I am an opportunist so when the option of taking a second lesson back to back with my first lesson came up, I jumped on it. Now my ankles, feet and knees hurt.
Lesson #1--Volleying and Approach Shots--Lesson with K.
When volleying, move you feet, not your hand. Step into the your shot with the contralateral foot. Bend you knees to get down low. Keep a firm wrist. For the approach shot, it is not an offensive shot. It should be cross court and deep, unless the ball coming to you is high and short and then you can send it down the line. This allows you time to get up to the net and be offensive on the next shot.
Lesson #2--Doubles strategy--Lesson with K.
Given the scenario where there is one up and one back, if the ball gets by you and your partner has to take the ball, then you as the net player need to step back two steps. If the partner gets the shot past the net person, then you slide up closer to the net.
Monday, January 31, 2011
Wednesday, January 26, 2011
Volley Lesson and General Review
1/25/11--Lesson with K.
For me, the most important thing to remember is to keep a firm wrist when I am volleying. Using good footwork means to step into the volley with the opposite foot. Concentrate on getting volleys past the service line.
1/27/11--Lesson with J.
We reviewed ground strokes, volleying, and serving. Concentrate on adjusting the backstroke to complement the ball that is coming to you. A really hard ball requires a shorter take back. If a soft high ball comes to you, you need more top spin to control the ball so that it stays in the court. On my serve, I might need to take some pace off of it if my opponent just blocks the ball and uses my pace against me.
For me, the most important thing to remember is to keep a firm wrist when I am volleying. Using good footwork means to step into the volley with the opposite foot. Concentrate on getting volleys past the service line.
1/27/11--Lesson with J.
We reviewed ground strokes, volleying, and serving. Concentrate on adjusting the backstroke to complement the ball that is coming to you. A really hard ball requires a shorter take back. If a soft high ball comes to you, you need more top spin to control the ball so that it stays in the court. On my serve, I might need to take some pace off of it if my opponent just blocks the ball and uses my pace against me.
Friday, January 21, 2011
The 1-2 Punch
1/20/11--Singles Lesson With K.
The last two weeks we have worked on moving your opponent from side to side by serving out wide then alternating corners of the court. It is good to start the match out this way.
Today we worked on an alternative pattern: serve out wide then the next two shots to the opposite corner. Use the side to side strategy with slower moving opponents. Use the 1-2 pattern with a faster moving pattern. They are moving so fast that the second ball to the corner will behind them since they are on the way to the other corner.
The last two weeks we have worked on moving your opponent from side to side by serving out wide then alternating corners of the court. It is good to start the match out this way.
Today we worked on an alternative pattern: serve out wide then the next two shots to the opposite corner. Use the side to side strategy with slower moving opponents. Use the 1-2 pattern with a faster moving pattern. They are moving so fast that the second ball to the corner will behind them since they are on the way to the other corner.
Wednesday, January 19, 2011
The High Volley
1/19/2011--Lesson with J.
Don't take a high volley as a low overhead. The high volley is a...high volley. Use continental grip (just like with a regular volley) and when taking the shot concentrate on not breaking your wrist. Maybe it's better to just say to keep a firm wrist since it would not ever be logical to break your wrist which would involve a cast and would interfere with playing tennis and of course, executing the high volley. But I digress...
You take a high volley like a lower volley, except that you need to be spaced farther away from the ball. If you take the ball too close to you, the racquet will be in the wrong position and you will be swinging in a downward direction and the ball will slam into the net. You can take a low volley close to you and a mid-range volley with an intermediate distance between you and the ball. But a high volley needs spacing away from your body.
When the ball comes sailing high over the net right where you want to make a lovely, high volley, frequently that juicy ball gets slammed into the net. The common strategy seems to be "WW" which means wait and whack. Instead of moving to where you should be, it is common that the player just stands and waits and then whacks it into the net. This is not a good idea.
