Steal This Drill: Half Court Battle

Here is another great drill for developing proper court instincts, basic strategy, ball control as well as physical and mental toughness. When playing points - and not many juniors play sufficient points in practice - it is sometimes important to break away from the routine of simply playing to win and actually work on getting better. One of the ways to work on improving is to actually limit the possibilities for your shots and see how good you really are.

For example, in the first drill, use plastic lines or tape to demarcate 1/3 of your opponent's side. That's the "out" zone and on the diagram to the left this area is hashed out in white. However, leave an 8 ft x 8 ft box in the corner formed by the deuce service line and the deuce side-line (singles) - short-angle temptation. If you hit the ball in that area, the ball is still good. Play point where the unhandicapped player is serving up to 11, 15 and 21 and then switch roles. In this game, see how good you are at managing to control the shot into 2/3 of the court - particularly hitting a deep ball to the backhand. Remember, most points at the development level are, in fact, played in that portion of the court. Often times, however, juniors play sets and they slap the ball nilly-willy hoping that it will go in. Sometimes, they aim cross-court but the ball goes anywhere but near the intended target. Of course, if the ball goes in, there's no penalty except when the opponent is there to intervene and punish your lack of accuracy and control. But, with this being practice, there should be a penalty for the unintended consequences since the purpose is to sharpen your skills. 

In other words, when it comes to a lot of junior players, accuracy and control are too often sacrificed at the altar of power. However, if you don't know where you are capable of hitting the ball, your game will suffer since it will be difficult for you to create any strategy to help you succeed. As stated above, this is also a way to test and develop your mental and physical toughness because you will have to grind long points while your opponent pushes you around the court. That's OK - this is what tennis is all about: GRIT.

In the second drill, the concept is the same but the game becomes a bit tougher. In this alternative, more than 1/3 of the court is marked off for one of the players - perhaps close to one half. The 8 ft x 8ft box remains, however, to tempt one of the players to still for this shot which, in this scenario, is fairly low percentage. Again, the player should attempt to play points where, as in the first drill, the unhandicapped player attempts to work his opponent around the court. The handicapped player has to be even tougher than in the first drill and his shots have to be way more accurate.

When performing this drill, you will really see the importance of actually hitting your targets in practice - target practice is not just for show; there's an actual purpose behind it and being proficient at hitting your targets (from anywhere in the court; whether you are standing still or are on the run) will help you develop more sensible offensive and defensive plays.

The dimensions outlined above could, obviously, be adjusted to fit the particular scenario. For example, better players (good juniors or college players) may only require a 3 ft wide sliver ("out" zone) to make the game very challenging (as opposed to 1/3 of the court). Also, the safe zone box could be enlarged or reduced to suit the players' skills. The game could also be coupled with a "one serve only" practice or "mirrored" (I.e., the opposites side of the court could be marked off).

Again, the key is to be (or become) a thinking player and work on practicing with the purpose getting 1% better today than you were yesterday. By varying your practice your mind will be more engaged on the task at hand while still being competitive.

Hellooo!? You Play To Win The Game!

Nobody is good enough to only play offense and never play any defense.  Nobody, period!  Defensive astuteness is a very real skill that needs to be attended to and developed.  It makes logical sense if somebody is on offense, inevitably somebody must be on defense.  Against a very good player, evenly matched with yourself, there is a very good chance you will be spending half of the match on the defensive end playing hockey goalie.  

Below is a slideshow of all the top pros on the run (dead sprint!), in nasty, uncomfortable, and mind-boggling positions.  Yet they are fighting like sunsabitches to weasel their way back into the point. Many juniors fall into the trap of only doing drills that are warm and fuzzy, working on their technique, minimizing the movement. Ahem, crosscourts! Ahem, feeding drills!  

On a funny and serious note, here is Herm Edwards, the infamous NY Jets and Kansas City Chiefs Coach talking to reporters after another poor performance.  "Hello!? You play to win the game!" Yes, in tennis, you play to win.  Technique goes out the door when you are sprinting 20mph...backwards....into the corner...snot up your nose...opponent on top of the net...switching your grip to find the right angle...sliding into the shot...breathing heavily...odds stacked impossibly against you...diving into the shot...PLAY TO WIN! Perfection is out the door, you play to win!  

