My Real Life Tennis Strokes

[Sherlock 117]

Hey guys, I had some footage laying around of a match I played about a month ago so I figured I'd upload it. Please tell me what you think and how I might improve. I'd prefer if you kept the comments all on this site though.

CLICK

I know I have a lot of flaws. The biggest part I hate about my game is that I feel like I'm swinging and moving reasonably fast but when I watch myself I look like I'm in slow motion. I have picked up some racket speed in the past month, and since I'm 6'5'' I do hit decent pace for how slow my motion is. But that's one of the biggest problems I see right now (that and my serve...)

Thanks!

[picachu211]

Your serve is as bad as mine.
Usually I just hope I can put it in so I don't double fault too much.
I think you don't use your legs enough.

You move pretty well for your height, but I think you take your swing too early and when your racquet makes the contact with the ball, it slows down.
There are a few points when you just return with reflex, it seemed like you hit the ball better than when you took a huge swing.

I think your footwork can be better. It looked like you were being aggressive. But there were a few points when your opponent hit right at you and you returned above your waist, it looked jammed. You should try step a few steps back and try to hit it at the proper height.

Just my 2 cents before I take off and go home. LOL

[pink moozipan]

Hey guys, I had some footage laying around of a match I played about a month ago so I figured I'd upload it. Please tell me what you think and how I might improve. I'd prefer if you kept the comments all on this site though.

CLICK

I know I have a lot of flaws. The biggest part I hate about my game is that I feel like I'm swinging and moving reasonably fast but when I watch myself I look like I'm in slow motion. I have picked up some racket speed in the past month, and since I'm 6'5'' I do hit decent pace for how slow my motion is. But that's one of the biggest problems I see right now (that and my serve...)

Thanks!

well to me it seems on court you're a bit inflexible (or maybe just your knees...)
you seem to be really tall and i guess that's part of this problem...

backhand seems to be the better one, but when i look at your forehand, sometimes it's kind of hesitant... where is the drive?

and you didn't even sweat... move your knees ! lol

[Sherlock 117]

I am really inflexible, and I'm trying to work on that, it's a problem I've had my whole life. I dare not show you what I look like when I run because it's horrible. I don't know if it's because I can't bend more or because I just lack the muscle memory or "drive" like you say Moozipan. I don't feel like I have too many problems bending, just a bit of an "ogre" effect from being tall I think, if you know what I mean.

How do you think I can improve that?

I have a tournament this weekend. I'm going to really focus on using my muscles more and making more "athletic" movements.

[pink moozipan]

well, i had a similar problem
i play a double handed forehand and it's really important to be flexible with your knees...
if you go down on your knees a bit, your timing will be better, your backhand angles will be much better

you have to force yourself to do it unless it's not a natural movement

just try to keep in mind that you have to move, even if it hurts
if you don't, you'll do more unforced errors just because of your movement

it's always good to have a merciless coach

[Moralspain]

I am really inflexible, and I'm trying to work on that, it's a problem I've had my whole life. I dare not show you what I look like when I run because it's horrible. I don't know if it's because I can't bend more or because I just lack the muscle memory or "drive" like you say Moozipan. I don't feel like I have too many problems bending, just a bit of an "ogre" effect from being tall I think, if you know what I mean.

How do you think I can improve that?

I have a tournament this weekend. I'm going to really focus on using my muscles more and making more "athletic" movements.

Yeah, i can easily see you have the technique in your head, you know the movements patterns...for example when you hit the BH you finish the swing well over the shoulder, the serve technique is good although notice you should find your self 2 meters inside the baseline after the swing, but you definitely need to get a fluid movement.
You´re what we call in spain "un jugador de escuela", you have taken tennis lessons, haven´t you?, you need to be more agressive, free your mind and body.
I do flexibility exercises every day,very important....., apart from that, a good exercise to get more agility is this one shown here.



i found this video for you:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pTN7MPFNZ00, just an example
Hope you do well in your next tournament, good luck.

[GOA MASTER MDMA]

its cool you post the vid here . great !!
for me it looks your mainproblem is your footwork, and your unpräzise swing timing during movement .
so you can´t give the full power into your fore/backhand .

you have a real coach ? or you play "do it yourself " style ?

[djarvik]

Hey guys, I had some footage laying around of a match I played about a month ago so I figured I'd upload it. Please tell me what you think and how I might improve. I'd prefer if you kept the comments all on this site though.

CLICK

I know I have a lot of flaws. The biggest part I hate about my game is that I feel like I'm swinging and moving reasonably fast but when I watch myself I look like I'm in slow motion. I have picked up some racket speed in the past month, and since I'm 6'5'' I do hit decent pace for how slow my motion is. But that's one of the biggest problems I see right now (that and my serve...)

