What do you want to improve?

[lobndropshot]

Hello All,

It is the end of the year and I am beginning to think about my new years resolution. I always have a couple and sometimes I fail but I am always better for trying. This year it is going to be easy to stick to my new years resolution. My resolution for 2013 is to rebuild my serve. 2012 was a tough year for my tennis game, as I had surgery to prevent my shoulder from popping every time I took a cut at a serve. So far the repair has been successful and I am looking forward to focusing on this part of my game.

So I ask everyone out there what are you going to work on in 2013?

All the Best,

PC

P.S.
lets see some new members post as I know there are some players out there who have a part of their game that needs some love.

[blake_b]

Hi PC,

For 2013, I am going to work on my approach shots, since don_budge provided some excellent tactical advice for them. I realize that I need to improve the low driving slice approach, and add a side spin approach. I would also like to master a short angle approach as a change of pace.

I also want to work on improving the way I handle short low balls. I play some opponents that regularly hit this shot, because other players do not have a good reply for it.

Good luck with your serve,

Blake

[don_budge]

Potential=Room for improvement

My resolution for 2013 is to rebuild my serve. 2012 was a tough year for my tennis game, as I had surgery to prevent my shoulder from popping every time I took a cut at a serve. So far the repair has been successful and I am looking forward to focusing on this part of my game.

P.S.
lets see some new members post as I know there are some players out there who have a part of their game that needs some love.

Good idea for a thread...mr. lobndropshot (one of my favorite strategies btw). Great blake_b...give it a year of hard work and see what you will have earned. I have three areas that are works in process:

1. continue to work on my conditioning
2. continue to work on watching the ball
3. continue to work on strengthening the grip on my backhand to drive the ball...which includes improving and matching my set up position and footwork.
4. continue to do my homework here on tennisplayer.net (ok...that's four)

All of this...God willing me/us another year on this planet. Good luck to you with your shoulder...keep strengthening it with rehab.

[lobndropshot]

I got the idea from a good friend/ teaching pro. He says with all the tennis that is played there are only a few people who are working on improving their game. If players just chose one part of their game to work on each year Tennis would be a very different game. I think he is right....

[lobndropshot]

Hi DB,

I love the one-handed BH it is my best stroke. I look forward to hitting it on the run. I love it when people approach to that side and I thread the needle down the line. If I am lucky they didn't learn the lesson and they go to that side again only to get the slow boat to china cross court.

On the run on the BH side I tend to hit my BH with 1-1 grip. But, from the middle of the court I hit with a 1-8 grip. Is that what you mean by a stronger grip?

[don_budge]

Backhand grip ratios?

Hi DB,

I love the one-handed BH it is my best stroke. I look forward to hitting it on the run. I love it when people approach to that side and I thread the needle down the line. If I am lucky they didn't learn the lesson and they go to that side again only to get the slow boat to china cross court.

On the run on the BH side I tend to hit my BH with 1-1 grip. But, from the middle of the court I hit with a 1-8 grip. Is that what you mean by a stronger grip?

lobndropshot...I love that username. What would be the ratio assigned to a backhand grip when the thumb is up the back bevel of the racquet? What does 1-1 and 1-8 mean in relationship to that grip?

My definition of my grip would be to strengthen it as to a Roger Federer backhand grip to drive the ball. Is that the equivalent of a very strong eastern grip?

[lobndropshot]

On the run I hit eastern. From the middle or when I have time I hit with an extreme eastern.

[lobndropshot]

Strategies for improving: serve, backhand (grip), approach shots, and conditioning.

So far we have a few goals I would like to see more but lets move forward…

My goal is to regain my serve after recovering for shoulder surgery. I would like to get it back to 95% of my old pace and spin. However, I think if I focus on improving the placement of my serve then it could be more effective. So, once I am cleared for overhead activities I will avoid hitting pace and work mostly my placement. Hopefully this will protect my shoulder.

Are there any players that have some wisdom to share about rehabilitating serves?

DB and Blake what will be your strategy for improvement?

All the best,

PC
P.S. come on people! there must be more players on tennisplayer working on their games. Don't be shy!

[lobndropshot]

What my serve was

here it was about 2 years ago..

[GeoffWilliams]

When in trophy, don't try to hard to hit the serve well. Let the frame drop, and develop vicious whip lash from relaxed speed. When you feel it drop behind you is what I mean, and learn to drive up into that relaxed downwards drop so that you are snapping the whip going up out of that relaxed drop. Trying too hard will only prevent pace.

[stotty]

Knee bend...

here it was about 2 years ago..

The knee bend looks a little exaggerated in the photo (more than Federer). Tim Henman had an exaggerated knee bend, and many top coaches cited it has the reason why his first serve percentages were erratic at times. The knee bend should contribute to the process and not dominate it.

Geoff is right. Relaxation is the key. The wrist plays a more passive role than many think. don_budge is an expert on classic serving and diagnosing faults...you'll do well to follow his tips and advice.

Can you post a video clip...so we can see the whole?

[lobndropshot]

I would but I can't

The knee bend looks a little exaggerated in the photo (more than Federer). Tim Henman had an exaggerated knee bend, and many top coaches cited it has the reason why his first serve percentages were erratic at times. The knee bend should contribute to the process and not dominate it.

Geoff is right. Relaxation is the key. The wrist plays a more passive role than many think. don_budge is an expert on classic serving and diagnosing faults...you'll do well to follow his tips and advice.

Can you post a video clip...so we can see the whole?

Unfortunately I cannot post a video. However, when my shoulder is healed I will post My serves.

Does anyone have any advice on the rebuilding process after a surgery?

[don_budge]

Rehab before cannonballs...

Unfortunately I cannot post a video. However, when my shoulder is healed I will post My serves.

Does anyone have any advice on the rebuilding process after a surgery?

I have a book called "Yoga for Golfers" and I do some of the exercises and find them very helpful. If I have an injury as soon as I feel that it is ready I start to gently stretch on it...I guess that helps to circulate the blood. geoffwilliams has some good ideas about home remedies.

Most importantly, though...if it is serious enough, I consult with the best rehab person available. Usually my diagnosis and treatment are pretty close but it is always good to get a second opinion. Make dead certain that everything is ready to go before putting any undue load on that shoulder...lobndropshot.

It will be interesting to see your video...and I wonder if there was something in your motion that motivated your injury. The still shot looks really good...you look like you are going to be shot out of a cannon! I will bet that if you clearly define your injury and surgery that tennis_chiro would have some good advice for you and also trouble shoot your motion as well.

[lobndropshot]

dusted off an old computer

I found an old video. Maybe 3 years old.

I had anterior shoulder stabilization surgery the cause of which was a vary flexible shoulder. Leading up to the injury I had not spent enough time in the gym which lead to an instability in my shoulder. Then one day I was diving stretching and reaching for a forehand when I experienced a subluxation of my shoulder (it popped out then back in). The funny thing is that I have never had an shoulder issue before that day. It has been a huge bummer.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vpHf-...ature=youtu.be

[lobndropshot]

any thoughts?

does anyone see potential causes for a shoulder issue?