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onehandbh

G.O.A.T.
Another thing to consider is balls make a big difference on this surface.

Slazengers are nasty on synthetic - low bounce, tight felt, fast AF. We all avoid them. It seems counter-intuitive since they are made for grass, I know, but we avoid them. Good if you wanna play like it's 1989 - and some here do.
Fort balls, and a few other Dunlops, are lively at first, but die quick. Fluff up only slightly, but enough to slow them down a lot after a few games. They are lively enough at first they can really take you by surprise when new balls come out.
Head XT are similar, but fluff up just a bit more which slows them down some(and fluff up a LOT when it's damp) - which is almost always a good thing on this surface unless yer all about the flat serve. Not great bounce once they go all fluffed, though.
Head tour (penn marathon) are excellent on this surface, and fluff up just enough to slow them down for enjoyable play, but like all marathon balls, have a slightly heavier feel to them and not quite as spinny as some others. Great bounce until you lose them nearly.
US Open HD are sort of an acquired taste. They do not fluff, and in fact appear to lose their covering as they play, which makes them a rather fast ball on this surface. They sort of compensate with their great bounce, but still, a rather fast ball for synthetic since there's not much to grab on to to slow it. I win a lot of points on serve with these, and get a fair amount of second serve aces. I made the mistake of playing one of the younger kids the other day with this ball, and it was exhausting.

The fluff thing is important because, although you can't say synthetic is abrasive like modern gritted hard court or clay, it does have spiny little plastic strands and grit in it that both causes balls to fluff and grabs them when they do.
But likely more importantly, it slows the feckers down. So how a ball fluffs up really helps determine how it plays on synthetic. Some non clay balls will grab some of the grit and slow down even more(Head XT do this, and Dunlops to an extent). Because of this, I haven't tried clay court balls. But a few at the club swear by them. So gonna order a few in the next batch here.
So which balls would you recommend for this surface?
Head Tour /Penn Marathon?
 
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kevin qmto

Hall of Fame
This set is mostly noteworthy from all the close 'controversial' calls, mostly due to my opponent, who is; how should I put it... a bit eccentric at times. He's a bit older than myself but his main plus is he likes to hit a lot and many of my other hitting partners schedules rarely line up with mine.

I'm the guy in the yellow shirt

But tonight I had to whip out the instant replay several times because his eyes were deceiving him quite a bit. And idk when I'm going to get that $100 out of him. I think I clearly won that bet. Don't you?

Controversy starts around 3:29 and goes for pretty much the rest of the video.

 

Pass750

Professional
This set is mostly noteworthy from all the close 'controversial' calls, mostly due to my opponent, who is; how should I put it... a bit eccentric at times. He's a bit older than myself but his main plus is he likes to hit a lot and many of my other hitting partners schedules rarely line up with mine.

I'm the guy in the yellow shirt

But tonight I had to whip out the instant replay several times because his eyes were deceiving him quite a bit. And idk when I'm going to get that $100 out of him. I think I clearly won that bet. Don't you?

Controversy starts around 3:29 and goes for pretty much the rest of the video.

Looks like too much complaining by him to begin with, then backed up by the video he was wrong. I rarely question a call, if someone questioned 2 or 3 of my calls in a set we would start to have a problem.
 

ChaelAZ

G.O.A.T.
I rarely question a call, if someone questioned 2 or 3 of my calls in a set we would start to have a problem.

I had that happen earlier this year, and it was even playing a fellow teammate. I happen to be firing on all cylinders that day and I think it was more the frustration of that than really thinking I was making bad calls, but there was a series of serves/shots over like 3 games with fairly close balls, but definitely out and he said something about how he always plays close balls in. Then another comment about me having eagle eyes for these calls. And finally just outright said I just wasn't seeing the ball. He finally was like, "You can't be calling close balls out", and I just responded, "Hit them in and I won't have to". We both kinda chuckled, and I did talk to him about it after. I mean, I am pretty lenient on calling lines and sure I might get a call wrong now and then, but I play most close ones and these were at least a ball length long or wide.

Of course, the following week we played again and he was banging, and hitting his spots, but still enough long/wide calls. Not a single questions about it when up in the scoreline.
 
Nice smooth consistency. Socks are too high. Overheads, I want to hear the crack of the ball hitting the racket like someone was shot, get some overhead practice in. Everyone misses overheads, but what was going on around the 1:30 mark?!?! You should be killing that thing harder than your serve and it looks like your arm became a deflated balloon tapping the lob. Work on that, get mean! Some other overheads were kind of like that. I guess you are 4.5 or want to go there, the overhead looks so different compared to the rest of your game, need to drill some on it. :)

we are working on our overhead
 

derick232

Rookie
One of my last matches of the outdoor season. Went 3 sets just like the last 3 matches with the same opponent. I'm in white

 

kevin qmto

Hall of Fame
This past weekends USTA singles match. Played pretty well, particularly the 2nd set. Opponent was a nice guy, chatted with him quite a bit during and after the match.

as usual, I’m the guy in red, wielding my trusty Adidas Barricade racket.

