Comments on Tennis Brain | An analytical tennis blog: Learning To Play Your Game

Good questions. I'll keep them in mind. Maybe ...

2011-03-28T23:39:20.406+10:00

Good questions. I'll keep them in mind. Maybe I'll have someone video me.

4 years ago I switched to semi-western on both wings, and it's taken me this long to really find all my strokes. My volleys, in particular, are still pretty new to me.

As for patterns, it was interesting to hear Justin Gimelstob talk about Nadal being so comfortable with his patterns against Nishikori. It made me question the whole concept in my game. I really don't have patterns yet. I don't think that deeply into the game yet, I guess. I try to follow the guidance of "directionals" and wonder why as the match goes on more and more points favor my opponent. Mostly likely, they've found winning patterns against me and I've not even known to look for them myself.

At 46 I've never been part of a tennis clique. I've never been coached or hung out with guys who talked about the game, so ideas like patterns are new to me. I guess that'll be the next puzzle to unwrap. Thanks.

I bet it must be confusing to get so many differen...

2011-03-20T22:21:09.902+10:00

I bet it must be confusing to get so many different comments. Perhaps you are an aggressive player, that doesn't go for outright winners. What do you think yourself, disregarding other people's opinions? What are your favourite patterns of play, and do you think there is any certain combination of shots that wins you the most points? Or is it more to do with the opponent?

Well I've watched/taped a video of myself playing before, and it was through that, that I knew what people meant when they commented on some parts of my game. Having said that, knowing what they meant didn't help me improve it at all, lol.

So all I have to do to succeed is know myself? B...

2011-03-16T08:32:47.720+10:00

So all I have to do to succeed is know myself?

But I'm more like Hamlet than The Terminator. I have no clue who I am, and my opponents don't help. One of my opponents told me I was absolutely the single most aggressive player in our league (~4.5 singles) in a 6-7, 6-3, 6-7 loss. And then a bystander told me in a 6-7, 5-7 loss the other day that I was like a backboard. People tell me I hit harder than anyone they've played, and the last guy I played told me my forehand was much slower than it seemed and he had to adjust to it.

I've been told my best shot is my flat one-handed backhand drive/approach (and I do love to hit it), and been told my forehand is the one shot I have that often drops short. At the same time, my last opponent thanked me for stopping serving and volleying.

I feel like my game matches Mauresmo's. I always saw her as kind of playing a consistent, non-attacking game, but doing it from the net. She seemed to approach often, but mostly give the opponent hard volleys to do anything with, rather than really volleying for winners.

Maybe I'm the most aggressive defensive player I've ever known.

But how does one really figure out what he does well? I can't see myself and I find my memory is always slanted by outcomes. I literally perceive what's happening out there incorrectly.

You ask the right thing of me, but I'm afraid I'll never be able to do it.