Helping a singles player develop shot tolerance

[Cindysphinx]

I have a friend and teammate who plays singles. We are going to practice this week.

I would like suggestions on a drill that would help her (and me!) with shot tolerance. Some background.

This teammate has all of the pieces to play some really great singles. IMHO, the reason she loses matches she could win is she is too aggressive. She S&Vs in singles. She barrels into the net and so is easy to lob. She goes for big winners and hits everything hard. When the dust settles, she has made so many UEs that she loses quickly in straight sets.

I recognize this playing style because I tend toward the same playing style. My own pro has worked with me on this. Each lesson starts with an effort to hit 50-ball rallies on the FH, then 50-ball rallies on the BH. I feel like this has helped me because my goal is to hit many high-quality, heavy balls so that my opponent has an opportunity to give me something attackable.

So. I would like to show up this time with a few ideas on how we can build shot tolerance in a 2-hour practice session. I assure you that if we just play points or play sets, shot tolerance will not improve. We need to find a drill that gives us an incentive to be consistent without pushing.

 

[sureshs]

Mary Jo said that her coach made her hit 1000 fed balls deep (beyond the service line). If she missed one, she had to start from 0.

 

[fuzz nation]

You can play a basic rally game against each other where either one of you starts the point (a simple rally) with a cooperative feed and the only shots that are "in" are the ones that land in the back box. While you can hit a winner after maybe the first four strokes (two from each of you), those shots only count if they land in the back box. If any of the first four strokes lands out, restart that point. Try simply playing up to eleven or whatever.

A game like this can really force hitters to confront their inconsistent play. With the back box as the only part of the court that's "in", the players have to focus a lot more on winning with good deep strokes, not aggression. After a quick game played in this format, you can then try playing a short set (start at 2-all) to see how it helps with everyone's perspective toward shot tolerance.

 

[LeeD]

Personally, I think you both need to recognise exactly WHAT is a forcing shot and what is just another rally ball. When you hit a real forcing shot, the correct play is to move forwards towards net position to end the point.
When you hit a strong powerful rallyball the opponent can reach, stay home.
Ain't the skill of the shot, it's the intent and reason for hitting such.

 

[goran_ace]

Doing the 50- and 100-ball drill is good for developing consistency, but often times you'll see that once you put them in a point situation that all goes out the window. to bridge the gap between practice and competing and to teach her patience in a point situation you need to move onto live ball drills. In my junior days I was your typical baseline basher who wanted to crush the first ball in play. One drill/game my coach made me do over and over again was playing out points in a game to 21, but the point doesn't start until the ball has crossed the net 3 times (not incl the feed). so if there's an error or a winner but the ball hasn't crossed the net three times it doesn't count. you don't have to push these first strokes into the middle of the court, you are free to hit to corners and move your opponent around.

 

[mightyrick]

One drill/game my coach made me do over and over again was playing out points in a game to 21, but the point doesn't start until the ball has crossed the net 3 times (not incl the feed). so if there's an error or a winner but the ball hasn't crossed the net three times it doesn't count. you don't have to push these first strokes into the middle of the court, you are free to hit to corners and move your opponent around.

I play this with a group I hit with on the weekends. It is fantastic. And it comes straight out of table-tennis. It is a *wonderful* drill to work on strokes. It really avoids the kind of "drill" where you are playing a real game and it becomes a serve-fest. Or an unforced-error fest.

The drills that we play, we even play variations where no balls are allowed to land between the net and service-line... otherwise it is the other person's point. Just to force good rallying.

 

[charliefedererer]

Here's a drill to try to build consistancy, and still work on finishing a point:

Start the drill with a second serve or just a deep feed.

Allow no agressive shots for the first three (or five or whatever agreed number of) strokes.

All balls have to be hit deep cross court (to maximize the length of the rally since both players know where the next ball is/should be going, by clearing the lowest portion of the net and by not having to change the direction on the ball).

Only allow an aggressive shot on "short" balls, defined as a ball landing inside the service line.

But from thet moment the first short ball/aggressive shot is hit, play out the point to "win" with any shot allowed.

 

[Cindysphinx]

You can play a basic rally game against each other where either one of you starts the point (a simple rally) with a cooperative feed and the only shots that are "in" are the ones that land in the back box. While you can hit a winner after maybe the first four strokes (two from each of you), those shots only count if they land in the back box. If any of the first four strokes lands out, restart that point. Try simply playing up to eleven or whatever.

A game like this can really force hitters to confront their inconsistent play. With the back box as the only part of the court that's "in", the players have to focus a lot more on winning with good deep strokes, not aggression. After a quick game played in this format, you can then try playing a short set (start at 2-all) to see how it helps with everyone's perspective toward shot tolerance.

OK, this sounds perfect. This would be a good starting point. Then when/if we get the hang of it, we can move on to allowing players to move forward to finish shots for balls that land short, as others have suggested.

When we allow the attacking of short balls, we may need yet more rules. Like you lose two points if you miss any approach shot or attempted winner on a short ball.

I wonder if the two of us would ever move beyond 0-0!

 

[esgee48]

If you are allowed to mark the courts with masking tape or white chalk, do some 3x3 or 4x4 foot squares at the T's. Use them as targets when you drill. Also 'deep shots' should be within 4 feet of the baseline, not just past the service line. Those would be what I would be working on.

Cross court or down the line drills should be aiming at the squares.

 

[Cindysphinx]

Probably can't chalk the courts, as we may be indoors.

I do have four round rubber targets, though. I would be reluctant to use them for this. I mean, we are a hot mess right now. It might be asking too much to make the drill even harder at this stage.

 

[ProgressoR]

Cindy does she want to develop in the way you outline? You gotta want it.

