What are your tennis habits?
So everyone has been saying how annoying Novak's incessent ball bouncing is. Anyone here got a habit or tendency they'd like to share?
I bounce my ball too before serves, but usually only twice. the only other thing I could think of for me is that I always wear a hat on hard courts, but on clay courts, never. Not sure if that really qualifies as a habit, but it's something that's a little weird/non-sensical.
I bounce my ball too before serves, but usually only twice. the only other thing I could think of for me is that I always wear a hat on hard courts, but on clay courts, never. Not sure if that really qualifies as a habit, but it's something that's a little weird/non-sensical.
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Mark / The Mayor on
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Very interesting hearing 'bout the hat... so on a sunny sunny day at 1:00pm on the clay, you never have any interest in a hat? Crazy! On the other hand, I wear a hat ALWAYS - inside or out, day or night.
I have a service routine too: Call the score, bounce a couple of times, double fault! ;-)
I almost always call "down" when the racket is spun - kinda counter to everyone else. I play with a Wilson racquet and always put the little W vibration dampener on where it looks like an M for Mark.
M
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Permalink Reply by Terence on
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yeah i don't know why but on a clay court, a hat obstructs my view too much. but on a hard court i'm fine. I know that sounds like it doesn't make sense, but for some reason it's become what I do. :-)
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you're right it doesn't make any sense. ;-)
so how do you like service routine?
i double faulted a match away on Saturday - so ticked.
at 7-8 in the third set tiebreak, i gave away two double faults and the match!
arghhhh.
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Permalink Reply by Terence on
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oh that sucks. I generally have a pretty good first serve and a good second serve that I usually slice, but topspin once in a while (still working that kick). But over the wknd, I gave away a set too because I was getting tired. When I get tired, my serve is the first thing to go (usually, I start dropping my non-dominant hand when I get tired, and that's what causes my double faults). After serving well and double faulting only about 4 or 5 times over 1 1/2 sets this past weekend, I started spraying my serves everywhere. Argh.
My typical service routine is to bounce the ball on the ground with my racket as I'm walking to the service line. then I look up and see where the returner is standing, while calling the score out, and decide where I'm going to place my serve. Then, sometimes, I adjust my hat to make sure it's tight on my head. Then I bounce the ball twice with my hand usually and then proceed with my serve. I've begun lifting up my front foot a la Sampras. I'm not sure when I developed that. I'm actually kind of trying to get rid of that.
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Permalink Reply by shane on
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haha... well, with my mild OCD it can get pretty interesting sometimes.
1.don't touch the lines on the court when you're walking on to start your match
2.bounce the ball twice. only twice.
3.use the same face of the racket to hit your forehand/serves all the time (use the opposite side for the backhand)
4.always call up on the toss at the start of a match.
5.tap your racket on the ground before returning.
6.toss the ball (while serving) with the number facing up.
7.put the stray balls in the back right (deuce) corner of the court.
i think i could go on...
i know i'm weird
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Wow. I do none of these.
But I have noticed that by FAR the most popular call on the racquet spin is "up". If one really wanted to serve first, it would be so easy to do the spin and make it be down.
M
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Permalink Reply by Steve on
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Great to read about all of your habits.
My major habit: When preparing to serve I bounce the ball four times while putting weight on my front foot, then I rock to the back foot, stare at my target, lean forward again and bounce the ball three more times, rock back and toss.
This habit has annoyed some of my opponents over the years but it is the only way I can get a flow to my service motion.
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Permalink Reply by Eric (4.5) on
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In most cases, I'll let my opponent serve first. Most players seize the opportunity to serve first, but the reality is that most players at the 4.0 level or below don't have a big serve. In fact, for any player, whatever serve they have can take a while to warm up...some longer than others. In my case, while my serves are a stronger part of my game, it's hard for me to get into things right off the bat, and sometimes I still get the yips. I'd rather have my opponent serve first and try to run me around a bit during the first game so I can get warmed up for my serve. In fact, I don't really feel like I get into true "game mode" until the third and sometimes fourth game of a set!
I actually got this idea from Brad Gilbert's book entitled "Winning Ugly" -- he reveals an important truth in that the serve is clearly not a weapon for most players, and sometimes you can even get into your opponent's head by letting them serve first. That's pretty much the ultimate way of letting your opponent know that you do not fear his or her serve. How's that for psychological warfare?
Anyway, maybe it's all selective memory, but I feel that in many of my casual games (as well as some league or tournament matches), I feel like I can essentially have a reasonable chance at an early break by letting my opponent serve first.
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Permalink Reply by CoachV - William Vazquez on
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Unfortunately I like to self destruct. I will eat a whole pizza pie the night before a match because I'm nervous.
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Permalink Reply by Nate on
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I always wait until the ball has stopped bouncing and usually rolling before I serve again. Usually I don't wear my shoes to the courts unless I am in a hurry, and I take them off before leaving the court, dunno why, maybe just because it's relaxing to tie them once I get there and get focused. That's about it, aside from 3 bounces that are all pretty much uniform, if it hits a crack I have to start over again. Always wear a hat unless I forget but that's usually once in a blue moon.
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Dude. You are a tad bit OCD. If the bounce hits a crack, you have to start the bounces over?
I always wear a hat too, inside, outside, day, night - doesn't matter.
M
Nate said:I always wait until the ball has stopped bouncing and usually rolling before I serve again. Usually I don't wear my shoes to the courts unless I am in a hurry, and I take them off before leaving the court, dunno why, maybe just because it's relaxing to tie them once I get there and get focused. That's about it, aside from 3 bounces that are all pretty much uniform, if it hits a crack I have to start over again. Always wear a hat unless I forget but that's usually once in a blue moon.
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