It is a great idea to formulate a strategy or plan prior to stepping on the court. A game plan may be as simple as “hitting three or four crosscourt groundstrokes and being patient at the baseline”. It could be to “serve and volley on all first serves, and work your way in to the…
It is always difficult during a match to determine what may have caused a mistake. However, it is extremely important to identify the cause so that you can make an adjustment and hit the shot better the next time. At all levels of play, from beginner to professional, the two most common technique errors usually…
If you put 10 different players on the baseline and have them serve, you will likely see 10 different service motions and serves. The most common attribute of the best servers is their ability to keep the toss consistently in the same place. This allows the server to swing with confidence and adds smoothness to…
Tennis is an incredible sport. As you are learning the game, you can work on so many different areas to improve on. Most of us initially focus on the actual hitting of the ball-strokes, footwork, placement, etc. As you improve, it becomes pretty obvious that winning a tennis match is not always directly related to…
Challenge yourself to go after every ball. Many times during a point, it is natural to watch your opponent's shot and try to figure out whether you can get to it or not. By the time you have decided, it is too late. Instead, focus on turning your shoulders and taking your first step to…
With the spring weather still a little unpredictable, remind yourself to use your feet and early preparation to help allow for some adjustments if the ball does not do what you expected. Adding to this issue is the fact that many people have been playing indoor tennis with very little change in conditions. The cool…
Toss the ball a little more forward when deciding to serve and volley. It should feel as if you naturally need to take a few steps into the court after making contact with the ball. Continue in until your opponent is just about to start their forward swing. Just prior to their shot (regardless of…
Many of us are geared towards hitting the ball through our opponent with power and depth. Using the drop shot in addition to this idea can make the court seem very big and difficult for your opponent to cover. The key to the drop shot is aligning the head of the racket with the ball,…
Watch the ball come off of your opponent's racquet, turn your shoulders for a forehand or a backhand, and get your feet moving to the ball. Try to make contact just out in front of your body and once you finish the shot, get ready for the ball to come back. There are several reasons…
The serve and return of serve are the two most important shots in tennis. These shots usually determine who will take control of the point. A high percentage of first serves hit three-quarters speed will produce better results than a low percentage of first serves hit at maximum speed. In doubles, serving directly towards your opponent is…