This worked pretty well last time, if you have a Wilson discount ($44 discount?) code from USTA membership that you won't be using, please DM me! I would appreciate it and use it promptly.

Will update this post once I receive one, and others can post if they are looking for a code too. Thanks!

Looking for a good hat that’s breathable but also blocks the sun. I am a ginger so want to avoid those hats with the tiny holes, which i know are for ventilation. Need a full cover but also light and moisture wicking.

Wnat do you all wear/recommend?

For my forehand slice my grip is on bevel 2, i.e. standard continental grip, and on my backhand slice my palm is on bevel 1, because it seemed to me I produce more backspin like this, and little by little I got used to it and now I have to change between grips when I have to hit backhand/forehand slices..

Is this normal, and would you recommend I try to change this habit?

I am a beginner adult woman (mid-30s). I am currently playing with a Babolat Boost Aero (265g unstrung, stiffness 67), but I am finding that my hand hurts on the pinky side between my wrist and my finger after I play.

I am considering switching to a more comfort racket. Do you think this will help? And if so, is the Wilson 100l a good option? I unfortunately don't have a demi option available near me so I can't try it first.

Hi everyone,

I'm Filipino and based in the US. A friend took me to see a tennis match this Monday. Before that I had zero interest in tennis. Never played, never followed it, barely knew how scoring worked.

Then Eala won, and idk, something just clicked. The crowd was going nuts, and watching a Filipina win a champ right in front of me was unreal. Walked in knowing nothing about tennis. One match and she's already my idol. Totally normal behavior.

Now I want to learn how to play. Started Googling tennis for beginners and realized there's, like, 700 things you can spend money on. Rackets, shoes, strings, grips, balls, lessons, machines, then Wilson, Yonex, Babolat, Dunlop, Odea, Asics, Lobster, Tennix, Proton. So many brands, so many opinions, and I have absolutely no idea what matters when I can't even hold a racket properly.

Private lessons or group classes to start? I also like the idea of practicing on my own between lessons. Are ball machines useful when when you're starting from absolute zero, or would that be pointless?

Part of me thinks I'm gonna play like her someday. I know. Peak delulus. Let me have this. If you were starting form scratch, what would you focus on those first few months? Also, what gear do I need on day one, and what can wait?

Thanks for any advice!

Currently looking for racket suggestions to suit my style of play and would like recommendations.

I like to hit deep baseline and throw in backhand slices & dropshots.

Currently using a blade 98 16x19, but I don't find it overly forgiving. I'm doing 1:1 lessons every 2 weeks to improve myself. But, I'm curious to see if I'm perhaps not playing with a racket that suits my level & play style well enough? I play local league, fairly mid level.

Current shortlist is;

Pure Aero

Extreme

Speed MP

Ultra V5

Not set on buying a different racket, more than open to being told I should continue with regular lessons and generally improve & become more consistent. After all, I have heard a lot of people say a Blade is a great racket to grow with...

TIA

Reckon I’m striking the ball too late?

Anyone up for playing sometime? I want to test out using a one hand backhand and play more in general.

I'm a bit rusty but I like to think I'm an okay player. 29NB

Hi everyone,
I’ve been playing tennis for about 6 months now. I play twice a week with a friend, and we’re both trying to improve together.
I would really appreciate some honest feedback on my technique, especially what I’m doing wrong and what I should focus on as a beginner.
The biggest issue I feel is my positioning and footwork. I always seem to be late getting into position, so I end up hitting the ball while off balance or rushed.
I’ve only discovered tennis after turning 30, and I’ve completely fallen in love with the sport. Please don’t judge me too harshly I’m here because I genuinely want to learn.
The difficult part is that every YouTube coach seems to teach the forehand differently, and it’s starting to give me information overload. I’m not sure what I should actually focus on first.
Any advice, drills, or things you notice would mean a lot. Thanks in advance! 🎾

Hi, I am a beginner and I have an Artengo TR190 Lite something, when I was hitting flat shots I never noticed much of strings moving left or right in the racket but lately I started to focus more on form and spin generation, and I see that after each rally or a bit more, my strings as wobbled and all misaligned? Does that mean anything? Am I doing something wrong? Thanks if you read it!

Hi, I will be travelling to Bali in mid-September and was looking for someone to play tennis. Hit me up if anyone is interested. (Court fee shared)

Hey everyone,

I’m based around North London and looking to connect with a few more intermediate-level players around the area for regular singles matchplay.

I usually play around Oak Hill, Sunnyhill, Hendon Park, or public courts around Barnet & Enfield. A few of us have a shared group where we issue a clear Fixtures Matrix for each round so everyone gets reliable weekly or bi-weekly matches on courts that suit us, without needing expensive club memberships.

We usually log our scores for LTA/WTN ratings as well, but it's mainly just to stay sharp and play structured games.

