What was the best tip any ever gave you?

K

kiteboard

Banned
I realize most are going to think of technique tips/instruction tips.

What about reading your opponent and where he is going to hit to?
Moving well under pressure to your shot?
Recovering from your last shot position?


Equipment? Stick, strings, shoes, etc.
Conditioning?
Strategy?
Tactics?
Diet?
Drills?
Weaknesses?
Injury recovery?
Match play vs. practice play?
Come back from a down position?
Closing out a match when you are up?
Mental/concentration/temper/emotional?
Will to suffer through the battle and win?


Overcoming a block against one player you have not been able to beat?
Electrolyte powder, match food, gel packs?
Making changes to your shots?
Anti cramp food?
Visualization?
Confidence?
Nerves?
Attitude?
Videos?
Books?

So which single tip has made the greatest difference in your results?
 
L

LeeD

Bionic Poster
Mental case that I am.....
FORGET THE OPPONENT'S LUCKY WINNERS..... play your game and believe it should work out in the long run.
 
borg number one

borg number one

Legend
My first coach taught me to have respect for the Game, which entails playing it at the highest level possible, with maximum effort at all times, yet you must always have good sportsmanship. That means, win or lose, you must have respect for your opponent and you must never allow your opponent, no matter what, to change that attitude. Do not "stoop to the level of your opponent" no matter what he may try and "pull". If someone is cheating and yelling, use that against him, that's all, and call an umpire if necessary at a Tournament. Don't respond in kind.

So, keep an even temperament and "let your racquet do the talking" as much as possible, even during "rough matches" when things aren't going your way. That doesn't mean that you should let your opponent "take advantage of your good sportsmanship" in any way, just never get easily rattled and stick with YOUR GAME always. This approach to Tennis tends to win you a lot of matches AND FRIENDS at the same time.
 
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R

Ripper014

Hall of Fame
Just watch the ball...

EDIT: actually I thought you meant best advice I ever gave... I don't ever remember getting any valuable advice from anyone.
 
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L

LeeD

Bionic Poster
Good stuff there, Borg#1....
I'll agree, and have tried to adopt this mentality thru most of my years.
Just lately, lost 1-2 to a guy who's in the finals of a 65 year old tourney. I was missing all my short angles, first serves, and couldn't cover within 3' of my sidelines.
I tried my best to NOT let on my frustrations, kept my head up, and complimented his real good shots.
After the match, both smiling, we shake hands and agree to play again.
Inside, I'm boiling. Outside, I gotta say, no matter how badly I played, he played great.
 
R

Ripper014

Hall of Fame
LeeD said:
Good stuff there, Borg#1....
I'll agree, and have tried to adopt this mentality thru most of my years.
Just lately, lost 1-2 to a guy who's in the finals of a 65 year old tourney. I was missing all my short angles, first serves, and couldn't cover within 3' of my sidelines.
I tried my best to NOT let on my frustrations, kept my head up, and complimented his real good shots.
After the match, both smiling, we shake hands and agree to play again.
Inside, I'm boiling. Outside, I gotta say, no matter how badly I played, he played great.
Click to expand...

The problem with a high risk game if you are not willing to adjust, you will lose big on an off day.
 
L

LeeD

Bionic Poster
Yeah, I've said I've lost to medium 3.5's before too.
But this guy is closer to a mix between 4 thru 4.5. Short angle placement was his thing, moderate pace, and he seemed to handle my shots with ease.
Of course, playing on his courts, which are a lot slower than mine. The high bounce and upwards kick really threw my timing off, as he noted.
Nice to lose badly, it's great for ego check.....:):)
 
borg number one

borg number one

Legend
LeeD said:
Good stuff there, Borg#1....
I'll agree, and have tried to adopt this mentality thru most of my years.
Just lately, lost 1-2 to a guy who's in the finals of a 65 year old tourney. I was missing all my short angles, first serves, and couldn't cover within 3' of my sidelines.
I tried my best to NOT let on my frustrations, kept my head up, and complimented his real good shots.
After the match, both smiling, we shake hands and agree to play again.
Inside, I'm boiling. Outside, I gotta say, no matter how badly I played, he played great.
Click to expand...