 

Pass750

Professional
This past weekends USTA singles match. Played pretty well, particularly the 2nd set. Opponent was a nice guy, chatted with him quite a bit during and after the match.

as usual, I’m the guy in red, wielding my trusty Adidas Barricade racket.

Nice win. I enjoy watching your videos. Some random thoughts:
  • The space between court and wall seems really small to me, no room to get angled shots
  • Your opponents serve is really funky
  • You hit a lot of really nice forehand winners
  • Your backhand, ughh, it pains me :)! The slices are unnecessary and only get you to neutral. You need to be hitting more of those with your 2 hander. But you have a very slappy backhand, hurts me to watch it. If your backhand was as good as your forehand

  • keep the coming, good stuff.
 

kevin qmto

Hall of Fame
Nice win. I enjoy watching your videos. Some random thoughts:
  • The space between court and wall seems really small to me, no room to get angled shots
  • Your opponents serve is really funky
  • You hit a lot of really nice forehand winners
  • Your backhand, ughh, it pains me :)! The slices are unnecessary and only get you to neutral. You need to be hitting more of those with your 2 hander. But you have a very slappy backhand, hurts me to watch it. If your backhand was as good as your forehand

  • keep the coming, good stuff.
It looks a bit claustrophobic since the perimeter net is a bit shorter than most indoor clubs.

I know I know on the BH. I’m trying to get it better but until I can find a way to make it a weapon it’ll just be a means of trying to setup a big forehand.
 

kevin qmto

Hall of Fame

Hey what a coincidence, I'm wearing the same shirt in this video as my avatar pic.

@Pass750 have a gander at this one then. This time I take on a current college player, and well he certainly makes me look foolish at times, taking it 6/2, 6/2, but I had some decent points now and then.

@FiddlerDog I can anticipate you shaking your head at my laughable backhands here. So I just throw in some one handers that do nothing to help my cause just for the hell of it.

@S&V-not_dead_yet I wish I had the stones to get to the net more, but against someone who knows how to actually hit with pace I lose my nerve quickly.
 
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Pass750

Professional

Hey what a coincidence, I'm wearing the same shirt in this video as my avatar pic.

@Pass750 have a gander at this one then. This time I take on a current college player, and well he certainly makes me look foolish at times, taking it 6/2, 6/2, but I had some decent points now and then.

@FiddlerDog I can anticipate you shaking your head at my laughable backhands here. So I just throw in some one handers that do nothing to help my cause just for the hell of it.

@S&V-not_dead_yet I wish I had the stones to get to the net more, but against someone who knows how to actually hit with pace I lose my nerve quickly.
You played well. Clearly a much better player than the guys in previous videos. He served great and did a great job of putting away short balls and coming to the net. You had too many unforced errors, but that certainly had a lot to do with the competition. Looked like a really good match.
 

kevin qmto

Hall of Fame
You played well. Clearly a much better player than the guys in previous videos. He served great and did a great job of putting away short balls and coming to the net. You had too many unforced errors, but that certainly had a lot to do with the competition. Looked like a really good match.
I need to practice the topspin backhand return. I never feel comfortable hitting it, except against slow servers like this isolated point. But at least I can sometimes strike it well.

 

Pass750

Professional
I need to practice the topspin backhand return. I never feel comfortable hitting it, except against slow servers like this isolated point. But at least I can sometimes strike it well.

I shudder to think what my form looks like on video, I give you a lot of credit. Find a good coach, they might be able to fix that quickly. For example, I went from a single hand backhand to a two handed back hand in a couple of days when a coach suggested it. Maybe someone can fix your backhand quickly.
 

takayukih

New User
When I'm not traveling for tournaments, I play in league matches at home. I predominantly play in mixed doubles and Tri Level leagues as I don't feel motivated enough to play singles in league tennis. I played this tri level match back in July. From your view, I am the "annoying" guy :censored:. I'm predominantly a doubles player but I've been playing well in singles the past couple years, hence why I felt more motivated to travel for tournaments.

 

jmnk

Hall of Fame
how would these guys do against 4.5 players in your area?

set 1

set 2
is that a serious question? _in our area_ (and by our I mean pretty much any area where TTW members play) no self-respecting 4.5 would play them as there would be no point. They _may_, although unlikely, get a match against 4.0 players, and get beaten convincingly of course.......
 

takayukih

New User
what are your guys’ opinion on USTA timed matches? I personally have no complaints about it as I understand the club hours need to be respected. I know a lot of people have complained about it before. We lost this match in straight sets-ish using the full two hours surprisingly.
 

winchestervatennis

Hall of Fame
When I'm not traveling for tournaments, I play in league matches at home. I predominantly play in mixed doubles and Tri Level leagues as I don't feel motivated enough to play singles in league tennis. I played this tri level match back in July. From your view, I am the "annoying" guy :censored:. I'm predominantly a doubles player but I've been playing well in singles the past couple years, hence why I felt more motivated to travel for tournaments.

Which one is the annoying guy?
 
