Shangri La
Hall of Fame
What is the weakest part of your game? In other words, which area(s) would improve your game the most?
For me, it's my serve and endurance.
Multiple choice
For me, it's my serve and endurance.
Multiple choice
The Weakest Link
- Thread starter Shangri La
- Start date
lethalfang
Professional
What? No return of serves?
D
Deleted member 23235
Guest
serve and return of serve are my weakest
Shangri La
Hall of Fame
ok, you got me there. grats?
Shangri La
Hall of Fame
The Watchman
Rookie
Return of serve for me - lower hanging fruit than the serve, and almost as big a benefit.
![[d]ragon](/data/avatars/m/26/26312.jpg?1574364787){kind=avatar}
WildVolley
Legend
lethalfang beat me to it.
Return of serve is by far the weakest part of my game. I often play with lower level players. By the time I figure out how to rip a winner off a slow kick serve, I face a server who can hit pace and I flub it. I have difficulty finding a practice partner with a good serve so I can practice my footwork and technique.
Return of serve is by far the weakest part of my game. I often play with lower level players. By the time I figure out how to rip a winner off a slow kick serve, I face a server who can hit pace and I flub it. I have difficulty finding a practice partner with a good serve so I can practice my footwork and technique.
its not one part of my game in particular, but im really working on my "hold game" in general. pumping a good deal of 1st serves in with placement, being agressive early at the right times and dictate rallies on my serve, some serve and volley. right now i dont hold serve nearly as much as i should, which is a concern when i play better players who take care of business on their serves. also sometimes i take too much of a backswing on my forehand.
Djokovicfan4life
Legend
Ah yes, the dreaded Gonzalez slice.
Personally my weaknesses are my footwork, volleys, and endurance, in that order.
Volleys and endurance can be improved, but I sometimes wonder if I'll ever be able to get my crappy footwork up to snuff. It just doesn't come naturally to me.
princess bossass
Semi-Pro
Mine I think is experience. Which would mean, I suppose, that I should really check all the boxes.
Fay
Professional
Concentration ... was ahead 40-0 in a couple of tournament games to lose that game.
Was up 5-3 in a set, only to have to play a tiebreaker at 6-6 and lose.
I noticed today during a lesson when my coach went from practice hitting to us playing a game with score keeping that my FH went long and lacked the top spin it usually has. After analyzing it a while I realized too much tension in my hand when I am under pressure. Tension causes my game to deteriorate, and tension takes energy out of me. So I need more mental stamina to ignore the stressors.
Next tournament I am going to practice playing with abandon and going for my strokes -- adding my own pace to the ball -- so that I can develop the habit of playing with abandon under pressure. I can only do that by playing a lot of tournaments.
I'll try to remember to breath and keep my hand relaxed tomorrow. I am playing a non-rated tourny at 1.5 levels above my actual rating as those were all who entered. I have nothing to loss except my pride and have a lot of good experience to gain. If I have a great day and they have an off day, who knows what will happen.
Was up 5-3 in a set, only to have to play a tiebreaker at 6-6 and lose.
I noticed today during a lesson when my coach went from practice hitting to us playing a game with score keeping that my FH went long and lacked the top spin it usually has. After analyzing it a while I realized too much tension in my hand when I am under pressure. Tension causes my game to deteriorate, and tension takes energy out of me. So I need more mental stamina to ignore the stressors.
Next tournament I am going to practice playing with abandon and going for my strokes -- adding my own pace to the ball -- so that I can develop the habit of playing with abandon under pressure. I can only do that by playing a lot of tournaments.
I'll try to remember to breath and keep my hand relaxed tomorrow. I am playing a non-rated tourny at 1.5 levels above my actual rating as those were all who entered. I have nothing to loss except my pride and have a lot of good experience to gain. If I have a great day and they have an off day, who knows what will happen.
Rafael_Nadal_6257
Semi-Pro
How did it go??
