just an fyi - for those of you saying that i’m a trash bag, this channel isn’t for you, it’s a log of my progression for me to use to improve. playing in tournaments where there is stakes vs friendlies for the videos, the nerves are different. i didn’t even want to post this video bc of the way i played, but i decided since this is a big step into improving, it should be showcased in case others are in a similar position. just keep that in mind before you comment 🫶
Practice vs match play differences is common, so just ignore pure negativity on the internet. I can feel the nerves in this match since it reminds me of when I started playing competitively after playing casual drills/clinics for so long. I can actually see you get more relaxed as this match went on -- your first two games vs that set clinching point show how much relaxed you became. Slicing... that's a huge component of my game and a few PTR/USPTA certified coaches have told me I have a very good slicing game and to play *my* game and you should do the same, especially if you found they dont like it (I love when that happens), but definitely mix it up a bit once in a while. Good win! Thanks for sharing and keep grinding!
i appreciate the comment 🫶 definately going to take it up a notch for the rest of the matches while trying to play as freely as i can. do you have any tips for trying to shake off the stiffness that comes with the nerves?
@@taleintennis So I do a couple of things: 1. During the warmup, I will breath heavily/exhale loudly as I hit the ball to relieve tension (especially baseline to baseline rallying) 2. During the match, I will do box breathing in between points and heavily just 'focus on the ball' and not rush things. Additionally, just focus on the shots you are good at and once you hit a few it tends to really relax you. I am still trying to find my serve but once I hit a few good ones I notice that I really do just relax and its much easier to play. That said... I am still working this out myself! :D I've been told the best way to overcome the match anxiety is lots of preparation and then to focus on that, so it just comes in time after playing more and more matches.
As a side note I highly recommend Feel Tennis Instruction (Tomaz Mencinger’s channel). All his videos are on the spot; they are both scientific and practical. He’s the best tennis teacher IMO. I’m not affiliated with him.
Hey. I've commented on a few of your videos, and once again, great to see how you've progressed over the course of the year. You say you didn't play well in that match. Compare that match to one from a year ago, and I think you'll be able to see the improvement :) Some observations: * Stop being so hard on yourself. Tennis is an imperfect game. You will make errors. Though we don't need to disregard errors, we can't let them have an affect on your mental game. They're going to happen. You're just looking to minimize. We are flawed. Just accept it lol. * Why is the slice garbage? My wife was a former Division I starter, and is still at a 9 UTR (she's 30 so I'm telling her she's out of her athletic prime, and it's downhill from here lol). She hits a one handed backhand but never sliced. She's let me teach her how to slice on both sides, and it's added a complete other dimesion to her game. In fact, she wishes she could go back to college with her slice game. A slice was a good play to him. He has a blocky type swing and can't generate much on his own. If people can't spin the ball, or just using your pace, a slice is a primo play. * Something you can take to your next match is when you are deep at the baseline, just go cross court. Took some risky shots down the line. Cross court is roughly 12 square feet bigger than down the line shots. Keep going for the higher margin shot! I'm a 5.0 player and a former club pro. Still work with some college players, but mainly just playing nowadays. Take my opinion for what it's worth. Great job and best of luck!
thanks for the comment, i really do appreciate the time you take to give me some advice. i love the slice, but the only reason i was hating on it in the video was because every single backhand ball i got i just sliced, pretty sure i just got lazy and tried to play it safe. your comments have helped me reflect on some parts of my game that i wouldn’t have noticed without you mentioning them, so thank you! gonna take your club pro tips and put them to good use 🙌
The issue is the incoming balls are weak, unpredictable because he's UTR 1.0, and you couldn't really generate enough power on your own to kill the no-pace or short balls. Also, you couldn't flat out high balls and resorting in pushing a high ball back, which is safe, and expected from a UTR 2. There is nothing to complain about, just enjoy the win. Tennis is somewhat a mirror game at lower levels, you simply mirror your opponent shots. When Kyle's shots look good, your shots tend to look good, when "Tall Man" shots get loopy, your shots would be loopy as well. When the levels are significantly different, one can then change the pattern and impose their own style. So, the key here is do not persue what looks good on video yet (power, low angle, fast pace balls...), but focus on the footwork, deep placement and consistency. That will win you more games.
