THE ART OF COACHING
Learn Through Touch and Feel
By Joe Dinoffer
Tennis is a game you ultimately have to “feel.” Why do I say that? The human body is miraculously built to develop billions of neuro-pathways. As these pathways develop, they allow us to perform tasks of varying complexity, from something as seemingly simple as sitting in a chair to something as complex as playing classical guitar. At the perfection of development, each movement becomes automatic. How can this help tenThis series—for coaches, players, and nis players, and especially tennis parents—features key concepts beginners? Players, particuthat apply leading educational and larly kids, can tap into their sports training methods to help tennis “kinesthetic” side and get players become their best. a better “feel” for playing tennis by developing their neuro-pathways for the sport. (In fact, young children have significantly more neurons than adults, and as a child matures, unused neurons die off and pathways that aren’t stimulated become ineffective.) Here are some ways to stimulate those neuro-pathways that will help a beginning tennis player. In each example, we offer a tip involving a readily available, and practically cost-free, device, as well as a training aid that requires minimal investment. Perform each exercise five to 10 times, until you can self-bounce or serve a ball and get the same feel and result you achieved with the aid of the practice tip or device.
1. Feel Topspin From the Start Hitting topspin groundstrokes is a key to playing at higher competitive levels. Too many players struggle to hit topspin groundstrokes when a quick exercise could give them the proper feel they need to succeed.
Cost-free idea: Place a ball between your racquet and the net and hold it in position. Then, brush up the back of the ball quickly to get it to roll forward over the top of the net.
Training aid: The Spin
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TennisLife magazine
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Doctor is a foam-injected ball on a telescoping pole and requires a partner to hold the pole in position while you lightly brush up on the ball to gain a feel and visual reference for creating topspin (photo 1).
2. Find Your Playing Height Every good player knows it’s one thing to have solid strokes, but you also need to be in position and on balance—pretty strokes alone don’t win matches. Athletic movement and balance requires players to move in a playing height about 6 inches lower than normal standing height.
Cost-free idea: To feel your playing height, stand up straight and look at your shoe tops. Then, slowly bend your knees until the front of your knees prevent you from seeing your shoelaces. In this position, you’ll be at an efficient playing height.
Training aid: Another option is to use a resistancebased training aid like the Flex Trainer, a device that forces athletes to feel a lower playing height by physically pulling them down to a lower position (photo 2).
3. Build a Fluid Serve The serve is the most important shot in tennis. Effective serves at higher and higher levels go hand-in-hand with increased racquet-head speed. To swing faster, the racquet must be in continuous motion and free from starts and stops. In particular, you must not pause with the racquet in the backscratch position and elbow pointing to the sky— the well-known “trophy position.”
Cost-free idea: Tie a knot on one end of a bath towel. Pretend the towel is your racquet, but start in a modified position with your racquet hand about a foot in front of your belly button and at the same height (photos 3a and 3b). From there, go through the rest of the serving motion and keep the knot of the towel from hitting your back by swinging in a continuous motion. If you pause in the “trophy position,” the knot will hit your lower back.
Training aid: The “Serving Sock” has been around for years. To create this training aid on your own, take an old tube sock, insert three tennis balls, and tape or staple a dowel or
Photo 3A
sawed-off old racquet handle to the end. Then perform the same exercise as described above with the knotted towel.
4. Catch for Better Dropshots Playing tennis with improved feel for the ball includes being skillful with touch shots such as dropshots and drop volleys. If you’re like many players and don’t have the touch it takes for delicate shots like these, try softening up your grip and thinking about catching the ball, instead of hitting it, on dropshots.
Photo 4 photos ©Susan mullane
Cost-free idea: Have a partner toss you a short ball around the service line. Move in and transfer your racquet to your left hand (if you play right-handed) and catch the ball with your open racquet hand (photo 4). Once you succeed a few times, alternate using your racquet with the same soft catching skill. Make adjustments until your dropshots land just over the net on your opponent’s side of the court.
Photo 5
Training aid: The Contact Doctor helps train players for these delicate “catching” types of shots. Just set up for your dropshots or drop volleys and catch the incoming ball in the net.
5. Stop Chopping Down on Volleys
Photo 2
How many times have you had a high volley sitter that you dumped into the bottom of the net? You probably chopped down on the ball. To hit solid volleys on balls you contact well above the height of the net, be sure to check your finish. Your racquet head should not finish below the height of the net.
Joe Dinoffer is a Master Professional in both the PTR and USPTA, a distinction awarded to only a handful in the tennis industry. He has published numerous books and videotapes, and is a frequent speaker at tennis conferences around the world. For more information, visit www.oncourtoffcourt.com.
Cost-free idea: Place a chair or bench about 10 feet from the net. Stand close enough behind the chair or bench so that if you chop down on your volleys, you’ll actually hit it. Have a partner feed you a high forehand or backhand volley. Finish your volley motion without hitting the chair or bench.
Training aid: A popular training aid to develop this same skill is called the Path Pro. It’s simple and versatile, and the foam yellow guide will not break your racquet in case you accidentally hit it (photo 5) while acquiring this skill.
Photo 3B www.tennislife.com
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