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TimeODanaos
·The main people I play against now are 15-25 years younger than I am, and serving and volleying totally takes them out of their comfort zone.
Just me? Solutions?
Tennis Anyone?
Just me? Solutions?
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Archer
··Omega Qualified WatchmakerSame here. But the problem I'm getting these days is not about movement or positioning (age - sorry, experience - does count for something). It's vision. The optical transition between baseline and box is what's getting harder: folks are often puzzled - "you were right there, then you just let the ball go clean through you", I hear sometimes.
Just me? Solutions?
But your post made me think of people trying to hit the ball clean through me when I’m at the net. Men’s doubles league last night and I got tagged hard, straight in my right nipple! Stung like a sonofabitch. Still quite sore today, but better than the nut shots I’ve had in the past…anyway I digress…
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mswilks
·Same here. But the problem I'm getting these days is not about movement or positioning (age - sorry, experience - does count for something). It's vision. The optical transition between baseline and box is what's getting harder: folks are often puzzled - "you were right there, then you just let the ball go clean through you", I hear sometimes.
Just me? Solutions?
With me, it seems to be related to the shifting of position specifically related to serving ... parallel to the baseline, swinging forward with the toss, and coming in hard. I have no problems at all if I'm just approaching from the baseline once the point has started. I'm never more than a couple inches behind the baseline, I take everything as early as possible, and I'm always looking for an excuse (basically any excuse) to move forward ... and again, I have no issues whatsoever there (other than being a step and a half slower than I used to be or whatever).
So I don't know if my periodic problems specifically related to serving are equilibrium issues that sort of surface with age (I'm late 50s) or what. But over time, I've tended to S&V a little less and, instead, try to come in on the second or third following ball. Maybe that helps you sort of analyze what's going on with you??
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vbomega
·My biggest challenge is the timing when I didn't get a good night's sleep. Really no fun playing then.
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AG77
·Sorry not having that issue...yet. Is it the light level? We have a few people who have difficulty in lower lighting as they have had corrective eye surgery, and on of the guys I play with has early onset glaucoma. I’ve often wondered if those shooting glasses with the yellow lenses would help people with this issue.
But your post made me think of people trying to hit the ball clean through me when I’m at the net. Men’s doubles league last night and I got tagged hard, straight in my right nipple! Stung like a sonofabitch. Still quite sore today, but better than the nut shots I’ve had in the past…anyway I digress…
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TimeODanaos
·Sorry not having that issue...yet. Is it the light level? We have a few people who have difficulty in lower lighting as they have had corrective eye surgery, and on of the guys I play with has early onset glaucoma. I’ve often wondered if those shooting glasses with the yellow lenses would help people with this issue.
But your post made me think of people trying to hit the ball clean through me when I’m at the net. Men’s doubles league last night and I got tagged hard, straight in my right nipple! Stung like a sonofabitch. Still quite sore today, but better than the nut shots I’ve had in the past…anyway I digress…
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AG77
·Fortunately, my vision is still very good. That being said, I've noticed that when I serve and volley, the transition is sometimes awkward.
With me, it seems to be related to the shifting of position specifically related to serving ... parallel to the baseline, swinging forward with the toss, and coming in hard. I have no problems at all if I'm just approaching from the baseline once the point has started. I'm never more than a couple inches behind the baseline, I take everything as early as possible, and I'm always looking for an excuse (basically any excuse) to move forward ... and again, I have no issues whatsoever there (other than being a step and a half slower than I used to be or whatever).
So I don't know if my periodic problems specifically related to serving are equilibrium issues that sort of surface with age (I'm late 50s) or what. But over time, I've tended to S&V a little less and, instead, try to come in on the second or third following ball. Maybe that helps you sort of analyze what's going on with you??
Are you taking your split step in the middle of the court, in no man's land? You should be.
Creating balance as your opponent is making contact is important. And the split step is the key to that balance.
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Archer
··Omega Qualified WatchmakerMost players in these low level leagues need more practice and less match play. Tennis is hard, but having a target at the net is easier for a weak player than a passing shot down the line.
In most cases when someone comes after me at the net the player is trying to deter me from poaching - it's not a lack of ability to hit down the line. After a successful poach, I'm always prepared to have one hit straight at me...
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AG77
·I used to see a disproportionate amount of return of serves hit directly, and very purposely, at the opponent at the net. It can be effective, 3.5 and below / HS level of play.
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Archer
··Omega Qualified WatchmakerI used to see a disproportionate amount of return of serves hit directly, and very purposely, at the opponent at the net. It can be effective, 3.5 and below / HS level of play.
