This is great advice. File under: the truth hurts sometimes. But I feel I have a better idea of what I need to do in a real way to improve. Thank you for you honesty and insight.
It's important though. Unless we accept our current positon, we can't work to improve. I played for a soccer team here in Canada and when ever we lost people would blame the ref. I used ask them every time if it could be our fault for once, because then we could improve :-)
Can you help? I decided 10 years to dedicate myself to training. I knew I didn’t have the talent to be a top player but wanted to see how far I could go if I put everything into getting better. I employed coaches for technique, fitness, psychology etc; improving everyday was my focus. Last year I entered a fun tournament for club players that where not good enough to play in the local league and I didn’t win. After all the sacrifices I had made and almost ten years of training I was shocked. I felt like giving up but carried on and yesterday played the same tournament- one year on. I finished on the bottom court losing the last match of the day to a chap waiting for knee surgery who shouldn’t even be playing. A lovely guy but surely after everything I’ve put into this over the last ten years I deserve to win this match? I came last in a group of players who dont have the ability to play competitive tennis. Why is this happening? I have nothing to show for 10 years of hard work everyday- I’m not talented enough to be really good but ten years ago with the work I was putting in I would have expected to reach county level - maybe national. Can you help explain what’s going on? I really don’t know how this is happening- this tournament could not be graded any lower- none of the players have ever played competitively, none of them are athletes, none of them do any training and I came last. Why?
It's hard to answer without seeing you play. What I can say is that if you lose every match, then it's worth finding lower level players to play against, so that you can enjoy playing more. We all play tennis for the enjoyment, so that should be the most important thing. If you find that you aren't making steady improvements, it points to limitations in eye to hand and eye to foot coordination. So training and working on that, will almost certainly be beneficial. Will it mean that you will win matches? That's impossible to say because there are so many variables involved. But it will help you improve, which will then increase the likelyhood of winning.
@@TennisHacker thank you for answering and reading. I’m very confused why I can’t see any improvement in my game after dedicating everything for 10 years.. even if my coordination was below average surely there should be something to show for 10 years of training? The online tests I have done for hand eye coordination tell me I’m average so I know I’m not Alcaraz but I really don’t understand why I’m still at the same level I was 10 years ago after giving everything to improving and training hard everyday. That’s a lot of hours in the gym, a lot of money spent on coaching and a lot of hours on court. I would really like your help because I’m not here just for fun- it’s my life. Tennis is for fun and enjoyment but it becomes much more than that when decide to make sacrifices and make commitments. I know players who made the same decision at the same time and we have shared the same path together ever since. Today some are chasing ATP level tournaments and I’m losing to non league players at the club where we first began ten years ago. I would expect our levels to be different but don’t understand why it is so completely different after sharing a similar path.
Relax! You're not the only one! Your story is my story! I started tennis 13 years ago and I'm still hanging in there and haven't quit the sport! It keeps me fit and happy and fully sociable! Even in its worst moments ( when losing to a beginner, or when club employees try to fix you up with obviously weaker players etc...) tennis can offer you so much both physically and mentally. Hold on!
So glad I found your vids Rich. I’ve always found it so hard to articulate how I feel when I play a match/practice match. And it’s really hard to put something into the search bar on UA-cam to help with the mental side of tennis - there just isn’t that much out there. Mentally I feel like I have the fitness level of a 105kg chain smoker, although I am reasonably fit and lean. Thanks again, your videos on the mental side are helping!
Glad you enjoyed the video. I always see it as a good thing because then you can build from it and work on improving the areas of your game that are holding you back.
Very good advice. However what if you lose via your own unforced errors..? And I mean particularly say a 4 shot rally where you hit 3 great difficult shots but then miss the sitter - and not trying to smash it just place it..? In a match I'd be humble and say the best man won but I think beating yourself when under no pressure - stuffing a really easy sitter into the net - is a different thing to being just straight beaten by a 'pusher'..? Also concentration. I almost always get a racing start - we play pro 8 game sets in matches - but always seem to start giving games away when I get to about 5. Then I either narrowly win or lose. I lost today in the tie break so I'd say he played better - however I know what the top players at the club will say (because its happened before) i.e. 'what happened you should have won..?' I've been 5-1 up before and lost. I think I'm a bit unusually nervous in league matches - I've only played about 8. I'd say I drop about 2 levels.
