Seniors lounge (over 65 - 85) come on in.

tanventure

tanventure

New User
Inspired by the popular thread:Seniors lounge (over 50) come on in., also as many have suggested to have a thread for people over 70 to share ideas and tips, etc.

How about start from: your NTRP level (self rating), how often you play weekly, Single/Double, etc.; are you using lighter racket now? Keep trying to improve your tennis skills/NTRP or learn new skills? Are you participate super senior tournament? ......

I am at 73, renewed my interests in tennis about 3 years after retirement, at NTRP 3.0 - 3.5, morning rally 1 - 1.5 hours every day, play games mainly for doubles; still try hard to improve my backhand slice, better footwork, etc.; main objectives: having funs, staying healthy

Looking forward to establish this thread as a good place for folks to share



Thanks
 
Since I retired couple of years ago at age 69 and have a lot more time to play I've added 2 new shots to my repertoire. I have some grand nieces, nephews that I am helping learn the game and I thought it might be a good idea to be able to hit a 2H BH myself in order to instruct others how to hit it. It's still a work in progress but really helps in returning kick serves to backhand. Also have added an effective forehand drop shot. Before the only drop shots I could hit were basically by accident. For me the key to the drop shot was hitting it with my forehand grip and not switching to continental like many suggest. Now going to work on BH drop shot. IMNSHO it's never too late to add new stuff.
 
Friedman Whip said:
I wish I had more time with them. I could make them into really good players. But I have to compete with baseball, soccer, dance classes, music lessons, you name it. Oh well.
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Sporty lifestyle will pay off, no matter the selection and mix of sports. Music too is great to now and play an instrument. That will carry and last a lifetime.

Soccer and dance, I think is a combination of perfect foundation for any other sports, and since they have already been introduced to tennis, they can catch on later at any point their life. Dance and gymnastics develop proper body image and motoric skills, which enable people to adapt any motion required for other sports.

My daughter is a ballet/modern jazz dancer at her teens and she’s superb in motion rythm in any sport after instruction. Like in golf I told her not to worry about the hit, but make a rythmic motion, showing how-to and boom!

Great shots every now and then on the range and understanding, what makes a swing. Same thing with tennis shots, we haven’t been out on courts, but once and we could rally mini tennis for 20 consecutive shots the first time out after just two basic drills.

Couldn’t believe my eyes, cause so many people have extreme difficulties making contact in tennis.


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On pain meds - all contributed matter and anti-matter subject to disclaimer
 
Friedman Whip said:
I wish I had more time with them. I could make them into really good players. But I have to compete with baseball, soccer, dance classes, music lessons, you name it. Oh well.
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Very surprised to know that you still play soccer, I thought it's only for young people.

Pete Player said:
Soccer and dance, I think is a combination of perfect foundation for any other sports, and since they have already been introduced to tennis, they can catch on later at any point their life. Dance and gymnastics develop proper body image and motoric skills, which enable people to adapt any motion required for other sports.
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I do cycling, swim too. Would love to learn dance, but so far not yet, still on my to do list :)
 
Friedman Whip said:
I wish I had more time with them. I could make them into really good players. But I have to compete with baseball, soccer, dance classes, music lessons, you name it. Oh well.
Click to expand...

Wow, you got so many activities! Must be very busy:). BTW, I never play soccer, thought it's only good for young guys, so you must be very strong!
 
tanventure said:
Wow, you got so many activities! Must be very busy:). BTW, I never play soccer, thought it's only good for young guys, so you must be very strong!
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Sorry I wasn't clearer. My grand kids are doing all this stuff not me. I meant to say that I have trouble getting tennis time with them because of all the other things they are involved in. And it's true that there is a good bit of overlap from one sport or activity to another but at some point if you want to be really good at something I think you have to narrow your focus. I'm partial to tennis because it is so good for you physically, if done with proper technique, and can last for a lifetime.
 
MyTennisTools said:
If any of you are competitors, here's a video I just posted of the USA's No. 1 ranked Men's 65 Doubles team - Tom Smith and Phil Landauer. I have quite a few senior matches on my channel if you are interested in more. So here's the latest:
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Interesting. I'm assuming these guys were at the least very good college players at one time or maybe better than that. Would you know that?
 
MyTennisTools said:
If any of you are competitors, here's a video I just posted of the USA's No. 1 ranked Men's 65 Doubles team - Tom Smith and Phil Landauer. I have quite a few senior matches on my channel if you are interested in more. So here's the latest:
Click to expand...

Thanks for the great video!

