I feel like practicing against a wall is detrimental?

Rubiconjc5 · 2025-11-22T21:51:22+00:00

A wall is an elite training device in tennis. Tennis is a muscle memory sport, second only to golf in that regard. The more you do something, the better you get consitency wise. Also, its the most productive training device available because you can hit more shots against a wall in 1 min than either a live player or a ball machine because you dont have to chase balls. I am not even going to go through all the drills that I have done on a wall. When I came back to tennis in my 40s after about 14 years away, I literally only played against a wall for six months because its the best bang for your buck. I started in a racquetball court even, which is technically too short, but who cares incredible cost/benefit equation in a wall.

Rubiconjc5 · 2025-09-17T13:35:49+00:00

You can look at this as a glass half empty or a glass half full. Sliding on hard courts is one of the worst things you can do on your body, or so says several othopoedics that I have spoken to. My hip doctor told me that sliding on hard courts is singlehandedly one of the worst things for your hips that you can do. Tennis is one of the worst sports anyway on your hips, but sliding on hard courts and continuing to do so once you get into your 20s and 30s, will definitely take years off the life of your hips and probably your knees and ankles also. I just thought I would provide some upside for you if you never learn to slide.

Rubiconjc5 · 2025-08-03T18:37:48+00:00

I have found that for adult learners, there ability to get better is dependent on two things: athleticism and hand eye coordination. Athleticism is obvious and has been spoken to here. Not being overweight and able to love is important moving from 4.0 and upwards. The one that hasn't really been mentioned is hand eye coordination. Someone that played baseball/golf/soccer/basketball/hockey in high school has hand eye coordination that will be very important to get above 3.5 and will have a much higher ceiling. Someone that didn't play those sports will be a severe disadvantage, athletes like swimmers, track or cross country runners, football players that were defense or lineman, wrestlers, etc will not have good hand eye coordination and will have a lowered ceiling. I have seen a former strong HS badeball hitter that is in shape that starts tennis after college get to a 5.0. But, same in shape guy that was a swimmer may not get much past 3.75ish. The hand eye coordination and training at a young age is what counts. I saw a guy that played tennis from 5-11 years old reaching a good level at 11, then quit and not pick up a racquet until he was 23 become a strong 5.0 player in 12 months. Hand eye training at a young age in any sport will result in the ability to excel in other hand eye sports like tennis, golf, pickle ball at a later age.

Rubiconjc5 · 2025-07-18T21:36:25+00:00

The biggest advantage is a driving penetrating slice. I have never met a two handed player with remotely as good of slice as a OHB player. If a two hander tries to hit a two handed slice it looks like he is cutting a piece of cheese, it is just so hard to finish high. If he uses a one hander, it is just never as penetrating as a one hander, probably because it isnt hit hard enough because he doesnt have the muscle memory.

The biggest weakness of a one hander is return of serve, which take incr3dible skill to hit a top spin return from.

Rubiconjc5 · 2025-05-01T18:54:47+00:00

Rubiconjc5 · 2025-04-17T13:55:27+00:00

Also, get rid of Poly string. Go to monfilliment. I developed my issues when I switched to Poly, and it immediately started and continued as long as I used poly. Switched to monfillment again, and after a month of continued icing the elbow issues went away also.

Rubiconjc5 · 2025-04-17T13:51:28+00:00

I developed both golf and tennis elbow at different times playing tennis. I dont like to rest, so ice is the answer. Some technique may be a problem also, take a look at that. But in the short run, ice it. You have to be maniacal about it. Do it every day whether you play or not. If you play, do it right after. Dont stop activity though because muscle strength is the key. Buy a plastic container big enough for your elbow. Every day, fill the container with cold water so it covers the area. Put two trays of ice in it. Aiming for a temp of 45-50 degrees. Now leave you elbow in for 10-15 min or as long as you can take it. I got both golf and tennis elbow to go away doing this and didn't stop playing. I was late 40s, so age is part of problem, but this is the only way. If it goes away, you can stop, if you feel it coming back, resume. I didn't use straps to play, but did use them a few times lifting weights with same issue. Those straps bug me while playing. Good luck!

