Playing with bright sun

[LeeD]

GOAT in lack of self awareness, for sure....

[Coach Chad]

Good advice from charliefederer about working the slice and kick serves....tossing the ball out of the direct sun takes the flat power serve away...but as a lefty I can sure kick that serve out to the ad court...then go back to flat serves down the "T" when the sun is at my back.

[LeeD]

Low toss and rythumic motion allows you to serve without staring at the tossed ball.

[LuckyR]

Back on topic. The solution is not visors/caps and sunglasses (think about it, how many Pros use sunglasses?) More Pros wear their caps backwards than forewards and I don't think there is a player in the top 100 ATP who wears a visor, since they wear headgear to absorb sweat, which a visor doesn't do.

If you are going to play in sun all the time and if you live in Florida, I am a bit suprised you don't already know this, the solution to the sun and lobs, is to tilt your head such that the ball (whose flight path is predictable) does not cross directly across the sun itself, or if it does, it does so early enough in the flight path that you can reacquire it afterwards to hit your shot.

[Coach Chad]

Originally Posted by LuckyR

Back on topic. The solution is not visors/caps and sunglasses (think about it, how many Pros use sunglasses?) More Pros wear their caps backwards than forewards and I don't think there is a player in the top 100 ATP who wears a visor, since they wear headgear to absorb sweat, which a visor doesn't do.

If you are going to play in sun all the time and if you live in Florida, I am a bit suprised you don't already know this, the solution to the sun and lobs, is to tilt your head such that the ball (whose flight path is predictable) does not cross directly across the sun itself, or if it does, it does so early enough in the flight path that you can reacquire it afterwards to hit your shot.

As crazy as this sounds, the sun here in Orlando was not that hard to deal with in the late spring, summer, and early fall. Recently, it has really been a challenge. Not sure if the angle or brightness changes with the seasons...or if it's just me. Normally the head tilt you mentioned works.

[mikeler]

Originally Posted by Coach Chad

As crazy as this sounds, the sun here in Orlando was not that hard to deal with in the late spring, summer, and early fall. Recently, it has really been a challenge. Not sure if the angle or brightness changes with the seasons...or if it's just me. Normally the head tilt you mentioned works.

Most courts are oriented north-south. This time of year, the sun only gets up to maybe 40 degrees above the southern horizon around noon. So if you are on the north side looking south, lobs are going to be tough to see.

In the summer time, the noon time sun is going to be almost directly above your head so it is much easier to track that lob.

[sundaypunch]

Originally Posted by Bagumbawalla

A floppy hat with a "brim" all around can help. You can shape it to suit your need. With a cap, with a bill, you can position it to the left or right to help block the sun.

.........

Looks like the OP already has this one covered.

[LeeD]

I think one of the best replies was tracking with the oft hand. Not that it works 100%, because you need to actually swing at the ball some time, but it allows you to track the ball until it's descending at least
Ideal safe overhead technique IS high oft hand, like a toss hand on the serve. So why not block the sun with your oft hand?
Maybe because at times, you spend so much vision blocking the sun, you lose track of the ball.
And just as you swing, while the ball is 15' high and descending, you lose the ball in the sun at the critical moment.