There is a big difference between hitting a tennis ball and playing a point. There is also a big difference between practicing and playing an actual match. When I am working with a player, I do my best to emphasize technique and simple key thoughts while structuring the practice situation to simulate an actual…
I wish someone had given me a simple idea about how I should be playing points earlier in my tennis career. I think I basically hit the ball and waited to see what would happen. This sounds crazy to me now, but I think a lot of players still play like this. Here is…
Volleying is a lost art. There are a handful of players on the ATP and WTA tours that are extremely good at it. The majority of players tend to rely on their hands and the movement of the racquet when they volley. Even though the game has gotten faster, your step should be part…
Once or twice a year, a tennis player will walk on the court and everything will go right. The first serve goes in and the placement is perfect. The player is seeing the ball extremely well and the contact is solid and consistent. Strategy seems easy and even the simplest ideas are winning points….
I have been working with students and interacting with parents at many different levels in tennis for more than 20 years. I currently teach group and private lessons, run a program for 25 autistic students and run USTA tournaments. My experience has been with students ranging from the beginner through the advanced levels. The…
This is the second part of Barbara Wyatt’s Hindrance Quiz. Click Here to read Part One. The Hindrance Quiz checks your understanding of the ITF and USTA rules of hindrances. Correct answers are the simple quick answers, not burdened with a barrage of what-ifs or embellished with nuances on the court. A “yes” means the…
Most players dread the low reply from their opponent when approaching the net. This is a difficult shot but if you can handle it, your opponent is likely to be surprised and frustrated. This will force them to attempt a clean passing shot which is not a high percentage play for anyone. The key…
The first thing we all have to realize is that everyone, even Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal, Novak Djokovic, Serena Williams, Simona Halep, and Sofia Kenin, gets nervous before and during a tennis match. Some players look as if they are extremely relaxed when in reality they are feeling a lot of the same things…
The way you string your tennis racquet can have a dramatic effect on your game. If a racquet is strung very tight (58 pounds or more), the ball will not rebound off the strings as much. This means you will have to swing harder to generate a faster shot. By stringing at a lower…
A document was recently published by a group of doctors stating that tennis is a 1 (on a scale of 1-10) in terms of likelihood of transmitting the COVID-19 disease. This should send a “learn how to play tennis” message out to everyone who is looking for some great exercise, social interaction (from a distance),…