Wonder if one can tell from the video what NTRP levels of the players ?
 
tanventure said:
Thanks for the great video!

Wonder if one can tell from the video what NTRP levels of the players ?
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Must be quite high, and would be anything between 4.5 and 5.5, 6.0 even, cause Tom is current #44 ITF Seniors Over 65 category, if I found the right Smith from the database.

According to ITF database, player profile, he’s started playing at the age of 12.

——————————
On pain meds - all contributed matter and anti-matter subject to disclaimer
 
tanventure said:
I see, so the players of super senior competitions are professional players, not recreational ones, right ?

thanks
Click to expand...

No, everyone who attends their National Seniors Championships will get an ITF Seniors Player profile. It is similar to ITF juniors ranking. Winners score points and all players are computed and ranked.

All players, pros and amateurs, rec players may compete in the events of their age group (yy and over) around the world.


——————————
On pain meds - all contributed matter and anti-matter subject to disclaimer
 
How many times a week can you guys play without injury occurring or body so sore that you end up in bed knocked out ? Once a week at most ?? if so how many times a week do you workout ? once a week also ?
 
Typical week, 2-3 days of high 3.5 to low 4.0 doubles 3 sets, 4-5 days of windsurfing, 1 day of 25+ mile bike ride.
I do that about 30 weeks a year.
In winter, hibernate for 6 weeks.
 
MyTennisTools said:
If any of you are competitors, here's a video I just posted of the USA's No. 1 ranked Men's 65 Doubles team - Tom Smith and Phil Landauer. I have quite a few senior matches on my channel if you are interested in more. So here's the latest:
Click to expand...

Yup. Good stuff. Keep posting.
 
Oh Yay, so.ething closer to my age, I'm 63 so a little young for this started playing at 61 to get a break from soccer due injuries. Currently UTR 2.5ish and loving this game. Play competition singles twice a week and rack up about ten hours of tennis, a bit of running and or so and some social soccer. I am in Sydney,Australia.
 
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I play singles tennis atleast 2 times a week-doubles atleast once-gym and yoga atleast 2/3 days- might do yoga in am then hit wall or serve for a while- You cant play tennis unless your in gym and found yoga 3 years ago it's just great for keeping injury free- whole thing is usually over by 1030- I just love to beat 65 yr olds- I left age until the end -78 just keep moving- God has been good to me
 
66 years old. Play tennis 4-5 times per week. Play local doubles leagues and may try a singles tourney later in summer and singles league in the fall. Was rated 4.5 when younger but on the way down for last 20 years. Relatively healthy and reasonably fit except for chronic inflammation in L ankle. It hurts but doesn't stop me from playing. Own a stringer and have been stringing for last 16 years. Using PS97 V13 customized to 12.1 oz, 7+HL and SW approximately 331 strung with either TF NRG2 16G mains or TF MultiFeel 16G mains and Kirschbaum Max Power 17G poly cross at 52/48.
 
Oldguytennis said:
Oh Yay, so.ething closer to my age, I'm 63 so a little young for this started playing at 61 to get a break from soccer due injuries. Currently UTR 2.5ish and loving this game. Play competition singles twice a week and rack up about ten hours of tennis, a bit of running and or so and some social soccer. I am in Sydney,Australia.
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Sydney is a great city. I live there for 13 months from mid-1993 to mid-1994 for a work assignment. There were a lot of the artificial grass courts with sand on top back then. Is that surface still used?
 
Nostradamus said:
How many times a week can you guys play without injury occurring or body so sore that you end up in bed knocked out ? Once a week at most ?? if so how many times a week do you workout ? once a week also ?
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Typical week for me:
- 1 or 2 sessions on the wall and serving 1 or 2 buckets - 90-120 minutes each
- 1 or 2 practice sessions with 2 hitting friends - mostly drills, some point play and some singles practice sets - 90-120 minutes each
- 1 team doubles practice for 90 minutes but player to court ratios have been good so far with 4 players per court and each court has a coach. Drills are fairly intense with 4 players so it's a good work out.
- 1 league doubles match per week
- skipped summer singles but may play in a single and doubles league in the fall but will have to cut back practice sessions if I do.
- Stretch 3 or 4 times a week and normally after a match or practice
- light weights 1 or 2 times per week.

I have chronic inflammation in my L ankle. It hurts after most practices and matches. But, I work on strengthening and stretching it and continue on. I have had back, shoulder and knee issues over past 20 years so most of my strengthening and stretching exercises come from PT sessions after injury. But, over all I cannot complain because I am pretty lucky to play as much as I do.
 
