<p>I'm a UCLA student and just turned 20. Because I have good time management and taking a few classes, I started tennis about 2 months ago and picked it up real quickly. I was watching UCLA tennis team practice and to be honest, I was shocked. They were unbelievably good. I asked one guy and said he's been playing since he was around 6 and plans to become pro. I do not want to play tennis professionally, but want to be good as at least players on the UCLA team. Can any tennis players give me tips? (eating habits, training, general tennis equipment, etc.) </p>
<p>I have three tennis rackets: babolat aeropro, babolat pure drive, and a Wilson K Factor KSix-One. These were gifts from my girlfriend's dad, who owns a tennis shop. He told me these were great rackets and I accepted them happily.</p>
<p>The only opponent I have is a tennis wall near my home. Besides that, I have two hour lessons with a tennis coach once a week and have occasional games with old high school friends if they ever come to visit. I am just here for tips to become good at a sport. I have never played a sport in my life(besides working out, if that counts) and tennis seems like a sport I can enjoy for the rest of my life. </p>
<p>I hate to break it to you, but you will probably never be as good as those guys. They are division one athletes, I'm not sure about tennis but UCLA is probably a top contender(they are in every other sport) for tennis. Some of them probably will go pro or at least semi pro.</p>
<p>Thanks for being truthful. Yes, I have already accepted the fact that I will not likely be good as those guys, but never hurts to try to be good as them. I came here for advice, not to get another chat about how I can't be good as them.</p>
<p>Yea, D1 players are extremely good. I've been playing since I was 6/7 and I probably will never be as good as them. My groundstrokes are similar to theirs, but the difference is consistency and control, which you can only improve with a ton of practice. </p>
<p>Tips? Practice ALOT and try to find a hitting partner (preferably one who is better than you because the best way to become better is by playing against people better than you).</p>
<p>Also, try to get private and/or group lessons from a local pro. It's not easy to improve if you don't have a professional to help you.</p>
<p>Racquet choice doesn't really matter. All the new technology that racquet makers come out with is only to help them make a profit. You control the racquet; the racquet doesn't play for you.</p>
<p>Like Jman2306 said, Division 1 players are good. You started way too late, however, that doesn't mean you won't be able to play on their level. Heck, who knows. You might have a knack for the sport since you said you picked it up fast in 2 months. Practice is key. If you can practice hard everyday and practice with players better than you, then you should be fine. Also, you should eat healthy.</p>
<p>I have played tennis since I was 15 and I'm better than the captain of my varsity team. It took hours and hours of practice and a lot of sacrifice. So, in conclusion, nothing is impossible.</p>
<p>P.S: You racquets are unbelievably expensive and great racquets. The aeropro you have is used by Rafael Nadal, your other babolat is used by Andy Roddick, and you wilson racquet is used by Roger Federer. Lucky you. Take good care of them.</p>
<p>^But pro's do not use the stock form of their racquets...they get them customized. Keep that in mind. I've always been a big fan of the prince O3 racquets because O3 tech. actually works and they should come down in price with the new Prince speedport racquets coming out.</p>
<p>Babolats drive me crazy with their power and stiffness. I could hit balls to the moon with them. Wilsons aren't bad. Head isn't doing good right now with flexpoint, and the others are "meh".</p>
<p>I've seen guys come out and play and progress from JV quality to top tier Varsity tennis (high school) in the span of 1 month. However, the difference between a top tier high school varsity player and D1 player is absolutely enormous. UCLA has good recruiting and the lowest level players would probably have been the best players in their state (if they were even good enough to make the cut). I'd think that UCLA does heavy recruiting for foreign players.</p>
<p>"I do not want to play tennis professionally, but want to be good as at least players on the UCLA team."</p>
<p>then I gave my opinion on the situation and you said this</p>
<p>"Thanks for being truthful. Yes, I have already accepted the fact that I will not likely be good as those guys, but never hurts to try to be good as them. I came here for advice, not to get another chat about how I can't be good as them."</p>
<p>Anyways, if you want to get better I think that is great, but you should start at smaller steps. Does UCLA have an inter mural team you can play on? Find some one to play with, then get better than then and find another player and so on. I like your spirit, keep up the good work.</p>