Fay
Professional
PHP:
[quote="Rafael_Nadal_6257, post: 2245601"]How did it go??[/QUOTE]
Thanks for asking , 6-0 6-0 first match ... 6-0 6-0 second match, so that is a complete total of four bagels, LOL. I am currently rated 2.5 and I was playing 3.5 as there were no 3.0's entered. (I was slated to play 4.0s but a couple of 3.5s got in at last minute.) I did however get to a few deuces in each match and I did win points within some of the games.
Most discouraging I had two games this morning where I was ahead 40-15 and could not do the dirty deed, as they say. boo!
Horribly wind but that is no excuse because we both had to play with in it. Against better people when I go to the net, I more likely than not get passed on the side I am not covering. But I did get to the net and I did get some volley rallies which built my confidence.
The second match the person had a quite good FH slice and drop shot. I was able to read that much better by the end of the second match and to come forward for some longer rallies. I did improve within the second set of the second match. I will say in my own defense I won against a 3.5 in Phoenix a few months ago.
The second match opponent had a blistering FH and I could blister them back okay, but she had a lot more shot selection in her bag. My coach was the tourny director and I told him afterwards I want to start working on those drop shots and slices next lesson. I can lob really well with top spin but unfortunatety a low-percentage shot in high wind. Did get two good ones in when opponent came to the net, but the rest were blown out. The wind was not my friend this weekend, LOL. Her second serve had a big jump up high and fortunately anything above my knees I like. Those low fast ones are tough for me to control at this time.
I am trying not to pull my strokes -- but I often hit a little long with not enough top spin to keep it in, so I need to continue to work on generating racquet speed for the top spin and keep my arm relaxed during the entire match. A lot were out but by inches instead of feet as two weeks ago.
Am working on improving my serve and tossing the ball out in front of me and hitting with more pace. I ended up hitting long on serves a lot. I did not break down and revert to my old serve which is very consistent but not enough pace ... my second serve has top spin and for somewhat higher bounce on *clay* is too much of a set up. On hard surface it works better.
I have a granny drop serve that I toss in on occasion which worked a couple of times, but I don't want to use that too often and mess up my timing on my first serve. The first match person would pop that up, the second match opponent way too clever and gave me a drop shot in return which I couldn't reach.
Did practice continuing my "new & improved serve with more pace" even in the daunting pressure of double faulting on occasion. I double faulted once in an entire weekend two weeks ago, but my coach is wanting me to add more pace. He said "do *not* revert to your more consistent, less paced serve during a non-rated tournament, just keep at it til it becomes more consistent." It was really hard to make myself continue to use a serve I was not at all consistent with. I had to just tune that out. I am sure most of you have been through that phase. I couldn't use my second serve in the second match, too much of a set up for her on clay, so I was then forced use my first serve all of the time.
My hubby was kind enough to say that I didn't embarrassed myself and that I had some good rallies. My goal is to play two tournaments a month if I can find them at my level for singles within reasonable driving distance.
I think this is my 6th or 7th tourny and they are less stressful each time. But my goal of playing with abandon under pressure got lost in the back of my mind once the games start, LOL. Need more work on that.
But over all I could see some improvement over the two weeks ago. I am looking forward to playing some 3.0's and try my new perception skills of reading the opponents racquet and get my rating bumped up on the computer. Balls that would pass me before, I can now get a racquet on them. Next step to keep those balls in. ThnXDjokovicfan4life
Legend
Fay
Professional
try this:
6-0 6-0 first match ... 6-0 6-0 second match, so that is a complete total of four bagels, LOL. I am currently rated 2.5 and I was playing 3.5 as there were no 3.0's entered. (I was slated to play 4.0s but a couple of 3.5s got in at last minute.) I did however get to a few deuces in each match and I did win points within some of the games.
Most discouraging I had two games this morning where I was ahead 40-15 and could not do the dirty deed, as they say. boo!
Horribly wind but that is no excuse because we both had to play with in it. Against better people when I go to the net, I more likely than not get passed on the side I am not covering. But I did get to the net and I did get some volley rallies which built my confidence.
