There are many different approaches to returning serve. Many players like having more time so they can take a bigger swing at the ball. These players tend to stand somewhere behind the baseline. There are also players who use more of an abbreviated swing and try to get the return back to the server…
Many tennis players rely on rhythm to be successful. Hitting several groundstrokes in a row often gives a player confidence to hit that more aggressive shot as the point gets longer. There are quite a few ways to disrupt your opponent’s rhythm. One is to try to keep the points as short as possible…
When I learned how to play tennis, I remember being told to keep a firm grip on the racquet to help eliminate wrist movement during the swing. Obviously, tennis has changed pretty dramatically since then and almost every player relies on some wrist action to add speed to their shots. Starting with a very…
Most of us play tennis with the idea that it would be best if the ball does not come back after we hit our shot, but it’s extremely important to think that the ball is always going to come back. Try reinforcing this idea by actually hitting your shot so that the opponent is…
Players have become better and better at handling the deep, hard shots that most of the modern players use to get their opponent in trouble or to win the point. Many of today’s best players are capable of taking a few steps back and using the speed and depth of the shot to hit…
Many players on the ATP and WTA Tours produce powerful shots with swings that do not look extremely fast. Some of this comes from their natural ability, but there are things you can do to improve your power without adding more effort to your swings. First, you must realize that hitting the ball in…
If you have played someone with a good serve and the game to back it up, you know how difficult it is to win the match or even stay close enough to give yourself a chance to win since they will hold serve most of the time. Roger Federer’s ability to hold serve has…
If you are the server’s partner at the net and the serve lands anywhere from the middle of the box to the center service line, make a diagonal move towards the middle of the court. Most returners are not likely to hit the return towards your alley if the serve is hit well and…
I once heard someone ask Roger Federer if he swings at his serve at 100 percent speed. He replied that he rarely does. This is one of the reasons why Federer looks so effortless, not only serving, but basically on almost all of his shots. He tends to swing at the speed that he feels…
When someone misses their first serve, they absolutely have to get the second serve in the box. Because of this, even good tennis players can become tentative on their second serve. Try standing two or three steps inside of your first serve returning position prior to the opponent’s second serve. This will put a…