Steal This Drill: Aggressive Baseline Practice Part 1

CAtennis.com received the following message from a friend and college coach: "Dear CAtennis.com, It's been a long time. I enjoy reading your tips. I am now a college coach at _____________. I have a couple of players on my team from Europe and South America and they are having difficulty adjusting to the fast-paced game of college tennis. No matter what I do, they just want to stay back and grind (like you, haha). Are there any drills you can recommend for getting them to come in more? I hope that all's well with you and we should get together soon"

Assuming that basic drills such as serve and volleying or approach-pass have been tried, I believe that part of the issue with the baseliner mentality is that they simply do not put sufficient value on points won inside the baseline. Here are two drills that one can try:

1. In the first drill, set up a the court so that there is a line about 3-4ft behind the service line on each side. At first, play regular points (maybe up to 21) and simply keep track of how many times the player ventures inside that area. This sets the measurement standard. Thereafter, play a game where the player can only hit a winner from that area (i.e. winners from baseline don't count) and that if he loses a ball from there (i.e., misses a volley or gets passed), it doesn't count. This adds a layer of confidence in that the reward of coming in outweighs the risks. In the third game, the player can still only hit winners from inside the area but he can also lose the point from there (e.g. missed volley or attacker gets passed). This means that the risks and rewards are about even. In the fourth game, adjust the scoring so that any point won from inside the area counts as two (the player can also lose the point from inside the attacking area as well as anywhere in the court). This teaches the player to add more value to points won while in an aggressive position. However, unlike the previous game, here the player can choose which point will pay the most dividend. Lastly, play another "regular" game to 21 and keep track of how they do in this game versus the first. In this game, you can also make it so that the player runs sprints (e.g. ten-balls) for the difference between points lost and number of times ventured in (for example: lost 18 points but made it inside 15 times = 3 sprints). 

2. In the second drill, set up the court so there's a line about 4 feet inside each baseline. THAT line becomes the baseline. The regular baseline is the "cliff". The rule is that if the player steps behind the baseline during the point, he falls "off the cliff" and loses the point (over-stepping the side-lines is OK). As above, try to have the players compete in a couple of baseline games and see how many choose to venture inside the service line. The objective is to become accustomed to playing from this area of the court in order to be more relaxed during the transition stage. Accordingly, the players should be instructed to "work the point" rather than slapping at the ball senselessly. Once there's an opening, seek to come in and cut off the short ball or floater (regular or swinging volley). 

One issue with college practices (or other "team" formats) is that the workouts are often designed to suit the greatest number of players without being tailored to a particular player's needs. In this regard, simply hitting more volleys is not likely to get the desired response from a pure baseliner. Sure, the volleys will improve but not his/her comfort level through the mid-court. CAtennis.com believes that these drills (part of a series) are a good step in the right direction to "stress inoculating" the grinders to the pace/style of American tennis. Hopefully, after a couple of focused workouts, the player will look at every point with the intention of stepping inside the baseline. 

Top 15 Technical Mistakes Made By Rookies In Match Situations

Be aware of the following technical mistakes that may occur during a match. It only takes 48 points to lose (or win) the match so when you spot some of these signs, stop and make the proper adjustment. Repeat one or two of these mistakes and you will have handed your opponent the match on a silver platter: 

1. Failing to adjust your backswing to the pace, spin and trajectory of the ball. Most players' backswings resemble a loop. The racket, generally, needs more time to complete a bigger loop than a smaller loop (circumference of big circle v. small circle). When the opponent's ball comes in fast, you must make the adjustment in the preparation in order to continue to make contact out in front. Cut down on the loop so that the racket has a shorter distance to travel - which allows you to transfer the momentum (body and racket) forward. In this scenario, your opponent is providing you with all the pace that you need; all you're required to do is add control. 


2. Failing to adjust your footwork to the pace, spin and trajectory of the ball. A shot that comes in low and fast requires a different set of "dance" steps than one that comes in with a lot of spin. The latter ball explodes off the court requiring you to constantly move in so that you can make contact around the waist. A flat, fast shot tends to come to you so that the basic preparation involves fewer steps but better balance (i.e. dropping your body-weight fast). Learn the difference and, more importantly, learn how to spot the difference early.


