TENNIS.com - Instruction

Bollettieri Q&A: Preparing for the shot

Sat, 24 Dec 2011 12:00:00 GMT

Nick, what exercises are there to train a player to spot and read the ball as fast as possible?—Marek

If you want good vision and anticipation, pay attention during the warm up. Observe your opponent's strokes. Do they hit with lots of spin and height, or do they slice? Where do they position themselves to hit groundstrokes? During a match, look at your opponent’s racquet head, especially on the backhand side. If it’s open on the backhand side, you’re going to see a slice or a drop shot.

Here’s a drill to improve your recognition and reaction time. Divide the court into these three zones:

Zone 1: Net to service line
Zone 2: Service line to baseline
Zone 3: Baseline to the back fence

Before the ball bounces you must yell out the zone where you'll be standing when you hit your ball.

Dear Nick, how do you explain to people what it means to prepare early on groundstrokes? How should their bodies feel? Do you describe at as coil and release? Is that an adequate description? If not, what is missing?—Arturo Hernandez

So many coaches use the old expression “take your racquet back.” I suggest this: As soon as you know whether it is a forehand or backhand, turn your hips and shoulders immediately. This will take the racquet back naturally. Early preparation is the single most important factor in groundstrokes and volleys. Today's inside-out and inside-in shots demand very early preparation.

Have a question for Nick? Write to him at asknick@tennis.com

Nick Bollettieri of the Bollettieri Tennis Academy has trained many collegiate and professional players, including 10 who reached the world No. 1 ranking.

Bollettieri Q&A: Coming to grips

Sun, 11 Dec 2011 10:23:00 GMT

Hi Mr. Bollettieri, I play an attacking game and it helped me win quite a few matches when I was younger. But I’m about to turn 18 and haven't grown much in a few years, so I'm now quite small for my age and starting to get pushed around by my opponents. Also, I use a very explosive Eastern forehand which only helps me when I’m in control, and when I don’t, I make a lot of unforced errors. I try changing to semi-Western but because I’m small, I don’t get as much power on it as my Eastern forehand grip. What should I do to reduce errors and start attacking again?—Kenny T., Auckland, New Zealand

Let’s go over the facts: You are small, you love to hit hard and control play, you are almost 18 and are still small, you have a strong Eastern grip, and when you try hitting with a semi-Western grip you feel you lose power (I don’t agree with your theory; you can have plenty of power with that grip with practice). My solution is, you must now change your style of play and not try to outhit your bigger opponents. Yes, with a semi-Western grip you might lack power (for now), but you will add spin, which allows you to hit the ball higher over the net and deep to the backcourt. Adding this to your game will break down the rhythm of your opponent and give you chances to attack.

Dear Mr. Bollettieri, I find myself at the net quite often with an easy volley that could allow me to win the point. Unfortunately, I have had trouble putting away these volleys. Instead, my volleys just pop up and give the opponent an easy passing shot or lob. Any advice on how to keep the volleys lower and how to have a better “pop” to them?—John Anderson, Georgia

You don’t need power to win your volley points. Instead, use the power of your opponent’s shot and redirect it. Hit the volley deep if you are only a few feet in front of the service line for your first volley. Angle your volley if you are several feet inside the service line. Make sure you have a Continental to weak Eastern grip and use your non-hitting hand to hold the racquet a little longer. And you shouldn’t “pop” your volleys. Do not accelerate on contact unless you’re hitting a swinging volley.

Bollettieri Q&A: Attacking with age; high backhand help

Thu, 10 Nov 2011 08:54:00 GMT

Dear Mr. Bollettieri, I’ve been playing tennis for a long time—I actually met you when I was 8 (I’m 54 now) at John and Ann Miller’s Las Vegas Racquet club. I played college tennis and continue trying to improve my game. When I was playing competitively, my approach was simple: Beat the hell out of my serve, get to the net and try to finish the point within two or three hits. I can’t play that way anymore, and I find that I focus for a point or two but then I seem to move into a “deer in the headlights” mental state. The result is a very fractured strategy, and inconsistent playing (e.g., lots of unforced errors or poor shot selection). I hope this is enough information to ask this question: Can you suggest any ways to improve my concentration, and improve my strategic execution?—Paul C. Peterson, Nashville, TN

Those were the good old days with John and Ann Miller; great to hear from you. I know it gets tougher to play a quick, attacking style when you get older. But my advice is, worry more about your conditioning than your tennis right now. Get yourself into the best shape possible. This will have mental benefits, too. When you’re tired, the mind goes in many different directions and you often choose to play low-percentage shots. Get in the best shape you possibly can and go back to your old style of play, which is less common today and will give your opponents fits. Attack, attack, attack: This will force your opponents to hit all passing shots and drive them nuts.

Hi Nick, I have single-handed backhand and I have learned to hit topspin with an Eastern backhand grip. This has allowed me to compete better against players rated at 4.0, but I still struggle a lot when the ball bounces above my shoulder. Should I move in, step back or try a different grip?—Selvam J. Mascarenhas

You have two options. You can move in and strike the ball on the rise, before it gets above your shoulder. Or you can adjust your grip to a semi-Western, which will give you additional racquet-head speed and more strength behind the handle. Many top players play this way. The key is to accelerate the racquet more than ever and stay loose as you swing. You must allow the racket head to brush up on the ball and come over it.

Bollettieri Q&A: Two forehands; chip-and-charge rules

Wed, 12 Oct 2011 00:46:00 GMT

Hi Nick, I play first singles on my high school team. I have trouble when my opponent serves toward my backhand. My backhand isn’t very good, so I switch to my left hand and hit a forehand (I’m ambidextrous). My left hand is consistent during practice, yet I have trouble with it during real matches. Should I switch back to my one-hand backhand or continue to adjust and progress with my left-handed forehand?—Peter Siv

First thing you can do: Try to force your opponent to serve to your forehand. Change your position when you return serve. Shade toward the middle on the deuce side and see if your opponent can beat you with a wide serve (my guess is he can’t). In the ad court, move toward the alley and tempt him to serve up the middle. The best part about this position: You’ll be moving toward the middle of the court to return. As far as whether you should keep hitting a left-handed forehand or work on your backhand, I’d suggest working on your backhand. You can learn it and it will serve you better in the long run.

