What's the best way to improve if you can only play 3 days a week?

[goober]

I am limited to 3 days a week of play for about 2 hours each time. That probably is not going to change any time soon. I am pretty much stuck at my level and I don't feel like I am improving. I had a coach last year but I really didn't feel like he was doing that much for me and felt like many of the long time instructors on this forum were much more knowledgable.

I just started playing competitive and practice matches all the time instead. My match play has improved for sure. I have finished either first or second in the 4.0 leagues that played for the last 2 sessions, but I feel like my game has hit a plateau. How much time spend drilling and should I have lessons every week or just once in awhile? Right now I work on things during my practice matches which I know is silly but it is hard to find somebody who just wants to do drills, everybody wants to play matches it seems. My goal is to get to 4.5 since that is high as I will probably ever get, but can I get there with just 6 hours of tennis a week?

 

[AngeloDS]

You know what I did when I never had a partner to hit with, and/or it was raining outside (got to love Washington weather) and most of my tennis technique came from this.

Grab a remote control in the house, watch some TV and just practice your strokes. Be focused on the TV, and just keep doing these strokes. Once you get into the game, bam it'll be imprinted into your system.

So make sure your strokes are good, and the technique is awesome.

I remember spending hours a day just sitting at home, practicing my strokes. When it came time to play, the results shown.

 

[fantom]

I am limited to 3 days a week of play for about 2 hours each time. That probably is not going to change any time soon. I am pretty much stuck at my level and I don't feel like I am improving. I had a coach last year but I really didn't feel like he was doing that much for me and felt like many of the long time instructors on this forum were much more knowledgable.

I just started playing competitive and practice matches all the time instead. My match play has improved for sure. I have finished either first or second in the 4.0 leagues that played for the last 2 sessions, but I feel like my game has hit a plateau. How much time spend drilling and should I have lessons every week or just once in awhile? Right now I work on things during my practice matches which I know is silly but it is hard to find somebody who just wants to do drills, everybody wants to play matches it seems. My goal is to get to 4.5 since that is high as I will probably ever get, but can I get there with just 6 hours of tennis a week?

Goob, I know exactly how you feel. I too have limited court time because of balancing work/kids/wife/house stuff. One way go improve without being on the courts is to work on your fitness. I don't know what kind of shape you're in, but I can tell you from experience that when you are more fit, your movement improves drastically. You'll find that you are in proper position to hit the ball more often, which will result in better consistency. I was a decent 4.0 a year ago, and I would consider myself a weak 4.5 now, and this is all I've really improved in the past year.

 

[theace21]

This is a tough one, Fantom had the fitness thing right on. If you can improve your court movement, you might be able to compete at the higher level. I think playing 2-3 times a week, will maintain your ability. Might try and beef up your serve, or develop a new weapon, improve your net game. Have someone evaluate your ability and work on those weak areas.

 

[Craig Sheppard]

Hey man, if you can dedicate 3 days a week to tennis while still juggling a full time job, family, and whatever else, I'd say you're doing pretty well... (Ok if you're juggling it with kickin back beers 5 days a week, you can move to the next window... ;-) )

I forget where I heard this...maybe my old coach or pro. If you have 3 chances to play than you have 3 opportunities to get better. If you want to focus on one particular aspect of your game, then dedicate your week to that. The first day that week you work on that aspect with your pro, for as long as is necessary or money allows. The second day you practice (drill) that aspect of your game. The third day you play only sets or a match and really focus on that aspect. By the end of that week, you will have really concentrated on that more than you probably have anything the last few years. When was the last time you spent 6 hours focused on one aspect of your game?

The next week, well you're either continuing playing matches and working on last week's exercise, or you've really improved it and moved on--then your first session is with your pro again, so you can discuss and show off your new skill, and then move on to your next topic...

Just a little plan--but if you really focus on it I think 3 sessions a week is plenty of time to notice some improvement. Might take more than one week depending on how fast you pick up I guess. Hope that helps.

 

[Bungalo Bill]

I am limited to 3 days a week of play for about 2 hours each time. That probably is not going to change any time soon. I am pretty much stuck at my level and I don't feel like I am improving.

Well a good coach will speed up the process. But are you kidding me? You get three days a week and two hours at a time? Man, I only get one day a week for two hours. Man if I had your schedule my timing and conditioning would be so much better.

If your in S. Cal email me. I will make you a better player. If not, you will die on the court trying.

 

[Craig Sheppard]

If your in S. Cal email me. I will make you a better player. If not, you will die on the court trying.

Damn that's what I'm talkin about. Do you have a doppelganger around Raleigh, NC by any chance?

 

[MTChong]

You should try to make sure and adopt some type of fitness training program during the week as fitness is crucial to tennis. Other than that, just be patient and always think about what you're doing and how you're playing. Critique yourself and pick things you want to improve and just work on it for that day.