Don't take a high volley as a low overhead. The high volley is a...high volley. Use continental grip (just like with a regular volley) and when taking the shot concentrate on not breaking your wrist. Maybe it's better to just say to keep a firm wrist since it would not ever be logical to break your wrist which would involve a cast and would interfere with playing tennis and of course, executing the high volley. But I digress...
You take a high volley like a lower volley, except that you need to be spaced farther away from the ball. If you take the ball too close to you, the racquet will be in the wrong position and you will be swinging in a downward direction and the ball will slam into the net. You can take a low volley close to you and a mid-range volley with an intermediate distance between you and the ball. But a high volley needs spacing away from your body.
When the ball comes sailing high over the net right where you want to make a lovely, high volley, frequently that juicy ball gets slammed into the net. The common strategy seems to be "WW" which means wait and whack. Instead of moving to where you should be, it is common that the player just stands and waits and then whacks it into the net. This is not a good idea.
Thursday, January 13, 2011
Singles Serving Placement
1/13/10--Singles Lesson With K.
When serving in doubles, it is often a good idea to serve down the "T". In singles, it is good to serve out wide. The next shot should be to the other corner. Establish this pattern early in the match and later change it up.
K. told me that I am contacting the ball behind me. I need to focus on getting the ball out in front.
When serving in doubles, it is often a good idea to serve down the "T". In singles, it is good to serve out wide. The next shot should be to the other corner. Establish this pattern early in the match and later change it up.
K. told me that I am contacting the ball behind me. I need to focus on getting the ball out in front.
Wednesday, January 12, 2011
Lesson With J.-- Firing A Cannon From A Canoe
Today we started with a long warm up. Our task was to hit cross court and keep the ball going for at least 10 times over the net. At first, this was hard for me since I have a habit of hitting with a lot of pace. As time went on, it got easier and easier. Later while we were playing, I had a lot more control over the ball than I usually do. This would be a great warm up before an important match.
Here are J's pearls of wisdom:
Lesson With J. 1/12/11
Hitting a ball without balancing up is like shooting a cannon from a canoe. You can shoot the cannon but your aim might not be very accurate.
To get ready for returning serve, first adjust your shoulders. That is the main part of the return of serve. Then you can adjust the backstroke depending on the served ball. There are three positions of backstroke. Take less of a backstroke the harder the ball is hit to you.
Are you a good winter driver? If you are, you know that you have to adjust for driving on ice patches. If you get to an ice patch, do you put the pedal to the metal? If you don't adjust to the ice patch, you are going to have a collision. A good driver adjusts the speed to match the driving conditions. This is the way it is with playing tennis. If you get a ball hit to you, you need to adjust to that ball. J. told me a few weeks ago that sometimes I go 70 mph in a 45 mph zone.
Bending your knees while you are playing is like anchoring your boat.
Consider physics with regard to tennis. Many players hit straight through the ball but physics dictate that you need to hit up on the ball. A bouncing ball is coming down, then up. To return the ball, you need to hit from low to high. If you hit straight through the ball, it will go into the net.
So today, has overtones of boating, driving and physics class.
Here are J's pearls of wisdom:
Lesson With J. 1/12/11
Hitting a ball without balancing up is like shooting a cannon from a canoe. You can shoot the cannon but your aim might not be very accurate.
To get ready for returning serve, first adjust your shoulders. That is the main part of the return of serve. Then you can adjust the backstroke depending on the served ball. There are three positions of backstroke. Take less of a backstroke the harder the ball is hit to you.
Are you a good winter driver? If you are, you know that you have to adjust for driving on ice patches. If you get to an ice patch, do you put the pedal to the metal? If you don't adjust to the ice patch, you are going to have a collision. A good driver adjusts the speed to match the driving conditions. This is the way it is with playing tennis. If you get a ball hit to you, you need to adjust to that ball. J. told me a few weeks ago that sometimes I go 70 mph in a 45 mph zone.
Bending your knees while you are playing is like anchoring your boat.