Hi Nick, here is my question: Are there any firm rules about chipping and charging? I figured that you would be an authority on this as Boris Becker used to do it once in a while.—Simon

The chip and charge is a great play, especially at the recreational level. Here are my rules:

—Use an Eastern backhand grip (on your backhand).
—Prepare early and bend down to the level of the ball.
—Drive the ball deep into the backcourt. This gives you time to move in close to the net and gives your opponent a difficult shot.

You could also mix things up by hitting a few short slices that force your opponent to move forward. This can induce them to lunge and hit up on the ball, giving you an easy volley.

Bollettieri Q&A: Fighting power, backhand grips

Thu, 22 Sep 2011 09:00:00 GMT

Dear Nick, I am a pretty solid player and play quite a few USTA tournaments. I can beat good players and get far in the draw, but the moment I play someone with a lot of power, I end up being overpowered. I have pretty good strokes and footwork, but somehow I cannot even put on a good match against these players. I am tall (6-foot-3) yet lack their power. What should I do to be able to compete with these players and even beat them? It would be nice to finally win a big USTA tournament.—Overpowered and Overwhelmed in Chicago

The first thing you need to do is accept the truth, which is this: “I cannot compete with power players.” So what’s the solution? Make your powerful tormentors less powerful. How, you ask? By changing the pace of your shots. Mix in slices, high-rolling shots and dink shots, and increase your serve percentage with more kick serves. You can also try to apply pressure of your own by going to the net when your opponent hits more defensive shots.

There are ways you can learn to better handle power, too. You need to develop a stronger lower body foundation so you can stand your ground when the ball is hit hard at you. And here’s my final tip: Don’t throw in the towel before the match begins. There is a way to beat these players. Just keep trying.

Hello Nick! I live in Spain and I’m coaching my daughter Elizabeth. I have a question about the backhand. She uses this grip combination: an Eastern forehand on the top hand and an Eastern backhand on the bottom hand. As far as I know, Andre Agassi used the same grip combination for his backhand. My question: If in the future she would like to change her backhand from a two-handed backhand to one-handed backhand, will it be a problem for her? When should we start to change? What is your recommendation?—Christian

For her grips, an Eastern forehand on the top hand is good. For the bottom hand, just make sure it’s not a strong Eastern backhand grip. I prefer it if players use a grip between a Continental and a weak Eastern for the bottom hand.

As far as switching to a one-handed backhand, I’ll just say be careful. It’s difficult for me to answer this question without knowing more about your daughter’s physical makeup, speed and results to date. But there may be no reason to change, especially if she is comfortable with a two-handed backhand. It has worked for many top players.

Have a question for Nick? Write to him at asknick@tennis.com

Nick Bollettieri of the Bollettieri Tennis Academy has trained many collegiate and professional players, including 10 who reached the world No. 1 ranking.

How to Hit a Forehand Volley

Wed, 20 Jul 2011 00:00:00 GMT

Having both hands working together is the key to this shot.

It takes two hands to hit a great forehand volley. When you watch the world’s top doubles teams, you’ll see what I mean. The best don’t take a huge backswing when they volley on the forehand side, as shown in the illustration on the left. The bigger the backswing, the more likely you are to swing at your volley, which will ruin your timing. You’ll also hit the ball late. So what do the best volleyers do? They make good use of their off hand. I tell my students to pretend that their hands are handcuff ed together on the forehand volley. Bring your racquet back by making sure you turn your shoulders, and don’t let your hitting hand get too far away from your off hand, as shown in the second illustration. This will make your volleys compact and quick. The result will be better timing, a more consistent contact point (farther out in front), more accuracy and far fewer errors.

Roy Barth, a PTR Master Pro, is the director of tennis at South Carolina’s Kiawah Island Golf Resort.

Illustration by Jon Rodgers

Originally published in the July/August 2011 issue of TENNIS.

How to Hit a Passing Shot

Wed, 20 Jul 2011 00:00:00 GMT

The best way to beat a net rusher is with patience.

Your opponent rushes the net and then you . . . panic. Sound familiar? We’ve all been there. When playing against a good volleyer, we try to hit perfect passing shots right on the line or at impossible angles, and usually fail. But there’s a better way: Pass in two steps, rather than one.

Step 1: First, hit a low shot that gives opponents a difficult volley. You want to hit a shot that’s low and a little outside their reach, or if they’re far from the net, a ball that dips low and is aimed right at their ankles. This will force them to hit up on the volley and make a winner all but impossible.

Step 2: Second, be ready to move and then pass. As soon as you follow through on your shot, you should be moving forward and be ready to split step and move to the ball. If you hit an effective first shot, you’ll have time to get into position for a slower ball and have lots of options. Now you can hit a passing shot into the open court—and do it under a lot less pressure.

Illustration by Jon Rodgers

Originally published in the July/August 2011 issue of TENNIS.

5 Minutes with Nick: Inside-Out Forehand

Wed, 20 Jul 2011 00:00:00 GMT

Five steps to perfecting the most devastating weapon in tennis.

1. Hitting an inside-out forehand is one of the best chances you’ll have to hit either a winner, a forcing shot or a strong approach shot. It can’t be an occasional shot—the inside-out forehand has to be a staple, even the shot you want to hit most often. The first thing you have to do is get a read on where the incoming ball is headed, so that you can move into position to hit an inside-out forehand. If you watch the best players in the game, you’ll see that they stand to the left or right of center, toward the backhand side of the court. They’re giving themselves a better chance to maneuver into position with a lot of open court in the opposite direction.

2. As you turn your shoulders, the racquet will go back at the same time. Move farther to the left or right of the ball (depending on whether you’re a righty or a lefty) than you need to. This will allow you to step back into the ball while you hit, rather than falling to the side during your shot.