The second match the person had a quite good FH slice and drop shot. I was able to read that much better by the end of the second match and to come forward for some longer rallies. I did improve within the second set of the second match. I will say in my own defense I won against a 3.5 in Phoenix a few months ago.
The second match opponent had a blistering FH and I could blister them back okay, but she had a lot more shot selection in her bag. My coach was the tourny director and I told him afterwards I want to start working on those drop shots and slices next lesson. I can lob really well with top spin but unfortunately a low-percentage shot in high wind. Did get two good ones in when opponent came to the net, but the rest were blown out. The wind was not my friend this weekend, LOL. Her second serve had a big jump up high and fortunately anything above my knees I like. Those low fast ones are tough for me to control at this time.
I am trying not to pull my strokes -- but I often hit a little long with not enough top spin to keep it in, so I need to continue to work on generating racquet speed for the top spin and keep my arm relaxed during the entire match. A lot were out but by inches instead of feet as two weeks ago.
Am working on improving my serve and tossing the ball out in front of me and hitting with more pace. I ended up hitting long on serves a lot. I did not break down and revert to my old serve which is very consistent but not enough pace ... my second serve has top spin and for somewhat higher bounce on *clay* is too much of a set up. On hard surface it works better.
I have a granny drop serve that I toss in on occasion which worked a couple of times, but I don't want to use that too often and mess up my timing on my first serve. The first match person would pop that up, the second match opponent way too clever and gave me a drop shot in return which I couldn't reach.
Did practice continuing my "new & improved serve with more pace" even in the daunting pressure of double faulting on occasion. I double faulted once in an entire weekend two weeks ago ...but I was determined *not* revert to my more consistent, less paced serve during a non-rated tournament. It was really hard to make myself continue to use a serve I was not at all consistent with. I had to just tune that out. I am sure you have been through that phase. I couldn't use my second serve in the second match, too much of a set up for her on clay, so I was then forced use my first serve all of the time.
My hubby was kind enough to say that I didn't embarrassed myself and that I had some good rallies. My goal is to play two tournaments a month if I can find them at my level for singles within reasonable driving distance.
I think this is my 6th or 7th tourny and they are less stressful each time. But my goal of playing with abandon under pressure got lost in the back of my mind once the games start, LOL. Need more work on that.
But over all I could see some improvement over the two weeks ago. I am looking forward to playing some 3.0's and try my new perception skills of reading the opponents racquet and get my rating bumped up on the computer. Balls that would pass me before, I can now get a racquet on them. Next step to keep those balls in.
6-0 6-0 first match ... 6-0 6-0 second match, so that is a complete total of four bagels, LOL. I am currently rated 2.5 and I was playing 3.5 as there were no 3.0's entered. (I was slated to play 4.0s but a couple of 3.5s got in at last minute.) I did however get to a few deuces in each match and I did win points within some of the games.
Most discouraging I had two games this morning where I was ahead 40-15 and could not do the dirty deed, as they say. boo!
Horribly wind but that is no excuse because we both had to play with in it. Against better people when I go to the net, I more likely than not get passed on the side I am not covering. But I did get to the net and I did get some volley rallies which built my confidence.
The second match the person had a quite good FH slice and drop shot. I was able to read that much better by the end of the second match and to come forward for some longer rallies. I did improve within the second set of the second match. I will say in my own defense I won against a 3.5 in Phoenix a few months ago.
The second match opponent had a blistering FH and I could blister them back okay, but she had a lot more shot selection in her bag. My coach was the tourny director and I told him afterwards I want to start working on those drop shots and slices next lesson. I can lob really well with top spin but unfortunately a low-percentage shot in high wind. Did get two good ones in when opponent came to the net, but the rest were blown out. The wind was not my friend this weekend, LOL. Her second serve had a big jump up high and fortunately anything above my knees I like. Those low fast ones are tough for me to control at this time.
I am trying not to pull my strokes -- but I often hit a little long with not enough top spin to keep it in, so I need to continue to work on generating racquet speed for the top spin and keep my arm relaxed during the entire match. A lot were out but by inches instead of feet as two weeks ago.
