Everything keeps happening faster on the tennis court. A player often feels that there just isn’t enough time to do what they want to do. The speed that you hit your shot can make the opponent feel this. Also, hitting the ball away from them can have the same effect. Another idea is to…
The single most crucial factor for a good hit in tennis is contact. If you start with a goal of exactly where you would like to hit the ball in relation to your body, you may focus on efforts to get into this position. While the preparation and finish for different players will vary,…
“Necesito el ritmo,”—“I need (the) rhythm”—is a common phrase heard on the tennis court in Spain, both from players and coaches. Rhythm, cadence, timing, and control are essential aspects of the Spanish style of training. What is rhythm and why is it important in Spain? How do you achieve good rhythm? Let’s explore Spanish…
Beginning this year, tennis teaching certification and coach education will move into the largest change seen in the United States in over 10 years. The United States Tennis Association (USTA), the national governing body for the sport of tennis in America, has taken the reigns in creating a scaffolding of sport science-based parameters that…
I have students ask me all the time, “What am I doing wrong”? Although there can be some benefit to figuring out why you missed a shot in tennis, it is much more helpful to emphasize what you are trying to do. Reminding yourself to start the “getting ready” process by turning your shoulders,…
It has become more and more difficult to serve and volley successfully at all levels in a tennis match. This can still be an effective strategy but the server has to be very good at placing the serve and mixing it up. As an alternative, a great way to get into the net in…
The power game has definitely become the most popular way for the modern player to win a point. Players are relying on the speed of the shot more and more to hit a winner or cause an error. If you are playing against a hard hitter, try to remind yourself to hit your shots…
One of the greatest aspects of the game of tennis is that there is always a chance to win. I have played tennis for over 50 years and have experienced this on both sides. I have been on the verge of winning and ended up losing the match (many times) and on the brink…
I have stated previously that each player has a comfortable speed for their swing. Some players swing on the high-end (faster) and some swing on the lower-end (slower). It is very important to generate enough racquet head speed so that the racquet face stays level at the point of contact. If the speed of…
As coaches and teaching professionals, we are constantly trying to help our players develop good habits, but how often do we look at our own habits as teachers? This article will portray simple actions and behaviors that can make us better professionals. On-court teaching As someone who spends most of my working hours on-court,…