Simple DefenseUnderstanding the court, where you are, and your opponent are all part of defense. Many players get overwhelmed on defense. Anytime your opponent is coming in to attack or hits a big ball that pushes you out of position, hit the ball high and in the middle of the court.
Hit Out of TroubleTo practice hitting out of trouble, practice hitting crosscourt with a ball machine or a partner. The key to hitting your way out of trouble is hit the ball crosscourt. When you hit crosscourt, you buy yourself time to get back into position. But DON’T just stand in the alley and wait for the ball. […]
Keep Your Head DownIt’s important to make your mind up about where to hit the ball ahead of time and stick to that plan. When you change your mind, you can lose focus on the ball and pull your head up. Moving your head affects your swing. Make a plan, keep your head down, don’t worry about what […]
Backhand to ForehandFor most players, the forehand is their best shot. Some players hug the ad side of the court to try to get more forehand opportunities. This strategy isn’t the best because it leaves too much of the court open. Instead, focus on hitting the backhand then transitioning to the forehand. The key to this transition […]
Full Court GameYou have to think about tennis as a full court game. The key is to not wait in one spot. Always gravitate towards the center, look for all the angles, and create an opportunity to begin your attack.
Plan the Entire PointTennis is like chess. You have to constantly plan out your next move. Planning ahead can be difficult when you don’t have control over what your opponent is going to do. So, you have to think about the entire point and what you’d like to have happen. Even if your opponent hits the ball to […]
Playing from BehindFor most tennis players, playing from behind is easier than playing with the lead. When you’re down, there’s less fear of screwing up, because you’re already losing. Follow your instincts. Go for a little more when you are already in a deficit. You can practice playing from behind with a partner. Take turns playing games […]
One-Handed BackhandThe most important part of the one-handed backhand is actually your non dominant hand… That’s because you NEED your non dominant hand to adjust your grip.
Moving Around the CourtWe often think of movements on a tennis court as forward, backward, and lateral. We seldom think about moving on an angle. The lines on a tennis court make this especially hard… You should NEVER follow the lines. Use angles to move around the court quickly. Push yourself backward at an angle first, so you […]
Creep ForwardWhen you hit a deep ball, you should be looking for an opportunity to move forward. Don’t rush in. You are looking for the opportunity to move in. Too often players rush in after a deep return in anticipation of the short ball. They move so far forward that they are standing exactly where the […]
Specialty ShotsThe key to specialty shots is in the first word… “specialty”. Specialty shots are any shot outside the norm. Think drop shots, lobs, drop volleys, etc. While specialty shots are fun to do, they increase your chance of failure. Make sure you understand each shot and when to use them. Just be careful not to […]
Forehand Short BallThe short ball to your forehand side is one of the most exciting balls to get… because it looks like an easy winner. Too often, these “easy” forehand winners go into the net or sail long. This is actually when you should hit an approach shot, not try for an outright winner. Go down the […]
Varying SpeedsNothing messes with your opponent more than changing up the rhythm of the game. Vary your speed by first hitting a deep ball and then hitting a softer ball to the same area. The key to varying the speed of the ball is a loose grip and disguising your shot.
How to Plan in TennisYou have to learn how to plan in tennis. Whether you’re preparing for a tournament, match or just practicing for improvement, you should be planning. Tennis can actually be broken into 4 key categories. Technical Tactical Physical Mental Planning is simple if you use these 4 key categories to identify your strengths and weaknesses and […]
Clearing the NetUnderstanding how high to hit the ball can help your tennis game. The only time you should hit the ball up at 12 feet is when you’re in trouble and you need to buy some time. Your “normal” rally ball should be about 3 feet over the net. When you need a little time or […]
Practice Short BallsShort balls are one of the least practiced shots in tennis. Most players assume that a short ball would be easy to hit. It’s not! Don’t try to kill the short ball. Instead, focus on your approach shot.
Live Ball ChallengeYou should do a live ball challenge before every practice set. Live ball challenges help you practice with purpose and get you into competition mode.
Practice to WinToo often, we practice just to practice. There are no consequences. There’s no prize. If you practice well, but you don’t play well, it’s because the stakes are different, so your mental state is different. The best way to Practice to Win is to put yourself in the same mental state as when you’re competing. […]
The Trick to ConsistencyA lot of players think that consistency is getting the ball in play. That’s not consistency. If you slow down and start just pushing the ball to keep it in play, you aren’t playing consistent tennis. Consistency is being able to hit the ball the correct way… and being able to hit your shot 2, […]
Explosive MovesDeveloping explosive movement on the court is the best way to gain more power in your swing. An explosive first move will help you transition from decision area to the net and set you up for the volley. Practice your explosive movement by using the power from your legs. Get low and use your hip […]
Go the Extra StepThe key to speed in Tennis is to constantly stay in motion. Remember, you should never be on your heels or perfectly balanced. Always stay moving around the court and focus on pushing yourself forward. You can rest when the point is over.