Your serve is good but youre kinda faking the racquet drop and load. Focus more on pushing up with your legs and the arm and wrist will follow w more power. Youre doing great
i feel like its more of a personal aspect where i know i can play 10x better, yet i won with doing minimal work. kinda hurts the soul when a win doesn't feel like a win yk
With respect, this mentality will hold you back. Your technique during matches will improve by just playing. But your mentality should be to win no matter what. Or it will be harder to learn it later.
@@taleintennis i love the self reflection. Great mindset to have. Build up that confidence within yourself and ur game. you will play more like the tennis you want to play. YOU GOT THIS!!
Hi, as you get better you will learn that winning matches is not about making more winning shots as it is about making fewer errors than your opponent. This is true at all levels. Even up to the level of top pros! So even if you didn’t play your level but made your opponent make more mistakes, as long as you played fair, then you’ve accomplished your goal. Practice and match are like night and day. The stress, unpredictable nature and chaos in matches will understandably push you to be more conservative and so take your level down. Only experience will make you bridge the gap between your practice and match levels.
You did amazing, and remember God loves you and the perfect love that he has for you he will help and convict you of your sin so that you would turn to him and you can really know his perfect and wonderful love for you as he shown in and through the Lord Jesus Christ who died on the cross for us so that we can have Eternal life
just an fyi - for those of you saying that i’m a trash bag, this channel isn’t for you, it’s a log of my progression for me to use to improve. playing in tournaments where there is stakes vs friendlies for the videos, the nerves are different. i didn’t even want to post this video bc of the way i played, but i decided since this is a big step into improving, it should be showcased in case others are in a similar position. just keep that in mind before you comment 🫶
Practice vs match play differences is common, so just ignore pure negativity on the internet. I can feel the nerves in this match since it reminds me of when I started playing competitively after playing casual drills/clinics for so long.
I can actually see you get more relaxed as this match went on -- your first two games vs that set clinching point show how much relaxed you became.
Slicing... that's a huge component of my game and a few PTR/USPTA certified coaches have told me I have a very good slicing game and to play *my* game and you should do the same, especially if you found they dont like it (I love when that happens), but definitely mix it up a bit once in a while.
Good win! Thanks for sharing and keep grinding!
i appreciate the comment 🫶 definately going to take it up a notch for the rest of the matches while trying to play as freely as i can. do you have any tips for trying to shake off the stiffness that comes with the nerves?
@@taleintennis So I do a couple of things:
1. During the warmup, I will breath heavily/exhale loudly as I hit the ball to relieve tension (especially baseline to baseline rallying)
2. During the match, I will do box breathing in between points and heavily just 'focus on the ball' and not rush things.
Additionally, just focus on the shots you are good at and once you hit a few it tends to really relax you. I am still trying to find my serve but once I hit a few good ones I notice that I really do just relax and its much easier to play.
That said... I am still working this out myself! :D I've been told the best way to overcome the match anxiety is lots of preparation and then to focus on that, so it just comes in time after playing more and more matches.
thank you for the advice! it’s always reassuring to hear stories from others who are in a similar situation. good luck to you!
Eventually you will find your playing style and gain more confidence. Just keep playing and having fun. Footwork looks good!
As a side note I highly recommend Feel Tennis Instruction (Tomaz Mencinger’s channel). All his videos are on the spot; they are both scientific and practical. He’s the best tennis teacher IMO. I’m not affiliated with him.
will definitely check his stuff out!
Yeah, Tomas is great and Karue at MyTennisHQ!
