Going for the Big Shot

Going for the big shot

IVirtual reality' drilling hel

by Joe Dinoffer, USPTA

G

one are the days when a steady rallier from the baseline, like former

great Ken Rosewall, can dominate tennis. Great players today have "big" shots, hitting a higher percentage of winners than in previous decades.

This pattern is shaping the style of play that will be effective for the next generation of players. It will affect competirive juniors most, but also competitive and recreational adult players.

This creates a challenge for teaching professionals.

Students aspiring to be "great

Joe DinoJfer, USPTA,

is presi-

dent of Oncourt OJfCOllrt Inc.) and dewloper of

Play

Tennls in the Ropezone Drill Book and Target System.

in the Airzone) accompanies the first portable air target training system.

Dinoffer has conducted clinics and exhibitions in more than 50 cowuries

and camps in Dallas, and is a frequcn t speaker at conveJltions.

style practice to success in a real match. An effecrive transition stage can be called "virtual reality" drilling. These are

friend or spouse, or a dozen other" excuses." In match play.

drills that students can perform in a supervised, yet pressure-packed, competitive situation. They have to be able to feel the tingling pressure of the situation and still succeed to develop real match-play confidence.

Without transition drills, students who look and feel great in a lesson come back to us after a match with their heads down, saying, "But I did so well in the lesson.

the primary distraction is often the pressure to win. Consider champions like Pete Sampras, Chris Evert, Bjorn Borg. Their focus is always tremendous, and distractions are few and far between.

D

rilling with a target is an excellent aid to

avoiding match-play distractions. The typical target system used on a tennis court has always been a "bull's eye

Then, in the match, I missed every overhead. I got so upset I became nervous on practi-

define specific court areas with ropes, cones or balls placed in

cally every shot for the whole game!" player who is poorly prepared for match play, not having

a pattern.

To develop match-play confidence, players must know without a doubt that if they hit the ball consistently

properly gone through the transi tion. Successful competitors tell themselves, "Oh,

in a specific area, they will win. If they use high-definition visual target areas with

after approaching the net 2. overhead smashes

great! Here comes a lob.

Now I can win the point!"

success in practice (both repetitive and "virtual reality"

Tentative competitors say to themselves, "Oh, no! An-

competitive drilling), they will have greater success fo-

3. power groundstrokes with short high balls

other lob." Overheads provide a good example of how a

cusing and executing winning shots in real match play.

p1ayer's confidence

There is an affirmative

Five common big shots I. winning angle volleys

4. attacking a second serve 5. high mid-court volleys

since 1973. He directs adult clinics

or work, an argument with a

target," such as a cone or racquet cover. However, the ideal target system will clearly

players" are eager to hit these big shots and walk in the shoes of Andre Agassi or Steffi Graf It is up to the professionals to not only teach their students how to hit the big shots, but also how to develop the confidence needed to execute them in real match play.

His most recent

book, Play Tennis

from success in repetition-

Most professionals comfortable

feel

teaching the tech-

niques of these shots, but more is required. The major challenge lies in the transition

These are the words of a

can easily

peak or plummet during a match.

A major cause of matchplay pressure is mental distraction. During casual play, distractions can include the weather, a tough day at school

behav-

ior pattern in focusing on target areas and placement, and the possibility of distraction is greatly reduced.

Target areas can be used to specifically develop focus during repetition drilling. These

evelop player confidence repetition drills can be done with the pro or practice partner feeding, by hitting with a partner, or by using a ball machine. During the first phase of confidence building, the student grooves the proper technique and realizes, "Yes! I really can hit this shot." Once they can hit with solid technique into a designated target area at least four out of five attempts, they are ready for the match transition drills or "virtual reality."

In his Specialty Course at the 1994 USPTA National Convention, Bill Tym said, "If a player can hit any shot 10 times in a row, I tell them that they now own that shot."

C

ompetitive drills have two phases. The first is

to play with the target areas still set up on the court.

The second phase is executing competitive-style drills with the target areas removed. This avoids any possible dependence on physical targets. It is important to make this transition during the same practice session to ensure strong visual carry-over.

The teaching professional will easily notice whether or not this transition is successful. When i.n doubt, the players should be questioned on how strong their visualization is of their target zones. If they have problems, the pro should determine whether the

difficulties are techniquerelated or strictly with the process of visualization.

If their tranSitIOn to "virtual reality" drilling without the targets ill place is successful, the players are ready for a final reality check before stepping into a match. Ask them to compare their emotional response to these virtual reali ty drills with their emotional response to pressure situations in match play. If the emotions are the same, they're ready.

On the other hand, if their emotional comparison reveals differences, the coach and player should work together to identify the specific emotions in each circumstance.

Go over them one by one until the student consciously experiences the same emotions in competitive practice as in real match play.

Students should develop

confidence with these critical "big shots," which create the real turning points in match play. The tentative volleyer will see a short ball and hesitate to come in to the net, knowing that hitting a volley can be risky business. The player who looks forward to getting close to the net to win the point will be the same player who steps in decisively to take charge on all short balls. They will eagerly see set-up balls as opportunities to win . .Q:S

(Upper) A player practices moving in on a short ball to hit her two-handed forehand into the down-the-line

target

area. The baseliner attempts a passing shot.

(Lower) The player has pulled her opponent well out of position and hits the volley crosscourt into the short angle target area for a winner.