jasoncho92
Professional
Im wondering how long it usually takes to become a 4.0 after starting from a 1.5
Time it takes to get to 4.0
- Thread starter jasoncho92
- Start date
Tennismastery
Professional
It depends on so many variables: however, the most important is how you learn or are being taught the game. If you are learning inferior methods that are easier to "get the ball over the net" but, are not that which skilled players use, you may NEVER get to a 4.0 level. (As so many millions of players who are still at the 3.0 and 3.5 levels even as they have been playing for decades!).
I have had many players reach 4.0 within two years of learning how to play. If you really study the game and employ the right practice procedures you could become a 4.0 HITTING player in less than two years. However, to be competitive at the 4.0 level might take a little longer as the experience factor can't be rushed too much for anyone.
Good luck!
TennisFrkJC92
Rookie
It's fairly easy trust me. I got to 4.0-4.5 in a year. But i did play A LOT.
Once you get to 4.0-4.5, it's much harder to improve
Once you get to 4.0-4.5, it's much harder to improve
Bottle Rocket
Hall of Fame
.............
Bottle Rocket
Hall of Fame
That qualifies as one of the worst statements made here in a long time.
I seriously doubt you're actually competitive in a USTA tournament at 4.0 after one year. I seriously doubt it.
Rafa freak
Semi-Pro
It took me about a year and a half.
ChocolatePie
Semi-Pro
It's taken me a year to become a high 3.5 player...so I have no clue really.
Ambivalent
Hall of Fame
As stated above, there are MANY variables. Some of the most important include -
1. Talent - talented players learn faster and therefore get better faster
2. Practice - Are you taking weekly lessons with a coach? Tournaments? etc
3. Retention - Do you USE what your coach teaches you and have a drive to improve?
Correct me if i'm wrong, but a majority of players who call tennis their first sport are around the 3.5-4.0 levels. Rarely do people get to 4.5 without being serious about tennis.
1. Talent - talented players learn faster and therefore get better faster
2. Practice - Are you taking weekly lessons with a coach? Tournaments? etc
3. Retention - Do you USE what your coach teaches you and have a drive to improve?
Correct me if i'm wrong, but a majority of players who call tennis their first sport are around the 3.5-4.0 levels. Rarely do people get to 4.5 without being serious about tennis.
TennisFrkJC92
Rookie
Actually, i just entered a tournament in Eastern Section Southern Region Level 2 Boys 16s. I got eliminated the second round.
I started entering tournaments this month but i'm planning on entering a lot more tournaments this year. Develop my mental game, strategy, etc...
And my statement before may have been a little dumb... Everybody learns and improves differently. That was just in my opinion.
Bottle Rocket
Hall of Fame
I like that much better... :wink:
Between 1 year and infinity really. I know many people who are in their mid 50's who have played for 20+ years who never progressed beyond 3.5. I also know of one person who took up the game at 29, played one year at 3.5 before getting bumped to 4.0 and very possibly to 4.5 this year. He plays once or at most twice per week, but will often miss weeks at a time.
Omisoshiru
New User
Isn't it really just how much work you put into it, and what you learn? (assuming its the correct thing and you CHOOSING TO do it)
Tennis_Monk
Hall of Fame
4.0 isnt that high a level in Recreational Tennis. I would suggest aim for much higher (around 5.0). It is easy to progress through each level until 3.5. A year is probably the time to get to this level if done right. From this point on things get progessively difficult. From this stage on things that didnt matter before (eg: weak backhand, lack of a DTL shot, lack of a strong second serve etc) will become very important. The time to progress really depends on how strong one's fundamentals are and how much work they are willing to put in to work on weaker aspects of one's game. I would say to get to 4.0 from 3.5 could be anywhere between 8-12 months (assuming progress is being made. There are millions of players stuck in 3.5 for various reasons). 4.0 - 4.5 , sorry no set rule. If you are talented and have access to some pro's/courts and doing the hardwork, i would say it is another 8 month effort.
jasoncho92
Professional
I was just wondering jeez -_- So if ive been progressing from a 1.5 to 3.5 in 6 1/2 months around how long would it take to go to a 4.0?
koopa_troopa
Rookie
The truth is no one knows. Its like a 10 year old asking in how many years will he become a pro tennis player. It could be within the normal time frame, or it could be never.