3. As soon as you decide to hit an inside-out forehand, immediately bring your racquet back and move. You can’t prepare too early for this shot. Since you’ll often be running around a natural backhand, you’ll have more distance to travel than normal, but in the same amount of time. There’s no time to waste.

4. Even before you hit a strong inside-out forehand, you know you’ll move in tight to the net following the path of the ball. Yes, you’ll be giving your opponent an opportunity to lob, but the perfect lob is a difficult shot under normal circumstances, especially outdoors off of an offensive forehand. You must overcome the fear of moving into your backhand side so that you can control play.

5. The worst thing you can do on an inside-out forehand is make contact too close to your body. If you’re jammed, you’ll lose power and have trouble hitting the ball on an inside-out path. Keep the ball a comfortable distance from your body and make sure your racquet and arm are not tucked in close.

Nick Bollettieri has trained many players, including 10 who reached the world No. 1 ranking.

Photo by AP

Originally published in the June 2011 issue of TENNIS.

How to Hit a Swinging Forehand Volley

Wed, 20 Jul 2011 00:00:00 GMT

A great weapon for baseliners who are uncomfortable at the net.

• The swinging forehand volley is just a forehand—except the ball doesn’t bounce. You set up and swing the same way. It’s an excellent option for strong baseliners who have trouble switching from their forehand grip to a volley grip. First step: Decide early. You need to recognize a slow-moving ball right away and then prepare for a swinging volley. Set up in an open stance with your shoulders fully turned and level, and your off arm pointing out toward the ball. Good posture and balance are essential.

• As you begin to swing, the butt cap of your racquet should point at the incoming ball, just as it would on a forehand. Swinging volleys should be hit from the service line or inside of it—this is an aggressive shot. Your left side will begin to open up as you start to swing. Push forward into the shot and let your knees come up naturally. Don’t jump. If the momentum of your swing lifts you off the ground, great. If not, don’t worry about it.

• Here’s one key difference between this shot and a regular forehand: the point of contact. For an effective swinging volley, you have to hit the ball at shoulder height, above the net. If you hit the ball at the height of the net or below, you’re going to have to hit up, which is not aggressive enough. Still, you must apply topspin by brushing up the back of the ball. Your swing remains low to high, but be sure to drive through the ball, just as you would from the baseline.

• Don’t stop your swing. Even though you’re hitting the ball near the net, you need to finish your swing. Extend through the ball toward your target. Don’t aim for a small target—there’s no need to hit a line with this shot. If you’re hitting the ball hard to a spot outside of your opponent’s immediate reach, that’s enough. Any reply will be weak. As you follow through, your weight will shift to your inside foot and put you in a good position to move forward. Follow the path of the ball and get ready to end the point—if it isn’t over already.

Mark Dalzell is a senior tennis coach and director of the weekly camp program at the IMG Bollettieri Tennis Academy.

Photo by AP

Originally published in the June 2011 issue of TENNIS.

How to Hit a Drop Shot

Tue, 19 Jul 2011 00:00:00 GMT

This important weapon requires an aggressive approach but soft hands.

The drop shot might be a touch shot, but that doesn’t mean it’s not an assertive shot. When you hit a drop shot, you’re on the offensive. You need to execute it with conviction. To start, you must have strong court positioning well inside the baseline. If you’re close to the baseline, the drop shot is a desperation shot and unlikely to work. You must also set up as you would on other shots. Flex your knees, balance yourself and take your racquet back as you would on a slice backhand. Don’t let the racquet face dangle. This will give away your intentions and impair your swing. Use a Continental grip (to see what this grip looks like, go to our Grip Guide) and bring your racquet back with your non-dominant hand. This will aid your shoulder turn.

• There’s a difference between “down and out” and “out and down.” Your drop shot swing shouldn’t exaggerate the downward movement; you still have to hit the ball over the net. Open your racquet face slightly—I prefer the word “bevel” to “open” because “open” often causes people to open the racquet too much. Soften your hands as you swing and don’t accelerate through the shot as you would on a slice drive. But you still need to step into the shot and move your non-dominant arm in the opposite direction of your hitting arm, to keep you balanced.

• On an effective drop shot, the ball goes up before it goes down. Build a mountain, not a hill. If the trajectory of the ball is too low, the ball will bounce too far once it lands and give your opponent a lot of options. You want to pop the ball up over the net with underspin and have it drop down, so it has very little forward momentum. Keep your head steady throughout your swing and make sure you finish what you start. If you punch the ball or stop your swing short, you’ll have less control over the speed of the shot and its placement.

Ajay Pant is a USPTA and PTR Master Pro and the national tennis director of Midtown Athletic Clubs.

Photo by AP

Originally published in the April 2011 issue of TENNIS.

Fool's Gold

Tue, 19 Jul 2011 00:00:00 GMT

Clean winners in doubles aren’t as valuable as you may think.

Few things in doubles feel better than driving a clean winner past your outstretched opponents. Your partner will be pumped, your opponents stunned and you should feel ... incredibly lucky. While there are many open spaces in which to hit clean winners in singles, the “hit ’em where they ain’t” strategy usually brings more pain than pleasure on the doubles court. You’re better off attacking your opponents in the following three less-flashy ways: low, high and in between.

• Low balls—shots at your opponents’ feet—are among the most difficult shots to return. Even if your opponent digs one out, the shot will likely float up over the net, giving you a chance for an easy volley, overhead or strong groundstroke.

• “High” means lob. A good lob pushes your opponents away from the net and forces them to hit overheads (the most physically demanding shot in the game) from deep in the court—not an easy thing to do consistently.

• Then there’s the most effective shot in doubles: between your opponents. When you hit low shots between your opponents, the ball will travel over the center of the net, the lowest part. Plus, your opponents often will be confused as to who should take the shot. Finally, when you hit down the middle, your opponents won’t have any angles to work with. They’ll have to create their own, which is extremely difficult.