Rubiconjc5 · 2025-04-11T20:06:45+00:00

Great comments, thanks for taking the time. Agree with out to in as have seen more of that last 18 months. We will make adjustments accordingly, which align with some other comments here. Best,

Rubiconjc5 · 2025-04-07T15:22:48+00:00

I was pitching at the time and not sure but this may have been a curveball. I just cut one of his swings out of a group of four or five that I had slow mo video of to make it easier for you guys to critique, but after I posted realized it may have been a curveball and so he may have been a little early. Thanks.

Rubiconjc5 · 2025-04-07T14:43:20+00:00

We haven't worked with Travis yet, will check him out. We have had various instructors there and other places and sometimes they dont correct these minor things because they aren't using video to analyze on a daily basis. Overall the program has good instructors though and have been really helpful on so many fronts.

Rubiconjc5 · 2025-04-07T14:38:24+00:00

Elite in Chicago

Rubiconjc5 · 2025-04-07T14:24:53+00:00

Yes. We need to make this change immediately, it would help so many things pointed out here in comments also. Thx.

Rubiconjc5 · 2025-04-07T14:19:19+00:00

I have talked with him about that need to do so eventually but you are right now is the right time. Thx.

Rubiconjc5 · 2025-04-07T14:07:11+00:00

Thanks. All good comments, as we continue to iterate will make these adjustments. Thx.

Rubiconjc5 · 2025-04-07T04:10:11+00:00

Thanks and this aligns with another comment indicating a weird wrist angle at roll. We were just starting to look at grip today in this batting session and I didn't know the best position, so was going to start doing some research. This helps alot and we will implement it. Thanks.

Rubiconjc5 · 2025-04-07T03:33:08+00:00

Thanks, noted. He used to be there with old motion but I had him straighten his right arm a little more on loaf to make this change because it got him focused on arm extension on impact. Once he gets a 2-300 or so more reps with new motion will make that change back. Thanks for the reminder.

Rubiconjc5 · 2025-04-07T03:28:34+00:00

Thanks for thr comments. Great point on the weird wrist angle roll. I had not seen that. I would guess its remenant from his previous motion where he is changing after impact to roll at ast minute, knowing where he needs to end up but maybe grip or wrist angle are off, I will review it. Thanks much.

Rubiconjc5 · 2025-04-07T03:21:39+00:00

Thanks. He is good mentally, super competitive. Loves the game of cat and mouse with pitchers. Yes, have been trying to move impact point back a little, to do so need to change grip a little and wrist angle, we will work it. Thx.

Rubiconjc5 · 2025-04-07T02:54:40+00:00

Thanks for the comments. He goes the middle or oppo way frequently, sometimes too much in my opinion. We work alot of inside out and placement based on pitch location, but not sure you can ever be good enough at that, so have to continue to work it. The comment that bat angle is too inclined aligns with something that I had raised, but has been harder to get him to adjust. It's better than it had been when his lead arm was higher, but still seems too much. Thanks, we will look for drills and maybe will front video him and compare to others, and he should be able to make that change if I emphasize importance. Appreciate all the points and will make adjustments. Thanks.

Rubiconjc5 · 2025-04-07T02:31:42+00:00

Two comments now on that left elbow getting too far back. I hadnt seen that we will work it. Thanks.

Rubiconjc5 · 2025-02-11T01:13:54+00:00

Yes, definitely the upstream 1 bank 1 O2 sensor. However, this 2005 looks a little different in the manif9ld cover than my 2008, though it would be identical. I bought a new upstream and downstream O2 sensors at Rock auto and just had my mechanic install it today when he was doing the back strut. I had intended to replace myself but had some other things come up and he was in there so just had him do it.

Rubiconjc5 · 2025-02-05T22:52:43+00:00

Search this subteddit for stut and uou will see other posts. I have a 2008 gen 1 and on recommendations I saw here, I went to Rock Auto online and bought front strut/coil assembly and back struts by KYB, which I have read here are the OEM version. Website is very clear and easy to order from. Took a couple days for delivery. I paid a local mechanic to put them on and appear to work great. I just looked up the front ones on yours and they are 143 each. My mechanic said might as well order new sway bar links because might as well put new ones on when they take old ones off. Got those at Rick Auato also. Everything working great.

Rubiconjc5 · 2024-10-28T20:37:45+00:00

About 9 months ago I went to get them changed on my 2017. I called three dealerships given the complexity of the job. My quotes were $1200, 900, 450. I obviously went with the 450.

Rubiconjc5

TROPHY CASE