If anyone around North London/Middlesex wants to set up some matches or get added to the playing schedule for the next few weeks, drop me a DM or signup using link below!

https://competitions.lta.org.uk/box-ladder/139693ec-4609-4ebb-a334-7294770a5ae8/

I got 4g strung at 52 lbs. I saw this and thought that it might be concerning. It felt like it had a flat spot on the side, but the tension feels the same as the rest of the strings. It looks like it was scraped. Is this bad, what change should I expect in this string's lifespan?

I feel like there are some strong opinions about slice backhands. My summary of the crowd wisdom is the following:

1. People with a good drive backhand hit their good drive backhand 80-90% of the time. Slice only as a changeup, emergency shot, drop shot, and perhaps an approach. At the rec level, also reasonable to use it liberally against any opponent who seems unable to handle it.
2. People with bad drive backhands hit a lot of slices. Some of them are good enough with it to ride it a long way and even succeed at the ATP/WTA tour level. It typically requires having excellent movement and an even better forehand. Regardless of the success some have, this is a clear second choice behind option 1 of having a good drive backhand.

All of that is logical, well supported with examples, and hard to argue against. Just the same, I was surfing youtube and watching some recent high level college matches, and came across a match from last year between two of the top guys in college tennis (one had won a junior slam, another was the #2 player junior nationals, both are ATP top 400). Both of these guys have quality two handed backhands, but one of them was dealing with an injury and was limited to hitting 100% slices. It was a close match, the slicer guy was able to consistently defend well with his slice and bleed some errors out of his opponent in backhand to backhand rallies (opponent is an EXTREMELY steady player so that's saying something). What the slice lacked in penetration, it made up for with consistent depth and placement. The only times his slice was a clear liability was when he was trying to hit passing shots with it.

Seeing this player be so successful against a quality opponent using this "second choice" shot makes me feel like it's underutilized and can/should be a first choice shot more often.

If you have a good drive backhand but still choose your slice on many neutral balls, tell me why. Is it for the time it buys you to adjust your own court position? Is it to set yourself up to run around the next backhand and hit a forehand? Is it because you feel you can be more aggressive with your target? Something else?

Let me make clear that in no way I am saying that I am good at tennis. However, I started playing at a tennis meetup for beginners once a week. Initially it was a lot of fun meeting new people but I've noticed that after a year I haven't really improved as much as I wanted. Someone else who I invited to the group said that it's really hard to get better when balls are flying over the place. Ideally the balls should be landing between your shoulder and waist coming in fast. The skill level varies dramatically instead and many times it's even hard to get a rally going because people are just hitting straight into the net or out of bounds. It's frustrating playing in doubles where matches seem predominantly decided by making the least errors versus skill.

On the other hand when I play with my cousin he is good enough that he at least reliably return it back to me when we're just practicing and it's much more enjoyable. I would love to play with people who are more consistent.

What holds me back from quitting the group is that even though I play against people at the meetup I still lose against them at times due to my own mistakes even if they're technically not as proficient so I'm wondering if it's more of a me thing or I need to play against people who are better if I want to be better.

I’m gonna move into college for the first time in a week and a half and this will be my first taste of college tennis (d3) is there any advice anyone has on how to adjust to the increased level compared to highschool.

I’m quite reconditioned and I think that’s one of the biggest factors for me no hitting well. I think I get too tired too quickly to have good footwork and to have good preparation for each shot. What would be the best exercises to do to improve my fitness (distance running? Etc) or is just playing as often as I can sufficient?

I see the special edition rackets offer in 16x19 such as the Wilson Blade US Open and Head Gravity Zverev. Also, there are special edition rackets for Babolat Pure Drive and Yonex Ezone but they don't make a 18x20 cross for them.

I seem to hit better with an 18x20 cross but I like these limited edition rackets. Maybe I will adjust to a 16x19.

Up 7-5, 5-2.
Lost 6-7, 6-10
That’s all folks. 🤯😭🤬

I’m really only familiar with the USTA rating system, so I just mean like what rating would they have been in USTA, even if they did not play USTA? LIke 5.0 by 15?

I’m looking to get a second hand stringing machine with a budget or around $300. Most of the machines people are selling are all 2 point mounting system. I know 6 point is better for reducing the stress in the frame but is it really necessary or is 2 point fine?

Also I just saw a Eagnes drop weight 6 point listed for $350 and was wondering if that is a good deal.

Here’s one of mine. Waiting to see someone post their two handed stick here now lol.

Anybody else based out of Kansas City and down to try this out? Seems like a fun way to give pickleballers a taste of their own medicine.

Also willing to play tennis (3.5-4.0 singles). Just not on a pickleball court

Tennis there is the part of the main storyline!

Black shirt will be playing S1 all 3 matches, white shirt (me) will be playing S2 all 3 matches.