My Karma Ran Over My Dogma

Tennis is a difficult sport to learn because of the many components that must be perfectly orchestrated in order to produce a player's individual masterpiece. However, when learning the game, it is becoming on a player to use some critical thinking and analytical skills in order to cut through the flak, misinformation as well as seemingly conflicting information and get to the truth. In this regard, when a coach tells you to "never" do this or "never" attempt that, it is helpful to keep in mind that because the game is so complex, the "never" can mean "most of the time", "sometime" or "heck, I don't know. I don't feel like explaining the difference...just don't do it again".

Take for example our previous article on building forearm and wrist strength. In the article, we sought to emphasize the importance of having a strong grip. One of our favorite readers mentioned, like many players across the United States, that he was taught to hold the racket with the same grip strength that he would use when holding a bird. Sound advice...but is it? USPTA High Performance Coach and former WTA player Yvonne Gallop takes issue with this approach. Her opinion is that the grip must be varied to take into account pace of the oncoming shot as well as your intent vis-a-vis the ball. For example, squeezing the grip against a hard, incoming ball will propel the ball past it's intended target (like a ball rebounding against a wall). Similarly, having an overly-stiff grip and wrist against a soft ball may prevent you from generating sufficient pace. In short, there is no rule of thumb...it's a lot of trial and error and integrating various components (emphasizing some; de-emphasizing others) in the particular circumstance. 

Nevertheless, this brings into question an interesting concept: when we're talking about grip STRENGTH are we, ipso facto, talking about grip PRESSURE? The answer is "no". Think of grip strength as a barbell collar (device that keeps the weights from sliding off the bar). It is a pretty sturdy device made out of metal (first picture above) yet it slides easily onto the bar. If the bar is levered (i.e. tipped) against the collar, the latter won't break...because it's strong. On the other hand, grip pressure is the inward force (purple and red arrows in the second picture, above) that the collar applies to the bar when it's squeezed shut. Once it's locked, the bar doesn't slide within the collar due to the application of this pressure and friction. So, as a player, it's important to be strong when it comes to your grip so that you can apply the right amount of pressure as required by the particular circumstance. Try holding the racket like a birdie against an Isner rocket serve and you'll be collecting the stick from the next ZIP code. On the other hand, try choking the handle against a soft ball and your shot will have difficulty clearing the net.

In a similar vein, when talking about which grip is best and which one this player has or that player favors, keep in mind that there is no general rule. Take for example, tennis legend's Johan Kriek's take on Roger Federer's forehand grip:

"Roger adapts his forehand grip depending on the height of the ball...I have been doing it also for many years...tricky hey!" and "I used to use a continental grip but a little more to the strong backhand grip due to everybody thinking my backhand was the place to serve, which was great for me since it was actually my best shot. I could do anything off my backhand; my forehand was changed 2 years into my career from a continental to a more semi western grip but I used a little more eastern grip on fast surfaces. In 1986 I got to the semis of the French and that was for me one of the most satisfying results ever because of what it took in mental strength to attack so much on clay and the stamina it took to grind and attack at the right time. I eventually lost to Lendl but I was cooked physically by then, just too many 5 setters."

Many authorities, including Larry Stefanki, said the same thing about Bjorn Borg's forehand grip...that he adjusted it based on surface and trajectory of incoming ball. How many teaching pros have told you that you should probably master one forehand but be well-versed in many other grips?! Probably not many. How many pros have told you: (a) never hit swinging volleys (what about a floater?); (b) never play in the no-man's land (what if the opponent can't hit past the service line?); (c) never hit a flat second serve (what if you're serving for the match at 5-3; 40-0?); (d) never hit a drop-shot from behind the baseline (what if the opponent is 15 feet behind the baseline and tired?); (e) never serve and volley on clay (what about Johan Kriek's amazing run to the semis of the French Open?); (f) never hit to your opponent's strength (what if you want to do so in order to open up a weakness); etc.