 

[Cindysphinx]

Cindy does she want to develop in the way you outline? You gotta want it.

Boy, I hope so. I think FuzzNation nailed it. Sometimes you need something to help big hitters face their fundamental inconsistency. It is a hopeful sign that she told me she lost her last match because of UEs.

And if it doesn't help her, maybe it will help me!!

 

[Timbo's hopeless slice]

Cindy, I just want to say I find your approach to the game quite inspiring. Fabulous work ethic combined with an intelligent, realistic and quite philosophical outlook.

I wish my students were like you!

 

[ssonosk]

Tell her that you can't force winners, you have to set them up

that's all i have

 

[larry10s]

the VERY SIMPLEST DRILL
you extend a line from the service line (center) thru the court
so you have each half delineized
you feed the ball and play a crooss court drill
EVERY ball has to be cross cour and behind the service line
how many can you do
whom ever fails first loses the point
you keep score to 11

 

[esgee48]

Probably can't chalk the courts, as we may be indoors.

I do have four round rubber targets, though. I would be reluctant to use them for this. I mean, we are a hot mess right now. It might be asking too much to make the drill even harder at this stage.

OK. Then try mentally telling yourself to aim for 4x4 targets. It's not as hard as you think. The body and brain seems to provide its own feedback very nicely. When I do drills, it mainly cross court balls to the opposite T's. DTL shots, you should concentrate on hitting just quality balls within 4 feet of the baseline or at least past the service line. If it is done in practice, I don't even think about it when in match play or practice matches.

 

[Cindysphinx]

Hey, thanks Timbo!!

I'll report back after the practice session tomorrow. Thanks for the suggestions, everyone!!

 

[Nellie]

To me, it does not sound that your friend needs more patience as much as she needs to improve her decision making on when to approach. I would encourage her to consciously say whether each ball toward her is deep or short and to approach only on the short balls (short or deep depends on her game, but a good starting point is half way between the baseline and service line). You can play games, for example, where the two of you have to come to net if the ball is short (i.e., you lose the point if you push back a short ball) and must stay back on long shots ( automatically loses the point if you approach off a long ball).

If you prefer, you can, instead of coming to the net, go for a winner (big, change of direction shot) with the long balls going back conservatively crosscourt.

This type of practice you in the habit of thinking strategically in response to the ball and not merely running forward regardless of the situation.

 

[larry10s]

To me, it does not sound that your friend needs more patience as much as she needs to improve her decision making on when to approach. I would encourage her to consciously say whether each ball toward her is deep or short and to approach only on the short balls (short or deep depends on her game, but a good starting point is half way between the baseline and service line). You can play games, for example, where the two of you have to come to net if the ball is short (i.e., you lose the point if you push back a short ball) and must stay back on long shots ( automatically loses the point if you approach off a long ball).

If you prefer, you can, instead of coming to the net, go for a winner (big, change of direction shot) with the long balls going back conservatively crosscourt.

This type of practice you in the habit of thinking strategically in response to the ball and not merely running forward regardless of the situation.

^^^^ very insightful and helpful post

 

[EP1998]

Probably can't chalk the courts, as we may be indoors.

I do have four round rubber targets, though. I would be reluctant to use them for this. I mean, we are a hot mess right now. It might be asking too much to make the drill even harder at this stage.

You can use a rope from Home Depot or even the extension cord from your club's ball machine.

I used to do a drill where we'd put the rope across the court between the service line and baseline, you had to hit behind it and try to keep the point going. As soon as someone hit the ball short (inside service line) you had to approach and if you won the point at the net, you got two points instead of one. If you didnt approach you lost two points. Progression - you should also focus on trajectory with the deep ball - if you can read the brand of the ball while it is in the air you lose the point.

 

[goran_ace]

You can use a rope from Home Depot or even the extension cord from your club's ball machine.

I used to do a drill where we'd put the rope across the court between the service line and baseline, you had to hit behind it and try to keep the point going. As soon as someone hit the ball short (inside service line) you had to approach and if you won the point at the net, you got two points instead of one. If you didnt approach you lost two points. Progression - you should also focus on trajectory with the deep ball - if you can read the brand of the ball while it is in the air you lose the point.

I'm going to advise against this. In a live ball drill where the whole court is in play you NEVER want to put anything on the court like that, it's simply too dangerous. Flat rubber targets are ok, cones are avoidable, but a rope that is alid across the court is too hard to keep track of while you are moving and watching the ball. Someone is going to lose their footing or trip on it and turn an ankle or worse.

 

[mightyrick]

I'm going to advise against this. In a live ball drill where the whole court is in play you NEVER want to put anything on the court like that, it's simply too dangerous. Flat rubber targets are ok, cones are avoidable, but a rope that is alid across the court is too hard to keep track of while you are moving and watching the ball. Someone is going to lose their footing or trip on it and turn an ankle or worse.

Lighting a gas fire in the area of no-mans land to help keep people from camping out there can also be dangerous. However, it is an effective training method.

The smell of singed hair tends to distract people on adjacent courts, though.

 

[EP1998]

I'm going to advise against this. In a live ball drill where the whole court is in play you NEVER want to put anything on the court like that, it's simply too dangerous. Flat rubber targets are ok, cones are avoidable, but a rope that is alid across the court is too hard to keep track of while you are moving and watching the ball. Someone is going to lose their footing or trip on it and turn an ankle or worse.

I'll be honest that I never thought about that, good point. I didnt learn this drill at a normal tennis club, it was at a training center, suppose they didnt really think about things like that.

 

[Cindysphinx]

Ah, darn. My practice partner hurt her arm. We had to cancel.

Oh, well.