Am working on improving my serve and tossing the ball out in front of me and hitting with more pace. I ended up hitting long on serves a lot. I did not break down and revert to my old serve which is very consistent but not enough pace ... my second serve has top spin and for somewhat higher bounce on *clay* is too much of a set up. On hard surface it works better.
I have a granny drop serve that I toss in on occasion which worked a couple of times, but I don't want to use that too often and mess up my timing on my first serve. The first match person would pop that up, the second match opponent way too clever and gave me a drop shot in return which I couldn't reach.
Did practice continuing my "new & improved serve with more pace" even in the daunting pressure of double faulting on occasion. I double faulted once in an entire weekend two weeks ago ...but I was determined *not* revert to my more consistent, less paced serve during a non-rated tournament. It was really hard to make myself continue to use a serve I was not at all consistent with. I had to just tune that out. I am sure you have been through that phase. I couldn't use my second serve in the second match, too much of a set up for her on clay, so I was then forced use my first serve all of the time.
My hubby was kind enough to say that I didn't embarrassed myself and that I had some good rallies. My goal is to play two tournaments a month if I can find them at my level for singles within reasonable driving distance.
I think this is my 6th or 7th tourny and they are less stressful each time. But my goal of playing with abandon under pressure got lost in the back of my mind once the games start, LOL. Need more work on that.
But over all I could see some improvement over the two weeks ago. I am looking forward to playing some 3.0's and try my new perception skills of reading the opponents racquet and get my rating bumped up on the computer. Balls that would pass me before, I can now get a racquet on them. Next step to keep those balls in.
Breaker
Legend
Forehand right now. I'm going through a period where I have absolutely no confidence on it with paceless balls. When I get pace and when returning serves it's dominant but slow putaway balls with no spin I have to run around and hit backhands occasionally. My only glaring weakness right now.
tennisplayer1981
Rookie
Stamina, footwork, volleys
Rafael_Nadal_6257
Semi-Pro
Transition shots for me...have to occasionally remember to not run through the ball so much on approach shots.
Actually, I played a tournament the past two days (4.0-5.0 tourney) and was really happy with my game. My normal weaknesses are serves, volleys, backhands. However, during past two days, my serve was on, and my backhand (which is normally a little weaker than my forehand, and at my level, opponents immediately pick on it) was doing really well too. Also had some really good touch volleys.
Another thing that I don’t do too often, lobs, I did really well against playing a 5.0 player. Like I hit topspin lobs that landed within inches of the baseline many times and slice lobs that rose just out of the opponent's grasp and came down barely in, which REALLY frustrated my opponent.
Actually, I played a tournament the past two days (4.0-5.0 tourney) and was really happy with my game. My normal weaknesses are serves, volleys, backhands. However, during past two days, my serve was on, and my backhand (which is normally a little weaker than my forehand, and at my level, opponents immediately pick on it) was doing really well too. Also had some really good touch volleys.
Another thing that I don’t do too often, lobs, I did really well against playing a 5.0 player. Like I hit topspin lobs that landed within inches of the baseline many times and slice lobs that rose just out of the opponent's grasp and came down barely in, which REALLY frustrated my opponent.
Djokovicfan4life
Legend
Fay, if your topspin second serve is sitting up, maybe you should try a slice?
I use this for my second, and while it's not the safest second serve, it's almost impossible to attack if it's hit well.
I need to learn a topspin second eventually though, maybe you could give me a few pointers?
I use this for my second, and while it's not the safest second serve, it's almost impossible to attack if it's hit well.
I need to learn a topspin second eventually though, maybe you could give me a few pointers?
To clarify more, I don't hit a BH slice too often, but I'd like to hit it less. I tend to use it when pulled out wide on BH side. Opponents see my weak BH slice and poor movement out wide to BH and they punish me for it. I need to work on my footwork and balance with running BH, and clean up my BH slice driving it more.
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