Practice Video

tlm

G.O.A.T.
A short video of a little practice with my wife yesterday. I have been taking lessons and my coach says that my forehand from the backcourt is good enough believe it or not. But he wants me to hit across the ball more when I get in the court to attack. He said if the ball is short and at net high or higher then keep backswing up and hit across the ball. Do not drop the racket like my normal forehand unless ball is below the net height.

My Edited Video
 

Tennisanity

Legend
Did the coach actually give you specific fundamentals to work on or did he just say 'hit the ball correctly'. Cause if it's the latter then you could end up a great player.
 

tlm

G.O.A.T.
Did the coach actually give you specific fundamentals to work on or did he just say 'hit the ball correctly'. Cause if it's the latter then you could end up a great player.

He wants me to work on attacking the weak replys much better than I do now. I do attack short balls now but in a real match if I miss a few I shy away from attacking like I should. He wants me to be able to attack those shots automatically.

Like I mentioned he wants me to keep the backswing up on a ball above the net and get up to it before it drops, then swing accross the ball and even aim down some. If the ball is lower he wants me to use my regular take back and brush over the ball but don't follow through so high like I do from the baseline.
 

tlm

G.O.A.T.
Did the coach actually give you specific fundamentals to work on or did he just say 'hit the ball correctly'. Cause if it's the latter then you could end up a great player.

Lol I will never end up a great player. I have worked with two area coaches this summer one is the local college coach and the other is a college player. One tells me to get more sideways and hit through the ball more. The other tells me to use my regular forehand from the backcourt and only change it when I get in the court to attack.
 

comeback

Hall of Fame
Hey Tim, nice that your wife plays and you have something in common like tennis..I think you always had a good hard topspin forehand...The one coach who is telling you to attack more could be onto something..But that's really just a tactical change where you might have to lower your usual forehand height . It shouldn't be difficult but takes time just getting used to. You can just have your wife feed you balls or just try attacking in the rallies...Against better players though you might need to get more ready for a volley or overhead..:)
 

tlm

G.O.A.T.
Hey Tim, nice that your wife plays and you have something in common like tennis..I think you always had a good hard topspin forehand...The one coach who is telling you to attack more could be onto something..But that's really just a tactical change where you might have to lower your usual forehand height . It shouldn't be difficult but takes time just getting used to. You can just have your wife feed you balls or just try attacking in the rallies...Against better players though you might need to get more ready for a volley or overhead..:)

Ya I'm lucky that my wife can play and she is a decent player that can rally with me, so i can practice different things I want to work on. Your right I do need to work on finishing points off at the net.
 

tlm

G.O.A.T.
I don't believe it. Haha but seriously, good enough for what? If you just want to have some fun and play once a week then I guess it's good enough.

This is correct. You want to basically match the height of the ball with your racket preparation and yes, when the ball is above the net, just hit through it horizontally without attempting to put spin on the ball.

Ya I was trying to put to much spin on shorter high sitters, like you say match the height of the ball.

I play at least 5 times a week and play in a 4.0 league where my game is good enough to be competitive. I know my form and shots are pretty ugly but they are more effective than they look.
 

tlm

G.O.A.T.
Okay but they would be a lot more effective if you worked on your Technique but again that depends on what your goals are. Playing in the league 5 days a week and you're having fun and continue doing what you're doing. if you want to play at a higher level then there are are lot of things you could do to improve your game.

I would like to move up a level like most players. I am always trying to improve, that's why I am taking lessons.

My coach says that there are more important things to improve than my forehand. He is having me improve the forehand on short balls. But he wants me to work more on backhand and serve right now.
 

tlm

G.O.A.T.
Okay but they would be a lot more effective if you worked on your Technique but again that depends on what your goals are. Playing in the league 5 days a week and you're having fun and continue doing what you're doing. if you want to play at a higher level then there are are lot of things you could do to improve your game.

I would like to move up a level like most players. I am always trying to improve, that's why I am taking lessons.