 

[goober]

Well a good coach will speed up the process. But are you kidding me? You get three days a week and two hours at a time? Man, I only get one day a week for two hours. Man if I had your schedule my timing and conditioning would be so much better.

If your in S. Cal email me. I will make you a better player. If not, you will die on the court trying.

The difference is that you are already an accomplished player with all the strokes. For you- if you play 3 times a week you will maintain what you already have accomplished. For me I have not attained a level that I want to get to and all I am doing is playing matches which is hard to work on specific weaknesses. Too bad I am not in California but Arizona or I would love to have you as a coach.

For those who say fitness. I feel I am in decent shape and better than most of my opponents which tend to be in the 30-55 year old range. I am basically winning by consistency and running things down. I certainly can get in better shape but I don't think it is going to get me to the next level if I have the same skill set.

 

[goober]

Hey man, if you can dedicate 3 days a week to tennis while still juggling a full time job, family, and whatever else, I'd say you're doing pretty well... (Ok if you're juggling it with kickin back beers 5 days a week, you can move to the next window... ;-) )

I forget where I heard this...maybe my old coach or pro. If you have 3 chances to play than you have 3 opportunities to get better. If you want to focus on one particular aspect of your game, then dedicate your week to that. The first day that week you work on that aspect with your pro, for as long as is necessary or money allows. The second day you practice (drill) that aspect of your game. The third day you play only sets or a match and really focus on that aspect. By the end of that week, you will have really concentrated on that more than you probably have anything the last few years. When was the last time you spent 6 hours focused on one aspect of your game?

The next week, well you're either continuing playing matches and working on last week's exercise, or you've really improved it and moved on--then your first session is with your pro again, so you can discuss and show off your new skill, and then move on to your next topic...

Just a little plan--but if you really focus on it I think 3 sessions a week is plenty of time to notice some improvement. Might take more than one week depending on how fast you pick up I guess. Hope that helps.

Sounds like a good plan

 

[AngeloDS]

You know what I did when I never had a partner to hit with, and/or it was raining outside (got to love Washington weather) and most of my tennis technique came from this.

Grab a remote control in the house, watch some TV and just practice your strokes. Be focused on the TV, and just keep doing these strokes. Once you get into the game, bam it'll be imprinted into your system.

So make sure your strokes are good, and the technique is awesome.

I remember spending hours a day just sitting at home, practicing my strokes. When it came time to play, the results shown.

Along with this, practice your strokes when you're at work or such.

I remember in class when we were doing nothing during the tennis season, I'd get up sometimes and just practice my strokes. Everyone would look at me like I'm crazy, but it really helped.

 

[Bungalo Bill]

The difference is that you are already an accomplished player with all the strokes. For you- if you play 3 times a week you will maintain what you already have accomplished. For me I have not attained a level that I want to get to and all I am doing is playing matches which is hard to work on specific weaknesses. Too bad I am not in California but Arizona or I would love to have you as a coach.

For those who say fitness. I feel I am in decent shape and better than most of my opponents which tend to be in the 30-55 year old range. I am basically winning by consistency and running things down. I certainly can get in better shape but I don't think it is going to get me to the next level if I have the same skill set.

To get better you got to drill. I am a firm believer in solid practices. One where you worked hard and walked away knowing you are going to improve. But it does take work. You need time away from matches to evaluate your performance and practice those things that dont come easy to you.

Too bad you are not in California...

 

[ferreira]

Goober,
I'm in the same boat as you. I play 3, sometimes 4 times a week, an average of 2 hours. I'm around 4.0 (when my serve doesn't fall apart) and have to work hard 4.0 form. I feel that if I don't work on it, I can quickly lose my game. I started playing at the age of almost 30, so I don't have the "natural" mechanics. I'm also into balancing the wife/kids/work/tennis equation, and I do so at the cost of a few hours of sleep. Sometimes I get no more than 6 hours, and my technique and concentration suffer.

I used to thimk I could some day reach 5.0. After 5 years and in my mid 30's, considering my schedule I find it very, very unlikely. Solid 4.5 is my goal, and I honestly think it will take me another 5 years to reach it. I think your goal is likewise realistic, and depending on your physical condition and approach to practice, it can be reached.

 

[GRANITECHIEF]

To get better you got to drill. I am a firm believer in solid practices. One where you worked hard and walked away knowing you are going to improve. But it does take work. You need time away from matches to evaluate your performance and practice those things that dont come easy to you.

Too bad you are not in California...

Hey Bungalo Bill, I'm in S.Cal. - Santa Barbara to be exact. Where are you, maybe we could hit sometime.

 

[Bungalo Bill]

Hey Bungalo Bill, I'm in S.Cal. - Santa Barbara to be exact. Where are you, maybe we could hit sometime.

