Video: Match Play, any tips?

I

iHabNoTeef

Rookie
8-1-10 New Service Motion:
Side View:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SBKpTTm_Rgg
Side View (Slow Motion):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PmrPlAbQdgY

This was at the beginning of my practice session and towards the end, I was finding more action on my serves with this motion compared to my serves with my older motion and I feel like I was getting my topspin/kick serves dialed in. However, I still need to incorporate more knee bend, work on timing my swing, and work on placing my toss more accurately. If there is anything else that I am missing, please let me know.

7-30-10 Match Play:
1st Set (Lost 3-6):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rM5YOe_qDDw
2nd Set (Stopped at 5-5):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xJCswOCTe1I

I am the guy in the black shirt and black shorts and my friend is the one in the white shirt and black shorts.

Please check out the videos and let us know what we can improve. Right now I know that my service motion needs a lot of work and I'm sure there are many other things that could be improved as well.
 
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That has got to be one of the most unorthodox serves I've ever seen! Breaks every "rule" in the book but it's not too bad when it goes in. Just out of curiosity how did you end up serving like that??

I'd say work on your footwork more than anything.

... and get those balls off the court in between points. If you leave balls sitting 2 feet inside the baseline while you're playing it's only a matter of time before you break an ankle!
 
limitup said:
That has got to be one of the most unorthodox serves I've ever seen! Breaks every "rule" in the book but it's not too bad when it goes in. Just out of curiosity how did you end up serving like that??

I'd say work on your footwork more than anything.

... and get those balls off the court in between points. If you leave balls sitting 2 feet inside the baseline while you're playing it's only a matter of time before you break an ankle!
Click to expand...

hmmm watch out for footfaults as well
 
Must...not...criticize...oh **** I will. Okay, you're looking for tips here? Whoa whoa whoa, I know this is Tennis Tips & Instruction but you need just the Instruction part right now.

First off, when your friend drags you off the court you try to do a two-handed backhand. Wrong. You need to slice if you're going off court since the slice travels through the air slowly. This way, you can come back to the court and be ready in time.

You slice at the wrong times.

With your serve, you're not using a pinpoint stance and your front foot also keeps moving. That's taking a step, which by the book is a foot fault. Not to mention it also does pass the baseline so it's a fault anyways.

If you're going for drop shots, you're doing the correct slicing technique but you haven't developed the "touch" as we call it. Throw the ball in the air, and catch it without having it bounce. It will help you develop the touch.

You also should unconsciously think about shot direction. You give it right back to him, but he, on the otherhand is able to move you around everywhere and win the point easily.

Oh, and the serve at 2:24 was in.
 
GetBetterer said:
Must...not...criticize...oh **** I will. Okay, you're looking for tips here? Whoa whoa whoa, I know this is Tennis Tips & Instruction but you need just the Instruction part right now.

First off, when your friend drags you off the court you try to do a two-handed backhand. Wrong. You need to slice if you're going off court since the slice travels through the air slowly. This way, you can come back to the court and be ready in time.

You slice at the wrong times.

With your serve, you're not using a pinpoint stance and your front foot also keeps moving. That's taking a step, which by the book is a foot fault. Not to mention it also does pass the baseline so it's a fault anyways.

If you're going for drop shots, you're doing the correct slicing technique but you haven't developed the "touch" as we call it. Throw the ball in the air, and catch it without having it bounce. It will help you develop the touch.

You also should unconsciously think about shot direction. You give it right back to him, but he, on the otherhand is able to move you around everywhere and win the point easily.

Oh, and the serve at 2:24 was in.
Click to expand...
Thanks, I realize I should do more with my shots. Also, I think I am going to completely change my service motion; it looks like I need to get in trophy pose and keep my toss arm extended longer.

Anyone else care to weigh in?
 