My coach says that there are more important things to improve than my forehand. He is having me improve the forehand on short balls. But he wants me to work more on backhand and serve right now.
 

JackB1

G.O.A.T.
I would like to move up a level like most players. I am always trying to improve, that's why I am taking lessons.

My coach says that there are more important things to improve than my forehand.

If you really want to improve and move up, work on your footwork.
 

Limpinhitter

G.O.A.T.
I don't believe it. Haha but seriously, good enough for what? If you just want to have some fun and play once a week then I guess it's good enough.

This is correct. You want to basically match the height of the ball with your racket preparation and yes, when the ball is above the net, just hit through it horizontally without attempting to put spin on the ball.

That last piece of advice would be correct if he were using a 14 oz. Dunlop Maxply with Victor Imperial gut.
 
Last edited:

Limpinhitter

G.O.A.T.
He wants me to work on attacking the weak replys much better than I do now. I do attack short balls now but in a real match if I miss a few I shy away from attacking like I should. He wants me to be able to attack those shots automatically.

Like I mentioned he wants me to keep the backswing up on a ball above the net and get up to it before it drops, then swing accross the ball and even aim down some. If the ball is lower he wants me to use my regular take back and brush over the ball but don't follow through so high like I do from the baseline.

In my view, that advice is not helpful at all. BTW, you've looked better in other videos. JackB1 is correct. Your footwork is the weakest part of your game, and it is virtually non-existent in this video.
 

oble

Hall of Fame
That last piece of advice would be correct if he were using a 14 oz. Dunlop Maxply with Victor Imperial gut.
Or... that's what he should do when flattening out his forehand on a short sitter that's above net height. tlm also said his coach told him to hit across the ball more on these shots, which will still impart some spin on the ball, just not as much as his regular top spin forehand.
 

tlm

G.O.A.T.
In my view, that advice is not helpful at all. BTW, you've looked better in other videos. JackB1 is correct. Your footwork is the weakest part of your game, and it is virtually non-existent in this video.

No doubt I was being lazy, but this was just an easy hit around with the wife. My only concern was trying to hit flatter when she gave me a sitter.
 
A short video of a little practice with my wife yesterday. I have been taking lessons and my coach says that my forehand from the backcourt is good enough believe it or not. But he wants me to hit across the ball more when I get in the court to attack. He said if the ball is short and at net high or higher then keep backswing up and hit across the ball. Do not drop the racket like my normal forehand unless ball is below the net height.

My Edited Video

You need to get a new coach. If you're just going to pay someone to tell you what you want to hear, you're wasting your money. Get your friends and families to do that.

And you know those things underneath your hips? They can do more than just hold your body up.
 
Last edited:

bitcoinoperated

Professional
It looks like you just brush up the back of the ball very late with an open racquet sending back moonballs, no wonder he wants you to hit through the ball more.
 

tlm

G.O.A.T.
You need to get a new coach. If you're just going to pay someone to tell you what you want to hear, you're wasting your money. Get your friends and families to do that.

And you know those things underneath your hips? They can do more than just hold your body up.

Well I have been working with 2 different guys one is the local college coach and the other is a player on his team.

The coach is the one that told me to use my regular forehand from the backcourt. Then hit across the ball more when I get in the court.

The other player that I work with wants me to get more closed and hit through the ball more on all my forehands.
 
Well I have been working with 2 different guys one is the local college coach and the other is a player on his team.

The coach is the one that told me to use my regular forehand from the backcourt. Then hit across the ball more when I get in the court.

The other player that I work with wants me to get more closed and hit through the ball more on all my forehands.

I'm sure you aren't doing whatever it is they're telling you. Collegiate players/coaches don't have lazy, 100%-armed, with zero drive forehands like yours.

It's also possible that they aren't good teachers (good players don't always automatically translate into good teachers), so they aren't conveying their ideas correctly to you.

