Joey Rive - Tennis Skills & Drills

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Rive, Joey.
Tennis skills & drills / Joey Rive, Scott C. Williams.
p. cm.
ISBN-13: 978-0-7360-8308-9 (soft cover)
ISBN-10: 0-7360-8308-1 (soft cover)
1. Tennis--Training. I. Williams, Scott C. II. Title.
GV1002.9.T7R58 2012
796.342--dc23

2011027132

ISBN-10: 0-7360-8308-1 (print)
ISBN-13: 978-0-7360-8308-9 (print)

Copyright 2012 by Joey Rive and Scott C. Williams

All rights reserved. Except for use in a review, the reproduction or utilization of this work in any form or by any electronic, mechanical, or other means, now known or hereafter invented, including xerography, photocopying, and recording, and in any information storage and retrieval system, is forbidden without the written permission of the publisher.

Acquisitions Editor: Laurel Plotzke Garcia; Developmental Editor: Heather Healy; Assistant Editor: Claire Marty; Copyeditor: Joanna Hatzopoulos; Permission Manager: Martha Gullo; Graphic Designer: Keri Evans; Graphic Artist: Tara Welsch; Cover Designer: Keith Blomberg; Photographer (cover): Clive Brunskill/Getty Images; Photographer (interior): Neil Bernstein; Visual Production Assistant: Joyce Brumfield; Photo Production Manager: Jason Allen; Art Manager: Kelly Hendren; Associate Art Manager: Alan L. Wilborn; Illustrations: Human Kinetics; Printer: Versa Press

We thank T Bar M Racquet Club in Dallas, Texas, for assistance in providing the location for the photo shoot for this book.

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To my father, Julio, and my mother, Gail, for inspiring me, and to my sons Zan and Cameron for inspiring me as well.

Joey Rive

To my wife, Candace, and our children, Jasmine and Jaden Williams. To coach Jack Bailey for 20 plus years of service to Scots tennis.

Scott Williams

I would like to thank T BAR M Racquet Club and the entire staff for being so patient with me through this process, especially Glen Agritelly, Darren Boyd, Chris Wade, and Doug Kruger.

Thanks to Bobby Bernstein, Dave Licker, Greg Alexander, and Doug Kruger for their technical help.

Thanks to Laurel Plotzke Garcia, Heather Healy, and all the folks at Human Kinetics for giving me a chance.

Thanks to Scott Williams for his help and for the opportunity to collaborate with him through the final stages of the book. Finally, I would like to thank all my friends and coaching buddies for their interest in the book and their continued support throughout.

Joey Rive

Thank you to Joey Rive, Laurel Plotzke Garcia, and Heather Healy for making this book special. A special thanks goes to Cindy Newman and coach Jack Bailey.

Scott Williams

KEY TO DIAGRAMS

	Any player
	Server
	Servers partner
	Returner
	Returners partner
	King
	Coach
	Path of player
	Path of ball
	Shot number
	Bounce
	Cone

FOREHAND
SKILLS

T he forehand has become the weapon of choice for most tennis players today. How well a player hits this shot forecasts the style of play. The forehand is often central to the game plan for both sides of a match; a player can build a game plan around using it or combating it. A good forehand has power, consistency, accuracy, and variety. It enables a player to overpower an opponent, go from defense to offense with a single shot, or put an opponent on the defensive in order to transition to the net. Players with a strong forehand include Andy Roddick, Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal, Venus Williams, and Serena Williams.

The forehand plays a large part in the process of a balanced groundstroke attack. Depending on individual strengths and weaknesses, a player can use it offensively to stay in a point until the right opportunity comes around or even to play a strong defense. An effective forehand is not only about power, it is also about the way the player uses it, such as to set up net play or a killer backhand down the line.

Over the last 40 years the forehand has evolved from the classic Continental grip into more choices such as the Eastern, semi-Western, and full Western grips. Players have used classic forehand styles within an attack style strategyflat balls or balls hit on the risebut they focused on placement and finesse. Today the way players strike the ball is considerably different. Racket technology and advances in proper technique have made hitting the forehand more of a full-body workout designed to deliver a striking blow. This is apparent in the professionals and young juniors of today. The modern-day forehand strategy is more aggressive and designed to hit a winner from the backcourt or take time away from an opponent in an effort to control play.