1. When hitting topspin, swing low to high. You can swing as hard as you want at the ball as long as you generate enough topspin to bring the ball down into the other side of the court.
2. Always bring the racquet back as early as possible. This allows you more time to prepare your shot and will help you to feel less rushed, especially against big hitters. Bringing the racquet back early also helps you to adjust for bad bounces or weird spins.
3. Take little steps to adjust your position to hit the ball, never large strides. Taking smaller steps helps you to make the right adjustments to hit the ball. It helps keep you balanced as well as adjusting to any bad bounces.
4. Always watch the ball into your strings. Avoid taking your eyes off the ball before impact, many people look to see where they are going to hit the ball before they actually hit the ball. If your head lifts up, so does your racquet, often causing miss-hits. Most of us have played enough tennis to know if the ball will go in or not once we hit the ball if we never even look at the court. Trust yourself and keep your eyes on the ball.
5. Do not be afraid to lob. Lobbing can get you back into a point and is sometimes the smarter play.
6. Always aim to get your ground strokes beyond the service line. Hitting your shots short in the court can set your opponent up to attack.
7. Swing as hard at your second serve as you do at your first serve, just use all spin.
8. On the return of serve do not take a big backswing swing if your opponent has a big serve. Instead, keep your backswing compact and short. This will allow you more time to adjust and hit the ball.
9. Use different spins on your shots to help keep your opponent off balance. Hitting the same shot with the same spin every time will allow your opponent to get into a groove on their shots.
This site is for anyone who wants to create fun, innovative practices that will engage your athletes, reduce coaching stress, and WIN more matches. The KEY is getting players motivated to put in FULL EFFORT each time they take to the court. "Have Fun and Play Hard"
Tuesday, June 5, 2012
The Split Step
The split step is the first reaction to every shot you must return. The split step is a maneuver performed when you jump up an inch or two onto your toes as your opponent is about to hit his/her shot. Your feet should be about shoulder width apart, and your knees should be slightly bent when you land. This body position keeps you off of your heels and ready to move quickly to any position of the court. The split step should be used when you are returning serves, ground strokes, volleys and when you are approaching the net for a volley.
I feel that the split step is ignored most often when people make their way to net. Many times players run right through the split step to try and get closer to the net to hit the first volley. Being close to the net is important, but you may never get there if you do not split step. The split step allows you to slow down and concentrate on hitting the ball. Picture sprinting to the net and trying to hit a ball while you are moving that fast and never slowing down to hit the ball, it is almost impossible to hit a good shot! This rush to the net is a very important time to split step! If you do not split step and the ball is hit out of your immediate reach, you will not be in a good position to start moving in another direction and the ball can be past you before you know it. It is better to take the time and split step so you can hit a good first volley and continue your way to net.
Getting in the habit of the split step will always help you to start moving towards the ball quicker each and every time.
I feel that the split step is ignored most often when people make their way to net. Many times players run right through the split step to try and get closer to the net to hit the first volley. Being close to the net is important, but you may never get there if you do not split step. The split step allows you to slow down and concentrate on hitting the ball. Picture sprinting to the net and trying to hit a ball while you are moving that fast and never slowing down to hit the ball, it is almost impossible to hit a good shot! This rush to the net is a very important time to split step! If you do not split step and the ball is hit out of your immediate reach, you will not be in a good position to start moving in another direction and the ball can be past you before you know it. It is better to take the time and split step so you can hit a good first volley and continue your way to net.
Getting in the habit of the split step will always help you to start moving towards the ball quicker each and every time.
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