But if these "coaches" say your forehand is good enough, then you need to find a coach that'll look at your strokes, and be like: "No, HELL no".
 

tlm

G.O.A.T.
I'm sure you aren't doing whatever it is they're telling you. Collegiate players/coaches don't have lazy, 100%-armed, with zero drive forehands like yours.

It's also possible that they aren't good teachers (good players don't always automatically translate into good teachers), so they aren't conveying their ideas correctly to you.

But if these "coaches" say your forehand is good enough, then you need to find a coach that'll look at your strokes, and be like: "No, HELL no".

Like I said the one guy I work with is wanting to rework my forehand. He did not like the way I was brushing to much and not driving through the ball. But he had to leave for a while so I am now working with his coach. After we rallied the coach told me that my forehand has improved since he hit with me last year and that it has more weight and kick to it than in the past.

I'm just telling you what he told me, he said that I will get short replies off the looping shots I'm using from the backcourt and I need to be able to drive and flatten my forehand out when I get into the court.
 
Like I said the one guy I work with is wanting to rework my forehand. He did not like the way I was brushing to much and not driving through the ball. But he had to leave for a while so I am now working with his coach. After we rallied the coach told me that my forehand has improved since he hit with me last year and that it has more weight and kick to it than in the past.

I'm just telling you what he told me, he said that I will get short replies off the looping shots I'm using from the backcourt and I need to be able to drive and flatten my forehand out when I get into the court.

A good player will know to swat them off the net.
 

JackB1

G.O.A.T.
OP could be 4.0, but I think @LeeD at 3.5 would still give you a battle.

57424382.jpg
 

tlm

G.O.A.T.
The first thing that sticks out to me in that video is that you're letting the ball drop too low. You want to make contact with that ball much higher before it drops. The reason you're not hitting through it as much as your coach would like is because you're letting it drop so low that you have few options but to try and spin it in

I noticed that I did let the ball drop to much on that shot.
 

tlm

G.O.A.T.
But here's the thing you're not going to be able to hit that shot correctly because you're just not technically at that point. It's difficult enough to develop a forehand when the ball is in your striking Zone. If you were my student you would be learning the fundamentals and basics of a forehand before going on to more challenging things but I'm coming from the perspective of coaching college-bound kids. And I sometimes forget that there are different expectations and goals for different players. So maybe your coach is just trying to give you some tips that you can work and is less concerned about developing a high-level player. And that makes sense for many people.

I think my coach does take into account the age, ability and how much a player can develop. Maybe I cannot hit that shot in what you would call correctly but I hit that shot in with decent pace and can do that pretty consistently now. So I'm not sure what you mean by not technically at that point. Do you mean I am not at the point were I can attack a short sitter?
 

tlm

G.O.A.T.
But here's the thing you're not going to be able to hit that shot correctly because you're just not technically at that point. It's difficult enough to develop a forehand when the ball is in your striking Zone. If you were my student you would be learning the fundamentals and basics of a forehand before going on to more challenging things but I'm coming from the perspective of coaching college-bound kids. And I sometimes forget that there are different expectations and goals for different players. So maybe your coach is just trying to give you some tips that you can work and is less concerned about developing a high-level player. And that makes sense for many people.

If you are coaching high level college bound players then you will fit in on this site. Most here are at least that level especially the ones that never show any video of themselves.

But I find when I leave this site and go into the real tennis world the majority of players are 3.5-4.5 and some 5.0. With most being between 3.5 and 4.0.
 

Fxanimator1

Hall of Fame
...you will fit in on this site. Most here are at least that level especially the ones that never show any video of themselves.
LOL, truer words were never spoken...Ask to see a video of someone's strokes and a hush comes over the crowd...so much so, you could hear a pin drop.
Well...there's also excuses and deflection too.
 

tlm

G.O.A.T.
All I mean is that there are correct ways to do things and improvised ways and almost all recreational players improvise things because they haven't been coached. What constitutes consistency or a quality shot at the recreational level is different from a developed players level. Your forehand might be perfectly fine for what you need it for but the fact that you posted a video suggests that you are looking to improve it. And what I'm saying is if I were to coach you I would be going backwards and introduce you to the fundamentals that you haven't mastered.