3. Flailing at returns. When returning serve, remember that even a slow serve will have a decent amount of pace. Therefore, it's more important to return with your "shoulders and feet" than standing still and returning by flailing your arms which results in mis-hits and over-hits. Use your opponent's pace and redirect the ball for maximum benefit. 


4. Failing to make appropriate adjustments in your serve positioning. How many times have you made all the adjustments that you thought were necessary and continued to miss the same serve? Sometimes, it may help to not just "play" with the basic stroke components but to also shift the location from which you hit a serve. Try to move to the right, left an/or back and see what works. Often times, the stroke is there but the condition of the court (court may be on a slant [angling your body-weight upwards, downwards or to a side]; or you might be serving from a "hole" or depression in the court) may affect where your serves are going. For example, if you are getting good net clearance but the ball is sailing on you slightly, step back an inch or two...those balls whould be landing inside the service line. This can be a simple fix without messing too much with the stroke itself. 


5. Attacking the net with the racket by your shoelaces. This is another biggie. When good players rush the net, their rackets are always in the "ready" position. However, players who are not as good, charge the net with rackets held low - like a baton in track and field. When they reach the volley-location, they still have to make some last second adjustments - which usually cost them the point - in order to bring the racket up from below their waist. It is impotant in these instances to remember that tennis is about "moving in position"...not so much about (a) moving, then (b) getting in position, and then (c) hitting the ball. All these components take time - something that's in limited supply. {Note: Coach Roy Coopersmith, former coach of Jelena Jankovic and several other notable WTA players, suggests remebering to also push the arms out in front since the natural running motion tends to keep the elbows back by the chest}


6. Failing to match the strokes to the game-style. This is a situation where you see yourself as a certain type of a player yet your strokes are tailored to an entirely different gamestyle. For example, if you see yourself as a grinder, you need to adjust the trajectory of your shots accordingly. You are not going to be very effective at grinding when your shots don’t cross the net with a wide enough margin. You may be belting the ball - thereby utilixing all your energy - while putting the ball in the optimal strike range for your opponent. Or, on the other hand, you’re not going to be an aggressive baseliner if your shots don’t have enough punch to them. Match your strokes to your game-style; forcing a square peg in a round hole is inefficient. 


7. Losing the point before winning it. Often times, rookie players set up the point perfectly only to lose it at the very second. For example, they work the point side-to-side, get to the net beautifully only to dump the volley from right on top of the net. They fail to recognize that even this last shot requires proper technique and start thinking about the next point before the one at hand is over. Remember, 99% is an A+ anywhere except for tennis. 99% in tennis is still a FAIL. 


8. Going for more than is necessary under the situation. How many times have you had the open court only to miss the put-away? This doesn’t have to be an easy “sitter”; it can be a situation where you hit a great cross-court forehand, the opponent sent the ball back to your backhand and now you have the open court cross-court. Like a volley on top of the net, “it ain’t over ‘til it’s over”. You still need the proper footwork, preparation and concentration in order to put the finishing touches on the point. So stop “shoplifting” and actually pay for your item first before putting it in your bag. In tennis, this means preparing well and hitting confidently through the shot. Save the fist-pump for later. 


9. Hitting flat shots from 15 feet behind the baseline. This is an “oldie but a goodie”. I love sending an opponent into the vineyard only to let him attempt to hit the ball hard a flat. There’s nothing that a good player hates more than a short ball, waist high and with a decent amount of pace (being facetious, of course). If you get pushed back, adjust the trajectory of your shots accordingly in order to buy yourself time to recover and also to put the ball out of your opponent's strike zone.


10. Overhitting when moving forward. Proper adjustments have to be made when moving towards the net so as to account for the movement/momentum of your own body. Similar to volleys (above), when moving forward with a ground-stroke (e.g. approach shot), many players fail to "take the racket with them". That is, forward movement with your body tends to create a backswing (if only slight) with the racket if you fail to account for this and don’t make a proper adjustment (e.g., pumping your arms when you run a sprint - as a part of your body moves forward, the opposite arm shifts back). Failing to adjust can result in over-hitting and a loss of confidence. Again, 99% ain't good enough. 


