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The
Foundations
by Clark Corey
PBI Director of Tennis Kapalua
USPTA Tennis Professional
Whenever we build or learn something, whether
it be a game, a computer program or a house, there needs to
be a solid foundation or whatever it is we have created will
fall apart. Your tennis game is exactly the same. You cannot
have a great forehand, backhand, serve, etc. without having
great foundations. That is not to say you cannot learn all
the strokes in tennis, it is however a problem taking those
strokes to a particular level and making them effective in
game situations.
The first foundation we need in tennis is
COURT AWARENESS. As a tennis player we need to be aware of
our location on the court as well as our opponent’s.
By being aware of our position on court we can make sure that
we are ready for any type of ball that will be returned to
us. Often players will hit a ball from one side of their court
and won’t recover back to the middle of the court. When
the next ball is hit to the other side they have to run the
full width of the court versus just half the court. Having
a full understanding of our court position allows us to choose
the correct shot in each situation that comes up. If we are
close to the net we don’t really want to hit a defensive
shot whereas if we were well behind the baseline we would
want to hit a defensive shot.
One of the first things said to players
is, watch the ball. This is the most damaging phrase in tennis.
If all you do is watch the ball, then we miss what else is
happening on the tennis court. We end up not being aware of
where we are, where our opponent is and what the ball is really
doing in relation to the net and court. What players need
to learn is BALL AWARENESS.
Learning this concept is a lot like looking
outside at the mountains. Though we may be focusing on a specific
tree on the mountain we also see the mountain, the birds,
the houses, etc. It is similar to three people looking at
the same piece of artwork. Everyone sees something different
because they have a different level of awareness. What the
player should be aware of is not only that the ball is coming
over but where did it come from, what kind of trajectory,
direction, depth, spin and speed does it have.
The final piece of the awareness puzzle
is having OPPONENT AWARENESS. Players can hit the greatest
shot in their lives but if their opponent is standing in the
right place the great shot comes back very quickly. Prior
to hitting the ball take the time while it is traveling over
the net to you to check out where your opponent is. By understanding
their court position you will then be able to hit the ball
to a location that will cause them difficulty. Other items
you should be aware of about your opponent are; what kind
of swing are they taking, are they off balance or on balance,
are they hitting a high ball or a low ball and is their racquet
face open or closed. All these clues will help you prepare
for their next shot.
It sounds like quite a bit to be aware
of, when in fact all of that information is right in front
of our eyes. You may not be able to see everything the first
time you try this. Set your sights on trying to see more and
more each time you go out.
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