Thanks!

oohohohoho!!


I get to take apart Sherlock!

Wait till I get home man! I see a lot of thinks I can help you with...its just typing on iPhone is a Bitch.

[Sherlock 117]

Awesome guys, thanks. I can't wait to hear from you Djarvik! I'll be playing a tournament match in a few hours, but I'll be sure to check it out tomorrow.

Thanks for the vid Xavi. I'm actually going to buy a ladder in a few weeks once schools out and start doing speed/agility drills, working out at a tennis court. It's difficult for me to do it in the winter because I don't have much time/space to do it. Nor do I have the money for a club membership.

I have done weekly lessons with a coach for a year now, and I've come a long way. Before we started I was a poor 3.5 player with horrible strokes everywhere. Now at least I'm able to add pace, play offense consistently, and construct points. I decided a year ago, while I'm still young, I would do all I could to go as far as I could in tennis. This included making sacrifices to afford tennis lessons once a week. I'm very happy with that decision because I'm having a lot more fun playing tennis now!

[ANILTJE]

Ok, me as an ex dancer I see bad movement too

But it's not so much in your flexibility.

You hit, stand still. And then the movement for you to move after you hit takes too long.

The Ladder really might help you a lot. But honestly you just need to do it. Just hit and move faster directly. Cause you do the basics steps. Just you start them too late.

Cause once you start moving you can move fast with your feet.

I don't know much about tennis movement. For this you need to talk with Al , but movement in general is my job.

[GOA MASTER MDMA]

I'm actually going to buy a ladder in a few weeks once schools out and start doing speed/agility drills, working out at a tennis court.

sherlock- you must not buy a ladder- you can simple use adhesive(glue?) stripes to practice your footwork .

we had done nearly same footwork practice in my footballclub where i played in my youth time . it works in same way .

[Ir0kuM4t4]

One thing I noticed right at the beggining and it can give you problems to all your strokes is your back. You run constantly with your head "inclined" (don't know if it's the word) to the front. Try to to move with your back right/straight.

[djarvik]

OK, here it goes (I am not reading all previos comments, these people have no clue what tennis is.....especially these Picachu and Anil characters):

Remember, in this first post, I will brutally tell you what you do wrong. Its up to you to tell me what you want to fix, and fix first.

To be honest.....there is a lot of things you do wrong, some have a greater affect then others, but there are more then a few that need imidiate attention, if not...it will be very hard later on to correct.

Flexibility as Anil noted is one of them. You "look" very tence out there, stiff. Stretching exersies are a must, especially for your back and upper body, shoulders. Relax your arm when holding the racket.....the squeezing of the rackuet should not be forced, rather an instict when swinging it to prevent it leaving your hand.

Forget footwork for a second (I am not saying its not important, it is). You are 6'5 and you are slow. No matter how much time you spend on your footwork, you will remain relatively slow. So, I suggest you first fix your strokes and serve. You are a big guy and when the ball is in your power hitting zone you should be able to pull off a good looking hard stroke and score a point. You have to MAKE your opponent move you, otherwise, he is getting a super heavy ball and a folloow up put away shot.

General observation on your strokes:
You are catching the ball late. You are swinging late too. You are leaning back on some shots...mainly because you are catching the ball late. You rackuet speed is slow and not fluid, it has rest stops and slow downs, it has to be a one motion.

So lets start with BH. It seems you have more problems with it. You need to bend your knees more and you need to remeber to turn your Hip. Lot of times you hit a sorta open stance 2H BH.....stop doing that. First thing you should think and do when you recognize the ball is coming to your BH and remotely to your power zone (meaning it is not a drop shot) - turn your should and hip, then swing back the raqckuet. Then "trace" your weight from your back foot - all up thru your leg on to your hips - and back down to the front foot. As soon as you soon as you feel the weight started to move up your back leg - start turning your shoulder (dont worry about the hip at this point, it ill follow on its own) and only when your shoulder is about 1.5, 2 o'clock - start the swing motion. Remember one motion, no stops for coffee or a snack in between. Finish your stroke as you usyually do.

It is important to "mentaly" trace that weight thru your body as you practice...so that when you step on the court, your muscule memory kicks in and takes over your thinking. You can concentrate on the game instead of your form.

Let me know if you have questions.

I will write some notes about FH and serve later tonight.

[emate007]

As the great linguist V. Spadea once said - "racket back early, bend your knees. That'll be sixty dollars pleeze."

Seriously, I really think those are your two biggest problems (and the two most common, even with many active/regular players). Take it back earlier, as soon as you know what side your shot will be on. Knees are harder for big guys, but it's even more important. Especially on lower slice and flat shots.

Good luck.

[picachu211]

You shut your mouth when you are talking to me!