| Learn some golden rules of playing modern tennis | ||||
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Golden Rules of playing singles plus drills to practice these rules:1. A player rallies cross court and attacks down the line1. Attack all mid-court balls, except sharper angles that put a player under some pressure. 2. Only attack down the line on deep balls if you are in position early and feel no pressure on the ball i.e. you can dominate the ball. (This explains why weight of shot is so important). 3. Never approach from playing outside the inside sideline. (Show from behind) Disciplines: Percentage tennis means sticking to the rules 80-90% of the time. Experience and talent is expressed by players who know when to take the risk of when to wrong-foot an opponent. Drill: Rally cross-court, then call "now" when there is a no-pressure ball that one player can attack. Do: Forehand and backhand side. Exceptions: Opponent has a specific tendency. 2. Know where to aim your returns
How closely a player sticks to the rules
depends on how much pressure the server
puts him/her under.
1. Wide serves require across-court
returns. 2. T Serves require down-the-line
returns.
Exceptions: If a player is reading serves well and getting in position early then the player will be able to choose where to return. Drills: 1. Go through each position allowing
players a chance to groove the
directions. 3. Always be positive returning 2nd servesStand in and take away the opponent’s time. Find a position to return between waist and shoulder height. 4. Defensive aggressionStand way back and hit high and hard, or sharp and hard with spin and plenty of angle (mostly on slower courts). Drills: 1. Return high deep topspin returns
aiming mostly towards middle of the
court. 5. Serve and Volley ==> defend the percentage returnsExceptions:
Serve
not good enough to specific area which
allows opponent to dominate the ball,
therefore able to change direction
easily.
Opponent has a
specific tendency to aim in one
direction most of the time (three out of
four times should ring some alarm
bells).
6. Defending under pressureDefend high, deep and cross-court under
pressure or to the middle of the court.
Deep slice backhand also good. Both of
these are subject to playing someone who
does not cut in and take these shots on
the volley.
If you play someone who sneaks into net: 1. Lob 2. Play down the line safely,
occasionally taking a massive
risk and smacking the ball down
line NB: If you are breaking the rules of
percentage tennis monitor carefully your
rate of success. As it lowers, lower
your risk level.
7. When you sneak in
Do it fast and get the ball as close to
the net as possible and always try to
volley down.
8. Passing shotsThe first one should go mostly down the
line with spin dipping the ball. 1. Cross court with lots of spin
dipping down at the feet. 2. Hit firm and hard into the open
space if a fairly large space
presents itself. 3. If you are cramped or running
forward for a low ball in the middle
of the court, then hit with spin
right at your opponent. Attitude:
Hit to places not past players. Lifting
the head is the most common mental
error.
9. Volleys
Try short cut-offs when possible back
behind your opponent, when faced with a
difficult volley.
by David
Sammel
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