I've played with some 4.0 league players and they are pretty good. I disagree that it's a low level in recreational tennis. The vast majority of players are NEVER going to make it there and sadly I don't think I am an exception to that rule.
As far as some guy who SAYS he is 4.0. Yeah lots of people make it there..
Pete
As far as some guy who SAYS he is 4.0. Yeah lots of people make it there..
Pete
I agree - 4.0 is definitely not "beginner" tennis - most people need to concentrate on reaching 4.0, and it's getting even more difficult with the problems with NTRP
. I just came back to tennis after taking all of college off (played #1 singles and #1 dubs on varsity in high school), and I'm just scratching the 4.0 level right now after spending 3-4 days/week on the court all summer. It's definitely still challenging to win at 4.0 level tennis.A lot of people look at the NTRP guide and assume that they fit a certain level, until they play a tourney at that level and see how truly competitive it is.
From this thread: http://tt.tennis-warehouse.com/showthread.php?t=134649
...we get this link: http://www.southern.usta.com/usaleaguetennis/custom.sps?iType=987&icustompageid=20205
USTA 4.0 tennis currently represents the top 25% (or better) players serious enough about tennis to play USTA events. You now regularly see former college players at 4.5, and often sneaking around at 4.0.
In fact, unless you've played against someone who gets regular playing time for a 3.5 team that's made it to district level competition in a major metro area, I submit you really have NO IDEA how good 4.0 tennis really is. Not "hitting around" - playing.
There is simply no level of tennis at which you can hide an inability to handle off speed junk. Players capable of very high level tennis will have no issues humiliating you either with their regular games, or with pushy moon balls. Do your time at 3.0, learn your lessons, and take as long as you need.
BTW: 4.5 level players? Top 5% of the USTA playing population according to that link. Of the 20 posts here, assuming no repeats, that means exactly ONE poster is 4.5 or better.
If someone tells you the level they THINK they are, and they've never personally played USTA, you can immediately begin ignoring every word out of their mouths until they start talking about something else. That's ESPECIALLY true of moes posting on the internet.
smoothtennis
Hall of Fame
The difference between 4.0 and 4.5 is a huge disparity in my state. This statement sounds crazy to me, when I consider the difference between the two from what I have witnessed first hand and on court.
Your statement can be taken as... you got to 4.5 in one year. Go check out a major zone USTA tournament and watch the 4.5's. Are you sure you did that in ONE YEAR? If so, one more year, and you could be hitting satellites if you are that talented.
A later post said that he joined an under-16 tourney and was knocked out in the second round. That's definitely not 4.5 level tennis, as a 4.5 level player under age 16 would be a pretty high level junior player.
Just ignore him, he obviously has no idea what he's talking about, he's probably a 3.0 or at most a 3.5.
BreakPoint
Bionic Poster
Really? That's impressive!
Are you sure you're a true 4.0-4.5? What was your record in USTA league play at the 4.0 and 4.5 levels? What was your record in USTA tournament play at those levels?
I agree that once you get to 4.0-4.5 that it becomes much, much harder to go any higher.
smoothtennis
Hall of Fame
That is much closer to reality for a 'normal' person who plays maybe once or twice a week.
goober
Legend
While I agree with your sentiment, I think that the population that posts here are not the same as a sample from the general tennis playing population. It is definitely skewed towards the higher end. I think that more than 1 in 20 regular posters here are 4.5 or higher
Same here. I play 4.0 and lost only one match this year in USTA (damn torn rotator cuff cost me the perfect season) 50:50 singles/doubles but other than 2 4.5's I know, the others simply wipe the court with me and they are average within the 4.5 pool city wide. From 3.5 to 4.0 there is quite a bit of overlap but the gap between 4.0 and 4.5 is monumental around here.
base_liner
New User
this guy is right.. i have been playing almost 4 years now and im only a 5.0
I'm going to go ahead and say that there's no way that you are a 5.0 if you've only been playing for 4 years. 5.0 is strong Division II or weak Division I college level tennis - 95% of people who pick up a tennis racquet never get there, much less after only 4 years.
goober
Legend
Well I think he is in high school so he doesn't really have a clue. 5.0 high school player in 4 years is possible, but unless you have a national ranking in the top 150 you probably are not 5.0
TennisFrkJC92
Rookie
True 4.0-4.5, my highschool coach rated me and he's been playing and coaching tennis most of his life so i'm pretty sure he knows what he's talking about.