Find yourself a solid teaching pro near you. Like a number of the people that post on this forum, you're not going to be able to fix the profound issues you have with your strokes by getting written feedback from us. You need someone to teach you the proper fundamentals in-person for all of the facets of the game, and once you have those basics down you can start tweaking based on the advice you get here.
 
supineAnimation said:
Find yourself a solid teaching pro near you. Like a number of the people that post on this forum, you're not going to be able to fix the profound issues you have with your strokes by getting written feedback from us. You need someone to teach you the proper fundamentals in-person for all of the facets of the game, and once you have those basics down you can start tweaking based on the advice you get here.
Click to expand...

Right now, I am not willing to spend money on a teaching pro. I'm not convinced that I won't be able to fix some of the technical flaws in my game because I've never tried to before. Other than my serve, could you list some of the significant issues with my strokes?
 
iHabNoTeef said:
it looks like I need to get in trophy pose and keep my toss arm extended longer.

Anyone else care to weigh in?
Click to expand...

The trophy pose isn't necessary but you should definitely change your service motion. It's too loopy and takes too long to execute. You're just increasing your chance of making an error with such a long and loopy serve, keep it simple.

Also, why is your front foot moving in the middle of your service motion? I would understand if your rear foot was dragging to your front foot for a pinpoint-form serve, but I've never seen anyone move their front foot before.

You could just ask your friend to show you his serve. It looks like he has pretty good form on his serves.
 
iHabNoTeef said:
Other than my serve, could you list some of the significant issues with my strokes?
Click to expand...

Forehand:
> Don't forehand slice a serve that's within your reach back. A sliced forehand is only used during an emergency to REACH the ball just to get it back in play and hope that your opponent will make a mistake. It's also used for an effective dropshot if execute at the right time.

> Don't forehand slice an approach shot while your opponent is already at the net.

> You wrist a lot and not using much besides just your arm. Your shots will be more powerful and more consistent if you use your entire body and core, not to mention that it'll lower your chances if getting an injury.

Backhand:
> Your 2hbh looks nice, just get to the ball earlier and you'll be able to execute it better.

> Your backhand slice is also much better than your forehand slice. Try not to use it randomly.

Overall:
> You're just using the wrong shot at the wrong time. Try focusing more on the game and work on your shot selections.

> You need to learn how to play net and learn how to volley. A volley doesn't have to be sliced, it can just simply be a straight-forward push.

> Make an effort to place your shots. For example, your opponent pulls you wide A LOT, why do you keep hitting it back to the middle of the court where he is waiting? Simply hit it down the line IF he pulls you out to the right or hit it cross-court IF he pulls you out to the left. If you don't don't know what to do, just hit it to where he's not...at least make him work for it.

> Hit with more depth, most of your shots are too short. Short shots are fine, if it's got nice angle. However, your shots are short and lands right in the center of the court and this...well you already know what happened.

> BACK UP when you're returning serves. You're up way too close, and even though I can't see you because you stand out wide, I know that the ball is bouncing up to your shoulder height...which causes you to hit downward at it and making it fly into the net.
 
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There are definitely technical problems, but that should probably be left for a pro who knows what he's talking about. I saw the first video, and a main reason as to why you lost was shot selection. Don't be afraid to go for shots, but at the same time, don't be reckless. A lot of balls when down the middle and/or were short. There wasn't enough pressure on your opponent, and so he was able to move you around and do as he pleased. You should consider hitting your rally balls with higher net clearance so they land a deeper without too much effort. And when you're being pulled out wide, it would be a good idea to neutralize the point with a high, cross court shot that will give you time to get back into position
 
just saw a bit of it, first thing i noticed was your friends serve, he seems to get great leg bend but the result doesnt reflect it, i see gentle topspin serves from it, without the zip you expect from his action.
 
That's one of the weirdest serves I've ever seen. The main reason is that you keep the rear shoulder higher than the front shoulder throughout the entire motion.

Most people will teach you to have shoulders switch places during the serve. After the toss, the normal serve will have the front shoulder higher than the rear shoulder and then as you push off into the serve they will change places.

