Comments on: How long did you play tennis before getting good?

By: blitzmage_89

blitzmage_89 — Mon, 21 Sep 2009 19:20:54 +0000

for you , is tennis fun?

if yes , continue
if no , quit.

it’s that simple , no need to make it any harder.

Here , basketball is like the most popular sport. I tried to play it many times but I don’t like the fact that physical built is number one priority. It’s no fun so I just quitted on it.

By: Bo V

Bo V — Sun, 20 Sep 2009 14:21:25 +0000

You play tennis until you get the right motivation to be number one!

By: unca_bry

unca_bry — Sat, 19 Sep 2009 13:04:59 +0000

don’t ever give up the sport! even if you never get beyond the public courts. tennis is one of the few sports that is a good source of cadio exercise and gives a full body workout (if you do it right). so in the words of gunny highway “quitting is not an option”.

let me start answering your question with a question: do you understand what your teacher is trying to tell you? my wife is taking lessons right now and she comes how every week with a question or something she wants me to clarify or fix. remember, we pay these ppl because they “allegedly” have specific knowledge about tennis, not necessarily because they are good at communicating.

second, what makes you think you ****? what skill do you want that you don’t have already? maybe you can go to your teacher and request to work on that skill. remember, you pay him or her, so they work for you!

i don’t know what level you are at, but here’s a list of the levels and you can find yourself on here:

To place yourself:

A. Begin with 1.5. Read all categories carefully and then decide which one best describes your present ability level. Be certain that you qualify on all points of all preceding levels as well as those in the level you choose.
B. When rating yourself assume you are playing against a player of the same gender and the same ability.

General Characteristics of Various NTRP Playing Levels
(Wheelchair players please see note below)

1.5
You have limited experience and are working primarily on getting the ball in play.

2.0
You lack court experience and your strokes need developing. You are familiar with the basic positions for singles and doubles play.

2.5
You are learning to judge where the ball is going, although your court coverage is limited. You can sustain a short rally of slow pace with other players of the same ability.

3.0
You are fairly consistent when hitting medium-paced shots, but are not comfortable with all strokes and lack execution when trying for directional control, depth, or power. Your most common doubles formation is one-up, one-back.

3.5
You have achieved improved stroke dependability with directional control on moderate shots, but need to develop depth and variety. You exhibit more aggressive net play, have improved court coverage and are developing teamwork in doubles.

4.0
You have dependable strokes, including directional control and depth on both forehand and backhand sides on moderate-paced shots. You can use lobs, overheads, approach shots and volleys with some success and occasionally force errors when serving. Rallies may be lost due to impatience. Teamwork in doubles is evident.

4.5
You have developed your use of power and spin and can handle pace. You have sound footwork, can control depth of shots, and attempt to vary game plan according to your opponents. You can hit first serves with power and accuracy and place the second serve. You tend to overhit on difficult shots. Aggressive net play is common in doubles.

5.0
You have good shot anticipation and frequently have an outstanding shot or attribute around which a game may be structured. You can regularly hit winners or force errors off of short balls and can put away volleys. You can successfully execute lobs, drop shots, half volleys, overhead smashes, and have good depth and spin on most second serves.

5.5
You have mastered power and/or consistency as a major weapon. You can vary strategies and styles of play in a competitive situation and hit dependable shots in a stress situation.

6.0 to 7.0
You have had intensive training for national tournament competition at the junior and collegiate levels and have obtained a sectional and/or national ranking.

7.0
You are a world-class player.

find some folks of your own level and play a set or two. see how you do with someone of your own level. maybe you just need a little bit of success to keep you interested.

By: Ivana

Ivana — Thu, 17 Sep 2009 21:42:44 +0000

If you really, I mean REALLY want to learn it, play it every day and don’t give up!!!!You might not be number one in tennis, but you’ll have the pleasure to say:”I CAN BLOODY PLAY TENNIS AND I CAN MAKE SHARAPOVA RUN FOR MY BALLS!!!”
Cool, hah!After all, a lot of players in top 20 lose their matches from top 5 with 6:0′s, and they don’t dig their head in sand out of embarrassment like ostrich does:) Cheer up, I LOVE tennis, and can’t even afford to play it, and in my town there are clay courts, I’ve been there once with my friends, and what happened is that I hit the ball so hard that it reaches the fifth court from mine, or it doesn’t reach the net at all!
Who’s a hopeless case now:)

By: sam b

sam b — Tue, 15 Sep 2009 09:00:35 +0000

keep practicing ive getting better by practicing

By: Seahawks Fan

Seahawks Fan — Sat, 12 Sep 2009 11:58:07 +0000

Oh, no, don’t quit! Just train and train, you’ll get better, I have been playing for 2.5 years but was out 6-7 months due to injury (because of tennis actually), I was ready to give tennis up because I didn’t got any better and it even cost me injury until I saw a game and I missed the court, so I started playing again. After 4 months re-starting, I got better and I will probably **** myself if I quited a few moths ago. I say, you don’t quit unless you’re bored and you REALLY want to try something else. As long as you have the will, you’ll get better. Slow but sure!

By: D-Man

D-Man — Sat, 12 Sep 2009 01:24:42 +0000

you think that.
now, even if you dont see the improvement, other people do.
like, your teacher. believe him, her, or it(if it really is an it)
if you were on a team, you should be in a JV team, if your school has it.
if not, you’re a novice at it.
i’ve been playing for two years now, but i’m not one of those people who dont improve at a scary fast rate.
meaning, hang in there, and give it a couple more months, or years.

By: Pawel K

Pawel K — Thu, 10 Sep 2009 09:53:48 +0000

I played when i was aged 6,7,8 and then i stopped playing. I wasnt really that bad or that good , just got kinda bored of it.

I took it up again at 18 and surprising got pretty good at it from then on.

it depends on ur age and manual dexterity , as a kid you dont have as much control of your body as a teen /young adult.

you should keep at it tho , it will improve your technique when your older and can control power shots better.

By: jo

jo — Wed, 09 Sep 2009 04:53:39 +0000

Until after on my 20th session at 2 hrs. each. But we need to hit balls 20,000 forehand and backhand before we becomes good. Did you know that Federer don’t think how to hit and where he want the ball go, it’s just instinct and just comes out naturally, and because he plays tennis since he’s 12 yrs old. Dont lose hope, practice by repetition is the best training.

By: book_worm2014

book_worm2014 — Tue, 08 Sep 2009 11:44:27 +0000

QUITTING IS BADDD!!! it takes a lot of time to get good at tennis. a good thing to do is to get your raquet and hit the ball against a backboard or something. at most tennis courts, they should have them. i was thinking about quitting, but after 3 years of practicing, i think i am excellent now! and i really dont know how to know what level your at… play against venus, and then maybe youll know! jk.