11. Running around the opponent’s slice backhands in order to hit a forehand. If the opponent has a good slice backhand cross-court, the ball will curve beyond the bounce (i.e. continue to skid). If you attempt to run around this shot in order to hit a forehand, you will often find yourself trying to hit a low, awkward ball out of position (great, you hit a forehand, but now you have to back-track). Instead, move your feet, bend your knees and step into the slice with your backhand. At the very least, you will find yourself in the middle of the court. As a matter of fact, it helps - when seeing the opponent's racket opening up to hit a slice - to pretend that he's hitting a drop shot: lean in/step in rather than thinking about "circling back" to hit a forehand. Slices are often easier to handle "off the bounce". 


12. Failing to cut off the opponent’s cross-court. When the opponent has a cross-court opening, your first instinct should be to move forward towards the cross-court (i.e. at an angle) as opposed to “tracing” the baseline. This will ensure that, not only will you have to cover a shorter distance but, if you manage to get to the ball, the contact point will be in front of you (as opposed to behind you) – allowing you to generate some pace with not just your swing but also with your momentum. 


13. Failing to read the shot until it’s bounced. A lot of players wait for the ball to bounce before making the necessary preparation. The fact is that you should be able to spot where your opponent’s shot is headed within 3 feet of it leaving his string-bed. Read the shot as early as possible so that you can play proactive tennis. Unless you're playing magician David Copperfield, the shot will not trick you; if the ball is headed towards the backhand, it will end up towards the backhand. Prepare early so that you can hit early. 


14. Slicing high balls. Unless this is your specialty, slicing a high ball is probably not the best idea. First, the face of the racket is open to the sky so you’re likely to send the ball flying back – overshooting the baseline. Second, even if you make it, it’s not exactly an aggressive shot. If the opponent doesn't hammer the easy floater out of the air, most likely, the ball will just sit in the middle of the court enabling your opponent to pounce on it with a groundstroke. On these occasions (high balls), it is often a better play to move in and rip it with a topspin or at least CHIP the ball (face of the racket being a bit more perpendicular to the ground than on a slice) aggressively. 


15. Drop-shotting high volleys. Unless you have very good touch around the net, you should never drop shot a high volley. The ball will just bounce higher due to gravity allowing your opponent to get there and make you look silly. High volleys should be punched (best play is, probably, to angle them away); volleys below the net can be drop-volleyed if you are able to absorb the pace of the ball with your legs (like catching a punted football). 

The Development Spectrum

When it comes to sports, it's important to have heros...idols. They make the game look so effortless and smooth and completely within reach of us mortals. Invariably, a junior (or even dedicated adult) will, with best intentions in mind, attempt to model his game after a particular pro. When going down this road, use your best efforts to remember the relevance of proper fundamentals.

Now, CAtennis.com seeks to avoid lengthy discussions about techniques or grips. We're not here to tell you that Federer's forehand is the best (probably is); that a semi-Western is superior to an Eastern grip; or that you have to start the shot like this and finish like that. These things are best left to your on-court pro who can explain to you the various aspects and how they fit your particular body/mental type. As a matter of fact, in previous postings we have taken the position that tennis is not just about the strokes. However, this is only to emphasize the fact that tennis involves more than just strokes. One must master several other dimensions in order to become a good player.

Nevertheless, when starting out with this game, it's indispensable to understand the proper fundamentals of the game in order to have a shot down the road. Having a solid foundation, as the term entails, allows you to build upon it and develop new dimensions to the game. Unfortunately, in a rush to be the best player in the world, many players seek to emulate a particular player without first mastering some basic concepts. Sometimes, they copy a player who has a certain peculiarity (e.g., finishing a forehand swing over his head as opposed to "through the ball" in the vicinity of the left shoulder) and wonder why the same shot doesn't pan out for them...why it doesn't fit their particular physical characteristic. Unsurprisingly, a failure to grasp the basic fundamentals is many times the answer. In terms of tennis development, think of a particular pro's game as a light spectrum. It doesn't matter who it is; it could be Federer, Nadal, Djokovic, Williams sisters, or anybody else for that matter. In this regard, what you see today in their game is usually not how they started out. 