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vbomega
·I was lucky enough to attend the final day of the 2025 Laver Cup in San Francisco on Sunday—a fantastic event and an absolute thrill to watch. Taylor Fritz delivered an outstanding and inspired performance. Not only did he notch his first-ever win over Carlos Alcaraz on Saturday, but he also defeated Alexander Zverev on Sunday, sealing the victory for Team World.
The Alcaraz vs. Cerúndolo match was another highlight—fast-paced and entertaining. A couple of Alcaraz's forehand winners were nothing short of spectacular. Even Roger Federer, watching from the front row, looked visibly impressed.
Speaking of Federer, his Rolex was practically throwing sparkles across the stadium. Tim Henman was spotted wearing the now-discontinued Rolex Milgauss, while many of the players sported their own Rolex timepieces. Alcaraz wore a flashy gold Rolex that gave off definite hip-hop vibes. The Rolex presence didn’t stop there—countless spectators were also proudly showing theirs off. I might have been the only one wearing an Omega. It was, without a doubt, a Rolex galore.
The Alcaraz vs. Cerúndolo match was another highlight—fast-paced and entertaining. A couple of Alcaraz's forehand winners were nothing short of spectacular. Even Roger Federer, watching from the front row, looked visibly impressed.
Speaking of Federer, his Rolex was practically throwing sparkles across the stadium. Tim Henman was spotted wearing the now-discontinued Rolex Milgauss, while many of the players sported their own Rolex timepieces. Alcaraz wore a flashy gold Rolex that gave off definite hip-hop vibes. The Rolex presence didn’t stop there—countless spectators were also proudly showing theirs off. I might have been the only one wearing an Omega. It was, without a doubt, a Rolex galore.
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Archer
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··Omega Qualified WatchmakerThe monetary side of life on tour, for a player in the top 300:
Compare this to other sports...
In the MLB there are around 750 players, and the league minimum is $760k per year.
There are 1,600 players in the NFL, and again the league minimum, is $840k.
NHL has 1,100 players, with a minimum salary of $775k.
NBA has 450 players, and the minimum salary for players with 3 years is over $2 million.
Even the CFL - Canadian Football League - around 315 players and minimum salary of $70k.
Not easy to make a living playing tennis. It's good that the Challenger and ATP tours pay for accommodation, but $38k in a year isn't much money for that level of skill and training.
Compare this to other sports...
In the MLB there are around 750 players, and the league minimum is $760k per year.
There are 1,600 players in the NFL, and again the league minimum, is $840k.
NHL has 1,100 players, with a minimum salary of $775k.
NBA has 450 players, and the minimum salary for players with 3 years is over $2 million.
Even the CFL - Canadian Football League - around 315 players and minimum salary of $70k.
Not easy to make a living playing tennis. It's good that the Challenger and ATP tours pay for accommodation, but $38k in a year isn't much money for that level of skill and training.
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Deafboy
··His Holiness Puer SurdusThe monetary side of life on tour, for a player in the top 300
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··Omega Qualified WatchmakerThere's a terrific two-part article in the Washington Post on how one man exploited the low pay of these tennis players for match-fixing, gambling and corruption. 180 players were involved (!). The articles may be behind a paywall if you don't have a subscription, but may still have access if you set your browser to Reader View (F9 in Firefox).
Recently retired US Player Andy Roddick discussed the sports betting thing in some detail on his podcast. As part of that he listed some stats on betting on tennis...
On average in 2024, 100 million UK pounds was bet globally on tennis every day.
Sports betting on tennis is projected to be worth 180 billion annually by 2030.
Tennis is somewhat unique for all this because the season is very long, and there is almost always a match going on somewhere around the world at some level (main tour, challenger tour, ITF tour). Unlike many pro team sports where there might only be say 15 or 20 games for each team in a season. There were 17,000 professional matches played in 2024.
It used to be about match fixing, which with only 2 players in a match is easy for one player to do - they can tank a match just by playing poorly, or faking injury of illness. But it doesn't even need that now with so many things to bet on in one match. In one ATP (men's) tennis match, there are 1500 unique betting opportunities. You can make a bet that on the third point of the fourth game, in the second set, that the player will double fault on serve.
All of this has lead to a massive amount of abuse directed towards tennis players. At Wimbledon in 2024 there were 500 instances of abuse over gambling, and in 2025 it was up to 1900. This is only data for the WTA, so female players - the ATP has not released the data.
Sports betting in general is not good for the sport, the players, or the fans. It is a scourge that I wish would go away, but governments want their slice of the pie so it is only going to get worse.