When I'm not traveling for tournaments, I play in league matches at home. I predominantly play in mixed doubles and Tri Level leagues as I don't feel motivated enough to play singles in league tennis. I played this tri level match back in July. From your view, I am the "annoying" guy :censored:. I'm predominantly a doubles player but I've been playing well in singles the past couple years, hence why I felt more motivated to travel for tournaments.


The lob on the 30-40 point of the opening game looked good from this view…. Ouch….
 

takayukih

New User
I’ve compiled all the winners from this past year into four videos! I never realized the amount of winners each match can have as it took me a long time to finish editing these . As y’all can probably tell, theses videos are very long… but it was nice to go back and reflect on all the good and bad matches that i got to be a part of. Maybe I won’t do this for next year and just do winner highlights after each episode let me know what you guys think

 

onehandbh

G.O.A.T.
how would these guys do against 4.5 players in your area?
I think the the guy with the 2-hand backhand would do okay. The guy with the weird one hand backhand might struggle against someone with a good net game.

is that a serious question? _in our area_ (and by our I mean pretty much any area where TTW members play) no self-respecting 4.5 would play them as there would be no point. They _may_, although unlikely, get a match against 4.0 players, and get beaten convincingly of course.......

Any videos of 4.5 players in your area? If you are a 4.0 or 4.5 player you can post a video of yourself here:

 

2ndServe

Hall of Fame
Recorded some sessions with an Ojai Finalist when I did my first tennis warehouse string play test with Head Hawk Power. I’ve got so many strings, I‘m thinking of doing a TennisNerd type hitting and review of strings.



I‘ll try to find a potato quality video of me hitting with a guy that played at Wimbledon and smashed the ball basically with 1 grip.
 

kevin qmto

Hall of Fame
Another late night match. This is the first time I've played a serious match against someone who's nearly half my age (I'm 30, he's 17). It was a close marathon match, Sanjay is quite liberal with his compliments, which is nice I suppose. and I had a cold (don't worry I tested negative!), which wasn't as nice but there's lots of entertaining play here. I do love Frontenac Racquet Club and their Boltex carpet courts.

Racket- Adidas Barricade
 

Pass750

Professional
Another late night match. This is the first time I've played a serious match against someone who's nearly half my age (I'm 30, he's 17). It was a close marathon match, Sanjay is quite liberal with his compliments, which is nice I suppose. and I had a cold (don't worry I tested negative!), which wasn't as nice but there's lots of entertaining play here. I do love Frontenac Racquet Club and their Boltex carpet courts.

Racket- Adidas Barricade
Nice match! Some really good hitting. Missing that sitter on match point had to be painful for him!

What level are you? I am thinking strong 4.0.

I know very little on swing mechanics, but your backhand looks like you break your wrists, almost like a baseball swing. If your backhand was as good as your forehand and serve, you would be a full level better.

thanks for posting, I enjoy watching these.
 

onehandbh

G.O.A.T.
Another late night match. This is the first time I've played a serious match against someone who's nearly half my age (I'm 30, he's 17). It was a close marathon match, Sanjay is quite liberal with his compliments, which is nice I suppose. and I had a cold (don't worry I tested negative!), which wasn't as nice but there's lots of entertaining play here. I do love Frontenac Racquet Club and their Boltex carpet courts.

Racket- Adidas Barricade
Nice match!

btw, did you both learn to hit your 2-hand backhands from the same instructor?
 

kevin qmto

Hall of Fame
btw, did you both learn to hit your 2-hand backhands from the same instructor?
Man I hope not. My extreme weird 2 hand BH grip isn't something any teacher would ever instill in a student. Its just the way I compensated for my lousy technique on that side, it was the only way to keep the ball in the court. I have a far more conventional grip when trying a one handed topspin backhand, but its far too wild and unreliable to switch to full time, though I did try 2 in the match above.
 

onehandbh

G.O.A.T.
Man I hope not. My extreme weird 2 hand BH grip isn't something any teacher would ever instill in a student. Its just the way I compensated for my lousy technique on that side, it was the only way to keep the ball in the court. I have a far more conventional grip when trying a one handed topspin backhand, but its far too wild and unreliable to switch to full time, though I did try 2 in the match above.

Are you able to hit it flat or flatter with that backhand grip? Do you struggle against low slices?
 

kevin qmto

Hall of Fame
Are you able to hit it flat or flatter with that backhand grip? Do you struggle against low slices?
Its typically very flat, yes, but usually has a bit of topspin. I don't think low slices are an issue, but anything that bounces up high or low I tend to slice anyways. only if its in the 'strike zone' do I go for a top spin 2 hander in a match.

In practice rallys with no stakes, I try to hit topspin all the time. I timecoded this video to skip to the relevant footage, I do a little rapid fire edit a few second in of all forehands, then all backhands, you can get maybe a better sense of my approach to the shot in general.

 
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kevin qmto

Hall of Fame
I’m gonna have a doozie of a video coming up when I get the nerve to finally edit it.

just lost a match after being up, and stupidly chased down a ball just to see if I could, and I did. In the process of stopping on a dime and charging back at the net to get the short ball response, I hurt myself somehow. Something in my hip is not right and I hobbled for the rest of the match, losing several games in a row in a mix of frustrated over hitting and injury induced errors.
 
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