Please keep in mind that these tips always have to be general in nature and specific to certain individuals, but certainly not all. So, the reader has to take what they can from our comments and apply what is necessary to them.
Time is of the essence for players of all levels when hitting the ball from the back of the court. So many errors emanate from being rushed or late. We have identified 3 specific ways in which players are robbing themselves of the time necessary to swing freely.
- Standing too close to the baseline.
Every player needs to develop their own ‘baseline’. A player’s ‘baseline’ is the distance one likes to stand from the baseline while rallying. For example, look at Nadal’s baseline and compare it to Federer’s baseline. They are very different for different reasons, some of the factors that determine one’s baseline are tennis related, while others are more psychological, but regardless, find something you are comfortable with, which also works for you.
For advanced players, one’s baseline may vary from point to point (mixing it up), but for club players or those other than advanced players, the baseline could vary from match to match depending on how one’s opponent hits. If someone consistently hits short, one may choose to stand closer to the baseline, conversely, if the opponent hits very hard and deep, one may choose to take a step back.
Club players consistently stand too close to the baseline when playing. Please remember it is easier to move forward than it is to backpedal.
Try backing up and see how you feel with the extra time!
- Watching the ball too much
This sounds strange, but it is true!
Players are so intent on watching the ball that their body freezes and there is a delayed physical preparation to hit the ball.
The need is for the hands to move as soon as one recognizes where the ball is going. To simply watch the ball will not help you prepare to hit the ball.
The process of preparation moves from eyes-to-hands-to-feet! So, the eyes see, the hands move immediately to the appropriate side and then the feet move to the ball.
Stop trying so hard to watch the ball. Instead, try a softer focus on the ball watching, but also make sure the hands move immediately your opponent hits the ball. Point your strings as soon as possible to the oncoming ball.
A general rule of thumb may be to make sure your racket is at the back of the backswing by the time the ball bounces in front of you. If that happens, you will always have time to swing freely.
- Running towards the ball
Many players have the tendency to move towards the ball as soon as the opponent hits it and this obviously results in having less time to hit the ball. If you find yourself doing this, draw a line in front of you or use the baseline and try not to move in front of that line. Of course, if the ball is short, you would have to move forward, but often we are moving forward immediately without an assessment of whether one should move backwards, sideways or forward.
Players see the ball and start moving the feet immediately and then problems arise by getting too close to the ball or being too far from it at contact. If you are having trouble with spacing at contact, please try moving the hands out to the side first and then following the hands to the ball and see what happens.
If the hands move immediately upon seeing the ball and you do not move towards the ball, it will seem like you have so much time to hit the ball; it’s an amazing feeling to not feel rushed.
Please play around with all these things and see how they affect your game.
Enjoy the journey because the destination is overrated!