For example, in the picture above, these top players may have started in the "blue" end of the spectrum. As they developed (got bigger, faster, stronger; got more experienced; or bodies changed a particular way) they made small adjustments towards the "green" end of the spectrum. Sometimes, they have decided to de-emphasize a component (e.g. loading) and over-emphasize another (e.g. swinging). Through this process, however, they have have understood (like a surfer mastering the long board before moving down to a 6ft board) the elements of a proper shot but made a conscious decision to modify the particular components to suit their respective, individual needs.

Nonetheless, when copying a "top" player, too many times beginners start at the "green" end of the spectrum and then make even further adjustments from there. Because the basic biomechanical and physical components are a foreign language to them, some of these players end up completely "off the reservation" in terms of their strokes. I have seen players who were willing to swear on a stack of holy manuscripts that their game resembles Nadal's, Moya's or Roddick's. Often times, the "style" is only a perversion of the original motion. The outfit is there; the shoes are there; the racket and strings are there; but the only thing that matters - the strokes - aren't anywhere near. Once you find yourself with funky shots, the road back can be daunting. Think about it: when you're young you don't have a lot of power so you can slap the ball silly and it's probably not going to fly on you; crazy swings, wide open stances, imperfect footwork and the ball still goes in. However, as you get older, power is cheap to come by - control is actually a scarce commodity. And a great deal of the control components comes from sound fundamentals. 

Accordingly, when learning the game, spend some time getting a real good understanding of the basic shot elements. Know why the grip should be in a particular range, why the footwork should look a certain way, why the torso and shoulders should be integrated in a proper chain reaction, why the swing should look and feel like this or like that, etc. For example, if you're trying hit the ball forward learn to drive through the ball in the direction of your target. I know it's hard, but learn to rely on logic and common sense. Although it's great to have idols, until you're on the right track, try to refrain from copying too much of your idol's strokes. After grasping the basics, it's OK to make small adjustments in pursuit of your ideal model. If you do the opposite - trying to copy someone too soon - you risk implementing a component in your game (something that may stand out to the untrained eye) that serves only minimal, cosmetic purpose and which could be problematic in the later stages of your development. Ideally, you should learn solid fundamentals by the time you're 14 so that, going forward, you will make only small adjustments dealing with power, placement and control.

NCAA Rules Limit Winter College Practice

College tennis is a tricky deal for the motivated coach and the unmotivated player. In junior tennis, things were easy. Distractions were limited. Parents made sure kids made curfew, ate properly, did their homework, and planned their days for them. In college tennis, things are easy when you are in the playing season. You really don't have much time between class, fitness, tennis, eating, homework, and checking your Facebook. Distractions and a lack of motivation are really not factors because your coach and team will apply enough subtle pressure on you to simply not "let go of the rope."

However, every year college coaches struggle with the time period between mid-November to early January. The NCAA wisely limited practice time to 20 hours per week during the playing season (this includes your fitness, competition, and practice sessions). When the fall and dual-season are not in action, the NCAA limits every player and coach to 2 hours of tennis skill instruction per week and 6 hours of fitness from mid-November to Thanksgiving. Only 8 hours a week! Once December 1st rolls around, coaches, fitness trainers, and players are not allowed to allowed to work with each other. The players are free to do as they wish.

Now one might wonder why the NCAA would do such a thing. The reason is to protect the kids from coaches who abuse the system (# of hours on the court). Afterall, kids are in school to pursue an education and they need to be given time to study. I'm sure in many cases, coaches in the past forced boys and girls to practice without any regard for their academics (I have no proof, but I'm sure it happened).

Now that you know the history behind these rules, the time between December 1st and January 7th is a tricky time for every college coach and player. The coach is stressed out because all the gains made during the fall could potentially be wiped out without consistent upkeep to the players game. The players are stressed out about finals and might be a little burnt out from the fall season. Let's brainstorm: What are some good ways to keep the players motivated during this time period? Tournaments are not easy to come by during this time.

