One on One Tennis Lesson
Today I am taking a one-on-one tennis lesson. It will focus on 3 areas:
1. Volley
2. Serve and volley
Well I had my lesson and it was terrific. By the way, I belong to Mountain Park Racquet Club in Lake Oswego Oregon.
The lesson started with volley practice. The emphasis for me was to keep my eye on the ball. The pro noticed that on the forehand volley I took my eyes from the ball to where I wanted to hit the ball before the ball hit my racquet strings. This usually caused me to hit the ball long or into the net.
His approach is to watch the ball into the racquet strings. Once you have hit the ball you can turn your head toward your opponent and assume the ready position.
His advice worked - watching the ball into my racquet reduced my volley errors. It seems so simple - just watch the ball, but the tendency is to focus on your opponents position. The pro tools me the 80% of club players move there head before striking the ball.
A goes exercise for this is to use a ball machine, and focus on watching the ball. Don't bother looking where the ball went, just focus on the ball for the entire session.
Serve and Volley
The serve and volley practice was also helpful. My instructor uses the three step rule. On your first serve, usually the harder serve, follow in with three (3) steps then split step preparing for the return of serve. This approach will allow you to be in position for a great volley.
As far as position goes, it depends on weather you are playing doubles or singles. In doubles one half of the court is covered by your partner, so you would take the 3 steps into the middle of you half of the court. For singles, you follow the ball into the court trying to cut off the angle of the return.
As far as the serve itself is concerned, the pro emphasized that you must have a plan for each serve. A plan can be as follows:
Serving on the duce court
Will serve wide to the opponent
Volley the ball to the add side of the court
Another plan might be:
Serving in the add court
Serve down the T
Volley the ball wide on the add side
Having a plan provides the focus you need to win points. How many times have you just served and hoped for the best. This might be ok for beginners, but as you progress you need to develop strategies for each point.
Try these strategies in you next came
1. Volley
2. Serve and volley
Well I had my lesson and it was terrific. By the way, I belong to Mountain Park Racquet Club in Lake Oswego Oregon.
The lesson started with volley practice. The emphasis for me was to keep my eye on the ball. The pro noticed that on the forehand volley I took my eyes from the ball to where I wanted to hit the ball before the ball hit my racquet strings. This usually caused me to hit the ball long or into the net.
His approach is to watch the ball into the racquet strings. Once you have hit the ball you can turn your head toward your opponent and assume the ready position.
His advice worked - watching the ball into my racquet reduced my volley errors. It seems so simple - just watch the ball, but the tendency is to focus on your opponents position. The pro tools me the 80% of club players move there head before striking the ball.
A goes exercise for this is to use a ball machine, and focus on watching the ball. Don't bother looking where the ball went, just focus on the ball for the entire session.
Serve and Volley
The serve and volley practice was also helpful. My instructor uses the three step rule. On your first serve, usually the harder serve, follow in with three (3) steps then split step preparing for the return of serve. This approach will allow you to be in position for a great volley.
As far as position goes, it depends on weather you are playing doubles or singles. In doubles one half of the court is covered by your partner, so you would take the 3 steps into the middle of you half of the court. For singles, you follow the ball into the court trying to cut off the angle of the return.
As far as the serve itself is concerned, the pro emphasized that you must have a plan for each serve. A plan can be as follows:
Serving on the duce court
Will serve wide to the opponent
Volley the ball to the add side of the court
Another plan might be:
Serving in the add court
Serve down the T
Volley the ball wide on the add side
Having a plan provides the focus you need to win points. How many times have you just served and hoped for the best. This might be ok for beginners, but as you progress you need to develop strategies for each point.
Try these strategies in you next came
posted by DaveK at 9:23 AM
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