Simple DefenseUnderstanding the court, where you are, and your opponent are all part of defense. Many players get overwhelmed on defense. Anytime your opponent is coming in to attack or hits a big ball that pushes you out of position, hit the ball high and in the middle of the court.
Hit Out of TroubleTo practice hitting out of trouble, practice hitting crosscourt with a ball machine or a partner. The key to hitting your way out of trouble is hit the ball crosscourt. When you hit crosscourt, you buy yourself time to get back into position. But DON’T just stand in the alley and wait for the ball. […]
Keep Your Head DownIt’s important to make your mind up about where to hit the ball ahead of time and stick to that plan. When you change your mind, you can lose focus on the ball and pull your head up. Moving your head affects your swing. Make a plan, keep your head down, don’t worry about what […]
Backhand to ForehandFor most players, the forehand is their best shot. Some players hug the ad side of the court to try to get more forehand opportunities. This strategy isn’t the best because it leaves too much of the court open. Instead, focus on hitting the backhand then transitioning to the forehand. The key to this transition […]
Full Court GameYou have to think about tennis as a full court game. The key is to not wait in one spot. Always gravitate towards the center, look for all the angles, and create an opportunity to begin your attack.
Plan the Entire PointTennis is like chess. You have to constantly plan out your next move. Planning ahead can be difficult when you don’t have control over what your opponent is going to do. So, you have to think about the entire point and what you’d like to have happen. Even if your opponent hits the ball to […]
Playing from BehindFor most tennis players, playing from behind is easier than playing with the lead. When you’re down, there’s less fear of screwing up, because you’re already losing. Follow your instincts. Go for a little more when you are already in a deficit. You can practice playing from behind with a partner. Take turns playing games […]
One-Handed BackhandThe most important part of the one-handed backhand is actually your non dominant hand… That’s because you NEED your non dominant hand to adjust your grip.
Moving Around the CourtWe often think of movements on a tennis court as forward, backward, and lateral. We seldom think about moving on an angle. The lines on a tennis court make this especially hard… You should NEVER follow the lines. Use angles to move around the court quickly. Push yourself backward at an angle first, so you […]
Creep ForwardWhen you hit a deep ball, you should be looking for an opportunity to move forward. Don’t rush in. You are looking for the opportunity to move in. Too often players rush in after a deep return in anticipation of the short ball. They move so far forward that they are standing exactly where the […]
Specialty ShotsThe key to specialty shots is in the first word… “specialty”. Specialty shots are any shot outside the norm. Think drop shots, lobs, drop volleys, etc. While specialty shots are fun to do, they increase your chance of failure. Make sure you understand each shot and when to use them. Just be careful not to […]
Forehand Short BallThe short ball to your forehand side is one of the most exciting balls to get… because it looks like an easy winner. Too often, these “easy” forehand winners go into the net or sail long. This is actually when you should hit an approach shot, not try for an outright winner. Go down the […]
Varying SpeedsNothing messes with your opponent more than changing up the rhythm of the game. Vary your speed by first hitting a deep ball and then hitting a softer ball to the same area. The key to varying the speed of the ball is a loose grip and disguising your shot.
How to Plan in TennisYou have to learn how to plan in tennis. Whether you’re preparing for a tournament, match or just practicing for improvement, you should be planning. Tennis can actually be broken into 4 key categories. Technical Tactical Physical Mental Planning is simple if you use these 4 key categories to identify your strengths and weaknesses and […]
Clearing the NetUnderstanding how high to hit the ball can help your tennis game. The only time you should hit the ball up at 12 feet is when you’re in trouble and you need to buy some time. Your “normal” rally ball should be about 3 feet over the net. When you need a little time or […]
Practice Short BallsShort balls are one of the least practiced shots in tennis. Most players assume that a short ball would be easy to hit. It’s not! Don’t try to kill the short ball. Instead, focus on your approach shot.
Live Ball ChallengeYou should do a live ball challenge before every practice set. Live ball challenges help you practice with purpose and get you into competition mode.
Practice to WinToo often, we practice just to practice. There are no consequences. There’s no prize. If you practice well, but you don’t play well, it’s because the stakes are different, so your mental state is different. The best way to Practice to Win is to put yourself in the same mental state as when you’re competing. […]
The Trick to ConsistencyA lot of players think that consistency is getting the ball in play. That’s not consistency. If you slow down and start just pushing the ball to keep it in play, you aren’t playing consistent tennis. Consistency is being able to hit the ball the correct way… and being able to hit your shot 2, […]
Explosive MovesDeveloping explosive movement on the court is the best way to gain more power in your swing. An explosive first move will help you transition from decision area to the net and set you up for the volley. Practice your explosive movement by using the power from your legs. Get low and use your hip […]
Go the Extra StepThe key to speed in Tennis is to constantly stay in motion. Remember, you should never be on your heels or perfectly balanced. Always stay moving around the court and focus on pushing yourself forward. You can rest when the point is over.