Videos from a beginner...

[ac3111]

I started learning tennis a bit late, at the age of 28. I was practicing for 3 years 3-4 times per week. and then I had to take a 2 year break.

Now I start again.
I hit mainly flat, I think. One hand backhand although I learned a Two hand...
My service motion is inconsistent because of my inconsistent ball toss. My service swing is short 'cause when I try a longer one, it does not work. It is not fluent or effortless as it should be. This has a result to take a lot out of me during match play. And it is rather weak. I would call it a second serve.

One other problem I have is that I lack explosion. I cant crush the ball when I go up the net.

Anyway I think since I start playing again I should go to a lighter frame in order to play a bit more consistently and let's say in order my level of play does not drop so much during match time. Here you can follow the discussion in the right board.

So I will be posting a few videos so that you share your input, opinion, comments on the path I should follow. I think I will take a few private lessons.

Service Session http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6V1JnSBpTTM

Hitting session https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YZ8nhczdtu0

Racquet used Wilson K95 18x20 strung with Weisscannon Explosiv @ 53lbs.

 

[Chas Tennis]

To improve the quality of your video:

1) Place the camera closer so that you are bigger in the frame. From the side is one good view.
2) Another very good view is from directly behind looking along the ball's flight path. From there you can see some important angles of the arm, elbow, forearm-racket whenever you happen to catch impact or very close to impact.
3) For best results you need a picture with small motion blur in order to see the racket clearly. Always shoot in bright sunlight - a sharp shadow is cast - and the camera will select a faster shutter resulting in less motion blur.

For more details on videoing search this forum ("Search" block above), select "Show Posts": Chas Tennis video behind

 

[darthpanda]

for the serve, focus on topspin on the ball, try to roll it forward with your racquet at the top of the toss

 

[darthpanda]

also for your forehand and backhand, try using two hands on both sides, that should give you more control and power.

 

[BHBeguile]

Kudos to you for posting!

On your BH, you turn your shoulders well and you're getting down to the ball nicely. As you swing your right arm, try to let your left arm swing behind you, almost as a counterweight. This will allow your chest to open and will help get more power on the BH. Try watching Federer or Wawrinka as examples of classic one-handers.

 

[Topspin Shot]

also for your forehand and backhand, try using two hands on both sides, that should give you more control and power.

What experience do you have that leads you to this belief?

 

[TennisCJC]

You look like you have potential. Serve motion has good attributes: decent swing path, good front arm extension, nice loose throwing motion with some racket drop. On serve, you might need to work on conti grip and spins.

On groundstroke, you look pretty athletic and have good swing paths too. Sometimes you arm gets out of sync with your body - you want to learn to play where the core leads the stroke. Leg lift, core rotation should pull the arm into the stroke. Footwork also is inconsistent. Sometimes you are in good position other times your spacing is off - either too close or too far from ball. work on keeping the feet going smoothly and getting good spacing on all your shots.

My advice is get a decent pro and take private and/or semi-private lessons. Maybe once a week for 1st month or 2 and then once every other week for another 2 or months.

You have the potential to improve pretty quickly.

 

[ac3111]

Thank you all for your input and comments. First of all I have to say that when you learn tennis in my country at such age the coaches do not spend much time with you. One problem with tennis is that you can't learn all the things at the same time. Because tennis needs focus and concentration I think first you must learn to hit properly, hit the sweetspot and have proper technique and then try to add things. In my case I need someone to feed me with balls and that has to be during a private lesson, so that he guides me all the time.

The hitting session I posted is from the warm up phase. I did it on purpose because we take it slowly there. I think the problems you spotted get bigger when we increase speed.

More videos to come.

PS: I need a tripod for the camera and then I will be able to place it in better spots to shoot from the side and behind and above me.

PS2: Half things I have learnt in tennis is from watching matches. I follow all atp masters and grandslams.

Thanks again.