Consider physics with regard to tennis. Many players hit straight through the ball but physics dictate that you need to hit up on the ball. A bouncing ball is coming down, then up. To return the ball, you need to hit from low to high. If you hit straight through the ball, it will go into the net.
So today, has overtones of boating, driving and physics class.
Thursday, January 6, 2011
The First Week of 2011--Tennis 8 0r 9 Times--This Should Be A Good Year!
I try to take three lessons a week and play three to five other times during the week. I have been taking lessons for a decade and I am still hearing some of the same things I heard ten years ago. I think if I write down the lesson ideas, it may help me incorporate the information so that I can execute the ideas instead of just memorizing the ideas. If I write down the pluses and minuses of my tennis play, I may be able to see a pattern or coach myself to improve. I have another blog www.lifehasitsupsanddowns.com which has to do with breast cancer and tennis, but this is just about tennis. I like tennis better than I like cancer.
1/5/2011--Lesson with J.
1. Warm up with a mid-pace ball so that you can get into the timing of hitting.
2. When coming up on an approach shot, approach from the side of the ball at an adequate distance away from the ball.
3. React the opposite of the ball on difficult balls. When a really hard shot is coming, just meet the ball with the racquet. Take less of a back stroke responding to hard hit ball.
4. If you are tossing the ball wildly on the serve and it is not going where you want it to go, toss more slowly and release higher up from the ground. Think about the position of the arm on the Statue of Liberty when you are tossing the ball for the serve.
5. Don't break your wrist on volleys.
6. To get away from the ball to hit it properly, quicken your footwork.
7. Don't be afraid to make errors.
8. When communicating with your partner, you might say something that you think is helpful but the comment can be taken wrong. Be supportive but know if your partner would rather you not say anything at all. When playing a mixed doubles match with your husband, never critique him. Spouses should take separate cars to a mixed doubles match. (I think this was said in jest, but it might be a great idea.)
9. (From yesterday's lesson with K.) When taking an approach shot, take the ball on the rise and be sure to space yourself away from the ball. then get your strings up to be ready to take the next volley.
Today--1/6/11--Singles Lesson With K.
1. Singles is different from doubles in that you don't need to aim away from the net player since you only have one opponent.
2. Start the match with a pattern. Serve out wide and then change direction on the next ball to the opposite court.
3. Don't let up on my serve until my opponent proves that she can crush the ball.
4. Keep my hand up longer on my ball toss.
1/5/2011--Lesson with J.
1. Warm up with a mid-pace ball so that you can get into the timing of hitting.
2. When coming up on an approach shot, approach from the side of the ball at an adequate distance away from the ball.
3. React the opposite of the ball on difficult balls. When a really hard shot is coming, just meet the ball with the racquet. Take less of a back stroke responding to hard hit ball.
4. If you are tossing the ball wildly on the serve and it is not going where you want it to go, toss more slowly and release higher up from the ground. Think about the position of the arm on the Statue of Liberty when you are tossing the ball for the serve.
5. Don't break your wrist on volleys.
6. To get away from the ball to hit it properly, quicken your footwork.
7. Don't be afraid to make errors.
8. When communicating with your partner, you might say something that you think is helpful but the comment can be taken wrong. Be supportive but know if your partner would rather you not say anything at all. When playing a mixed doubles match with your husband, never critique him. Spouses should take separate cars to a mixed doubles match. (I think this was said in jest, but it might be a great idea.)
9. (From yesterday's lesson with K.) When taking an approach shot, take the ball on the rise and be sure to space yourself away from the ball. then get your strings up to be ready to take the next volley.
Today--1/6/11--Singles Lesson With K.
1. Singles is different from doubles in that you don't need to aim away from the net player since you only have one opponent.
2. Start the match with a pattern. Serve out wide and then change direction on the next ball to the opposite court.
3. Don't let up on my serve until my opponent proves that she can crush the ball.
4. Keep my hand up longer on my ball toss.
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