Tip of the Week: After Hitting Your Shot, Watch Your Opponent

It is extremely important to watch the ball all the way from your opponent’s racquet contacting the ball, through your strings contacting the ball. After you hit your shot, shift the focus to what your opponent is doing-watch them. If they are on the run, pushed back or having to react very quickly to your shot, take a step in and be ready to keep them in trouble or win the point. If it seems like the shot is going within a step or two of where they are, there is a lot of time, or your opponent is able to move in, take a step or two back and be ready to defend.

Once your opponent is about to start the forward part of their swing, your focus should shift back to the ball making contact with their racquet. Read the shot coming off of their strings and decide whether you have a forehand or a backhand. Turn your shoulders and move accordingly, keeping your focus on the ball until you feel it make contact with your strings-then repeat the process.

Keep in mind that when you are watching your opponent you will be able to see the ball with your peripheral vision, helping you pick it up again as it is hit. Tennis has become extremely fast so being efficient with this idea will significantly improve your ability to react, move, and recover during the point. Watch your opponent after your shot and practice this routine to make things happen more automatically during the match.

Steve Annacone, USPTA Elite Pro, is the Director of Annacone Tennis, www.annaconetennis.com and MyHamptonsPro, www.myhamptonspro.com throughout the Hamptons, NY. Sam Alexander, Steve, and Gill Gross run the TOP (Tennis Optimization Players-Top Team) program at the Tucson Jewish Community Center (Tucson, AZ) for high level players ages 8-18. Please contact Steve at sannacone@tucsonjcc.org or 865-300-7323