January 2002 --
Overhead dread or smash bash
“Deep thoughts for deep overheads”
Since deep lobs make it more difficult to put the ball away on overheads, many players often shy away from hitting them. Understanding the limitations as you move away from the net can help determine where and how the ball should be played.
Two main reasons the deep lobs are harder to put away:
- As you move away from the net, you have less angle with which to put the ball “off the court.”
- As you move away from the net, you have to use a higher trajectory of net clearance to compensate for the distance given up.
Instead of trying to go for the short angle near the side of the court, think about your limitations as you start to move backward for an overhead and play it higher and deeper near the baseline, with less of an angle. Use the deep overheads to “set up” your next shot by giving yourself plenty of net clearance and time to recover for it. Just be ready if the result of moving your opponent backward results in the short ball you’ve really been “thinking” about.
On deep lobs aim high and deep – short balls close and make ’em weep!
Height = depth
Just aim higher over the net for deeper rallies.
Rallying consistently is very vital in becoming an accomplished tennis player. As your level begins to improve, opponents usually start to attack more to take control of the net. To keep your opponents near the baseline in a more defensive position on the court – you have to hit the ball with depth.
Usually if you can rally and keep the ball past the service line, opponents are less likely to attack. To do this, first realize that hitting the ball harder is not necessarily the answer. More pace can bring depth but consistency usually suffers. To more effectively achieve depth, first find a pace you are comfortable rallying with and then increase your height over the net. Pretend there is an imaginary net on top of the real one and that you must clear both. If your ball goes through the imaginary net, notice where it lands in the court and make an adjustment on the next ball if necessary. One of the most positive side effects of this strategy is that you should now rarely ever miss in the net. The balls will land deeper in the court too.
So remember, don’t necessarily think you have to hit the ball harder for depth – only higher.
Return to sender
When both players should play back while returning in doubles.
Breaking serve in doubles comes down to one major factor – making returns. Too often, players either go for too much or try too hard to keep the ball away from their opponent at the net – causing one error after another. String a few of these together and one or both partners may feel like “mailing it in.”
When this starts to happen or you see a negative trend in returning, back your partner up near the baseline instead of having them up near the net. With your partner back, the court is now open to return not only crosscourt, but also to the middle and down the line. Since your partner is at the baseline, you do not have to worry about getting them “killed” at the net. It will now take much of the pressure off and allow the struggling returner to relax and swing free.
Remember, when confidence in the returns “returns,” you can then send your partner back up to the net.