High-level doubles teams understand that the game is not about hitting clean winners. It’s about minimizing errors and forcing the other team to miss. These three strategies are guaranteed to accomplish both. Let the other team hit the dazzling winners. You play disciplined, percentage tennis and win the match.

Greg Moran is the director of tennis at the Four Seasons Racquet Club in Wilton, CT, and author of Tennis Doubles Beyond Big Shots.

Illustration by John Rodgers

Originally published in the May 2011 issue of TENNIS.

Strong Reply

Tue, 19 Jul 2011 00:00:00 GMT

A good return of serve makes for a great day on the tennis court.

1. A good return of serve starts with court position. For club players, the best spot is behind the baseline, to give yourself time to hit the return, and toward the alley in both the deuce and ad courts. Why cover the alley? On the deuce court, that’s the easiest place for a right-handed player to serve—especially at the intermediate level, since players often slice the ball and don’t pronate well enough to hit a fl at serve down the T. This position prevents you from being stretched out wide after your return. If you cover wide and your opponent goes down the middle, you’ll at least be moving toward the center of the court and have an easier time blocking your return back over the center of the net.

2. Shorten up your swing. A long swing makes for an inaccurate and inconsistent service return. If your opponent puts even a little pace on the serve, all you need to hit a solid return is a shoulder turn, a short backswing, and a smooth, uninterrupted swing. Long swings are more difficult to time, and they also prevent players from putting their weight into the shot. If your weight is moving forward, you won’t need much of a swing at all to hit a crisp return.

3. The split step is crucial for a great return. The split step itself is easy; timing it is the difficult part. Many players split too soon, so they lose all their energy and get stuck on the court once the ball arrives. If you split too late, you won’t have time to get to the ball. Follow your opponent’s toss to time your split. When the ball reaches the hitting zone—at its peak, or more likely, just after it begins to fall—it’s time to get ready.

4. Scout your opponents well. What kind of serve do they have? Does he or she have a good kick serve? For a kicker, stand farther back unless your opponent also serves and volleys— in that case, you’ll want to take more serves on the rise to give your opponent less time to reach the net. Does your opponent have a favorite serve or a favorite spot? Does he or she take something off of the serve at crucial moments? At the pro level, players know what to expect and they position themselves accordingly. Pay close attention to your opponents’ habits and you’ll be able to do the same.

5. Take smart risks. The crosscourt return is the safest return: The ball travels over the lowest part of the net and you have a larger target. If you’re up against a strong server, return every ball crosscourt until you develop a rhythm. Then, mix things up. It’s OK to guess about your opponent’s placement so you can hit your favorite stroke. Just don’t go for broke out of frustration, or you’re in for a long day.

Nick Bollettieri has trained many collegiate and professional players, including 10 who reached the world No. 1 ranking.

Originally published in the May 2011 issue of TENNIS.

Stage Fright

Tue, 19 Jul 2011 00:00:00 GMT

Being the center of attention can hurt your game. Here’s how to keep the pressure off.

It’s the tournament finals and all eyes are on you. Not only is your entire team in the stands, but your family and close friends are watching, too. All of this support is a surefire recipe for success, right? Think again. Playing a decisive match in front of supportive fans can change how people play—but not necessarily for the better. Players become self-conscious about themselves and their movements, which can have dire consequences.

For years, psychologists have known that putting a mirror in front of a person or videotaping him while he performs will make him more self-conscious—more aware of himself and his actions. This also occurs when we find ourselves having to perform in front of a supportive audience. Yes, it can be quite satisfying to have your best performance witnessed by friends. But it’s also more painful to have your supporters see you fall flat on your face. When we are in front of a supportive crowd, we tend to try and control what we are doing to ensure success. This attention to detail can disrupt normally fluid movements, such as a polished serve or easy forehand, and make them more rigid and error-prone. The end result is choking under pressure.

Take a study conducted in my Human Performance Lab at the University of Chicago: We asked professional soccer players to dribble a soccer ball through a series of cones while paying attention to the side of their foot that was striking the ball. This instruction was designed to draw attention to an aspect of their performance about which these players might not normally be conscious. Soccer dribbling was slower and more error-prone when the players paid attention to their foot in comparison to when they dribbled without any instructions.

Paying attention to the details of your performance can be detrimental if, under normal conditions, you play without this conscious control. As an analogy, think about what would happen if I asked you to pay attention to how your knee was bending as you shuffled down the stairs, an activity you have performed countless times in the past. You might fall. Devoting too much attention to fluid and highly practiced movements—whether it is a serve, an easy forehand, a soccer dribble or locomotion—can disrupt them. It’s paralysis by analysis.

Fortunately, there are cures for this paralysis and they don’t have to involve banning your supporters from your match. Singing a song to yourself or even counting backward by threes are helpful techniques to keep your attention from wandering to parts of your movement that are best left outside conscious awareness. It’s also the case that getting used to audience attention during practice can help inoculate you against its ill effects in that do-or die match. Have family and friends attend a practice or even set up a video camera during practice and later show the tape to your teammates. Anything to help you get accustomed to the eyes that will be on you come match day can do the trick.

The moral of the story: We may think that fan support will always manifest itself as a good thing, yet the opposite can be true—at least when the pressure is on. So, make sure that when the big day comes, you not only bring your “A” game to the court, but the psychological tools to combat the pressure as well.

Sian Beilock, Ph.D., is a psychology professor at The University of Chicago and the author of Choke: What the Secrets of the Brain Reveal About Getting It Right When You Have To.

Originally published in an April 2011 issue of TENNIS.

How to Hit a Backhand Overhead

Tue, 19 Jul 2011 00:00:00 GMT

When faced with this difficult shot, don’t overdo it.

1. The backhand overhead, except in rare instances, is a defensive shot. You’re playing for two shots: the overhead, and an easier volley to follow. Turn sideways and move into position with crossover steps, like a quarterback. At the same time, you need to drop the head of your racquet, so the butt cap points at the ball. Turn your shoulders and keep your head up and your eyes on the ball. Your weight should be on your back foot so you can push forward into the shot. Make sure you use a Continental grip.

