Wednesday and Thursday lessons

1-16-11--Lesson With J.--

We started with a warm up where J. emphasized keeping our heads still and keeping our eyes on the ball.

We worked on court positions in doubles.  There are really three combinations:  split=one up and one back, both back and both at net.  When both are at the net, the opponents need to get a bit back so that they are in the position to return the ball.  The most effective ground stroke from the baseline is usually down the middle and cross court rather than down the line.


We worked on serve and J. told me that I need to vary my serve more and sometimes hit a soft serve on my first serve.


We worked on the movement of the player who is not the receiver.  It is important to aggressively take the net if your partner makes a good cross court return.  If you are not assertive in moving up to the net and just inch up there, your opponent is not afraid of you at all.  He noticed that the non-receivers in our lesson don't move much after their partners return a good cross court ball.


1-17-11--Singles Lesson With K.


Today we worked on defensive shots.  A defensive high shot is hit with a continental grip and a firm wrist.  There is no follow through and the pop comes from stepping into the shot like you would do on a volley.  We worked on cutting off a return lob.  Again, you keep you wrist firm, have no follow through and footwork gives the pop to the ball.

Two Lessons Today

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.