Off court training

[djarvik]

Damn, I remember you were 16

Serve....it's a mystery. Usually, that is the first shot to break down over time. In fact, if I dont serve for a about week myself, I can already feel that I cannot hit my spots.

Did you do any sports if that time? Any physically demanding exercises? Lots of sex maybe?

[Tamthewasp]

I'm sure being in Dundee he has plenty of sex although I hope it is with humans

[djarvik]

Were you swinging your right arm, as if you were serving during sex?

[Vieira151]

Dundee has sex. I haven't had any. After all, no pretty girls in Dundee. Well, there are a few. I just dislike clubs, and there are very few girls on my course.

Damn, I remember you were 16

Yeah. That was ages and ages ago.

Serve....it's a mystery. Usually, that is the first shot to break down over time. In fact, if I dont serve for a about week myself, I can already feel that I cannot hit my spots.

Did you do any sports if that time? Any physically demanding exercises? Lots of sex maybe?

And well, it was crap after long periods out of the game. Like, I would completely mis-time a few. But after 1 or 2 sessions it was back to normal/better.

And I play(ed) Badminton once a week during Uni semesters. Played Badminton twice a week this year (due to matches as well as practice) though. I guess that may have helped, a bit.

[djarvik]

Dundee has sex. I haven't had any.

Then surely your forehand is the one that should have improved.

[Vieira151]

It's became a little more inconsistent and I can't hit some of the shots I used to. Though that is mainly due to lack of exercise and fitness and muscle. I don't get it though with my groundstrokes. I can hit some really good shots when I have time, but as soon as I have a guy who hits consistent pace and spin at me, I shit myself and my techniques crumple and I can't hit the ball in.

[djarvik]

Likely because of your stroke technique. Footwork could be an issue too.

Can you handle fast flat shots coming at you, the ones you don't need to move much for?

Would you say that you handle top spin shots better then flat or the opposite?

[Vieira151]

Hmmm. I always liked to blame it on my wrist/timing.

But I dunno. If the ball is fast and is bouncing at speed and higher than my waist/abs it crumples.

And I'm better when it's not coming at me. I'm good at moving to a ball, just not moving away from a ball (to give me enough space etc).

And it depends how flat, really. Anywhere between knee height to waist height is pretty much a solid stroke for me.

Thinking about it a bit more, I think it may be footwork. I'm usually fine hitting the ball at the peak of its bounce, and on its way down. Before that I find it difficult to hit the ball/time my swing.

EDIT: I'll try get some slow-mos on Iain's camera at some point to upload, and you can see. Though that is likely to be against someone who's pace I am used to, and can handle. My stroke used to be more solid, though that may have just been confidence.

[djarvik]

Yeah, sounds like footwork.


Try not to relate timing to wrist. Try not to think of wrists when hitting a stroke. That is not a good road. Not saying it doesn't play a role, but giving it a tiny bit of attentions send you onto a wrong path.

Relate timing to your hitting zone, contact point. Is your contact point roughly the same? Not so much up and down, but rather closer or further away from you. You should be making a contact with the ball at approximately the same distance from your body. If you do that and still fail - its not your timing. It's likely the stroke itself, the mechanics.

Depending on what exactly fails, you can analyze and correct. When you say my shot breaks down, what exactly you mean? Which part? Starting from: do you make a contact with the ball? ...where doe it end up flying?


If you ever interested in improving, we can take this further.

[djarvik]

EDIT: I'll try get some slow-mos on Iain's camera at some point to upload, and you can see. Though that is likely to be against someone who's pace I am used to, and can handle. My stroke used to be more solid, though that may have just been confidence.

Yeah, that would be cool. No need for slow-mos thou, I can tell with regular speed as well. Shoot two angles: directly behind yourself (a little further back so you fill 2/3 of the frame. And directly to the side of you.

[Vieira151]

Yeah, sounds like footwork.


Try not to relate timing to wrist. Try not to think of wrists when hitting a stroke. That is not a good road. Not saying it doesn't play a role, but giving it a tiny bit of attentions send you onto a wrong path.

Relate timing to your hitting zone, contact point. Is your contact point roughly the same? Not so much up and down, but rather closer or further away from you. You should be making a contact with the ball at approximately the same distance from your body. If you do that and still fail - its not your timing. It's likely the stroke itself, the mechanics.

