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.

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.