Suggestions on improving team.

[aidenous]

I'm captain of a 3.0 team and need some suggestions on drills or options for our practice. Our pro that conducts the practice has us doing the same things every week and we are not improving at all.

We spend most of the time playing different types of games switching partners (3 to take over, davis cup etc.). We do discuss some doubles strategy but no singles. There is no stroke development or direction in pointing out ways to improve.

I'm curious what other teams do and welcome any ideals.

 

[Topaz]

Honestly, if you're working with and paying a pro, and you're not improving, you need a new pro!!!

 

[tennis-n-sc]

Tell all this to the pro. He should be able to adapt to whatever you think your needs are. How long and how often is your clinic?

 

[aidenous]

We practice once a week for 1 & 1/2 hours. We have to prepay for the season to get two courts and the pro so it's not easy to switch.

 

[LoveThisGame]

Talk to the pro about the situation.

If there's no improvement or no response, talk to the Tennis Director.

If needed, talk to the club manager or owner.

That kind of situation is something management should want addressed.

 

[vudal]

Most pros get paid not to help you improve but to sit there and feed balls all day long.

 

[tennis-n-sc]

A 1.5 hour team clinic should get the team beter. However, if you have 12 players in the clinic with one pro, there is not much teaching he can do. We have 4 guys rotating in our clinic and the teaching from one pro is superb.

 

[volleyman]

I suggest telling the pro you want to work on some specific strokes and doubles strategy, and ask him to focus your next sessions on those.

At the practices for the 4.0 team I co-captain, we specifically work on:

Lobs and Overheads
Serves and Returns
Volleys and Passing shots
Groundstroke consistency and point construction

As well as playing sets.

 

[Swissv2]

what are your weaknesses as a team?

 

[aidenous]

The biggest weaknesses would be shot development and unforced errors. I will discuss with the pro and get the team's input as well. Another problem is we have mostly 3rd court players and your not going to win many matches playing those guys on courts 1 & 2.

 

[Swissv2]

drills for your weaknesses are key in this case. Development of your strengths will help you with your "weapons".

You can do drills where you go cross court forehand-to-forehand and try to make 20 in a row past the service line. Can't make 20? lower the required amount.

Drills include: inside-out, inside-in, outside-in, outside-out hitting, approach and volley drills, and stamina drills.

 

[Cindysphinx]

I have a 3.0 team, and we are also struggling with what to do about using a pro.

If I were you, I'd focus your sessions with the pro on developing one skill. At 3.0, our biggest challenge is volleys/net play. So maybe have the remaining sessions be volley practice only?

As for us, we're planning to use a pro in the spring. We're going to schedule him to do 2-hour clinics, 4 or fewer participants, with everyone else using the time to play apart from the clinic. Many of the clinics will be on volleys, as there isn't a single player who couldn't use considerable improvement on volleys and we have set this as our goal for the season. We'll throw in one on serving/overheads, and we'll have separate sessions for the singles players.

Regarding having a team with lots of court three players and nobody strong enough to win on court one . . . been there, suffered through that too last season. Maybe you can develop some good steady singles players and then hope like heck one of your doubles teams pulls it out?

Good luck!

 

[Raiden.Kaminari]

Most pros get paid not to help you improve but to sit there and feed balls all day long.

Depends.

Although tennis instructs are supposed to adjust your lessons, the vast majority of tennis instructors are indeed more interested in taking your money. You can usually tell who they are when they just pay you the lip service (and talk that they're trying to help you grow).

I've met a few tennis instructors that try to mix up drills in order to encourage growth. These instructors are rare.

Back to CindySphinx:

Is there a chance that there are some players in your group that is holding the group back? Maybe have a more focused, improvement group?

Of course, it is more fun to work on different types of drills, to work on different skills ... so see if the instructor knows how to change his/her message to promote the growth of your skills. If not, find another instructor ... fast. Remember to check the B.S. meter.

 

[Cindysphinx]

I'm hoping the clinics will be the setting for our focused improvement. My players range from Crazy Obsessed With Improving Right This Minute (that would be me) to Happy To Be 3.0 Forever And Just Play Tennis.

 

[Ryan in Saratoga]

We practice once a week for 1 & 1/2 hours. We have to prepay for the season to get two courts and the pro so it's not easy to switch.

it would seem your problem is right there, 1 practice a week is far to few to learn anything and keep it fresh and consistent

 

[aidenous]

I'm hoping the clinics will be the setting for our focused improvement. My players range from Crazy Obsessed With Improving Right This Minute (that would be me) to Happy To Be 3.0 Forever And Just Play Tennis.

We talked about something similar having four or less and might look into that this Spring. I can't wait for it to warm up so we can get outside.