Truth is your serve is your level. If you want to prove you're better than an opponent...serve him off the court. If you can't...then you're not that good yet.
If you lose consistently to a 'worse' player, you are the worse player of the two you have to learn and improve from the losses. Thinking otherwise is disrespecting your opponent regardless of their technique/movement/ranking!:)
The scoring system in tennis is really funny. You can lose a match in spite of winning more games than your opponent, for instance losing at a score of 6-0, 4-6, 4-6! You win 14 games and the opponent wins only 12 and he is still the overall winner!
I would like to disagree with the loss depending on the level. Because there are people who play defensive tennis who are very difficult to play against and I often lose. I build actions all the time, and then when things get bad, they push the ball high towards the end line and I start building the action again, often due to frustration and lack of concentration, I mess it up because I try to finish too quickly or play larger and larger angles, and finally, with the increasing number of mistakes, I lose by 4: 6 or I slow down without risking it and the match lasts 4 hours. I feel that they are at least a level below me, they will never be able to take the initiative during a match. My friend who plays at the same level as me (we probably have equal wins and losses) has the same problem. However, a friend who is 0.5 or 1 level higher than me, because I always lose to him 4:6, 5:7, I manage to win from time to time, he is always surprised that we have problems winning against those defensive players, my friend has a more firm attack and always wins smoothly 6-0 against these defensive players.
What you have described illustrates the point i’m making. The defensive players you are talking about are using good tactics. They have identified that it’s the best way to beat a player like you. If they consistently beat you, they are a better tennis player (level). Your friend who beats them comfortably is a better player than them, which is why he beats them comfortably. It means you are evaluating tennis levels in the wrong way. Results are what dictates a tennis level. Any other metric doesn’t make sense. If your goal is ti increase your level and win more matches. You have to understand it for what it is.
@@TennisHacker I still disagree. Maybe you have little experience with amateur leagues, at every level of such a league there are players who only play defensively, they usually do not develop quickly and play practically the same without much technique. It's also difficult to talk about their tactics because they use the same tactics for all players, break ball through to the other side and wait for a mistake. Currently, I'm approaching NTRP 5.0 and my friends said that there are no such people in the highest leagues because their strategy does not bring any profit. I didn't mean a specific player, but the whole group, it's really hard to say that they have a higher level, seeing their worse technique and smaller range of shots, sometimes it was enough for him to slightly improve one element in one season, within two months, to change whole sytuation, for example: I lost first match 5:7 4:6 into the rematch two months later, the score was 6:1 6:0, n the return match, where I made progress with one element and in the case of other players the results were similar. I admit that in tennis results determine everything, but this applies to more professional tennis. For me, in amateur games, losing in a good style (where I know I played very good tennis) is more important than winning in a bad style. I often have the impression that after such matches I have regressed, and in subsequent matches I often have no certain hits. That's why I'm looking for answers on how to deal with someone who's worse, who forces you to make mistakes and play worse, so that you can recover during the match and win, instead of constantly lowering your level and lacking confidence in your game.
It's not necessary so as you describe,i lose twice 6:0,6:0 to a worse player!,for sure he ist not one or two classes better than me,..it's my fault because I couldn't handle slow balls,... now I can move correct to These balls, science then he lose every time we meet,6:06:0,.
At the time you lost, that was a huge gap and he was better than you. It sounds like you have worked on your movement and learned how to deal with slower balls. Which means you are a better player!
@@jvo3777 Not usually, not often. People who take lessons think they have "more skills" because they hit the ball the alleged "right way". But the opponent that beats them has all kinds of skills they DON'T have....consistency, defense, a better lob, a better drop shot, a more consistent overhead and serve, better stamina, better anticipation and first-step quickness, better mind-set on the big points....the list goes on. there all kinds of skills in tennis that are difficult to teach or even explain. The intuitive player picks them up on his own and fashions a game out of them. The lesson player often never figures them out.
This is great advice. File under: the truth hurts sometimes. But I feel I have a better idea of what I need to do in a real way to improve. Thank you for you honesty and insight.
It's important though. Unless we accept our current positon, we can't work to improve. I played for a soccer team here in Canada and when ever we lost people would blame the ref. I used ask them every time if it could be our fault for once, because then we could improve :-)
Love the strategic framework! And that entire video looked like one take - brilliant!
