Defeating the Big Bombers

When you're young, big servers can be very intimidating to play. The size difference seems downright unfair. A lot of players "bag it" early thinking that there's no chance to ever break such beasts. Nevertheless, as players get older and wiser, they are often able to come away with a win despite their opponent's height and power. So, when facing Goliath, what is the best way to neutralize his/her power?

Here are some tips that you might find helpful:

1. Try not to back up when hitting returns. Backing up only increases the distance that you have to cover in order to return. Although the server's angle can be the same, the further back you go, the greater the side of the triangle that you have to cover. If anything, try to move in so that you can be closer to both sides of the triangle that make up the potential trajectories of his serves. 

2. Being closer to the court = quicker reaction time. This is really not the time to be a hero when it comes to hitting returns. Cut back on your backs-swing and try to "smother" the serves like soccer goalie on a PK. The object is to get as many returns in play as possible. You may prefer to keep a relatively tight neutral grip and block the return off both sides. If you're strong enough, you should be able to redirect the return deep without much swing and position yourself in middle of the court right away. 

3. Keep mental tabs on the big server's peculiarities. It is often easier to "read" a taller person than a short person. A taller person tends to telegraph his movements a lot sooner so once you notice something out of the ordinary (be it toss, shoulder movement, hip turning, etc. ) make a mental note of it and see if it pops up again next time he aims for the same target. Then, the third time, you can start anticipating. 

4. For the most part, big-serving juniors have not mastered the slice serve (out wide on the deuce or down the T on the ad-side). So it may be worthwile to squeeze the backhand side and bait him to go to your forehand. Maybe you can move towards the backhand a couple of inches but maintain (or change to) a forehand grip just in case he choose to go to the forehand. He will then be forced to go for a riskier serve towards your backhand or an un-tested serve towards the backhand. 

5. Spend a great deal of energy focusing on winning the first two points of your service game. You do not want to go down 0-30 against someone who's "nothing but a serve". If they go up, they will start taking chances on your returns knowing that the chance of being broken themselves is quite small. Often times, they will be relaxed and get lucky with some low-percentage slaps. Don't give them this opportunity. 

6. Seek to wrong-foot them in rallies. Once you get the point started, big/tall players have an easier time running for a ball that's in front of them than changing directions (which, depending on size, is like asking the USS Nimitz to do a quick turnaround in port - ain't happening). But also be aware of taller players who are lazy and prefer not to run at all. Make THOSE guys run. 

7. Keep the ball low. There's no shame in slicing the ball low or hitting flatter (but not completely flat) shots than usual. Make the tall player get down for every ball and then move. Get down; move; get down; move. Not everyone's built the same way so certain plays may be more taxing on some players than others. 

8. Take the net away from them. Again, given that taller players don't always move as well side-to-side and prefer to be the aggressors, it may be worthwhile to "take the net away" from them. Chip-and-charge or rush in on some plays and force them to move quickly and change direction for the passing shots; in other words, force THEM to be the rabbits. 

9. No silly mistakes. Keep these players in the point. Yank 'em side to side and push them back and diagonally forward. Try to wear them down with long points and capitalize on the drop in serving speed and loss of focus. Remember, they expect to win quickly and on short points; so the longer they're out there, the greater the chance that they'll be rattled and start making unforced errors themselves. 

10. DO NOT GET INTIMIDATED. Show them that you are up for the challenge and you will not be a walk-over. The reality is that, for the most part, big-bombers/tall players are somewhat one-dimensional (things change, of course, on the Pro tour). At first blush, taking them down may seem like a daunting task, but if you're willing to rock the stone column long enough, eventually it will come down on its own. 

Tennis on a Budget

Tennis is an expensive sport. Between the cost of rackets, shoes, strings, balls, coaching, entry fees, travel and club membership fees, the expenses can run into thousands of dollars. Is it all worthwhile?! Depending on your goals and commitment it may be. It is disheartening, however, to invest so much in developing as a tennis player and not get much out of it simply because you did not put in the extra effort.

Unfortunately, a lot of parents rely only on individual lessons in order to develop their kids' games. This is simply not enough. Although many aspects of the game can be taught, there are numerous components that can only be LEARNED (i.e. discovered).

Your coach can tell you how to hold the racket but only you can determine how to use the stroke in a match. Many players, however, never really learn how to "teach themselves" or how to "self-soothe" when things don't go their way in a match. They rely on constant coaching in all aspects of the game and, therefore, become automatons without any artistry or true passion for the sport. 

In addition to not being self-sufficient, many players end up playing their coaches' (or parents') version of the sport rather than their own. Furthermore, since coaches are, for the most part, authority figures, a lot of the workouts follow the "do as I say not as I do" routine. Often times, and depending on the tone and message, this can result in burn-out, dissatisfaction or outright tanking ("just to get back" to the parent/coach). 