Pretty quiet in this thread.
Apparently I've just reached my third year playing tennis having decided that footy (soccer) is making too many injuries.
I just played my first club tennis session with mixed feelings. Really didn't work up a sweat or anything but it was great playing with a good variety of players. It's just, you know, it was all doubles. Some of those folk I'm sure were having a bit of fun with me and it took a while to get used to a different strategy after three years of singles but I got the hang of to towards the end.
I reckon once a week of social will be good, at least for my volleys and overheads. I'm also playing two singles comps so maybe the doubles will help there.
I am feeling in fantastic shape at 64. I nearly signed up for another season of competitive soccer but have decided to focus on tennis instead.
There's a sports competition in Queensland Australia (Gold Coast) called the the Pan Pacific Masters Games, in November and I'm focussed on playing that in my age category (60-65) so tennis it is.
Fired up !!!!!
 
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Oldguytennis said:
Pretty quiet in this thread.
Apparently I've just reached my third year playing tennis having decided that footy (soccer) is making too many injuries.
I just played my first club tennis session with mixed feelings. Really didn't work up a sweat or anything but it was great playing with a good variety of players. It's just, you know, it was all doubles. Some of those folk I'm sure were having a bit of fun with me and it took a while to get used to a different strategy after three years of singles but I got the hang of to towards the end.
I reckon once a week of social will be good, at least for my volleys and overheads. I'm also playing two singles comps so maybe the doubles will help there.
I am feeling in fantastic shape at 64. I nearly signed up for another season of competitive soccer but have decided to focus on tennis instead.
There's a sports competition in Queensland Australia (Gold Coast) called the the Pan Pacific Masters Games, in November and I'm focussed on playing that in my age category (60-65) so tennis it is.
Fired up !!!!!
Click to expand...
I'm almost same age but I avoid doubles other than when asked to play for team. My advice is stick to singles and you will progress much faster and keep up your fitness. I mostly play against much younger players which also helps keeping standard up.
 
according to utr,
i think it's crazy that i have to go all the way up to the 70+bracket to find folks in the top 10 that i can compete against... (#1 usa is ~utr8)
the 65+ top tenners, are too good (#1 usa is utr9+)
i'm in my early 50's, and a utr8
when i grow up i hope to one day be as good as the top 65y olds :P
 
toby55555 said:
I'm almost same age but I avoid doubles other than when asked to play for team. My advice is stick to singles and you will progress much faster and keep up your fitness. I mostly play against much younger players which also helps keeping standard up.
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Thanks Toby, most of my opponents are half my age. The 2 or so hours Doubles thing just tops out a solid 10-15 hours of tennis at a time where there's no singles options anyway. Besides, it, at least, is free.
Fired up to up my game at the moment.
 
nyta2 said:
according to utr,
i think it's crazy that i have to go all the way up to the 70+bracket to find folks in the top 10 that i can compete against... (#1 usa is ~utr8)
the 65+ top tenners, are too good (#1 usa is utr9+)
i'm in my early 50's, and a utr8
when i grow up i hope to one day be as good as the top 65y olds :p
Click to expand...
Is UTR still being used as the main guide in the States? WTN has taken over from LTA Rating in UK.
 
toby55555 said:
Is UTR still being used as the main guide in the States? WTN has taken over from LTA Rating in UK.
Click to expand...
yes (speaking on the authority of a pool sample of 1, me :p)
seriously though:
* utr tourneys use utr to do seedings (of course :P)
* as a hs coach (only 1 season under my belt), i and all hs in my area (and at states), all use utr to assist in seedings/lineups (we did last year anyway)
* utr seems to be the critieria some programs use to determine if you're good enough to be in that program
 
So here's a question, I just started playing a few years ago and right now, I'm feeling like I'm reaching a plateaux. I play a lot but not really feeling like I'm improving anymore. Current state of play looks like 3.5 hours of social, 3 hours of group classes, 3 hours of competition, 2 hours of club tennis and about 1.5 hours of dedicated practice (service and wall and maybe a private coach thrown in occasionally)
I feel like I want to scrape some extra time just for practice (wall, ball machine, service) but I don't have any extra hours in the week and I'm not keen on ditching anything, but If I were to cut down on something, what would it be?
 
tanventure said:
Inspired by the popular thread:Seniors lounge (over 50) come on in., also as many have suggested to have a thread for people over 70 to share ideas and tips, etc.