Can you help? I decided 10 years to dedicate myself to training. I knew I didn’t have the talent to be a top player but wanted to see how far I could go if I put everything into getting better. I employed coaches for technique, fitness, psychology etc; improving everyday was my focus. Last year I entered a fun tournament for club players that where not good enough to play in the local league and I didn’t win. After all the sacrifices I had made and almost ten years of training I was shocked. I felt like giving up but carried on and yesterday played the same tournament- one year on. I finished on the bottom court losing the last match of the day to a chap waiting for knee surgery who shouldn’t even be playing. A lovely guy but surely after everything I’ve put into this over the last ten years I deserve to win this match? I came last in a group of players who dont have the ability to play competitive tennis. Why is this happening? I have nothing to show for 10 years of hard work everyday- I’m not talented enough to be really good but ten years ago with the work I was putting in I would have expected to reach county level - maybe national. Can you help explain what’s going on? I really don’t know how this is happening- this tournament could not be graded any lower- none of the players have ever played competitively, none of them are athletes, none of them do any training and I came last. Why?
It's hard to answer without seeing you play. What I can say is that if you lose every match, then it's worth finding lower level players to play against, so that you can enjoy playing more. We all play tennis for the enjoyment, so that should be the most important thing.
If you find that you aren't making steady improvements, it points to limitations in eye to hand and eye to foot coordination. So training and working on that, will almost certainly be beneficial. Will it mean that you will win matches? That's impossible to say because there are so many variables involved. But it will help you improve, which will then increase the likelyhood of winning.
@@TennisHacker thank you for answering and reading. I’m very confused why I can’t see any improvement in my game after dedicating everything for 10 years.. even if my coordination was below average surely there should be something to show for 10 years of training? The online tests I have done for hand eye coordination tell me I’m average so I know I’m not Alcaraz but I really don’t understand why I’m still at the same level I was 10 years ago after giving everything to improving and training hard everyday. That’s a lot of hours in the gym, a lot of money spent on coaching and a lot of hours on court. I would really like your help because I’m not here just for fun- it’s my life. Tennis is for fun and enjoyment but it becomes much more than that when decide to make sacrifices and make commitments. I know players who made the same decision at the same time and we have shared the same path together ever since. Today some are chasing ATP level tournaments and I’m losing to non league players at the club where we first began ten years ago. I would expect our levels to be different but don’t understand why it is so completely different after sharing a similar path.
Relax! You're not the only one! Your story is my story! I started tennis 13 years ago and I'm still hanging in there and haven't quit the sport! It keeps me fit and happy and fully sociable! Even in its worst moments ( when losing to a beginner, or when club employees try to fix you up with obviously weaker players etc...) tennis can offer you so much both physically and mentally. Hold on!
So glad I found your vids Rich. I’ve always found it so hard to articulate how I feel when I play a match/practice match. And it’s really hard to put something into the search bar on UA-cam to help with the mental side of tennis - there just isn’t that much out there. Mentally I feel like I have the fitness level of a 105kg chain smoker, although I am reasonably fit and lean. Thanks again, your videos on the mental side are helping!
Great video! I'm going to follow your lead and do my best to be just as frank and honest with myself...
Glad you enjoyed the video. I always see it as a good thing because then you can build from it and work on improving the areas of your game that are holding you back.
Ty so much I’m subbing
What do you need to improve most out of your vision, movement and the mental side of the game?
Apprehension when the ball is coming towards me causing me to prepare and hit late.
I felt like I was hearing a physic on this one. awesome material bro
Thanks. Glad you enjoyed.
Very good advice. However what if you lose via your own unforced errors..? And I mean particularly say a 4 shot rally where you hit 3 great difficult shots but then miss the sitter - and not trying to smash it just place it..? In a match I'd be humble and say the best man won but I think beating yourself when under no pressure - stuffing a really easy sitter into the net - is a different thing to being just straight beaten by a 'pusher'..?
Also concentration. I almost always get a racing start - we play pro 8 game sets in matches - but always seem to start giving games away when I get to about 5. Then I either narrowly win or lose.
I lost today in the tie break so I'd say he played better - however I know what the top players at the club will say (because its happened before) i.e. 'what happened you should have won..?' I've been 5-1 up before and lost.
