Playtennis
New User
I have 3 matches this weekend...two in and one out. Haven't played outside yet. At suggestions how to acclimate o outside during match?
Transition to playing outside
- Thread starter Playtennis
- Start date
dizzlmcwizzl
Hall of Fame
good luck ... I always hate the transition either way.
For me, the serve initially always takes a hit when we move outside but the return improves. Vice versa for moving inside .....
However, a few weeks in and I always feel like things have leveled out.
For me, the serve initially always takes a hit when we move outside but the return improves. Vice versa for moving inside .....
However, a few weeks in and I always feel like things have leveled out.
Wind is the biggest. Then sun....then the noise probably (echoes etc).
Also - your visual focus is a little different as with indoor it's easier to see the ball, there is less going on behind your opponent (usually).
Turbo-87
G.O.A.T.
I much prefer outdoor playing and can't wait to get out there soon. Our club league plays indoors until the end of May. I like the no wind aspect, but the lighting drives me crazy. Our club has the yellowish lights that shine directly down on the courts and I end up getting unlucky on possible overheads. I think I get blinded more often than getting a clean look at the ball on overheads. I sure like the newer clubs that have the light shining up and being reflected back down by the roof.
JRstriker12
Hall of Fame
Only way to do it is to get some outdoor practice in. Took me a few outdoor matches to find my serve outdoors. Wind is always a factor too.
Fintft
G.O.A.T.
Wind? Meh...
What puts me off on clay is:
a) The high bounce. Do I stay back? What if the opponent makes angles?
b) The poor court maintenance (no rolling etc). I need to learn to make small adjustment steps as opposed to planting my feet.
c) Hard to warm up with guys that are already warmed up and hit the first ball in play like a rock (mainly deep but sometimes short- I broke a string swinging desperately to one of those)
The sun is a factor when you serve, I'll grant you that.
What puts me off on clay is:
a) The high bounce. Do I stay back? What if the opponent makes angles?
b) The poor court maintenance (no rolling etc). I need to learn to make small adjustment steps as opposed to planting my feet.
c) Hard to warm up with guys that are already warmed up and hit the first ball in play like a rock (mainly deep but sometimes short- I broke a string swinging desperately to one of those)
The sun is a factor when you serve, I'll grant you that.
Sound is very different. If you don't use a dampener, a solid thump can suddenly sound very tinny.
For me, the thing that takes me most by surprise is the service toss. It's really quite strange to look up and not have a roof there. There are also little changes that shouldn't matter: where I play indoors the lines are very thick, but this usually isn't the case outside. Somehow this makes the court appear smaller, even though it's not.
The biggest adjustment I make to my game is the amount of spin, even in the slightest breeze. If you're with the wind, you need to use more topspin to keep it in. If you're against it, you'll find yourself swinging harder to combat it, and the extra bat speed often means putting more spin on the ball than necessary. Slice is very useful when you're playing into the wind.
Try to enjoy it. Tennis is supposed to be played outside.
For me, the thing that takes me most by surprise is the service toss. It's really quite strange to look up and not have a roof there. There are also little changes that shouldn't matter: where I play indoors the lines are very thick, but this usually isn't the case outside. Somehow this makes the court appear smaller, even though it's not.
The biggest adjustment I make to my game is the amount of spin, even in the slightest breeze. If you're with the wind, you need to use more topspin to keep it in. If you're against it, you'll find yourself swinging harder to combat it, and the extra bat speed often means putting more spin on the ball than necessary. Slice is very useful when you're playing into the wind.
Try to enjoy it. Tennis is supposed to be played outside.
