This is cute. 48 vs 42 year olds… I’m 48 and play against under 30s that are either D1 or ITF level. How to beat me? Out work and our smart me. I still hit aces, I still run everything down. I learned never to underestimate an opponent no matter what age. I played against a 60 y/o retired premier league soccer player who ran down every ball! Never count us out or assume we can’t just because of our age. Oh and pro-tip… always warm up you’ll reduce injuries.

Don´t fall on his style of play (sometimes you hit your forehand like the opponent). On all the serve returns (and on many rallies), your split step is way too late. You have a good serve, but I didn´t see any serve and volley until the last minutes. On some of your forehands you move to the side or backwards just in the contact, so you mishit. The unit turn, specially on the backhand is always late, it should be quicker. On the rallies, you tend to always hit 2, 3, 4 forehands to the same side. I think, when being in a good position, you have to make him run. And the volleys.. you have to practice them. I think you´ll beat him soon. Some wall practice would help. Recreate there the type of balls he gives you.

I was around an 11 UTR at my peak, and there are so many ways to play tennis at a 4.5 level without pushing the ball. There are many players at this level (in my area), who slap, come to the net, play backhand slice with big forehand, etc etc. You absolutely have to have a certain level of consistent, deep groundstrokes to go from 4.5 to 5.0 unless you are extremely gifted or tall enough to serve big. The game just isn’t what it used to be. You have to be able to win a decent percentage of ground stroke rallies where you don’t let your opponent T-off on the ball.

48 and 42 are considered the same age bracket. There's not an older vs younger player here in terms of competitive tennis. If he's 60, then you can say that.

Angelo, what is your advice on what are the most important things for 3.5-level player to focus on to advance to 4.0? It seems 80%+ players never make that leap.

This is a great, practical video.

This is typical 3.5 maybe the white shirt is 4.0, recreational tennis, dark shirt has no backhand at all, it's more 2.5/3.0 level. The reason why players like the dark shirt win is because they are cagy and crafty players. They don't have natural ability so they use their 'brains' to win. Tennis is a unique sport, I truly consider it an activity than a true sport in that in tennis one doesn't need to possess athletic ability or natural anything in order to win, they use their brain and craftiness wins for them, they outsmart their opponent and cause much frustration to their opponents resulting in their opponents over hitting and becoming so frustrated that they commit unforced errors and they essentially lose their cool. He wins by mind over matter, pushing the ball and keeping the rally going just enough that drives the opponent to mis hit in frustration. Too many of his opponents think they are better than him, that is exactly what he wants them to think. The opponents have to realize they are a 3.5/4.0 as well. The gray shirt will not rise to other level, he is where he is, permanently, as the high level players will overwhelm him, but not all the time, there will be a 4.5 player who succumbs to the same frustration as the lower levels do, but a good high level 4.5 + will manage their way to overcome his strategy. The reason why tennis IMO is more of an activity than a true sport is that tennis has many players like dark shirt, many crafty players, hence why the tennis world is loaded with smart professionals, but many are void of pure athletic ability, they use their brains instead, this attribute doesn't work in sports, yes brains are important (QB, Pitcher), but they also come with pure natural athletic ability as well, where in tennis you can be an overweight computer nerd who never engaged in any sport, and actually become club champion.😂😂

I will offer this advice against older players: Begin by improving your service games with this subtle change. In a given service game, play the older player even to get to 30-30 or deuce.. At that point, don't go for aces because you'll double fault just as many times. Instead aim for the older player's body and force yourself to serve and volley. Here's the key: you have to put the ball away immediately on the volley or short ball that follows the serve even if that involves slightly greater risk. Otherwise, you become a sitting duck at the net. Good luck! .

Weak backhand.

Older recreational and semi-competitive players are better than young recreational and semi-competitive players. At the professional level, it is a different story. Younger players have evolved the groundstroke offense in the game to such a degree that older players have to be able to adapt to compete (look at how much more offensive Djoker was in the Olympics). Younger players that aren't at this high level simply lack the skillsets to consistently execute. Hitting hard is the most optimized way to play IF you can execute consistently, but it comes with a higher error risk than the more conventional groundstroke play of 2003-2021. If a younger player is executing that offense, there's nothing an older player can combat it with unless they have that cracked offense themselves. Live or die by your own sword, and get as good as possible at doing so. As a nearly self-taught 4.5 I have faced some of these guys and had trouble because of the fact that I simply lack the experienced-based knowledge of shot selection, point building, and just knowing how to deal with certain balls. When I beat them, it's because my serving, net play, and passing shots don't let me down. When I lose, one of those 3 things had a rough day. I see you say that no young players will ever player quality 40 yo's, but in my experience that is the fault of the 40 yo's. Where I'm from, all the 4.5+ players that are on the older side are wealthy guys who exclusively play at/for their tennis or country clubs and never venture out into independent singles leagues or tournaments. They rarely make themselves available to play for younger players, who are far less likely to be playing at country clubs. Like you said, they don't want to play us.

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Basavareddy

Novak Federer?