How about start from: your NTRP level (self rating), how often you play weekly, Single/Double, etc.; are you using lighter racket now? Keep trying to improve your tennis skills/NTRP or learn new skills? Are you participate super senior tournament? ......

I am at 73, renewed my interests in tennis about 3 years after retirement, at NTRP 3.0 - 3.5, morning rally 1 - 1.5 hours every day, play games mainly for doubles; still try hard to improve my backhand slice, better footwork, etc.; main objectives: having funs, staying healthy

Looking forward to establish this thread as a good place for folks to share



Thanks
Click to expand...

You guys with Osteoarthritis in the hands... how do you guys play tennis ? does it really hamper you badly ?? i have beginnings of Osteo in my thumb joint, its not hampering the movement in that joint but it seems to be getting worse and the bump on the joint seem to be getting bigger... I know there is no cure but is there anything you guys do to minimize the problems during tennis ? :unsure:
 
Oldguytennis said:
So here's a question, I just started playing a few years ago and right now, I'm feeling like I'm reaching a plateaux. I play a lot but not really feeling like I'm improving anymore. Current state of play looks like 3.5 hours of social, 3 hours of group classes, 3 hours of competition, 2 hours of club tennis and about 1.5 hours of dedicated practice (service and wall and maybe a private coach thrown in occasionally)
I feel like I want to scrape some extra time just for practice (wall, ball machine, service) but I don't have any extra hours in the week and I'm not keen on ditching anything, but If I were to cut down on something, what would it be?
Click to expand...
I think eliminating social or group classes would be the best option to get more practice time. I love wall and service practice but can you find a hitting friend who would drill with you for about 90 minutes and then maybe play 1 or 2 10-point tiebreakers to end the session? I hit with friends and we do CC and DTL groundstrokes, volleys and overheads all for a few minutes each. Then we will hit about 15-20 warm-up serves each and play either tie-breakers or alternate each player serving 6 points. I find live ball drills are a little better than wall drills because live drills more closely simulate match play. I am 67 and retired so play a lot of tennis.
 
TennisCJC said:
I think eliminating social or group classes would be the best option to get more practice time. I love wall and service practice but can you find a hitting friend who would drill with you for about 90 minutes and then maybe play 1 or 2 10-point tiebreakers to end the session? I hit with friends and we do CC and DTL groundstrokes, volleys and overheads all for a few minutes each. Then we will hit about 15-20 warm-up serves each and play either tie-breakers or alternate each player serving 6 points. I find live ball drills are a little better than wall drills because live drills more closely simulate match play. I am 67 and retired so play a lot of tennis.
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Excellent, I am 64. I think my plateau has done and I'm starting to climb that mountain of skill again. When I say social, I mean hitting with a regular partner playing for points. I think learning is a set of uphill's and flats where the flats or even small setbacks are you just consolidating new skills. Maybe I've done that because I'm starting to win a few games again with both a better serve and a better forehand that seems to have magically entered my game.
I am going to ditch a group in exchange for a block of coaching with a focus on footwork because mine sucks.
It's just a race between getting older and getting better.
 
I'm not 65 yet, but I just bought a Weed racket ! Honestly what inspired me to buy it was watching two guys in their 70's play a 4 hour match at a local L2 tournament and they were using Weeds.
 
atatu said:
I'm not 65 yet, but I just bought a Weed racket ! Honestly what inspired me to buy it was watching two guys in their 70's play a 4 hour match at a local L2 tournament and they were using Weeds.
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Those Weed racquets, they look huge. Wow. Is there and extra charge for string those things? I feel like with such a big string face they would be really bouncy.
 
Oldguytennis said:
Those Weed racquets, they look huge. Wow. Is there and extra charge for string those things? I feel like with such a big string face they would be really bouncy.
Click to expand...
I haven't had to pay my stringer extra, but it does take more string. I played my first set with it last night in a doubles match and it played nicely, picked up some balls that I otherwise wouldn't have touched. The trade off is less control and the solid feeling of making contact with a smaller head. The number #2 guy in the US in men's 55 singles uses the 125 version of the Weed, he's impressive the way he controls it. Mark Vines, who is one of the top 65's guys uses a Gamma 117 I believe.
 
So many posts around this forum about pushers and how when they beat you they are better than you. Well, today, I played what I regard as a pusher, she digs that ball out of any corner, returns my best serves and out rallies me and has beaten me the last two matches I played with her. I just want to thump that slow high ball that just keeps coming back and it just wasn't working.

