The WebTennis.net Blog
Get FREE Access to Brent's Video Tips Series, BLOG Updates, New Lessons, Lesson Discounts, etc. including:
* Serve Strategies
* Classic Stroke Fundamentals
* Forehand Groundstroke Strategies
* Slice Groundstroke Strategies
* The Grips
*Developing True Tennis Confidence
* The Split Step
* Top 10 Best Doubles Tips
* Tennis & Golfer's Elbow
* Plantar Fasciitis
* Patellar Tendonitis
* Rotator Cuff
* And More...PLUS, get updates to any new BLOG posts, New Lessons, Lesson Sales, and more...!
Brent's
DVD, CD, & Downloadable
Tennis Instructional Products* Strokes
* Strategies
* Mental
* More...
Discover how to get 40% off of Brent's Lessons
Past Tips at WebTennis.net
Check the archive here first, but there is also a HUGE library of past video tips over at WebTennis.net Past Video Tennis Tips
Tennis Injury Treatments
* Tennis Elbow
* Golfer's Elbow
* Rotator Cuff
* Plantar Fasciitis
* Patellar Tendonitis
* Sprained AnkleFREE Tennis Injury Treatment Tips
Syndicate
Current & Future WebTennis.net Tennis Tips
Tennis Backhand Topspin Drive - 2 Must Haves
Guess what the biggest problem players have with this shot?
The get too much topspin...
That's right, too much artificial spin doesn't help you with what it is you want to do with this shot.
Think about it, what's your goal when you play either a forehand or backhand drive?
It's to have the ball move through the bounce as quickly as possible so it can do what?
Get to that 2nd bounce...
If you can hit shots that bounce twice, you got it, you win those points.
Too much artificial topspin does nothing more than give your opponent a nice easy shot to handle.
So the key with the backhand drive groundstroke is to apply enough topspin to control the length of your shot but not so much topspin that you take away from the ball being able to penetrate through the bounce.
Make sense?
Check out this video that touches on two vital aspects of the backhand topsin drive.
Tennis Singles Baseline Strategy - The 3/4 High Looper
Hitting groundstrokes with pace, power, isn't always a big challenge for your opponents.
In fact, I'd much rather have my opponent give me a steady diet of pace when I'm back on the baseline.
I have less that I have to do with pure stroke mechanics, and in fact, I can borrow their pace and re-direct it much easier than having to produce good stroke mechanics to get the same power and direction control.
Try this strategy in singles where you throw in a 3/4 high "looper" deep to your opponent's backhand corner, and if they back up to handle your shot, move in and take their next shot as early as possible to reduce the time they have to recover to a good position.
Check out this court diagram video...
Tennis Backhand Slice Tip
Not sure why, but I am really pumped for 2009.
It just seems that we have so much to work on, and yet, the kiss of death of improving is always information overload.
So, my goal this year for you is to maximize your learning / improvment.
Let's start with two things...
First of all, I want to hear from you what is the #1 area of your game you want to change during 2009?
Be very specific, not general.
What one aspect of your game, either a stroke or strategy, would you like to be able to say in January 2010 that you worked on and definitley improved upon during this year? Just send me an email to brent@webtennis.net and let me know.
And #2, let's start 2009 with a quick tip on your backhand slice. I know this isn't a super glamorous shot to be working on, but any player who can hit a backhand slice that skids and stays low will have a tremendous weapon from the baseline.
Not only that, but once you really learn to hit that backhand groundstroke slice with true underspin that skids, not a shot that "sits" up over there, then your approach shots and volleys will get a lot better.
Check out this video clip below.
Doubles - Server's Court Position After 2nd Shot
One of the big court positioning mistakes I see in doubles is where the server ends up after their 2nd shot.
You know, they serve and come in behind that serve and then play their 2nd shot, normally either a volley or 1/2 volley back cross court to the returner.
And invariably what happens is the server gers too close to the net.
Even if you're about in the middle of your service box, the returner, who is cross court from you, now has a really good opportunity to play a nice deep lob over you.
Check out this court positioning diagram video.
Want to improve your half volleys and become a much better
doubles player?
Well of course you do!
Discover how to make 1/2 volleys in your sleep!
_______________________________________________
Show Your Love for WebTennis.net!
Contribute a small donation to the cause - Click Here!
________________________________________________
Discover How To Get A 40% Discount On Brent's DVD &
Downloadable Tennis Lessons - Click Here!
________________________________________________
Thanks, Brent
Doubles - Returner's Partner Tip #2
Let's do a quick followup on our last court positioning tip for the Returner's partner in doubles.
We touched briefly on it, but I want to be a little more specific if your partner returns serve shaprly cross court into the server's alley.
As the returner's partner, what do you immediately need to do maximize court coverage for that situation?
Doubles - The Returner's Net Partner - 1
I see this doubles court positioning mistake all of the time and at almost all skill levels.
If your partner is returning serve in doubles, and your partner plays a low cross court return of serve away from that server's net partner, what you do next as the returner's partner will probably determine whether or not your team is going to win this point.
Check out this video...
My #1 Pet Peeve - Starting The Rally
The #1 thing that players do that absolutely sets me off is how they abuse their game when they start off a rally... Down below I've got a short video for you.
You know what I mean, you pull a ball out of your pocket, drop the ball on the court ,and then typically hit a forehand groundstroke to start a rally.
I've never measured it, but I'll be that if I did, most players start 95% of the rallies with their forehand groundstroke.
