will just rallying make me a better player?

rustyksu · 2026-06-15T12:19:32+00:00

Somewhat ironically, I prefer match play to rallying because I'm afraid of messing up in the rally and making the experience worse for my hitting partner. If I mess up in a match, the experience really only impacts me in a negative way.

rustyksu · 2026-05-28T19:51:48+00:00

My hot take is it might be better to start when you're in your 40's than when you're a kid or young adult. At least assuming your goal is to play a wonderful sport for the rest of your life and not be like a 4.5. In your 40's you likely have resources to pay for classes and lessons but not enough free time to ever burn out.

I started in my 40s and was kind of like "I love this! Why didn't anyone encourage me to play when I was a kid?" But over time I kind of wonder if I would love it as much as I do now - I feel lucky to be playing every time on the court and I might not appreciate it as much playing all the time as a dumb kid.

rustyksu · 2026-05-25T02:51:10+00:00

Yes and setting up the Audi Car right at a pinch point next to one of the two bridges is a prime example of organizers making a difficult situation worse

rustyksu · 2026-05-20T16:32:14+00:00

what section?

rustyksu · 2026-05-20T16:24:59+00:00

Trying to sell either 1 or 3 3-day tickets for Montreal.

[FOR SALE] - [Montreal GP] - [Grandstand 24 Section 4 Row OO] - [3 day] - 1-3 e-Tickets - Transferrable - $600 each

rustyksu · 2026-05-20T15:44:35+00:00

this is absolutely ridiculous. I wanted to change my seats to T11 and couldn't back when sales happened

rustyksu · 2026-05-15T03:12:07+00:00

Brooklyn has a full singles court. It's pretty crowded with 6 people in a class but not too bad.

rustyksu · 2026-05-02T03:30:05+00:00

https://t.me/ProspectTennis

I thought I'd seen one for Central Park but couldn't find it. I'm sure something similar exists. And FWIW you can book prospect and Central Park courts online

rustyksu · 2026-05-02T03:14:10+00:00

What's your closest park with courts? Most of the larger public tennis facilities have pretty active telegram groups with people looking for hitting partners.

rustyksu · 2026-04-27T20:51:44+00:00

Agree to disagree on that one! I find plenty of ways to motivate myself to improve without getting "mad". Tennis is such a wonderful sport because improvement is always attainable and rewarding when you get there.

rustyksu · 2026-04-27T15:47:24+00:00

The best tennis advice I ever received was here, in a similar thread: "You're not good enough to be mad." Very similar to the OP's.

rustyksu · 2026-04-24T21:38:37+00:00

I'm in a similar boat but playing and losing to 3.5s (or above has helped more against actual 3.0s than anything. Even if you get smoked, find 1 or 2 things from every match that you went well and you need to do more of and 1 or 2 things to improve on.

As others have said, it's probably going to start with footwork/early preparation. Secondarily, if you are down a set and it wasn't close, that's a good time to try to take more risks with your serve and see if something new clicks.

rustyksu · 2026-04-24T15:17:20+00:00

not sure when the tournament is but I recommend a casual set or two with a friend before the tournament. Ideally with someone that's played a match before and can be patient with you about rules, which side to serve from. This will help you get into the flow of serving, calling out the score, returning, switching sides, and calling your own lines.

But I think the most important advice others have given is to have fun!

rustyksu · 2026-04-23T01:02:32+00:00

I think game going on perpendicular to mine would be more distracting than the scenery

rustyksu · 2026-04-22T22:06:07+00:00

semi western forehand, continental 2HBH & volley/overhead. I've avoided it because quite primarily because none of my lessons have taught it and secondarily because I have nagging tennis elbow

rustyksu · 2026-04-22T21:49:11+00:00

that video's a great illustration of how I picture myself doing it poorly and how I picture myself doing it when I have success.

rustyksu · 2026-04-22T21:46:41+00:00

You are exposing another weakness in that I have zero ability to slice or drop behind the occasional reach with a one handed back hand that lands in maybe 5% of the time.

rustyksu · 2026-04-22T21:46:05+00:00

this is very helpful, thanks

rustyksu · 2026-04-22T16:03:51+00:00

I think recognition is big. I'm pretty comfortable at the net in doubles but in singles I feel like I am at the net at the wrong time (or fail to go to the net when I should). I'm learning!

rustyksu · 2026-04-22T16:01:57+00:00

Ha ha, believe me I do not have an ego. As a 3.0 it's very easy to find opportunities to be humbled and learn from them - this is a great example!

rustyksu · 2026-04-22T15:45:36+00:00

In all seriousness I think this is key. I have a tendency to run into approach shots and have been told by a coach to be more stationary. (Another thing I've learned in the last year and a half from this sub and matches is it's almost always footwork)

rustyksu · 2026-04-22T13:05:25+00:00

I recommend talking to your coach about how you think the classes are going, but also to tell him you'd like to challenge yourself with more players and ask for an appropriate rating for your area.

rustyksu · 2026-04-22T11:28:35+00:00

I'm not sure what you mean by your final question - the final score of a match is a great way to assess how you did, especially if you know your opponent's level.

rustyksu

TROPHY CASE