How do you get qualified as a 4.5? Through tournaments I guess? Should not that be the only way to describe a 4.5? If you can play and win matches with 4.5s you are a 4.5. If you always lose to them you are lower.

it is becoming absurd - you must train with this terrible music backgraund - not for the music itself but for the NOISE - Constant unbearable NOISE

Okay so some high level 40 year old players are capable of beating high level players that are younger? This proves exactly nothing, some female pro's are capable of beating college players but are they better than men? No... 4:26 You ask why they unnecessarily hit so hard, but in the very next sentence you say they would lose if they didn't. What could the reason for hitting hard be? Maybe that they want to win. Also pretending like hitting hard is not a real quality makes no sense, because it requires a tremendous amount of technique and skill to do so. Yes old people are better at volleying and have more experience, but that does not make them "better", because "better" means winning but the best 40 year old in the world loses 6-1 6-0 to Sinner. So no old players are not better and you have provided no evidence to suggest the opposite.

Interesting. I kind of wish you would have explained HOW the 40 year old was schooling the bangers -- drop shots, angles, less errors, better serving...? I miss the finesse game that McEnroe and Borg played... the racket acted like an extension of McEnroe's arm when he was at his best

Not sure what the point of this video is? Lansdorp is a legend, not a fake.

The older players let go of that strong desire to win, so they just enjoy the game and enter a flow state.

30-60 year olds with zero athletic ability thinking they can be taught how to play tennis with a few lessons and hitting a few buckets of balls.😮😅

Does anyone know learner tiens string tension and gauge?

Oh you I.. He copied me 😂😂

Man I swear you made this channel for me, I’ve been keeping an eye on this kid for two years

Another banger

Why don't you challenge MEP, and show us how much of a superior talent you are. He's near you right?

Calling someone a “pusher” deflects responsibility of a loss and misses an important opportunity to take an honest look at one’s own game. A good player should have the mindset that one should beat anyone regardless of style/circumstances.

@1:55 "Tennis has already been invented" 🤝

For a concept that doesn't exist, you still managed to make a 7:22 video about it.

John McEnroe and Brad Gilbert were pushers.

Lmao the cheer transition to the dog sent me

Old footageof the young goat.

Amazing rally, movement and fitness at the end

You say there is no such thing as a pusher but then you continue to use that term to describe them. I think you are right that such a player, myself included, is not confident or really capable to playing toe to toe with a hitter who can top spin the ball in consistently with pace. I also agree that they get upset when you do not play like them and become frustrated that they cannot consistently counter your slower paced shots, so they themselves are not good enough, either. They cannot consistently hit a ball that is not just how they like it.

Agreed. I play as a pusher, baseliner, moonballer, counterpuncher, rusher depending on opponents weakness. If they get annoyed and lose then too bad, but if they counter my pokes then it becomes a real match 😂

crazy last rally tho 👏👏

0:41 what the dog doin

I couldn’t imagine being this arrogant and thinking people would agree with my thought process. lol. Kinda funny.

I think you’re hung up on the terminology and the fact that calling someone a “pusher” is a pejorative. What most of them are, at all levels, are players who have better defensive skills than their opponent has offensive skills, and are willing to let the opponent beat themselves. They have a different definition of success at tennis than you do. They are not “worse” players necessarily. It takes a great deal of skill to play that way. A good “pusher” will reveal the guy who thinks he’s a 4.5 as being really a low 4.0.

Pushing is a proper strategy for safely beating a player that likes to hit out. It takes good movement and foot work to do it well. I remember my coach telling me to push against certain players in the juniors and I won those matches. Those kids hit every 3rd ball out.

That kickserve of Gastao Elias is wild. Thanks for the video, never seen this.

excellent point

Who is the other player?

I would - based on this - you are with the USTA ratings 1.5 to 2.0 - with 2.5 being your maximum.

First thing - it's great that you have opened yourself to be critiqued. If I have to be frank. I don't think your level is at those ratings you have mentioned. It would be probably park level - beginner standard. Which there should be no shame. Everyone has to start somewhere in their journey to develop their tennis. Your swings show promise. I like you have a one handed backhand and a slice - you take the ball on with your forehand. But to me your footwork looks too scripted rather than natural - and torso and upper body looks far too stiff. You are not bending or moving/rotating it into your shots. It should be fluid as in one motion. Some shots which come at you awkwardly or close to your feet - you do not move or adjust in time to hit the ball back - that's something you need work on. Making adjustments with awkward balls. Your service motion is solid at times. But you kind of fall on the other side in particular on the ad side - rather than move into the court. Some shots - you do not move your head down to the ball. You look like you are being lazy or far too casual - you need to move your neck and face the ball when you hit it - especially some of the touch shots or shots where you have a bit of time to do something with it. Also your footwork with your backhand - that's far too sluggish - it needs to be more quicker and efficient. The right foot needs to be in over across to the side completely so you can then bend your knee and follow through into the shot forwards - kind of like a 90 degree angle shield position with your legs. As a result - you are always out of line when you are suddenly faced with a shot on that side. Your timing is loss then. Not sure how long you have been playing for - I think in general you have promise with your swings. Only way to develop is by playing and experiencing the game. Remember to listen to others - but follow your instincts when it comes doing what you feel you have to when it comes to improving your tennis rather than listening all the time. That's all I can say. Keep it at it!

This is great - but can you get rid of your adverts at the end?

Your commentary made this video far more instructive. I do believe that tennis players are artists, and that playing mini tennis enables a player to experience and learn the artistic aspects of the game.

Your my hero loool

Nice, Angelo, did you take this? If not, could you point me to the original full length? It's a superb clip that has a lot to teach. Thanks again!

NardDogg!!!

What a hardened pro Diego was … built for the grind