Good luck on your tennis journey! I’m kind of doing the same, tracking my progress as a 3.5 USTA rated and see how much I can improve!
thank you! goodluck on your journey as well, gonna be keeping an eye on your progression!
the progress is showing!! keep up the good work💪💪
Hey. I've commented on a few of your videos, and once again, great to see how you've progressed over the course of the year. You say you didn't play well in that match. Compare that match to one from a year ago, and I think you'll be able to see the improvement :)
Some observations:
* Stop being so hard on yourself. Tennis is an imperfect game. You will make errors. Though we don't need to disregard errors, we can't let them have an affect on your mental game. They're going to happen. You're just looking to minimize. We are flawed. Just accept it lol.
* Why is the slice garbage? My wife was a former Division I starter, and is still at a 9 UTR (she's 30 so I'm telling her she's out of her athletic prime, and it's downhill from here lol). She hits a one handed backhand but never sliced. She's let me teach her how to slice on both sides, and it's added a complete other dimesion to her game. In fact, she wishes she could go back to college with her slice game. A slice was a good play to him. He has a blocky type swing and can't generate much on his own. If people can't spin the ball, or just using your pace, a slice is a primo play.
* Something you can take to your next match is when you are deep at the baseline, just go cross court. Took some risky shots down the line. Cross court is roughly 12 square feet bigger than down the line shots. Keep going for the higher margin shot!
I'm a 5.0 player and a former club pro. Still work with some college players, but mainly just playing nowadays. Take my opinion for what it's worth. Great job and best of luck!
thanks for the comment, i really do appreciate the time you take to give me some advice. i love the slice, but the only reason i was hating on it in the video was because every single backhand ball i got i just sliced, pretty sure i just got lazy and tried to play it safe. your comments have helped me reflect on some parts of my game that i wouldn’t have noticed without you mentioning them, so thank you! gonna take your club pro tips and put them to good use 🙌
You did great job. Clean and preside. His backhand is very bad. You took adventage over his weakness
thank you!
The issue is the incoming balls are weak, unpredictable because he's UTR 1.0, and you couldn't really generate enough power on your own to kill the no-pace or short balls. Also, you couldn't flat out high balls and resorting in pushing a high ball back, which is safe, and expected from a UTR 2.
There is nothing to complain about, just enjoy the win. Tennis is somewhat a mirror game at lower levels, you simply mirror your opponent shots. When Kyle's shots look good, your shots tend to look good, when "Tall Man" shots get loopy, your shots would be loopy as well. When the levels are significantly different, one can then change the pattern and impose their own style.
So, the key here is do not persue what looks good on video yet (power, low angle, fast pace balls...), but focus on the footwork, deep placement and consistency. That will win you more games.
this is actually such a great analysis and take, it makes me feel a lot better about this match. thanks for taking the time to write this all!
Your serve is good but youre kinda faking the racquet drop and load. Focus more on pushing up with your legs and the arm and wrist will follow w more power. Youre doing great
thanks!! gonna try that next time i’m on the court, i appreciate the advice 🫶
I win ugly all the time!
Congratulations
It’s ok to win ugly. Exploiting opponents weakness is all part of the game.
i feel like its more of a personal aspect where i know i can play 10x better, yet i won with doing minimal work. kinda hurts the soul when a win doesn't feel like a win yk
With respect, this mentality will hold you back. Your technique during matches will improve by just playing. But your mentality should be to win no matter what. Or it will be harder to learn it later.
@@taleintennis i love the self reflection. Great mindset to have. Build up that confidence within yourself and ur game. you will play more like the tennis you want to play. YOU GOT THIS!!
Hi, as you get better you will learn that winning matches is not about making more winning shots as it is about making fewer errors than your opponent. This is true at all levels. Even up to the level of top pros!
So even if you didn’t play your level but made your opponent make more mistakes, as long as you played fair, then you’ve accomplished your goal.
Practice and match are like night and day. The stress, unpredictable nature and chaos in matches will understandably push you to be more conservative and so take your level down. Only experience will make you bridge the gap between your practice and match levels.
You did amazing, and remember God loves you and the perfect love that he has for you he will help and convict you of your sin so that you would turn to him and you can really know his perfect and wonderful love for you as he shown in and through the Lord Jesus Christ who died on the cross for us so that we can have Eternal life