Down in Irvine area.

 

[Kaptain Karl]

Goober - I started our Town's Ladder -- just so I could locate guys to practice with. (Three days a week on the court is a GREAT WEEK for me. Most weeks, I'm lucky to get a hit in twice.)

I understand the "can't find a training partner" problem. We have 22 guys on our ladder and only four of us *would* do Drills. (And only one can Drill at 7:00 in the morning -- when I prefer to practice.) So ... "Paul" and I practice for 90 minutes every Tuesday AM. The other guys on the Ladder noticed Paul's improvement ... and now three more guys are wanting to Drill. (Yea!!!)

I don't want to drill every time ... and I don't want to drill with guys who cannot even make me sweat ... so I sent everyone on the Ladder the following, hoping they would pair up and practice. Some of these drills were compiled from tips right here on TW. [Search "Game-Based Drills"]
_____________

If you can only play tennis twice a week, you can still realize improvement. Try drilling....

Paul and I meet once-a-week for some pretty focused practice. We do "game-based drills." Here they are ... and I'm sure some of you know other drills. Please share them.

90 Minute Workout

We work drills aimed at bolstering areas of our games in which we need to improve. Something "like..."

Warm-up 15 minutes -- "Mini Tennis" ... We can "start" at 2-2 to speed it up. No-ad scoring....

Ground Strokes 30 min -- "Fifteen" ... Object: Depth on ground strokes. Hit two consecutive rally balls in the back court to start the point, Then play out the baseline point. Balls hit short of the Service Line are "out". (Combining with "bounce - hit" for timing is good too....)

Down-the-line 15 min -- Alley Play; Goal 50 consecutive ground strokes. (Out of the Alley is a "miss".) Great for training accuracy.

Serve & Volley 15 min -- "Twenty-one" Server *must* S&V, win by two. (Some people play the Server gets two points for his point; the Receiver, only one....)

Tie Breakers 15 min. -- As many as we can in 15 min; "pressure practice."

... and that's 90 minutes. A good workout!
________________

Of course we can change the drills around, too:

Lobs & Overheads -- Must hit two groundies to the net man before lobbing; net man works on depth of volleys. Lob winner counts 3 points. Overhead winner counts 3 points. Passing shot counts 1 point. Volley winner counts 1 point. Play to Eleven. Change positions....

Pressure Play -- Play regular sets (with a twist on scoring...)
-- If you hit an ace, you win the game,
-- If you commit a double fault, you lose the game,
-- If you commit return of serve error, you lose the game,
-- If you win the point with a volley and/or smash, you win the game.

No Ad Pressure -- Play No-Ad match, and start sets at 3-3 or 4-4, to "up" the pressure.

100 Consistency -- Play points without going for winners; Goal 200 consecutive strokes(!).

Six Stroke Points -- Start a rally, but win the point on the sixth stroke ... or lose the point.
_____________

Those ought to get you started....

- KK

 

[dakels]

Sorry I didnt read all the replies but some good suggestions so far.

One thing I wanted to mention was that DO NOT think high level players do not benefit from drilling and fed balls. It's primarily what they do in their non match time. I have spent time with 2 very high ranked pros and other top class players like satellite or NCAA. I am nowhere near their level of game play but I help feed them to work out strokes and rally with them to fine tune it. Again most of their non match time is spent drilling.

From what I have seen of the people I have worked with, Normally their tennis schedule resembles (not including normal fitness training which is usually alot for most players):
Drilling 30-50%
Rallying 10-20%
Practice sets/match 20-40%

At a higher level it depends on the player and what they want to work on as they know their strengths and weaknesses better.

Still, I have found this to be a excellent schduel model to improve your game. For more recreational, its often less drilling, much more rallying. Still, if you can drill/lessons once a week, it will with a good coach, significantly improve your game. Even if you do not have a good coach but a good feeder, you can instruct them to give you what you want to improve certain aspect of your game. Just remember to focus. Its not a magic cure-all wand. Spend a few weeks constantly working on your forhand. Next few weeks focusing on backhand, next net, movement, etc. Most drilling should be 60-80% focused on 1 aspect per session for a serious player looking to make a long term difference in their game. Then the other 2 days of the week you can work what your been working on into rally and game situations. Often it will start to break down again, especially for old habits, hence why you go back and work on it again the next week.

Either way you have plenty of time to improve your game. 3x 2 hour sessions a week depending on your attitude, training, ability, can take you from a 4.0 to a 5.0 within a reasonable time. You shouldnt view 4.5 as your "cap". With that time available, I'd say only 6.0+ is your hard cap with that amount of time unless you have some incredible tennis ability. I'd shoot for 4.5 in a year, 5.0 a year after that. But dont worry about the ratings and such too much, have fun make improvements to what you want.