2. Your body shouldn’t twist as you swing. Simply bring your racquet straight up to contact. There’s a tendency on this shot to try and come over the ball, or to hit around it (to slice it). That will result in a weak shot. Your racquet face should meet the ball straight on and out in front of your body, as shown here. Your grip should be a little more firm than normal at contact.

3. Extend through the shot after contact. Your arm should be fully outstretched and your off -arm should extend in the opposite direction of your hitting arm to help you maintain your balance. Remember that this is a defensive shot. Rather than swing for a winner, use a compact, smooth stroke to put the ball in a good spot so you can win the point on the next shot.

4. The backhand overhead should be an abbreviated stroke. This will reduce errors, increase control and make it easier for you to recover for the next shot. As you land on your feet, follow the ball with your eyes and prepare to split step and pounce.

Mark Dalzell is a senior tennis coach and director of the weekly camp program at the IMG Bollettieri Tennis Academy.

Illustration by Jon Rodgers

Originally published in the March 2011 issue of TENNIS.

Stick Together

Mon, 18 Jul 2011 00:00:00 GMT

In doubles, you can’t win without a happy partner.

When I coached the men’s team at Pepperdine University, I had to consider removing the best doubles player on my team from our lineup. He was a talented young man (whom we’ll call Matt) with an enviable arsenal of doubles weapons: big serve, excellent volley and murderous return. I initially paired him with Bob (also a fictitious name), another fine talent who had won the national junior doubles championship the previous year. They clicked right away. Happy and energized, they had a great run, beating the top teams from UCLA and USC en route to becoming one of the country’s best college duos.

But by mid-season their momentum had evaporated. Losses accumulated and the enthusiasm seeped out of their partnership. Bob was performing particularly poorly, missing easy service returns and volleys and moving haltingly and uncertainly. He had stopped poaching on Matt’s serve, so the burden of holding rested too heavily on Matt’s shoulders.

Finally, Matt approached me and said, “I think I need a different partner. Bob’s just not doing the job and I can’t hold him up.” I couldn’t disagree, so I broke up the team. After a strong start, Matt’s new team’s results also turned sour, with his new partner performing no better than Bob at his worst. When Matt came to me again to complain and request a change, the truth dawned on me: Matt was ruining his partners.

Great athlete, multi-talented and smart, Matt appeared to have it all. But he was nervous and insecure. (It’s always surprising to discover that insecurity is as common in the gifted as it is in the incapable.) Matt was breaking partners down by emotionally abandoning them when they made mistakes. He would involuntarily wince at their errors, and his partners would feel it. His partners were afraid to make mistakes, semi-paralytic lest they elicit more of Matt’s subtle reproaches. As a last resort I paired him with the one person on our team who was mentally strong enough to function without Matt’s support, and they went on to become a respectable duo.

Matt’s problem is common. Rather than simply trying to win the match, he was concerned with whose fault it was if they lost. This is disastrous. If a member of a losing team says things like, “I never lost my serve,” or “My partner missed two easy overheads on game points,” it’s a sign of insecurity and weakness. Great doubles players are concerned with winning, not whose fault it is if they lose, and they know that bolstering their partner’s confidence helps them win.

In many respects, doubles is like marriage: The happier your partner is, the better it is for you. Be judicious with your criticism. Though an adjustment may be obvious to you, it’s better to hold your tongue rather than say anything your partner may resent, or to press your partner to make changes that are uncomfortable for him. In general, execution is more important than strategy, and imposing unwelcome advice will impair execution.

Your attitude, as reflected verbally and in body language, will have a powerful impact on your partner’s attitude. Stay upbeat and positive. If you’re not playing well, resist getting discouraged. If your partner isn’t playing well, try to take up the slack and bolster his or her confidence with unconditional support. As you would in singles with a stroke that’s missing, try to forget about errors quickly, make small adjustments and win with the rest of your game—and whatever your partner has to offer.

Author and coach Allen Fox, Ph.D., is a former Wimbledon quarterfinalist.

Originally published in the March 2011 issue of TENNIS.

5 Minutes with Nick: Ready, Set, Go!

Mon, 18 Jul 2011 00:00:00 GMT

Great strokes won’t do you any good if you don’t have good preparation.

1. Great preparation starts with your stance. This is true for every sport, whether you’re a lineman in football, a point guard in basketball or shortstop in baseball. The shortstop is a good model for tennis. You must have some flex in your knees and your weight must be forward, so you’re ready to dart in whichever direction the ball goes. Bend at your knees, not your waist or back. If you stand too upright, as shown here, you’ll get a late start. You’ll have the same problem if you’re hunched over at the waist. Don’t be tempted to cheat or lean toward your preferred stroke. You’re just setting yourself up for a slow response when the ball doesn’t go the way you had expected.

2. A great way to improve your preparation in a match is to scout your opponents during the warm-up. Do they have a shot that’s a weapon? Do they have better left-right movement, or front-back movement? Do they have a funky grip on any of their groundstrokes or volleys? Take a few mental notes during the warm-up and you’ll find yourself anticipating your opponent’s moves and getting to the ball earlier.

3. I’ve seen plenty of players who have great shots, a lot of speed and a perfect ready position—but they still get to the ball late and look unprepared more often than not. That’s because they don’t react to the ball until it’s too close to them. It’s easy for your mind to wander for a second or two after you hit the ball. Those few seconds can be costly. If you don’t pay attention to what your opponent does—how he or she sets up and strikes the ball—you’re not going to get a good jump on the ball. You need to move as soon as your opponent sends the ball back to you.

4. No matter how well you move and concentrate, you can’t be prepared for every shot. Your opponent is going to put you in some bad positions. When that happens, you need to understand how to get out of trouble and buy yourself some time to prepare for the next shot. My favorite strategy: Hit the ball high and down the middle. The height of your shot will give you a chance to recover to the middle of the court. And the placement of it—down the middle—will give your opponent fewer angles to work with.