This time, I brought a new attitude/approach with me with me. I basically just got into a rally fest and only hit winners or passing shots where I was absolutely confident I could carry it off. And it worked, there were a lot of really, really long rallies but I carried the win even though I lost focus and a few games halfway through.

This game I sure is 80% mental.
 
When is it too much tennis?

I just got pinged by a guy I haven't heard from for 6 months looking for a regular hit. Thing is, I have four regular partners now, 2 group classes, 2 competitions, a private lesson and an hour+ of personal development (wall, ball machine and service practice) and two+ hours of club tennis in a week.
I have zero injuries, no aches and pains and none of it impacts my family life.
That's like 14 hours a week, add in the new guy, that's 15+ hours a week, sometimes more.

Am I turning into a better player? Maybe.
Do I need to get some cross training in? (Gym, running, stretching etc) you bet.
Have I any spare time? Nope.
 
Oh so quiet in this thread.

Welcome to 2025.

I have a new coach and a new attitude and some new goals.
1) UTR 3+ by the end of the year
2) Play the Pan Pacific masters games on the Gold Coast in Queensland in 2026
3) Play the world masters games in Kansai Japan in 2027

Current UTR 2.23
 
Played four and a half hours tennis yesterday, including a 2 hour match with a woman probably half my age (aren't they all) beat her 6:5 6:3 in a two hour evening battle under poor lights. Wow, what a workout.
Feeling the warm glow of winnership right now. :)
 
I'm 63 this year so I still have a couple of years. However, I have been acting as a co-captain of a 65 and over 8.0 team. I just convinced a friend of mine who is turning 65 to come back to play tennis after 6 years away from the game. He tried to self rate as a 4.0 but the USTA said no, you were a 4.5 in 2018, so you're still a 4.5. That seems kind of crazy to me, there aren't that many 65 year old 4.5 guys, the ones who are still 4.5 are the guys who play national tournaments, etc.
 
atatu said:
I'm 63 this year so I still have a couple of years. However, I have been acting as a co-captain of a 65 and over 8.0 team. I just convinced a friend of mine who is turning 65 to come back to play tennis after 6 years away from the game. He tried to self rate as a 4.0 but the USTA said no, you were a 4.5 in 2018, so you're still a 4.5. That seems kind of crazy to me, there aren't that many 65 year old 4.5 guys, the ones who are still 4.5 are the guys who play national tournaments, etc.
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There was even a solid 77-year old 4.5 at my club with the computer ranking to back it up - he was the US and world champion for that age group though. Very intelligent and fit player with solid power who would crouch and play I-formation in doubles with very active poaching using signals. He worked out a lot, practiced often and looked 15 years younger. The USTA is right to say that age doesn’t automatically mean a ratings decrease. If your friend‘s level has declined, he will get bumped down after a season.

When I turned 50, I started taking weekly 1-1 lessons again and became more regular with doing practice drills in addition every week. So I think my technique is better at 56 than 6 years ago even though I’ve likely deteriorated physically from putting on some weight. I haven’t played USTA in that time period. So the USTA can’t predict what a player has been doing when they have not been playing USTA for years.
 
socallefty said:
There was even a solid 77-year old 4.5 at my club with the computer ranking to back it up - he was the US and world champion for that age group though. Very intelligent and fit player with solid power who would crouch and play I-formation in doubles with very active poaching using signals. He worked out a lot, practiced often and looked 15 years younger. The USTA is right to say that age doesn’t automatically mean a ratings decrease. If your friend‘s level has declined, he will get bumped down after a season.

When I turned 50, I started taking weekly 1-1 lessons again and became more regular with doing practice drills in addition every week. So I think my technique is better at 56 than 6 years ago even though I’ve likely deteriorated physically from putting on some weight. I haven’t played USTA in that time period. So the USTA can’t predict what a player has been doing when they have not been playing USTA for years.
Click to expand...
Yeah that's a good point. I guess the thing that sucks for my friend is he can't play 65 and over 8.0 now unless he finds a 3.5 partner because there is only one 65 and over 9.0 team in the entire state of Texas (in Dallas and we are in Austin). He could also play 18 and over 4.5 but honestly he'd get hammered by 25 year old 4.5 guys (as would I) so I guess he is out of luck.
 
I can play 65’s next year so I’m going to spend this entire year trying to get my body to be able to withstand playing the way I want to. I played a tournament two weeks ago and blew out my rotator cuff. I just don’t have a filter in competition and the discipline to play within my body’s limits escapes me. I think this makes three out of the last five tournaments where I’ve pretty significantly hurt something.
 
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