I just started entering USTA tournaments in eastern section southern region Level 2 tournaments. My first tournament, i got up to the QF without that much effort and got owned by the first seed. I just need to improve my mental game and then improve to a 5.0 and i think i'll be ready for Level 1 tournaments. I also have another tournament next week and i'm hoping to get to the finals.
jasoncho92
Professional
I dont see how getting to a 4.0 in a year is so difficult... the guys i play with got to 4.0 or pretty damn close to it without any formal lessons in a year and i got to 3.5 in 6 months with some lessons. And i thought 5.0 of div iii tennis not div ii or low div i
It depends on the school. Top level Division III players can reach 5.0, but a solid 4.5 would probably cut it on almost every D3 school. DII probably extends into 5.5 (TonLars on this board played DII tennis, had a very good winning record, and he's stretching into 6.0 now), but a 5.0 would be able to hack it on a DII and probably a weaker DI team.
At 15-16 years old, a 4.5 level player should be winning almost every match they play, and be winning tournaments regularly. It's one thing to be "rated" as a 4.0 or 4.5 (I have tennis lessons once a week with a former USTA rater, and he said that my strokes are 4.5 level, but I have trouble winning 4.0 matches regularly) and another thing to play at that level during a match, when there is pressure to make the shot.
goober
Legend
3.5 in 6 months is possible. Have you tested yourself in real situations such as a tournament? Or do you just play with guys who say they are a certain level and make your rating based on that?
There is a huge difference between having 4.0 level strokes and actually playing successfully in a match at the the 4.0 level. A ton of people go out and develop "4.0-4.5" looking strokes and can hang with people who claim that they are that level. But when they play in tournaments and USTA league matches they get domolished. I have seen this over and over with guys (mostly younger ones) who have been playing a relatively short time. I don't consider anybody's rating legit until they get a computer rating after a year of USTA play.
whatsgood4u
New User
I was a 5.0 the first time I played tennis, is this unusual?
NO its not unsual. I was a 6.0 the first time I played when I was 2 years old. I then moved to a 6.5 within the next 2 weeks. I then sufferred extreme wrist injuries and began at the 4.5 level with my opposite hand. With 2 lessons with a newly certified USPTA pro, I became a 5.5. I easily beat many of my self-rated 5.0 buddies.
D
DraGoNoFfiR3
Guest
Getting to 3.5 in 6 months is actually very common. But improving from 3.5 to 4.0 is what separates the crowd. I'd say this leap takes well over a year or two. Getting to 4.5, maybe another year or two.
TennisFrk, getting to 4.5 in one year is very unlikely, and your coach is probably feeding you bull****, as many coaches do. But if you say so then post a vid of yourself playing TennisFrkJC.
TennisFrk, getting to 4.5 in one year is very unlikely, and your coach is probably feeding you bull****, as many coaches do. But if you say so then post a vid of yourself playing TennisFrkJC.
Most 4.0 guys have consistent depth, good spin, and good amount of pace on every shot. They have a consistent second serve (usually a kick) and a powerful first serve. I rate myself at a 4.0, I can take about maybe 2-3 games off of some top D1 College guys around my area (Baylor, Texas, etc.) but that's the MOST I get. That's when they're just messing around too.
soggyramen
Professional
hey check this out...i got to 5.0 in eleven minutes...i just picked up the racquet and it did the rest lol
TennisFrkJC92
Rookie
HAHAHAHAHAH that's so funny i think i krapped my pants
dima
Banned
soggyramen
Professional
i guess you need to control your bowels then
BreakPoint
Bionic Poster
More like 99.5% of people never get to 5.0.
Similar threads