5. There’s some debate on when to take your racquet back to hit a shot. Your strokes have to be rhythmic, or else they’ll lack power, spin and consistency. But rhythm is useless if you make contact too late. I prefer to have students turn their shoulders early, not long after they know which shot they’re going to hit (a forehand or a backhand). Serena and Venus Williams do this, especially Serena on her forehand. If it works for them, it can work for you, too.

Photo by Tom Dipace

Originally published in the March 2011 issue of TENNIS.

Brain Power

Mon, 18 Jul 2011 00:00:00 GMT

When strokes won’t win a match, the mind should take charge.

You’re on the court against one of your rivals. He’s the sort of player who beats you as often as you beat him. On this day, Plan A isn’t getting the job done. What do you do? If you want to win more matches like this, you should worry a little less about winning and a little more about making your opponent lose.

I look at Plan B as the mental option. If you can’t win a match with serves, forehands and backhands, you have no choice but to win with your mind. If your opponent is too good on this day, wear him down and make him worse. We all have limited reserves of willpower, and we can only withstand stress and concentrate for so long. The aim of Plan B is to take your opponent to the point of mental exhaustion. Even if you see no signs of weakness in your adversary at first, two hours later, when your opponent’s mind has tired and his will has dissipated, his game may look a little worse.

Everyone, even champions, eventually breaks mentally. When this happens, player loses intensity and his errors increase. Small setbacks make him lose emotional control and speed his disintegration. Average players run out of mental energy relatively quickly. The trick is to get your opponent to run out before you do.

Recognize the times when your opponent is under the most stress and slow the match down so he stays that way as long as possible. One of these times is when he’s ahead. In close matches, most players feel more pressure when they’re ahead than behind. Let him stew. Your opponent is hungry to get on with it and suspects, correctly, that the longer he stays on court the more likely that something will go wrong.

I’m not suggesting that you be a bad sport and stall by repeatedly tying your shoelaces or going to the towel. Just take a few extra seconds between points to gather yourself and give your opponent a little more time to think. The extra time will feel like an eternity to him and keep him from developing momentum.

Plan B is especially important whenever you’re down game point or break point. Here your opponent is under pressure to win the game. Keep him there. If he’s serving, avoid risky returns. Think of how happy and relieved you are on your game point when your opponent overplays and misses right away. Don’t give him that satisfaction; force him to play out the point. If you’re serving, take extra care to get your first serve in. Under pressure, your opponent wants a nice, easy second serve to return. Don’t give it to him.

Another essential part of Plan B is never to give your opponent an easy point or game, no matter how far behind you are. When you’re down 0-40 in a game or 1-5 in a set, you may feel despondent and try careless, low-percentage shots. Instead, force your opponent to concentrate and struggle to finish the game or set. It’s mentally tiring, which is part of your plan, and every once in a while you’ll come back and win the game or set as a bonus. You’ll also tempt him to relax a little at the beginning of the next game or set, as he may want a break from the stress.

We all want to overwhelm our opponents with aces, winners and flashy volleys, but in tennis, as in life, the ideal is not the norm. Next time you’re in trouble on the court, try Plan B rather than panicking or going for broke. You might like it so much that it becomes your Plan A.

Author and coach Allen Fox, Ph.D., is a former Wimbledon quarterfinalist. Visit him at allenfoxtennis.net.

Originally published in the January/February 2011 issue of TENNIS.

How to Approach Down the Middle

Mon, 18 Jul 2011 00:00:00 GMT

A well-centered opponent can make for an easy point.

Like most tennis players, you probably think that an approach shot has to be perfect. Instead of aiming for perfection, just try to be smart. The down-the-middle approach is one of the most intelligent plays in the game, yet few people rely on it. The reason why it works so well is simple geometry. When you approach down the middle and charge the net, you force opponents to hit sharp angles to put the ball by you. And the closer you can get to the net, the tougher their task—and the more pressure they’ll feel as you close in. The backhand slice, shown here, is the perfect shot for a down-the-middle approach. If you hit it deep and with enough spin, it will stay low and make your opponent have to hit the ball up into your ideal volley range. And here’s the final benefit to the down-the-middle approach: Now that your opponent is stuck in the center of the court at the baseline, you’ll have a lot of options for angled volleys that will win you the point.

Kelly Gunterman is the Director of Tennis at Amelia Island Tennis Plantation and author of the book Tennis Made Easy: Essential Strokes & Strategy for the Modern Game

Originally published in the January/February 2011 issue of TENNIS.

5 Minutes with Nick: You Win!

Mon, 18 Jul 2011 00:00:00 GMT

What does it take to win on a tennis court? Here’s what you need to know.

1. Be steady. Most people come to me and say they need a bigger serve or a harder forehand to win matches. Those things would be nice, but they’re not the most important tools on the tennis court. What you need most is consistency. Unforced errors lose matches. Don’t believe me? Pull up the stats of any match, in men’s or women’s tennis, and see for yourself. It’s rare when a player commits more errors and wins the match. Here’s one thing you can do right away to improve your consistency: Don’t go for broke when you’re trapped well behind the baseline. Instead, hit a high ball deep into your opponent’s court. This will give you time to recover, move closer to the baseline and assume a strong ready position.

2. Get in shape. Winning takes patience, and in order to be patient, you have to be in shape. If you’re carrying a few extra pounds or can’t survive long rallies in the heat, you’re going to look for quick points and play low-percentage shots. Mardy Fish is a great example of what I mean. Once he lost weight, he made better decisions on the court because he knew he could execute a smart strategy the entire match without getting tired.

3. Do what you do best. Say you’re a club player with a strong first serve but erratic groundstrokes. It’s 30-40, and you decide to take a little something off your serve to make sure you get a first serve in. No! That’s a bad move. If the serve is your strength, go for a big serve. Maybe even go for two big serves and forget about your second serve. You need to ask yourself, ‘What’s my best chance of winning this point?’ Then use that shot. You would never see Goran Ivanisevic holding back on his serve when the pressure was on. He went for it. You should use your best shot as often as possible, and with conviction.