On the other side of the equation are the players who do things completely on their own without any outside guidance. These players possess a great passion for the game and practice, whether by choice or by necessity, a lot on their own and in their own way. Of course, what they lack sometimes is structure and, perhaps, a good grasp of the fundamentals. Some of these player become quite good in their own right although it's tough to say whether they have maximized the potential. 

I believe that the best way to grow into an accomplished player would be include components from both "classes" of players: those who rely on private coaches and those who learn the game on their own. In effect, this becomes "tennis on a budget". By having some structure, the players are assured that they have proper fundamentals (what's "proper" is debatable). However, by doing things on their own or with little supervison, the players can also maintain the artistry and independence to develop one's own sense and place as a tennis player. After all, the players are not playing "for their coaches or parents" but for themselves. 

Practically speaking tennis on a budget is a blend that not only spreads the pressures and responsibilities but also minimizes the costs. In addition, the players are forced to become honest with their intentions. If they are passionate about the game, they will do things on their own in order to improve. If they are not, then no-harm, no-foul but "at least we're not fooling ourselves" or using tennis as an excuse to not study or pursue some other objectives. Although everyone's finances and goals are different, a developing player (e.g. 14+) can easily follow a disciplined routine (such as one outlined in the example below) and still manage to attain a reasonable level of success:

1. MON: 2 hours on the ball machine (FH; BH; Volleys); 30 min running/jumping rope; 30 min abs/weights. On the ball machine, work on power ("hit the ball like it owes you money"), consistency and placement. Move the ball machine around the court and learn to hit from anywhere to anywhere. Maintain good, light footwork in between shots with particular emphasis on the 3-4 "dance" steps immediately before the shot. 

2. TUE: 1.5hrs sets/points (can be a match or some adult/junior league); 30 min serves. 30 min of bike; 30 min abs/weights

3. WED: 1 hour lesson; 1 hr points/sets. 30 min running; 30 min abs/weights.

4. THU: 1 hour clinic/group-split lesson; 1 hour on ball machine. 30 min jumping rope; 30 min bike.

5. FRI: 1 hour sets; 30 min serves. 30 min stretching. 

6. SAT/SUN: tournament. NOTE: I ALWAYS recommend that the player does not rely solely on the matches provided by the tournament (i.e., don't just play your match, get in your car and drive home). Try to find a handful of players againt whom you can play a couple of practice sets AFTER the tournament match; go for a run; jump rope; do some drills with another player. Get the most out of that tennis-specific environment particularly if you're from an area that doesn't have a lot of high-caliber players to practice against. 

Again, this is just an example of a "clean" routine where the player is receiving just enough instruction so that he doesn't get too far off track but also sufficient independence in order to develop the game on his own and learn how to make adjustments independently when things go wrong in a match. Of course, the foregoing requires some dedication and discipline from the player but, then again, that's the point. In addition, there is a concern in some schools of thought that without constant instruction, the player will lose his stroke (or develop bad ones). Another school of thought, however, believes that the player is more likely to pay attenion in that 1-1.5hrs of instruction than if he were to participate in private lessons day-after-day. One cannot discount teenagers' ability to "tune things out" when they hear the same thing over and over again. 

Will this schedule produce future Nadals and Federers? Maybe, maybe not. But it will certainly result in more passionate players - in player who take charge of their games - as well as people who are capable of taking charge of their lives and being more disciplined in all pursuits. 

Balanced Approach

Once again, maybe because of our high standard of living (and greater relative disposable income that other nations) or the  pressure to "keep up with the Joneses" (or some other form of guilt) it seems that modern kids are forced into way too many weekly activities. Be it tennis, soccer, baseball, drama, street Jazz, music (singing and instruments), video games, school, play-dates, religious rituals and a dozen other endeavors, the children often do not have time to relax and properly reflect on their activities. The player may love tennis but his mind might not be on it 1 hour before the lesson or an hour following the lesson because, during those times, he is engaged in some other activities. The players race from place-to-place in some neurotic pursuit of excellence at all these activities. Often time, they become overwhelmed and burnt out with everything resulting in negative consequences such as drugs, resentfulness and other anti-social behavior. Parents often sign up the kids for all these activities in the pursuit of a balanced life. But is it?!

My advice would be to figure out EARLY whether the goal is to have little Johnny or Suzie become a "Jack of All Trades and Master of None" or an expert at one MAYBE two things. I'm all for being a well-rounded person, but if the goal is to be not just good but great, the parents and players must understand that there are only 24 hours in the day. With 8-9 hours of sleep, 8 hours of school, 4 hours of homework, a couple of hours of driving, eating and getting ready for school/athletics, the day doesn't hold enough hours to do EVERYTHING (and that's not even counting videogames or other relaxation activities).

Furthermore, the mind needs a certain time to "get in gear" in order to understand the concepts that the coach is seeking to impart. To ensure that he gets most out of the training, the player needs a good 30 minutes of mental preparation before every practice and, maybe, 15-20 minutes after the practice to reflect on the workout and absorb the information. When she is yanked around from activity to activity, the chances are that she will be thinking about school while she's doing tennis; thinking about tennis while she's doing music, thinking about music while she's doing homework; thinking about homework while ding drama; thinking about drama while playing soccer; and so on. It goes without saying that energy levels will also be diminished if appropriate breaks are not available. 

