get to 4.5 you'll need a bigger serve and a weaponized side off the ground - its a long road to develop a big effortless serve though. I'm working on it now...

Agree with you. I was a self taught junior so my strokes have some flaws and not flashy. I took a bunch of private lessons in my adulthood and have come to a conclusion that they werent very helpful. So I have concentrated on things I can control, and the three Fs are exactly that. I'm working on my serve, being 5-7 I'm never going to have a big serve. I'll focus on placement and spin. I don't think I'll ever get to 4.5, a full time job with a family does leave that much time for tennis. My goal this year is to win a 4.0 tournament and get a ranking.

 

[S&V-not_dead_yet]

Agree with you. I was a self taught junior so my strokes have some flaws and not flashy. I took a bunch of private lessons in my adulthood and have come to a conclusion that they werent very helpful. So I have concentrated on things I can control, and the three Fs are exactly that. I'm working on my serve, being 5-7 I'm never going to have a big serve. I'll focus on placement and spin. I don't think I'll ever get to 4.5, a full time job with a family does leave that much time for tennis. My goal this year is to win a 4.0 tournament and get a ranking.

"flashy" is way down on my list of things to worry about. I think you're on the right track.

BTW: I invented the acronym "3Fs" [at least as far as this forum goes; don't know if anyone has used it elsewhere].

 

[FiReFTW]

"flashy" is way down on my list of things to worry about. I think you're on the right track.

BTW: I invented the acronym "3Fs" [at least as far as this forum goes; don't know if anyone has used it elsewhere].

And your 3Fs are probably the most important things in tennis for sure!

 

[S&V-not_dead_yet]

And your 3Fs are probably the most important things in tennis for sure!

At the very least, they are things which anyone can improve upon, doesn't require expensive equipment or lessons, and can produce results fairly quickly [as well as be long-lasting]. The price one has to pay is effort.

 

[StringSnapper]

Agree with you. I was a self taught junior so my strokes have some flaws and not flashy. I took a bunch of private lessons in my adulthood and have come to a conclusion that they werent very helpful. So I have concentrated on things I can control, and the three Fs are exactly that. I'm working on my serve, being 5-7 I'm never going to have a big serve. I'll focus on placement and spin. I don't think I'll ever get to 4.5, a full time job with a family does leave that much time for tennis. My goal this year is to win a 4.0 tournament and get a ranking.

Nice. 5-7 isn't bad when you have a full time job and play 4.0 rec tennis, when i come up against someone shorter (im 6"1), fitter, or more consistent than me my first thought is "oh god", because i know they'll probably have better stamina / fitness and ill have to hit them off the court which is a massive coin flip, especially over 2 sets.

Had a great match on the weekend against just that kind of opponent... probably 5"7, around the same age, decently fit... dominated for a set and a half, up 6-3 4-2, then lost my concentration, started pushing instead of hitting hard, he trounced me and i got exhausted, then when i went back to hitting hard i made all sorts of really loose errors and he won 6-3 6-4 10-6

I'm an unco who cant hit volleys or overheads though maye that would help.....

 

[S&V-not_dead_yet]

I'm working on my serve, being 5-7 I'm never going to have a big serve. I'll focus on placement and spin. I don't think I'll ever get to 4.5, a full time job with a family does leave that much time for tennis. My goal this year is to win a 4.0 tournament and get a ranking.

Schartzman's 5' 6". Cibulkova's 5' 3".

You may not ever have a "big serve" but you could certainly improve the one you have and even if it's not big it can still be a weapon.

 

[coupergear]

I consider myself 4.0. Strong or weak is debatable. Im in San Diego if makes a difference. i played one USTA 4.0 tournament last year. Won 1st match and lost to the eventual tournament winner in 3 sets , he is ranked #5 4.0 in SD for 2018. I regularly play against the #8 ranked 4.0 player and we split our matches. I just beat the #11 ranked 4.0 in a flex league match.

I've posted and lurked the board for years. This is the first reality-based post on rating I've ever seen. Thank you.