Thanks LeeD, good for you. That's great that you kept an even keel. It sounds like that what you needed to add in that match was the ability to make some quick adjustments during the match, which is, as we all know MUCH easier said than done. Go get em' next time! With that attitude, I'm sure you have been very well served in Tennis and most importantly, in life. Of course, Tennis Is Life, isn't it? Lol...Seriously though, make those small adjustments, sometimes you'll lose to a player badly at first and then the "rivalry" can change and you can turn it completely around to your favor. Don't forget that.
 
Larrysümmers

Larrysümmers

Hall of Fame
borg number one said:
Thanks LeeD, good for you. That's great that you kept an even keel. It sounds like that what you needed to add in that match was the ability to make some quick adjustments during the match, which is, as we all know MUCH easier said than done. Go get em' next time! With that attitude, I'm sure you have been very well served in Tennis and most importantly, in life. Of course, Tennis Is Life, isn't it? Lol...Seriously though, make those small adjustments, sometimes you'll lose to a player badly at first and then the "rivalry" can change and you can turn it completely around to your favor. Don't forget that.
Click to expand...

oh yes a rivalry can happen quick. Freshmen year in high school I'd play the number 1 guy and it felt like he was blowing me away. But after dedicating myself and never giving by sophmore year I'd make him work. He'd beat me but we'd go to tie breakers and 3rd sets. Then over this last summer and fall we've been neck and neck. Many 5 set matches. And we even had a 4 hour match over the summer. This spring I am not sure if we will have a new number 1. But no matter what, it will be fun battling for that spot
 
K

kiteboard

Banned
A lot of these older guys can't cover the front part of the court, but can redirect your power all day effortlessly. Short chips, and passing shots/+ lobs when you bring them in. When I play with a guy like this, I just gun it dtl and come in, and bring them in with drop volleys, and put away their lobs. It comes down to how many errors you make vs. their coverage/movement, due to their low number or ues.
 
R

Ripper014

Hall of Fame
kiteboard said:
A lot of these older guys can't cover the front part of the court, but can redirect your power all day effortlessly. Short chips, and passing shots/+ lobs when you bring them in. When I play with a guy like this, I just gun it dtl and come in, and bring them in with drop volleys, and put away their lobs. It comes down to how many errors you make vs. their coverage/movement, due to their low number or ues.
Click to expand...

And 95% of the time what the old guy is doing is enough to win. But do not underestimate these guys... they have been around longer than a lot of you... and many strategies have been tried, few the have not seen before, and they have answers for most of them.

They will force you to actually beat them... and not just by some strategic gimmick. They will adapt and adjust... like the Borg... the thing is do you have enough variety in your game to continue to confuse them. The one thing they have in abundance is experience... and it is a valuable weapon when used efficiently.
 
origmarm

origmarm

Hall of Fame
It went something like this:
"What are you? A ******* ******?!?! Hit it harder! Break the ***** ball in half!!!"
That put a fairly swift end to my pushing career and actually allowed me to improve my game rather than just winning at my current level. I was 11.
 
Larrysümmers

Larrysümmers

Hall of Fame
origmarm said:
It went something like this:
"What are you? A ******* ******?!?! Hit it harder! Break the ***** ball in half!!!"
That put a fairly swift end to my pushing career and actually allowed me to improve my game rather than just winning at my current level. I was 11.
Click to expand...

sounds like what my family yelled at me in youth baseball haha
 
rk_sports

rk_sports

Hall of Fame
Completely RELAX arm to serve -- it is working so well
(RELAX arm to play -- this has not yet registered ;))
 
R

Ripper014

Hall of Fame
Ok I take it all back there was a tip that has helped me... parts of it are sprawled on a wall at Wimbledon.




