Utilizing a Ball Machine...

[royalfan5]

So when I went in for my class today, I was informed that I had accumulated some free time with a ball machine. Since I have never used one, I passed on using it today, but feel like I should use it in the future. What do I need to know to make my ball machine time productive?

[Nellie]

Mimic tennis play - don't shot 200 balls to the same spot, unless you need to groove your stroke.

Instead, play 20 shots with placements that force you to move and take a rest and redo it. Even if the ball machine does not oscillate, you can play dumb - set up on one side of the court so you have to move to hit to the other side, recovering to the original position after each shot.

[RyanRF]

This looks like a good mix of strokes, footwork, and fitness:

http://www.youtube.com/user/FYB2007#.../4/yPCY1PNAYqE

[charliefedererer]

Like in the video link above, don't just stand there and hit the ball.

Move to the ball, hit it, recover to the center, then move again.

You can do the above drill for your backhand as well.

Indeed, the ball machine is at its best working on a weakness to build it into a strength. You can gradually turn the speed and spin up each time you load the machine.

For instance, you can work on the following as well:

1. Run from the baseline to hit that first volley at the service line as if you were playing serve and volley.

2. Practice returns hit to your weaker side.

3. Practice overheads hit over to your backand side, starting from a position near the net.

4. Hit forehands and backhands hit on the run to the corners.

5. Put away relatively high bouncing balls to the midcourt.

6. Get ready for Rafa by working on those high, hard, and deep topspin shots to your backhand.

7. Get ready for Fed by learning to handle those deep underspin backhands so he can't beat you with an inside out forehand that crushes your formerly anemic response.