Depending on what exactly fails, you can analyze and correct. When you say my shot breaks down, what exactly you mean? Which part? Starting from: do you make a contact with the ball? ...where doe it end up flying?


If you ever interested in improving, we can take this further.

Well, I have always blamed my wrists while I've played. Felt they were weak. I try not to think of them when playing my shot, I just hit my shot. I blame them normally when I try to hit a shot and I cant hit through the ball and the grip slips in the racquet twists on contact. Not sure if wrist or bad timing, really.

I try to keep contact point the same. A little in front of me, roughly arms length away. Though I can adjust slightly if I've been lazy or dodgy bounce (I'm used to both. )

And when I say it breaks down its usually with what I mentioned earlier. Racquet twisting in my grip, or I just start timing way to late or swinging too fast. It's mostly mental and a bit of footwork, I think. It's funny, when I badly mishit and it hits the frame or just inside it, my shots tend to go in. But generally my "breaking down" usually goes in the net, or I hit some wonky shot when my racquet twists that lands well short.

And cool, shall do. Thing is, he has super slow mo. And it's awesome to watch.

And I'm always interested in improving.

[djarvik]

Well, I have always blamed my wrists while I've played. Felt they were weak. I try not to think of them when playing my shot, I just hit my shot. I blame them normally when I try to hit a shot and I cant hit through the ball and the grip slips in the racquet twists on contact. Not sure if wrist or bad timing, really.

This mostly happens when you miss a sweet spot, or hit severely close to the frame. The reality is that you need to grip your racquet as lose as possible so lose that it barely not flying out of your hand. As you make contact, keeping your hand lose, you will learn just how much you need to tighten then grip for the racquet to be stable and not fly out, but I guarantee you, it is way loser then you think or then you gripping it now.

I try to keep contact point the same. A little in front of me, roughly arms length away. Though I can adjust slightly if I've been lazy or dodgy bounce (I'm used to both. )

And when I say it breaks down its usually with what I mentioned earlier. Racquet twisting in my grip, or I just start timing way to late or swinging too fast.

Your eyes. You take them off the ball to early. You need to look at the incoming ball, as it comes towards you, then as it gets closer re-focus (This one is controversial) to the bounce area and "see it through" as you hit. Basically watch your racket hit the ball. Seems easy enough, but it really is what causes the problem above. Your preparation is also important, but if you just keep your racket in-front of the ball and do zero back swing, but see the ball through and finish the shot - you will be able to handle any pace with no problem.

It's mostly mental and a bit of footwork, I think. It's funny, when I badly mishit and it hits the frame or just inside it, my shots tend to go in. But generally my "breaking down" usually goes in the net, or I hit some wonky shot when my racquet twists that lands well short.

And cool, shall do. Thing is, he has super slow mo. And it's awesome to watch.

And I'm always interested in improving.

Yeah. Get those videos and no matter how lazy you are, you should be able to hit most balls that are coming to you, no matter the pace, no reason to miss these. Getting great placement and on the run shots is a different story.

[Vieira151]

Yeah, I do hold it quite loose. Maybe I hold it a little tighter than I should when I play someone with pace because I'm scared about the racquet twisting. And I do miss the sweet spot fairly frequently. I can tell because I don't use a dampener.

Ah, that could be it. I always forget about watching the ball for some reason. When I didnt need lenses and now when I do. And I frequently get pissed off at myself for not watching the ball. Sometimes I forget to breath too.

Cool. I will see. Won't be able to play for a good week and half at the moment though. Silly Uni.

[Coolhand Texas]

Im actually quite serious in training. For some odd reason, Im one of those people that just can't sit around, have to do something.

I put in at least 3 miles during the weekdays, especially in the summer. Lift weights 5-6 days a week and of course sprints. Also I do a tennis clinic for 3 hours 5 days a week with local tennis pros and high school players around my area when college is out.

A lot of people I have talked to said they feared lifting weights and losing flexibility. I haven't had a problem with that.

Im 5'8 and weigh 163lbs. I can squat 405lbs and bench 245lbs, but I can still run a 5:30 mile and have lost no flexibility in the shoulder or chest area (clocked at a 112 mph serve, don't know if that was accurate or not though).

A lot of this is thanks to the fact that I play rugby for my college here in the states, so I usually stay pretty active. Hope I can keep it up as I get older.

[djarvik]

Long time Mike

Glad to hear from you! Put some videos of you hit and serve, would love to see.