If

If you can keep your head when all about you
Are losing theirs and blaming it on you,
If you can trust yourself when all men doubt you,
But make allowance for their doubting too;
If you can wait and not be tired by waiting,
Or being lied about, don't deal in lies,
Or being hated, don't give way to hating,
And yet don't look too good, nor talk too wise:

If you can dream - and not make dreams your master,
If you can think - and not make thoughts your aim;
If you can meet with Triumph and Disaster
And treat those two impostors just the same;
If you can bear to hear the truth you've spoken
Twisted by knaves to make a trap for fools,
Or watch the things you gave your life to, broken,
And stoop and build 'em up with worn-out tools:

If you can make one heap of all your winnings
And risk it all on one turn of pitch-and-toss,
And lose, and start again at your beginnings
And never breath a word about your loss;
If you can force your heart and nerve and sinew
To serve your turn long after they are gone,
And so hold on when there is nothing in you
Except the Will which says to them: "Hold on!"

If you can talk with crowds and keep your virtue,
Or walk with kings - nor lose the common touch,
If neither foes nor loving friends can hurt you,
If all men count with you, but none too much;
If you can fill the unforgiving minute
With sixty seconds' worth of distance run,
Yours is the Earth and everything that's in it,
And - which is more - you'll be a Man, my son!

Rudyard Kipling (1865-1936)
 
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mikro112

mikro112

Semi-Pro
borg number one said:
My first coach taught me to have respect for the Game, which entails playing it at the highest level possible, with maximum effort at all times, yet you must always have good sportsmanship. That means, win or lose, you must have respect for your opponent and you must never allow your opponent, no matter what, to change that attitude. Do not "stoop to the level of your opponent" no matter what he may try and "pull". If someone is cheating and yelling, use that against him, that's all, and call an umpire if necessary at a Tournament. Don't respond in kind.

So, keep an even temperament and "let your racquet do the talking" as much as possible, even during "rough matches" when things aren't going your way. That doesn't mean that you should let your opponent "take advantage of your good sportsmanship" in any way, just never get easily rattled and stick with YOUR GAME always. This approach to Tennis tends to win you a lot of matches AND FRIENDS at the same time.
Click to expand...

Same here. It wasn't my first coach, but my third and I still have great contact with him and his family and I even give tennis lessons to his son. This is the best advice you can get/give (as coach)!
 
shazbot

shazbot

Semi-Pro
"Expect every ball to come back"

When I started playing tennis I obviously played weaker opponents and I got used to hitting a lot of winners. Well wouldn't you know it, once you start playing better people, those lame winners I used to hit are now not only coming back but are winners hit against me lol.
 
fluffy Beaver

fluffy Beaver

Professional
Shut up stop bi***ing and play. In other words don't cry and stay focused. I probably get more angry at myself getting angry on the court than actually playing bad and getting my butt kicked.
 
crash1929

crash1929

Hall of Fame
"keep your head still"

I always tried to hit the ball hard but was not controllling my body. huge improvement. this was about 8months ago.

It was told to me by a friend. only now realize how good a coach he is. he is married to a former top 20 in the world.
 
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G

GS

Professional
If anyone cares, my best tips were:
Move your feet to get in position! (like Jimmy Connors' small steps).
Racquet back early.
Continental grip (for serve and volley).
Mental toughness? Relax, and play your own game.
 
russell

russell

Semi-Pro
Take nimble little baby steps when you move around the court but carry a big stick and be ready to pounce when the iron is hot.
 
E

escii_35

Rookie
Hold the backhand then strike.

Or my fav. Wow, you are really uncoordinated lets just try and get your feet going the right direction and good things will happen. (From and ex D-I so-cal player who I would rate a good 5.5 female)
 
TnTBigman

TnTBigman

Professional
When all else seems to fail. Go back to the basics. Count the "ball hit by opponet -- ground-- ball hit yours" to develop/ or get back your rthym.
 
crash1929

crash1929

Hall of Fame
ccmasterk said:
WATCH THE DAMN BALL!

-Me to myself
Click to expand...

You would think it would come natuarally after all these years right? !!!

Agassi said when he closed out his French Open Championship his thoughts turned to the basics, "move your feet and watch the ball".
 
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