Real Tennis Players - Like You! - Asking For, and Offering, Advice on the Sport They Love
Player to Player is USTA.com’s regular feature in which everyday tennis players are given a forum to ask advice on the sport they love – and their fellow players will dish out advice. We’ll post a number of the best responses we receive to our question of the week. PLAYER TO PLAYER DOESN'T WORK WITHOUT YOUR QUESTIONS, so please send any queries you’d like answered, or responses to other players' questions, to Player@USTA.com.
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SEND YOUR TIPS TODAY This week's question from Jim: | “I have played championship tennis on hard courts for 55 years. Now that I am retired, I have considered playing on clay courts ONLY because others my age play a lot on clay. My game, shot selection, balance, mobility, serve, service return and other strokes are good for hard courts. My recent experiences on clay indicate that I will need to change much of my game to be equally successful.
Question: What are the chances that I can do that? How long will it take? And what would be the best way forward, since I am living in a town with few clay courts and few clay-court players?" | | Please share your thoughts with Jim by e-mailing Player@USTA.com and include your name and hometown. Got a question of your own? Send that along, too! | |
READ OTHER PLAYERS' ADVICE
Last week’s question from Yehuda:
(Please note: There's no need to send additional responses to this question)“What is a good way of practicing and perfecting my overhead shot?”
PLAYER RESPONSES:
From Kenny S., Highland Park, IL:
The overhead is a very important shot that people forget to practice and master.
During a practice, you should start with some forehand and backhand volleys. In practicing the overhead, you should keep your head up, point at the ball with your other hand, and hit as many as possible till your muscle memory of the overhead kicks in. Make sure you hit to both sides of the court, and on a sunny day, you might want to let the ball drop and hit a big forehand or backhand.
There is also the swinging forehand and backhand, which is a very tough shot, but with hard work you can learn it. Try to place the ball, and try not to over-hit it.
From Peter K.:
A good way to perfect an overhead shot is to practice it. Another good way of perfecting your overhead is to watch professional players and do what they do.
*Please note that any advice given out in this forum should in no way be confused with actual medical advice. Before starting any new exercise regimen or altering your existing one, we strongly urge you to consult with your regular physician.
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