When it comes to tennis, there are exceptions to every rule. It's your job as a player to read through the "nevers" as well as the "always" and determine when you should apply the exception and when to apply the rule. The more you play, the more experience you will acquire and the more adept you will become at parsing the communication. No coach in the world will be able to give you the exact recipe for every shot or every play since the exact factors that may exist in a practice scenario may be missing in a match. Accordingly, you have to do the dirty work of discovering the game yourself.

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). 

As The Wind Blows

Given that California is currently experiencing some massive windstorms, we thought that we would provide you with some tips for playing tennis in the wind or using it to your advantage:

1. Since drilling in the wind is frustrating, windy conditions are great for playing points. Therefore, rather than performing repetition-type drills, find someone to play sets against and use it to get better.

2. Wind requires even better footwork than usual. The ball tends to swirl around until the very last second so it's important for you to constantly strive to position yourself for the optimal shot. 

3. This may be obvious, but try not to aim for the lines (or even inside the lines). If you aim for the lines and the ball is moved by the wind in a ten foot radius, there is a great likelihood that you're going to miss. Instead, aim for the middle of the court and have the wind move the ball for you. That same 10ft radius will be inside the lines.

4. Even if it's not natural for you, try to approach the net (either serve and volley, chip and charge or off a ground-stroke). It's difficult to be precise in the wind so your opponents will have a more difficult time trying to pass you. On the other hand, you will be better positioned to knock balls down into the opponent's court and, therefore, not be affected by the conditions. 

5. Use slices for two major reasons: (A) your opponent will have to bend her knees and move her feet even more than usual increasing the chances that she will miss (hitting a skidding ball is hard enough under normal conditions); and (B) slices (well-struck ones, anyway) tend to not have such a high arc when crossing the net - therefore, the wind will not have the opportunity to affect such shots. As always, however, don't attempt this shot for the first time in a match and under windy conditions. Practice, practice, practice beforehand. 

6. Not aiming for the lines is not just for groundstrokes but also for the serve. The kick-serve and slice serve are probably your best bet under these conditions. First of all, determine which one of your serves requires a lower toss - that should be your "A" serve. As above, a lower toss has less chance of being affected by the wind. Once you figure out this aspect, make just slight adjustments to vary the intended target - the wind will take care of the rest (the ball will "sail" with the direction of the wind). For example, slice/kick down the T, middle of the court, or out wide. Sometimes, it also helps to be sneaky - by not putting a lot of pace/spin on the ball, the wind will play with it, making it swirl and, consequently, difficult and frustrating to return. When hitting serves against the wind, we have found that a slice serve tends to penetrate better than a kick or flat serve. When the wind is behind you, try to kick the serve more so that the ball explodes on your opponent and he has trouble generating pace from above his shoulders. 

7. If you know that your opponent has trouble with "dinkers" under normal conditions, these problems will be magnified by the wind. Don't rip the ball with a lot of spin (since such shots will penetrate the wind and will be easier to handle); use only enough pace and spin to maintain proper ball control. Give your opponent a wobbly ball to hit against and allow him to self-destruct. 

8. Remember the "10 and under play" or the sneak-attack. This is where you lob a high-topspin ball and, while your opponent is backing up and trying to figure out how to best handle it, you sneak in (wind may drown out your footsteps) and knock your opponent's shot out of the air. It works once in a while, particularly against some inexperienced players who back up for every ball. 

9. Keep tabs of the shift in wind; check out the swaying of the trees, blowing of the dust, or puffing of the net or windscreens. Remember to make proper adjustments when changing sides. If, on one side, you're facing the wind, chances are that you will be over-hitting when you change ends. Therefore, remember to add more spin. Conversely, when you change from side where the wind was behind you to one where it is in front, add more pace.

In addition, if the court has a drainage "tilt" (which can either be side-to-side or end-to-end, depending on the set-up of the facility), it may be exacerbated by the wind; see if you can use it to your advantage by sliding the ball with the wind into the low part of the court and having your opponent get even more out of position. 

10. Wind may be beautiful for sailing but when it comes to tennis it's all ugly. Therefore, expect to play ugly and win ugly. Under these conditions, it's all about getting the job done, not making the highlight reel.