I think such a change could help you get more pace on your serve, though I'll admit your pace isn't poor at the moment.
 
iHabNoTeef said:
Right now, I am not willing to spend money on a teaching pro. I'm not convinced that I won't be able to fix some of the technical flaws in my game because I've never tried to before. Other than my serve, could you list some of the significant issues with my strokes?
Click to expand...
You don't have to take that many lessons for someone to show you the fundamentals. 2 or 3 lessons, if you're highly motivated and willing to listen and adapt your mechanics, can do the trick if it's a good teacher. I'd need to see a closer video to give you tips, but you need actual face-to-face lessons.
 
iHabNoTeef said:
Right now, I am not willing to spend money on a teaching pro. I'm not convinced that I won't be able to fix some of the technical flaws in my game because I've never tried to before. Other than my serve, could you list some of the significant issues with my strokes?
Click to expand...

If you want solid strokes, finding a good teaching pro or being insanely talented and wasting months or years are the two only ways to get there.

If you want to improve your shot selection then the only way to get there is to either find a good coach or spend a LOT of time losing while having a good eye for WHY you're missing.

I'd say get those lessons... NOW.
 
There's a lot of things fundamentally wrong going on..if you're not willing to go to a coach right now, go to www.fuzzyyellowballs.com and go through their step by step instructions to make your strokes technically correct. It's worth going to, and will help everything you need help with and you'll understand/learn it better then going to us.

I'd say start off by going to FYB, then later on after you've done that and feel comfortable with it, record yourself again and post, then we'll see what goes from there.
 
GetBetterer said:
Must...not...criticize...oh **** I will. Okay, you're looking for tips here? Whoa whoa whoa, I know this is Tennis Tips & Instruction but you need just the Instruction part right now.

First off, when your friend drags you off the court you try to do a two-handed backhand. Wrong. You need to slice if you're going off court since the slice travels through the air slowly. This way, you can come back to the court and be ready in time.

You slice at the wrong times.

With your serve, you're not using a pinpoint stance and your front foot also keeps moving. That's taking a step, which by the book is a foot fault. Not to mention it also does pass the baseline so it's a fault anyways.

If you're going for drop shots, you're doing the correct slicing technique but you haven't developed the "touch" as we call it. Throw the ball in the air, and catch it without having it bounce. It will help you develop the touch.

You also should unconsciously think about shot direction. You give it right back to him, but he, on the otherhand is able to move you around everywhere and win the point easily.

Oh, and the serve at 2:24 was in.
Click to expand...

is that really true?
cus even tho i take like a 1-2inch step with my front foot, and its not a footfault, since i start like 4-5inch behind the baseline
and also i believe federer does something like this....

:/
 
rice&tennis said:
is that really true?
cus even tho i take like a 1-2inch step with my front foot, and its not a footfault, since i start like 4-5inch behind the baseline
and also i believe federer does something like this....

:/
Click to expand...

i think the person meant moving after the ball has been thrown but you didn't hit the ball yet
 
rice&tennis said:
is that really true?
cus even tho i take like a 1-2inch step with my front foot, and its not a footfault, since i start like 4-5inch behind the baseline
and also i believe federer does something like this....

:/
Click to expand...

You footfault almost every single service. You drag your left foot forwards across the line before you have hit the ball (2nd picture). When serving in the ad/court you also drag your feet too far to the right and cross the T (as seen in the 1st photo), you start your motion almost 2ft from the place you end up in.

2 examples from the first 2 serves you do on this side of the net.

4850987054_b24cc8ae74.jpg
 
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rice&tennis:
is that really true?
cus even tho i take like a 1-2inch step with my front foot, and its not a footfault, since i start like 4-5inch behind the baseline
Click to expand...

I said it's only a foot fault for him because he touches the baseline before he hits the ball, which is legally a foot fault. Also, it's illegal to take a step, although beef took like 3 steps. Federer doesn't step on the line before he hits the ball. Plus it helps with his trophy pose.
===============================================
Rorsarch, I don't think I can look at that trophy pose. Please delete that image. Now.
 
I'll have a video of my new service motion up in an hour. I don't foot-fault anymore and I think the motion looks a lot cleaner.
 
