Tennis View contributing author, Greg Moran’s new guide, “The Reality About Tennis: The Definitive Information for the Leisure Participant” is now obtainable on Amazon.
Greg’s guide was written particularly for the tens of millions of leisure gamers across the globe. Described because the “Greatest coach of leisure gamers within the nation”, Greg has been taking part in, instructing, finding out, and writing about tennis for over 50 years. He’s spent greater than 100,000 hours on the courtroom serving to 1000’s of gamers from ages 3 to 93 enhance their tennis. Fairly merely, he is aware of what works and, equally necessary, what doesn’t
Over the subsequent (5) points, we’ll be that includes excerpts from Greg’s bestselling guide. As a bonus for Tennis View readers, Greg is providing complimentary copies of The Reality About Tennis to the primary ten people who contact him (United States solely). Greg will be reached a Gmfsrc@optimum. internet.
Greg Moran
Excessive-Share Singles
Throughout the first two or three video games, merely hit the ball down the center of the courtroom. It will maintain your ball away from the sidelines and touring over the bottom a part of the web. It would additionally help you settle into a snug rhythm, shake off any nerves and discover out a key piece of data: Can your opponent maintain the ball in play?
On the 3.0 degree and beneath, that is doubtless the one technique you’ll want. Many gamers at these ranges have a two to a few shot consideration span. After that, their thoughts wanders, and their endurance evaporates. They go for a reckless, low share winner and hand you the level.
As you progress to the 3.5 degree and above, consistency alone will doubtless not be sufficient. Then, you must shift to taking part in high-percentage singles. Listed below are just a few methods to maintain in thoughts.
Once more, Neglect the Huge Serve
Many gamers immediately undertake the blast and push strategy to serving. They hearth away on their first serve, considering that if it goes in, they’ll get a simple level in addition to intimidate their opponent with their superior energy. They really feel it’s a no brainer strategy as a result of, if it doesn’t go in, they’ll at all times push of their second serve and nonetheless be within the level.
This can be efficient on the 3.0 degree and beneath the place gamers don’t have the talents to make the most of a weak second serve. Nonetheless, on the 4.0 degree and above, a powerful opponent will eat your “push” serve for lunch.
Except you may constantly hit your first serve within the courtroom at greater than 100 m. p. h. (you may’t and neither can I), going for the large serve is a waste of effort and time. As a substitute, view your function a software to realize management of the level.
Try to get 75% of your first serves in. Again off on the ability and give attention to spin and placement.
For placement, you may have three main targets: down the T, to the physique and out extensive. After all, because the match progresses, you may regulate in case you discover your opponent is considerably weaker returning on one facet or the different.
Get Each Return of Serve Again in Play
Towards a powerful server on his first serve, assume “react.” Use his tempo and block the serve again. Intention your returns 5 to seven ft above the web and down the center of the courtroom. If he serves and volleys, purpose one to 2 ft over the web and block your return down at his ft.
If the primary serve is missed, shift into assault mode. Many instructing professionals inform their college students to maneuver ahead just a few steps in order that they’ll soar everywhere in the weaker second serve. I strongly disagree.
When gamers take into consideration leaping throughout a second serve, most of the time they wind up getting too near the ball and their stroke collapses.
Assault doesn’t imply you must attempt to finish the purpose with one massive shot. It means take management. Step into the ball, drive a deep crosscourt return and start to dictate play.
Relying upon the standard of your opponent’s second serve, you could possibly transfer ahead and assault the web. In that case, consider your return as an strategy shot. Hit it straight forward and transfer into the web. Another choice is to assault with contact and infrequently hit a drop shot off his gentle, quick second serve.
Intention Greater Over the Web to Hit Deep
In a singles rally, the standard of your shot is essentially decided by its depth. Try to maintain the ball inside three ft of your opponent’s baseline. To do that, purpose 5 to 10 ft over the web. Usually talking, the decrease your internet clearance, the shorter your ball will land within the courtroom. The professionals masterfully use top to reinforce each their groundstroke depth and consistency. Under are Rafael Nadal’s, Roger Federer’s and Djokovic’s common internet clearance with their forehands throughout a latest season.
Nadal: 90 inches
Federer: 70 inches
Djokovic: 63 inches
The online top within the center is 3 ft (36 inches). Roger Federer (at 70 inches) is hitting at a top of almost two nets and Nadal (at 90 inches) comes near three.
Hit Your Groundstrokes Crosscourt
Eighty to ninety % of your groundstrokes ought to be hit crosscourt. The ball will journey over the bottom a part of the web, and the courtroom is longer on the crosscourt diagonal. This implies that you would be able to hit the ball more durable and farther and nonetheless maintain it in play.
Additionally, by hitting crosscourt, you’ll make your opponent run farther than in case you hit down the road. The following time you observe, have one participant hit all of his photographs crosscourt whereas the opposite hits solely down the line.
You’ll quickly see that the participant hitting down the road is doing rather more operating. Not solely does this illustrate the purpose, it’s additionally an amazing consistency, velocity, and conditioning drill.
As the purpose progresses, you’re ready on your opponent to make certainly one of three errors:
An impatient error that provides you the purpose.
A down-the-line shot that permits you to drive the ball crosscourt and run them off the courtroom.
A brief ball that permits you to transfer ahead and assault.
In a baseline rally, place your self diagonally throughout from the place your opponent might be hitting their shot. From this place, you’ll have the ability to effectively transfer to cowl your opponent’s doubtless crosscourt return. The one exception happens once you hit your shot proper down the center of the courtroom.
Then, recuperate to the middle of the courtroom.
Hit Your Method Photographs Straight Forward
There’s an outdated saying that “the purpose doesn’t start till somebody hits a brief ball.” When that quick ball comes, transfer ahead and hit your strategy shot straight forward of the place you strike the ball.
It will get the ball again to your opponent sooner and in addition help you merely transfer ahead to be within the correct place on the internet.
Plus, by approaching straight forward, you’ll at all times be in your opponent’s line of imaginative and prescient. As they transfer to hit their shot, seeing you immediately in entrance of them will make them really feel extra pressured. Alternatively, in case you hit crosscourt, he’ll be taking a look at a wide-open courtroom in entrance of him, or he’ll have the ability to hit behind you as you dash diagonally throughout the courtroom to get to the internet.
Take Management of the Web
Sure, even on this day of high-powered groundstrokes, the participant who controls the web in singles controls the purpose. Search for each alternative to maneuver ahead. Nonetheless, remember the fact that, because you don’t have a companion that will help you on the internet, you could be extra selective as to once you transfer ahead. Make sure that the shot you’ve hit, or the shot you’re about to hit, places your opponent on the defensive earlier than you progress in.
When you get to the web, do not forget that not often will your first volley be the one that you would be able to finish the purpose with. Be ready to hit at the least two volleys. Play the primary one again deep. After that, you may search for a volley to place away.
Choose one that’s above the web and that you would be able to transfer ahead to hit.
Once you management the web, the strain is in your opponent so don’t pressure something. If it takes two or three volleys and an overhead to win the purpose, so be it.
Be Affected person
Be it a singles or doubles match with gamers of equal capability, it’s the participant (or staff) who’s extra affected person and keen to, as I prefer to say, suppress the stupidity that can normally come out on high.