Those are good points you make and there is no doubt that what constitutes consistency or quality at the rec level is much different from a developed players level.

I am working with a coach and trying to improve, but I know I will never be a very good player so I am just trying to get the most out of what I have.
 

mightyrick

Legend
You're wrong. The Op posted a video and asked for advice. Someone didn't come up to him on the street and start offering opinions. He asked for them. There is no obligation by anyone who responds to show a video of themselves hitting. The OP asked for opinions. It's a simple as that.

You're new to this, but I'll give you some advice... don't worry about giving advice. This thread is a broken record that has been played no less than 20+ times. Everything you have said (and probably are wanting to say) has already been said by at least 10 people. I'm 100% serious. Tlm is a good guy, he wants to get better, but this thread is recreated over and over and over and over again...

It has literally become the Groundhog Day of Talk Tennis.

GroundHog_Wakeup.jpg
 

LeeD

Bionic Poster
A short video of a little practice with my wife yesterday. I have been taking lessons and my coach says that my forehand from the backcourt is good enough believe it or not. But he wants me to hit across the ball more when I get in the court to attack. He said if the ball is short and at net high or higher then keep backswing up and hit across the ball. Do not drop the racket like my normal forehand unless ball is below the net height.

My Edited Video

Across the ball. Does that imply SIDEspin? Instead of your normal topspin?
It looks you hit topspin no matter where you're standing, no matter how high the ball is.
Sidespin forces a low bounce, skids through the court, and must be hit with low net clearance to be effective. That is NOT what you're doing.
 

tlm

G.O.A.T.
You're new to this, but I'll give you some advice... don't worry about giving advice. This thread is a broken record that has been played no less than 20+ times. Everything you have said (and probably are wanting to say) has already been said by at least 10 people. I'm 100% serious. Tlm is a good guy, he wants to get better, but this thread is recreated over and over and over and over again...

It has literally become the Groundhog Day of Talk Tennis.

GroundHog_Wakeup.jpg

Then why do u pay attention to my threads then? I have not posted any video in a while and I am taking lessons like many suggested and just showed a clip of what I have been working on. No big deal just a little tennis discussion.
 

tlm

G.O.A.T.
Across the ball. Does that imply SIDEspin? Instead of your normal topspin?
It looks you hit topspin no matter where you're standing, no matter how high the ball is.
Sidespin forces a low bounce, skids through the court, and must be hit with low net clearance to be effective. That is NOT what you're doing.

That is what I am trying to do. When the coach was hitting shorter balls that were higher than the net I was hitting them with some side spin that skid through the court. But I need a higher shot that I get up to quickly and not let it drop to use the side spin technique.
 

mightyrick

Legend
Then why do u pay attention to my threads then? I have not posted any video in a while and I am taking lessons like many suggested and just showed a clip of what I have been working on. No big deal just a little tennis discussion.

I actually think this thread is good. You really just posted a video and said what your coach(es) are having you work on. I honestly think that's great on all counts.

Also, I think @donnybrook was not correct. He said you were asking for advice. I read your original post and I don't see you asking for advice. All you are doing is sharing a video and sharing what your coaches said.
 

tlm

G.O.A.T.
I actually think this thread is good. You really just posted a video and said what your coach(es) are having you work on. I honestly think that's great on all counts.

Also, I think @donnybrook was not correct. He said you were asking for advice. I read your original post and I don't see you asking for advice. All you are doing is sharing a video and sharing what your coaches said.

Well that's good I'm glad to hear that you think this is a good thread. I didn't ask for advise but when you post in this section it's pretty certain that you will get some. Which is fine with me I am not arguing with the advise that is being suggested. I think most is good and donnybrook makes some good points.
 
Top