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icic, so what i'm doing is legit i guess,
and yea, doing that step thing that federer does really did help my serve and trophy pose

btw, rorsarch, i think your talking to the wrong guy... :/
 
Ok, I've been working on this motion for the past 2 days. A few hundred serves later and here's what I'm left with:
Side View:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SBKpTTm_Rgg
Side View (Slow Motion):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PmrPlAbQdgY

This was at the beginning of my practice session and towards the end, I was finding more action on my serves with this motion compared to my serves with my older motion and I feel like I was getting my topspin/kick serves dialed in. However, I still need to incorporate more knee bend, work on timing my swing, and work on placing my toss more accurately. If there is anything else that I am missing, please let me know.
 
Well, your feet aren't shoulder-width apart, and they don't move close together so I'm assuming you're attempting to use a platform stance.

Your racket droops down on your trophy pose, and you need more knee bend on your trophy pose.
 
Look, I froze the frame where make contact with the ball.
I think you should extend your body a lot more, you look
curled, cramped, I don´t know the word.
The higher you hit the ball, the shorter the net will feel.
Look at this pic of Hantuchova
Also your feet seem to stand very close together,
you look a bit off balance, by the way I think Monfils also
looks unnatural and trying to copy Roddick´s.
Good luck =)


screenshot20100801at802.png


screenshot20100801at803.png



daniela_hantuchova_serve.JPG
 
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....gotta love the minutia of this game!
Personally, I found that when I got comfortable with my serve and grooved a reliable stroke, a lot of other things fell into place. You're trying to maximize the energy that you get into the ball with the simplest most effective motion possible. What you're seeing in the picture of hantuchova is she's getting all her weight behind the ball because she threw it more out in front. I used to struggle with the same problem.

When you are tossing the ball, it's pretty much directly over your head. Try tossing it about a foot and half into the court so that you have to make more of a forward motion to the ball. I found that just doing that gave my serves more weight and the net didn't seem as high. Also you're not thinking about transferring weight and such.....it just happens.
 
It's not hopeless. I think your game is better then I imagined from the comments here.

However that serve needs to go - you probably need a pros help with that. You have gotten into some idiosyncratic habits which make it painful to watch and ineffective.

You need to add more depth on your generic forehand. My advice would be to just add more spin to it as that will push it deeper and help you make it more consistent.

You also need to stop making mental mistakes as the other posters pointed out. Your like a case study in the problems with "variety" in your game. You don't hit the slice forehands/backhands or drop shots well at all and yet you try to mix them in and all kinds of inopportune times.

I'd stick mostly with the basics in matches and wait for AMAZINGLY good opportunities to use those largely ineffective shots.. In the meantime try to practice those shots more since you obviously like hitting them..

Variety without execution is not a good thing.. Your much better off doing a few things well then having craptastic variety.
 
GuyClinch said:
It's not hopeless. I think your game is better then I imagined from the comments here.

However that serve needs to go - you probably need a pros help with that. You have gotten into some idiosyncratic habits which make it painful to watch and ineffective.

You need to add more depth on your generic forehand. My advice would be to just add more spin to it as that will push it deeper and help you make it more consistent.

You also need to stop making mental mistakes as the other posters pointed out. Your like a case study in the problems with "variety" in your game. You don't hit the slice forehands/backhands or drop shots well at all and yet you try to mix them in and all kinds of inopportune times.

I'd stick mostly with the basics in matches and wait for AMAZINGLY good opportunities to use those largely ineffective shots.. In the meantime try to practice those shots more since you obviously like hitting them..

Variety without execution is not a good thing.. Your much better off doing a few things well then having craptastic variety.
Click to expand...

Yeah, I realize that my shot selection was really poor in that match, but I think over the past few times I've been hitting, I've really improved.

Also, you mention my serve needs a pro's help. Are you referring to my new motion? Honestly, I think I've improved my serve a lot over the last few days.
 
OP, one more thing. if you really did not have any teeth, you would not be able to make the "f" sound. i.e., your nick should be "ihabnoteep".

hope that helps!
 
You definetly need to toss the ball higher on your serve. You're so scrunched up at the point of impact that it's no wonder you're netting so many serves.
 
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