I think I'm a bit unusually nervous in league matches - I've only played about 8. I'd say I drop about 2 levels.
Great advice!
Truth is your serve is your level. If you want to prove you're better than an opponent...serve him off the court. If you can't...then you're not that good yet.
If you lose consistently to a 'worse' player, you are the worse player of the two you have to learn and improve from the losses. Thinking otherwise is disrespecting your opponent regardless of their technique/movement/ranking!:)
Well said. It's so hard to get players to understand that.
The scoring system in tennis is really funny. You can lose a match in spite of winning more games than your opponent, for instance losing at a score of 6-0, 4-6, 4-6! You win 14 games and the opponent wins only 12 and he is still the overall winner!
I would like to disagree with the loss depending on the level.
Because there are people who play defensive tennis who are very difficult to play against and I often lose. I build actions all the time, and then when things get bad, they push the ball high towards the end line and I start building the action again, often due to frustration and lack of concentration, I mess it up because I try to finish too quickly or play larger and larger angles, and finally, with the increasing number of mistakes, I lose by 4: 6 or I slow down without risking it and the match lasts 4 hours. I feel that they are at least a level below me, they will never be able to take the initiative during a match. My friend who plays at the same level as me (we probably have equal wins and losses) has the same problem. However, a friend who is 0.5 or 1 level higher than me, because I always lose to him 4:6, 5:7, I manage to win from time to time, he is always surprised that we have problems winning against those defensive players, my friend has a more firm attack and always wins smoothly 6-0 against these defensive players.
What you have described illustrates the point i’m making.
The defensive players you are talking about are using good tactics. They have identified that it’s the best way to beat a player like you.
If they consistently beat you, they are a better tennis player (level).
Your friend who beats them comfortably is a better player than them, which is why he beats them comfortably.
It means you are evaluating tennis levels in the wrong way. Results are what dictates a tennis level. Any other metric doesn’t make sense.
If your goal is ti increase your level and win more matches. You have to understand it for what it is.
@@TennisHacker I still disagree.
Maybe you have little experience with amateur leagues, at every level of such a league there are players who only play defensively, they usually do not develop quickly and play practically the same without much technique.
It's also difficult to talk about their tactics because they use the same tactics for all players, break ball through to the other side and wait for a mistake. Currently, I'm approaching NTRP 5.0 and my friends said that there are no such people in the highest leagues because their strategy does not bring any profit.
I didn't mean a specific player, but the whole group, it's really hard to say that they have a higher level, seeing their worse technique and smaller range of shots, sometimes it was enough for him to slightly improve one element in one season, within two months, to change whole sytuation, for example: I lost first match 5:7 4:6 into the rematch two months later, the score was 6:1 6:0, n the return match, where I made progress with one element and in the case of other players the results were similar.
I admit that in tennis results determine everything, but this applies to more professional tennis. For me, in amateur games, losing in a good style (where I know I played very good tennis) is more important than winning in a bad style. I often have the impression that after such matches I have regressed, and in subsequent matches I often have no certain hits.
That's why I'm looking for answers on how to deal with someone who's worse, who forces you to make mistakes and play worse, so that you can recover during the match and win, instead of constantly lowering your level and lacking confidence in your game.
Because they're not actually worse?
It's not necessary so as you describe,i lose twice 6:0,6:0 to a worse player!,for sure he ist not one or two classes better than me,..it's my fault because I couldn't handle slow balls,... now I can move correct to These balls, science then he lose every time we meet,6:0 6:0,.
At the time you lost, that was a huge gap and he was better than you.
It sounds like you have worked on your movement and learned how to deal with slower balls. Which means you are a better player!
Because they are better than you. You're only better in your mind.
More skilled is the better term. Often, more skilled players lose to less skilled players.
@@jvo3777 Not usually, not often. People who take lessons think they have "more skills" because they hit the ball the alleged "right way". But the opponent that beats them has all kinds of skills they DON'T have....consistency, defense, a better lob, a better drop shot, a more consistent overhead and serve, better stamina, better anticipation and first-step quickness, better mind-set on the big points....the list goes on. there all kinds of skills in tennis that are difficult to teach or even explain. The intuitive player picks them up on his own and fashions a game out of them. The lesson player often never figures them out.