4. Play, don’t pray. Make things happen on the court, rather than hope that your opponent misses. Unforced errors lose tennis matches, but your opponent isn’t going to make as many errors if you’re just standing around hitting weak shots while hoping he or she will miss. Move the ball side to side, change the height of your shots and make your opponent run as much as possible. Your opponent’s errors will surely follow.

5. Have an attitude. All physical skills being equal, you need a mental edge to win a tennis match. It’s here where you should look to the pros. Rafael Nadal, Lleyton Hewitt, Serena Williams, Monica Seles—the list goes and on. These players never give in. That’s the attitude you need to have on court. Every point is a new one, different from the last. And it can be won.

Nick Bollettieri has trained many collegiate and professional players, including 10 who reached the world No. 1 ranking.

Originally published in the January/February 2011 issue of TENNIS.

5 Minutes with Nick: Wall Ball

Mon, 18 Jul 2011 00:00:00 GMT

Don’t have a practice partner? Make the wall your best friend.

1. I like to tell my students that there’s only one undefeated champion in the history of tennis: the wall. It never misses, never complains and never loses. To get the most out of it, though, you need the right approach. First, make sure your wall has a line to represent the net. Measure this and if you can’t draw it perfectly, make it a little higher, rather than lower. When you start your wall practice, stand far back and hit high, slow-to-medium speed shots (keep in mind that the distance from the baseline to the net is 39 feet). Give yourself time to take back your racquet and get into a rhythm. Since the wall never misses, you don’t want to start out at top speed and take a lot of hard swings when your body is cold.

2. The next step is to hit the ball side to side, so you work both your forehand and your backhand. Again, hit the ball with some looping spin (high to low) and not too hard. You want your strokes to be smooth and loose. At this point, you’ll start to work up a sweat.

3. Once you’re feeling comfortable with your swings, you can start to move closer to the wall. In a match, you’re going to be 20 feet or less from the net only on a put-away shot (unless you are moving in for a volley). But standing closer to the wall can help you in other ways. You’ll have less time to react from this range, so you’ll learn how to shorten your swings. This skill is essential when returning serve and when playing against a powerful hitter. Don’t stand so close for too long. Move up and back and vary the speed of your shots. You want to react to diff erent bounces and depths, as you would have to in a match. Keep moving your feet.

4. You can work on your volleys against the wall, too. Start with soft, touch volleys and then increase the pace. See how many you can hit in a row on each side, and then start to go back and forth between your forehand and backhand.

5. A wall itself is fine, but if your wall has targets, that’s even better. All you need is some chalk. Draw large circles—one for down the line, one for crosscourt, and one down the center—and aim for those. Make sure they’re a good distance above the net, as you want to clear the net by a few feet and use topspin to bring your shots back into the court. By the time you master hitting these targets, you’ll be able to imagine them on the court when you play.

Nick Bollettieri has trained many collegiate and professional players, including 10 who reached the world No. 1 ranking.

Originally published in the July/August 2011 issue of TENNIS.

Bollettieri Q&A: Best forehands, blowing leads

Thu, 16 Jun 2011 00:00:00 GMT

Do you prefer to teach the conventional forehand, in which the arm is bent at contact, or the arm-stretched forehand that Federer and Nadal seem to use? What are the advantages and disadvantages of each?—Yasufumi Terada
I have worked with so many students—Andre Agassi, Jim Courier, Jimmy Arias, Serena Williams, Tommy Haas, Aaron Krickstein, etc.—and their forehands are very different. The key to the forehand is racquet head speed and a strong foundation. Keep in mind that your style of play will vary because of your grip and the type of forehand you are trying to hit, which might include lots of spin, medium spin, or driving the ball. I prefer the arm slightly away from the body when you start your initial backswing, by turning your hips and shoulders. On the forward swing, I suggest your arm and racquet are away from the ball. However, if your arm is totally straight before you make contact, this could result in very little racquet head speed, or throwing your hitting side at the ball.

Hi Nick, I normally take an early lead (something like 4-1) and then start losing points, even during easy rallies. Even if I’m ahead 40-0, I’ll lose the game. Eventually I lose the set. How can I deal with this?—Indrajit Sensarma
The best tip that I can give is what Andre Agassi said: “Play each point and do not think about what might happen, let the score take care of itself.” You cannot let your mind control you by saying, ‘When I get ahead, the same thing starts happening.’ You must understand that your battles seem to be in your favor and then go down not because of talent, but because you establish this in your mind before the match begins. Go out there and be a warrior, not a baby who always says: ‘Gee whiz, I get ahead and then fall apart.’ If not, try hopscotch—you might win!

Have a question for Nick? Write to him at asknick@tennis.com

Nick Bollettieri of the Bollettieri Tennis Academy has trained many collegiate and professional players, including 10 who reached the world No. 1 ranking.

Bollettieri Q&A: Serve structure and strategy

Wed, 08 Jun 2011 09:50:00 GMT

I’ve noticed that there are many ways to serve. Some players rock to the back heel and then bring the back foot to the line (Andy Roddick). Some, like Roger Federer, don’t move the back foot at all. Is one of these motions better than the other?—unsigned from Atlanta
There will always be different styles of play in all sports, so don't try to teach one style of play. What everyone must accept is the end result of your game. If you are successful, don’t change it, even if it might be a little unorthodox. When you serve, you must think and believe you can do it—and if your motion isn't similar to Roddick, Federer or Sam Stosur, but you’re having success, that’s OK. My preference? I wouldn't teach the feet close together, or for the back foot to move to the front foot for beginners.