In addition, it is important to understand that the US players are not just competing against themselves but also players from other countries; players from places where the emphasis is put on one activity (besides school) rather than 5-6. So while the US player practices one hour of soccer, one hour of tennis, one hour of music, etc. per day, a foreign player will play 3 hours of tennis (and maybe some soccer "for fun" - as a warm-up or wind-down activity). In a year, the foreign player will have at least 600 extra hours of tennis. After a couple of years, the average foreign player's level will be "off the charts" when compared to US players. So if you want to the child to stand out at SOMETHING, focus on that one thing and engage in the other activities for pleasure only. Don't let such activities (or other societal pressures) interfere with your success at tennis (if tennis is indeed a priority and not just another notch in your activities belt). 

Sword and Shield Concept

When starting to play tennis more competitively, it is often helpful to understand the sword and shield approach. The sword and shield concept is derived from gladiator fights in old arenas. Fighters were pitted against each other bearing various weapons although the weapons of choice for most were the sword and the shield. The sword was, mostly, used for attacking the opponent (see below) and the shield was, mostly, used for defending. Now, that's not to say that the shield could not be used to bop the opponent over the head or the sword for deflecting a thrust, but generally each device has its role.

Tennis is, in many ways, a modern gladiatorial contest (except, if you lose, you get ice cream on the way home). In this regard, it could be helpful to remember that your forehand is - usually (not always and not for all) - your weapon and the backhand is (again, usually - not always) your shield. Generally speaking, players tend to practice their forehands more and even consciously or unconsciously rally or feed with the forehand side. So that side develops faster than the backhand. In addition, with most players prefering a double-handed backhanded, the two arms can't swing as fast together as a one-armed shot would. Yet, when playing matches, these same players seem to have the same expectations from their backhands as they would from the forehands. They go for just as much power and just as many risky winners. Unless the player has truly worked to develop the "two-sword fighting technique" (see below), my normal advice is to treat one shot more for defensive/consistency purposes an the other for attack.

Now, defensive doesn't necessarily mean pushing. You can certainly press the opponent around the court with your "shield". However, your primary goal should be consistency and penetration. Move the opponent around the court with safe but penetrating shots in order to expose the court for the forehand/kill-shot. As you get better, your backhand will become more of a "sword" and you will be able to hurt your opponent more with it. However, if you only manage to practice 1 backhand to every 4 forehands, try to be smart with how you use your shield in a match. If it's solid enough, the opponent will wear out his sword by hammering against it and you will be in a better position to attack when he's fatigued. 

Dealing With Hooks

The stories are often the stuff of legend. They spread from person to person often picking embellishments along the way: "he's the worst hook in country"; "better get a line judge in advance"; "lines are out against him"; "she gives the worst calls", etc. Since tennis players have to call their own lines (most of the time), it's no surprise that cheaters pose such a dilemma for developing players. At times, it's downright intimidating. After all, it seems downright UNFAIR to work hard just to have someone run away with the match on a bad line call. Heck, there are some coaches out there who are shameless enough to not only condone this type of behavior from their pupils but to downright encourage it (without a doubt, these coaches never amounted to anything worthwhile as players). 

Now, I can give you the standard advice and tell you to get an umpire or cheat the other player back to teach her a lesson. However, that's not what Im about. You see, I've played my fair share of high-level matches (college, futures, challengers and open tournaments) and in my experience I can't remember A SINGLE bad call that I've gotten in these matches.

Did they happen? Probably. Did they determine the outcome of the match? Most definitely not. Did all the junior players who had a bad reputation find religion or develop consciousness once they got into college? I sincerely doubt it. The fact is that players who rely on cheating to get through their early matches in the career never really manage to achieve respectable levels later on. They use cheating as a crutch and, like anything else that makes things easy, it takes the focus off something else that's more difficult: hard work. You can only rely on bad calls to get you through so many times and you can't cheat your way through workouts, practices, gym, running, jumping rope, etc. Eventually, taking the coward's way out will work against you and, by that time, it will be too late to right the ship and adjust your attitude. 

So, when faced with a cheater my advice to you is the same as my dad's advice to me: you shouldn't put yourself in the position where one point - one bad call - can make the difference in the match; seek to be SO much better than your opponents that one or two bad calls won't make a difference. If you find yourself the victim of a cheater say "THANK YOU". Rather than being discouraged, use this experience to motivate you to work harder - get better, faster and stronger. I'd go as far as putting a picture of this nemesis on your mirror and stare at it every morning when you wake up. See his face when you're jumping rope, running your sprints and miles, lifting your weights and crushing your serves. What can I say?! Contempt is a heck of a motivator. In no time, you'll be giving him points just to make it an even contest.