Infinite Ideas - Instant Tennis: Skills and Techniques to Improve Your Game

Instant tennis

Skills and techniques to improve your game

Infinite Ideas

The open stance

The open stance is best used when you have next to no time to prepare for an oncoming ball. Thats pretty often nowadays as everyone it seems tries to drive it like Rafa. This lets players load up on their hips and explode into the shot, producing forehand and backhand winners. Start with the backswing, which consists of rotating the shoulders and hips together to about 90 degrees to the right for right-handed players. You then need to shift your weight to the right foot for right-handed players. Concentrate on staying balanced throughout the swing, follow through and recovery. Now think shoulders and hips. After the backswing start the forward motion along the same path with speed and make contact with the ball as far out in front of the body as you can to provide control and power to the stroke. Try to keep the non-hitting hand pointing in the direction of the target as this will help with the height and depth on the ground strokes. And dont shift your weight too early or youre more likely to hit short.

The semi-open stance

This is pretty similar to the open stance position. Its often useful when you havent much time to prepare for your next shot. The only real difference between open and semi-open is that you open up the step slightly more to the left (for a right-handed player) and load all your weight onto the outside hip (right). For a right-handed forehand drive begin the backswing by rotating the shoulders, hips and trunk at the same time. Step to the right with the right foot and shift the weight here too. Step into the court with your left foot; thats the key difference between semi-open and open stances. Your weight should stay on the outside foot until the stroke is completed fully. (Use opposite feet if youre left-handed).

The neutral stance

This position is recognised as the starting point for all other stances, so it is very important for beginners to master. It can be used for both forehand and backhand shots. It helps you to learn about shifting weight and rotation of the body. The neutral stance provides the best position to practice the follow through and recovery after shots, at least for easy returns. It allows you to shift your weight towards the direction of the shot and for that reason is best for hitting the one or two-handed backhand. The rotation of the hips, shoulders and trunk is the start of the backswing. You then must step out with the right foot and shift the weight there. Step forward with the left foot towards the net and shift the weight again onto the front foot before making the forward motion of the swing. Keep the weight on the front foot until the stroke has been completed through to the recovery. To finish the back foot (right) should be brought forward and around, helping to keep balance.

The closed stance

This position can be used on either the forehand or backhand shots but is best used when youre chasing down a ball on the run, or when youve been forced out wide. Your hips will close stopping any rotation and youll need to take a couple of extra steps before rotating your shoulders or trunk. The problem with the closed stance is that your control is obviously limited as is your power and your recovery time. If youre right-handed step across with your left foot and this will bear much of the weight. It means a strong shot is dependent on power through just your arms.

Warming up your lower body

As in any sport or exercise you need to give yourself enough time prior to starting your game to properly warm up. If you dont youre liable to injure yourself as your muscles and ligaments wont be stretched prior to exertion. Start by simply jogging up and down on the spot, then sideways then forwards and backwards. Build up to a gentle jog around the court as many times as youre comfortable with. Now place your hands on your hips. Move your hips in a large circle. Keep your back straight and bend to the right and the left. Raise your arms above your head and then move them together to one side, down in front of your body and on up to the other side. Repeat, but in the opposite direction. Now widen your stance and bend forward from the waist. Reach forward between your legs and as far behind you as possible. Try to hold for five seconds. Finally think about your hamstrings. Cross your legs over so that the outside of your feet touch each other. Try to place your palms on the ground in front of you. Feel those hamstrings stretch.

Warming up your upper body

Allow yourself plenty of time prior to your actual match to stretch your upper body. Start by bending your head from side to side, backwards and forwards and from shoulder to shoulder. Dont go for the 360 degree rotation of the neck as this can be dangerous to the vertebrae. Now circle both arms forwards and backwards in arcs. Perform small circles by extending each arm level with your shoulder and tracing circles with your hands keeping the arms straight. Now cross your arms in front of your chest and swing each outwards and upwards to the sides. Finally place your arms behind you so that they meet halfway down your back. Push your arms gently and feel the muscles stretch.

Attracting your opposite

Heres a sure-fire winning tactic for beginners. Hitting a short ball at an experienced player is asking for trouble because youll usually get it back with interest and lose the point. But beginners will often simply hit the ball right back at you. They then get stranded on the court in No Mans Land between the baseline and service line. When that happens simply hit the ball either side of her and a few feet deeper than shes standing. You will nearly always win the point as the result of drawing an inexperienced player into the centre of the court.

Height advantage

A lot of players find a hitting a backhand from above shoulder height a difficult shot to play as they cannot get much power in it. Practise hitting it high, with a lot of topspin, so that it kicks above your opponents shoulders. What usually happens is that youll get a weak floating ball back. Youll be able to hit a winning shot as a result, usually from the net if youve moved well enough in advance. Theres another bonus with this shot; if youve hit it high your opponent will be looking up and to the side at the ball, so wont see you moving in for the volley. The point will be yours!

Mastering the slice serve