In the picture above, here are some potential scenarios to how many hours you would need to practice everyday for 6 days a week for 5 weeks to accumulate close to 100 hours. Most people would be surprised how many players fail to surpass 100 hours. Parents long to see their children, spoil them with turkey and sweets, and taking vacations to warm locations. Kids want to catch up with old friends from high school. There are many forces and distractions at work which can distort your tennis priorities (did I mention New Years Partying!?!). Parents sometimes do not drive the kids as hard as they used to (maybe because of perspective or maybe because they are satisfied). Parents might see the end of the road is near, so what's the point.

Whip The Ball For Better Topspins

When trying to develop monster topspin shots off your ground strokes, it is important to visualize a whip. A whip is thicker at the handle and tapers down towards the tip. When snapped, it can create speeds surpassing the sound barrier (cracking sound). Your body is similar to a whip in design: your trunk/torso is generally thicker and moves slower. However, your shoulder, biceps and forearms are considerably smaller and, therefore, move faster.

Once you start uncoiling into a shot - particularly the forehand - the momentum generated travels through your arm towards the racket. Here is where things get interesting: although your arm moves in one direction following its natural path, the wrist often snaps (or, some say, forearm rotates) in order to generate topspin (a deviation from the normal angular momentum of the arm). This "snap" is a slight (for some, not so slight) brushing of the ball which creates the spin. However, to do so, the wrist must deviate somewhat from the natural path of the arm (obviously, it still remains attached to it) while holding on to an object (racket) about half its weight (human hand weighs between 22 and 30 ounces). 

The issue that we're dealing with is control of the racket. In order to have a good topspin it is important to have a strong grip (although not choking the racket) as well as a strong forearm in order to commence the topspin motion. Remember that momentum = Mass times Velocity. In this regard, although the hand (tip of the whip) weighs less than your body, it's also moving faster thereby creating momentum in a certain direction. To "break away" from its natural path, a greater "force" is necessary (i.e., forearm and hand strength). Tennis players, like baseball players, have understood the importance of hand and forearm strength for decades. Some have squeezed broken tennis balls as a way to cross-train; others have lugged around forearm builders such as clamps and pulleys.

One of the best way to develop forearm-grip strength for tennis is to practice a lot of drop-feeds where you are isolating this portion of your body. Try to LIFT the ball 6 feet over the net by BRUSHING the ball (rather than scooping it). Once you get the concept, you can transition to slightly more sophisticated workouts such as hitting against rapid-fire balls on the ball machine (minimum of 300) or hitting 1000 volleys in a row against the backboard. The key is to "feel the burn" in your forearm and develop grip and forearm strength. This concept is particularly important for female players. Unlike guys, girls tend to not be gym rats and they don't often play sports which require arm strength (e.g., baseball or football). Therefore, although girls generate a great deal of force with their torsos, shoulders and arms, they tend to fall just short of mastering the topspin due to their relatively low forearm strength. As a result, a lot of female player tend to have flatter shots and a lot of teaching pros perpetuate this mistake by teaching the shots that they see on TV rather than addressing the physical issue. 

Nevertheless, things are starting to change and some players have broken away from the general mentality. Take, for example, Samantha Stosur. When she first started on tour, she was a very good player but her shots lacked the "bite" necessary to penetrate the court. Take a look at the size and definition of the arm, particularly the forearm (note: size is only one indicator of strength but it's not exclusive).

Now take a look at the picture on the right taken in 2011. Forget about the racket finish - we are only using this picture to point out the definition of the arm, specifically the forearm. If you watch Samantha play now, you will notice that she plays similar to a male tennis players: not just powerful shots (Venus and Serena have been doing that for years), but shots with heavy topspin. 

Given the pace of the game, these shots would not be possible without forearm and grip strength. Therefore, rather than making excuses as to why you're not hitting decent topspin, take the initiative and start improving yourself physically and then see how it goes from there. With modern technology (lighter rackets; more powerful strings; awesome gym equipment), there's absolutely no reason why you should not be able to generate monster topspin groundstrokes.

Of course, don't forget about the other components of the shot (e.g. footwork, balance, torso, preparation, etc.) and to practice, practice, practice. Before you attempt to tear phone books and crush rocks (and destroy fluidity and range of motion in the process), know that this is only a small piece of the puzzle (Stosur's as well as yours). However, when encountering obstacles in the development of these shots, keep in mind the strength ratio between your body/arm and forearm/wrist.