Any wonder why the backhand typically is not as strong as their forehand for beginners?
But that's not what gets me.
What drives me nuts is to watch players grab a ball out of their pocket, let it drop anywhere in front of them, and then just completely slop over a forehand with zero attention to proper stroke mechanics.
Every time you do that, your brain gets yet one more opportunity to think that's how you're supposed to hit that forehand.
And worse, and this really is the one that makes me want to look for a bridge to jump from, players get up to net and start off a rally not with a volley but with a topspin forehand groundstroke.
You're kidding me right?
Now you're training your brain to think that volleys are supposed to be topped from below your waist.
Dumb...
Look, this is a golden opportunity to train the exact stroke you want to have.
How many times do you think you drop a ball to start a rally every time you go out on the court?
A ton of times.
Don't abuse this opportunity.
So, the next time you're out on the court, to start a rally, please...
- get a ball in your non racket hand,
- start the rally by holding your hands in front of you as if you're in normal "ready" position,
- turn your shoulders, drop the ball at precisely the spot you want to make contact so your swing won't be crowded or you won't have to reach for the ball,
- go through a perfect swing shape for that forehand,
- make sure your swing shape has a tempo you can actually feel,
- keeps your eyes down through contact,
- allow the swing tempo to go all the way to your finish position,
- and then look up...
Do this methodical routine every time you start a rally and your game will get better.
Alternate between forehands and backhands when you start a rally.
You'll probably look a little awkward those first few times you try to coordinate the ball drop with your backhand, but come one, you'll get it right, and your backhand will love you for this extra attention.
Work on picking up the ball right after the bounce to improve your skill of taking the ball on the rise.
Create a slightly higher bounce from your ball drop and work on hitting that tough shoulder high forehand.
Hit drives, slice, 3/4 loopers, etc. You get the idea.
This is the best opprotunity you're going to have to do some mindless tinkering and getting some real "feel" for each of your strokes.
And whne you're at net and you start the rally, please, please toss up a ball and hit a normal volley. You'll get good enough to where you can do both forehand and backhand volleys. Think your volleys just might improve if you took this opportunity to hit a volley perfect?
You bet...
Check out this short video.
Show Your Love for WebTennis.net!
Contribute a small donation to the cause - Click Here!
________________________________________________
Discover How To Get A 40% Discount On Brent's DVD & Downloadable Tennis Lessons - Click Here!
________________________________________________
Thanks, Brent
The WarmUp - What You Do The First 5 Minutes Is Critical
You know, what you do with those first 5 minutes every time you go out on the tennis court, whether it's to practice, play a match, take a lesson, whatever, those first few minutes can dictate how you're going to play on any given day.
One of my fellow members at the Berkeley TC complained the other day that he can't figure out why one day he can play well and the next day pretty lousy.
When I first started working with Tom Stow, he had me do this simple exercise every time I saw him for the first 15 minutes or so when we were on the lesson court.
It seemed so simple at the time, and because I wasn't paying as close attention as maybe I should have, he rode me like there was no tomorrow.
I couldn't figure out why we had to spend so much time getting what appeared to be this easiest of drills down to a perfect science.
Well, after what was probably way too long for Tom'e liking, it finally sunk into my thick skull.
The first few minutes you spend on the court have to be dedicated to aligning yourself to the path of the incoming ball, even if you're doing a short court warmup and just tapping the ball back and forth.
And aligning yourself to the path of the incoming ball means - are you moving your feet in such a way that you're lined up a certain distance away from the ball so that your natural contact point is going to be absolutey perfect?
Most players get sloppy with these first 5 minutes, and then you end up sending the wrong information to your brain about your strokes.
Too often, and hey, I was really guilty of this for a long time, I see players standing in one place and reaching for balls and / or letting balls crowd them.
Your brain thinks that how your forehands and backhands are supposed to be played for that day...!
--- Watch this short video ---
It's Luke Jensen On The Phone (That's right, the 1993 French Open doubles champ)
I had a great chat on the phone this morning with Luke Jensen, 1993 French Open Doubles champ and currently the women's tennis coach at Syracuse.
Joel Drucker, one of the world's leading tennis writers, also joined us.
You can hear that interview below...
Luke Jensen 
Joel Drucker
Luke is probably in the 1% of college tennis coaches out there who are teaching and coaching a true "all-court" style of play.
In fact, the kids who play at Syracuse for Luke are trained in all-out serve and volley tennis.
You know me, I'm now thinking there is a future for junior tennis players with guys like Luke promoting serve/volley and all-court tennis.
We talked about how Luke got involved in tennis, what made him an all-court player, why and how he recruits by telling his prospects that they will play at a higher level in college with this style of play, that they will have a better chance if they go out on the tour, and what I liked the most, why learning and refining an all-court style of play will insure that those kids will keep playing and having fun on the court once they get older...
What a concept? - "A Sport of a Lifetime"...
Well, it's about time that someone with some real street cred is out there being passionate about a style of play that is different then the mind numbing 3-5 feet behind the baseline boring crap we see coming out of so many junior programs in this country.
I also asked Luke about a couple of his favorite drills to help the rest of us with our "transition" skills from the baseline up to the net.
Get settled in, get comfy, and here's about 25 minutes of stuff I hope you'll enjoy.
_________________________________
_________________________________
Show Your Love for WebTennis.net!
Contribute a small donation to the cause...
Thanks, Brent