Dear Nick, I understand the concept of pronation on the serve, and when I practice it in drills or in parts, it feels great. But the problem comes when I try to incorporate it into my complete serve. What can I do to make pronation part of my service motion?—Samuel
The majority of players, including some pros, find it difficult to pronate because they feel more secure hitting right to left, especially on their second serve (they supponate). You’ll hit left to right when making contact with the ball with the palm of your serving hand facing outward, and the butt of the handle being on the outside of your wrist when at contact. Practice this motion without a follow through. When you have this motion down, continue your swing outward and come back to the right side of the ball, finishing on the left side of your body (if you’re a right-handed server).

Have a question for Nick? Write to him at asknick@tennis.com

Nick Bollettieri of the Bollettieri Tennis Academy has trained many collegiate and professional players, including 10 who reached the world No. 1 ranking.

Bollettieri Q&A: Retooling your return of serve

Fri, 22 Apr 2011 19:00:00 GMT

Can you give me some drills to improve my reactions, especially on serve returns? I use a semi-Western grip on my forehand.—Hamid
Establish a strong foundation—with your feet spread apart at least shoulder width, knees slightly bent, and weight forward with arms and racquet well away from your body. As the server is halfway through his service motion, do your split step forward and move toward the oncoming ball. You must shorten your entire swing pattern on the return of serve; if you hit too many short returns, go crosscourt. Make sure you follow through as much as you can.

Here’s a drill that can help. All you need is a wall and a soft QuickStart ball (either green or yellow). Stand approximately 25-35 feet from the backboard, hit the ball against it and get ready for the return. The soft ball will give you time to practice your split step, concentrate on moving forward and hitting crosscourt. Then switch to regular balls. After a few returns, move closer—which will force you to tighten up your entire swing pattern—and use a semi- and complete open stance. The closer you get to the backboard, the less time you will have. This will make you realize that the return of serve demands you to start out with a strong, athletic foundation and a more compact swing pattern.

Dear Nick, I need to improve my contact point on my forehand. I seem to be hitting the ball wrong because I use heaps of energy to swing, but my shots barely have any power. I have been trying to fix this problem for a long time. Can you help please?—Daniel Zhang
No matter what grip you are using, you must have a hip and shoulder turn plus racquet-head speed on contact. Don’t muscle the ball and don’t be stiff. Relax. You don’t want to throw your body at the ball and try to physically beat it up.

Bollettieri Q&A: Battling Nerves and Disguised Shots

Tue, 05 Apr 2011 10:47:00 GMT

Hello, Mr. Nick. My name is Carlton and I play tennis for my high school in DeKalb County, Ga. I have a problem when it comes to being nervous during matches. I don’t know how to overcome my fear and this causes my confidence to go down during matches. What advice would you give to a beginner like me when it comes to overcoming your nervousness? Thank you.—Keith Tayones
Keith, your opponent is just as nervous as you are—that’s for sure. The main thing is, don’t think that being nervous is a negative. It will be part of your entire life. When you get nervous on court, try the following:

1. Hit to big targets (not close to the lines)
2. Move your feet (take small steps and move between points)
3. Take something off your first serve and increase your first serve percentage
4. Have fun—that’s why you’re out there in the first place.

Dear Nick, I play against a guy who hits the ball with an awkward snap of his wrist and it does not look like a correct swing. The ball leaves his racquet so fast that even though I’m in the ready position, I cannot move quickly enough to get a good swing at it. I also really cannot gauge if the ball is going slow or fast. How can I better prepare for erratic, hard-to-read balls coming at different speeds?—Michael
It’s difficult to read wristy groundstrokes. One thing to do: Pay close attention during the warm-up. You can often discover patterns of play as your opponent tries out various shots. Another great way to make it easier to read what your opponent does is to make it more difficult for him to do what he wants. If you hit the ball deep and high, you’re going to get more predictable replies because your opponent will be on the defensive.

Bollettieri Q&A: Toss Trouble; On-The-Run Forehand

Thu, 10 Mar 2011 09:00:00 GMT

Hi Nick, I’m a club tournament player and I’m having trouble with my serve, especially the toss. I believe that the toss is the most important part of the whole service motion. Can you give me some advice?—Vincent Calderon
Yes, the toss is one of the key elements of the serve. One of the things you can try is to shorten your entire serve motion. By doing this you do not have to toss the ball as high. Many of the top servers use a very short serve motion. Keep your serving arm straight throughout your serve motion, release the ball approximately eye level and then have your arm and hand continue going up as if to catch the ball. Also, try to eliminate extra body motion; this will cause a more consistent ball toss. Have your coach point out to you where your ball toss should land if you let it drop.

Nick, I was wondering if you could offer some tips on hitting a forehand on the run. When I move to the right and hit the forehand on the run, I’m don’t get much power on the shot. And most of the time I dump the ball into the net. Any words of wisdom would be greatly appreciated!—Randy Lariscy
To hit a good on-the-run forehand, you must set your swing in motion as soon as you start moving to the ball. By doing this you only have to start your forward swing when reaching the ball. If you need to hit a defensive forehand on the run, follow the lead of the top players and swing with a Continental grip and an open stance. A high-to-low swing will put some underspin on the ball and give you time to recover. Nobody does this better than Kim Clijsters.

I’m a rising intermediate-level player, not yet in my first tournament. When I practice or hit against a wall, my strokes are good. But during matches, I either have bad timing or overhit the ball. I can’t seem to keep a rally going at all. Any suggestions? Thanks a lot for your help.—Varun Jyothykumar, Muscat, Oman

There are so many reasons that you and a lot of rising international players experience difficulty in their first few tournaments. I will give you a few simple tips that I have given to thousands of young players starting to play tournaments:

*Your practice sessions should include matches against all level of play.
*When you start to play, do the following: Hit your return of serve cross court; do not hit your balls close to the lines; and get your first serve in.
*Remember, your opponent is also nervous.
*When you’re a little tight, move your feet and follow through.
*Play long points.
*Do not overthink—it’s better to play a very simple game. Get the ball over the net one more time than your opponent.
*Relax, have fun and enjoy the game.
*When you miss and lose the point do what Andre Agassi did—play the next point. You cannot replay the previous point.