It is extremely important to watch the ball all the way from your opponent’s racquet contacting the ball, through your strings contacting the ball. After you hit your shot, shift the focus to what your opponent is doing-watch them. If they are on the run, pushed back or having to react very quickly to your…
There are many ways to get the tennis ball to go in a certain direction. Hitting the ball early or late, adjusting the angle of your racquet face, and positioning your body and shoulders are the most common. Based on my experience, using your shoulder position is the most reliable way to direct the shot….
I have been involved in tennis since I was 10. It has always been special to me. Tennis has taught me a lot about myself, about life, and about what it means to compete. There have been many ups and downs, successes and failures, and a lot of learning. Sounds like life… We need to approach…
Every player has a different service motion. The motion can be long and smooth, short and quick, or somewhere in between. They also all tend to have a different routine before serving. This presents a problem for the person trying to return serve. It takes some time to get used to what you are dealing…
Hitting the ball to a big target area is a great strategy. Many of the pros are using this idea on the return of serve and during a rally by hitting the ball right down the middle. This takes the angles away from the opponent and allows them to make more shots. Refining this idea…
Being a tennis coach for a very long time helps me understand a lot of the things that go on in the tennis world. Even so, there are some things that I just don’t get. I have been on both ends of the hiring and firing coaching line. This has taught me to be patient,…
Here is a list of things that can help you win your tennis match. These are listed in order of importance. The more of these things that you execute in a match situation, the higher the chances of success. Tackle these one at a time! Steve Annacone, USPTA Elite Pro, is the Director of Annacone…
Taking time away from your opponent in a tennis match is one of the best ways to draw errors. These days, most players are doing this by hitting their shots with a great amount of speed. Another very effective way to rush your opponent and take away time is to hit your shot more on…
Tennis players at all levels of the game tend to develop their own unique swing. We see similarities in players’ swings and shots but there are very few (if any) that are exactly the same. The professional players have many things in common (shoulder turn, early point of contact, etc.) but when comparing, there are…
The courts at Wimbledon have changed significantly in the 21st century. The grass used to be thicker, slicker, and actually a different type. This has enabled the baseline players to play more defense, get more balls back in play, and then be aggressive once they get into the point. They can basically play similar to…