Shot preparation: distance from the bounce

[anubis]

I've been paying attention lately to how far away the player's feet are from where the ball actually bounces in front of them. the quality of the shot goes up when the ball bounces around 5 to 6 feet away. the quality of the shot goes down the closer the ball lands to your feet.

so, if this is true, then perhaps as a shot preparation drill, i can focus on imagining and predicting where the ball will bounce, when it's hit to me, so that I can position myself so that i'm roughtly 5 to 6 feet away from where the ball will land. This should increase the quality of my shots.

Is this a good plan, or is it a waste of time?

thanks

 

[sureshs]

I also noticed that pros pay great attention to where a ball bounces, compared to rec players who react late after the bounce.

 

[Ash_Smith]

anubis

sure, it's a good practice. Get some coloured cones and mark off three "zones" in the court, short, mid and deep with different colours. When you rally try to predict and call out which colour "zone" you feel the ball will bounce in - ideally do this before your opponents ball crosses the net. It's quite surprising how poor our judgement can be!

Cheers

 

[boramiNYC]

also keep in mind what kind and how much of the spin. spin affects ball behavior after the bounce a lot.

 

[Power Player]

I also noticed that pros pay great attention to where a ball bounces, compared to rec players who react late after the bounce.

This is easily solved with good footwork and prep.

The other key part (the SECRET, if you will) is to use place your offhand where the point of contact should be.

That will solve the "how close do i get to the ball?" question.

 

[sureshs]

The other key part (the SECRET, if you will) is to use place your offhand where the point of contact should be.

How would you do that on the BH?

 

[colowhisper]

This is easily solved with good footwork and prep.
The other key part (the SECRET, if you will) is to use place your offhand where the point of contact...

I agree, here's a video with a great drill for this,
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b6uQWle8BCg&sns=em

 

[GA-TennisCoach]

One thing to help this is to tell the player that their outside foot should be where the second bounce of the ball would land

 

[Greg G]

This is easily solved with good footwork and prep.

The other key part (the SECRET, if you will) is to use place your offhand where the point of contact should be.

That will solve the "how close do i get to the ball?" question.

Hey thanks PP! I just tested it and found my contact was behind the point where the left hand is/was. This should help me get it more out in front...

 

[babar]

I have trouble with positioning myself properly all the time and end up crowding myself way too often. Of course, I blame my lazy feet.

I have noticed many times that a recreational tennis player's footwork mirrors the speed of the ball. So, when you play against a harder hitter, your feet move more and react faster to position yourself for the shot. When you play a slower hitter, your feet move slower and thus your footwork and preparation suffers.

Personally, I tend to stand and wait for the ball to come to my side of the net and then wait for it to bounce and then begin to move my feet to hit the shot. The problem here is that many times this late preparation leaves you in a bad spot to hit your shot. Or you compensate for the late start by rushing to a spot and then crowding the ball too much.

I do this all the time. I try to remind myself a slower ball requires better footwork since you will have to generate your own power to take advantage of the slower ball and hurt your opponent, but I usually don't feel threatened by the slower ball and can't muster a sense of urgency to position my feet well.

The few times I am paying attention and positioning myself well, tennis seems easy. As PP mentioned above, good footwork and prep is key, but you must make sure that your footwork is your own and not something that fluctuates with the speed of your opponent's shots.

 

[Power Player]

How would you do that on the BH?

Do this for your backhand as well :

One thing to help this is to tell the player that their outside foot should be where the second bounce of the ball would land

 

[sureshs]

Do this for your backhand as well :

I was asking about pointing with the off hand

 

[Power Player]

I was asking about pointing with the off hand

I know, but I hit a 2 handed backhand so obviously this is impossible.

 

[LeeD]

Gauging distance from the ball, on serves, groundies, volleys, overheads, only PRACTICE AND MORE PRACTICE will tell your (and my) feeble mind to set the distance as the ball is coming, depending on spin, speed, temps, and your own...and my...somewhat diminishing reaction times.
You can set all the mathmatical equations you want, set all the cones and tape measures, and project 2nd or 3rd bounces, but in the end, you, the player, has to go out there and hit against hundreds of different player's at least a thousand times to get a somewhat workable set to distance yourself from the ball, as your swing changes, your racket changes, your grip changes, yours speed changes, your legs change......

 

[LeeD]

Point shoulders at the ball, a distance of 8'75', from your front foot, at a 34 degree angle, on your 2hbh.

 

[tennis_ocd]

The other key part (the SECRET, if you will) is to use place your offhand where the point of contact should be.

I like this!

(Although I question if high balls (chest/shoulders) should be taken with a bit further spacing.)

 

[sureshs]

I know, but I hit a 2 handed backhand so obviously this is impossible.

It is also impossible with the 1 hander, unless you want to extend it over the racket hand across it and point.

 

[Power Player]

It is also impossible with the 1 hander, unless you want to extend it over the racket hand across it and point.

Ok, well regardless the tip about the outside foot is the answer to your question.

 

[sureshs]

One thing to help this is to tell the player that their outside foot should be where the second bounce of the ball would land

Is that always possible? Don't you want to cut off the ball much before that?

 

[GA-TennisCoach]

Yes true it's not always possible, if the opponent hits a rising ball that lands at three quarter length or deeper then you probably won't have time to get behind the second bounce so you have to take it early

 

[LeeD]

Adaptive skills.
Your opponent doesn't hit every ball the same, and neither do you.
So, you have to hit thousands of balls against hundreds of opponent's. It's called PRACTICE and PLAY.

 

[GA-TennisCoach]

True Lee, but a player can go out and practice loads and still not get behind the ball properly e.g I was coaching a girl who is a national u12s player, she has obviously played hundreds of matches and practiced a lot but we still worked on her getting her outside foot on her backhand behind the second bounce

 

[LeeD]

Too structured.
YOUR way of thinking is to get the outside foot behind the second bounce.
Maybe another player thinks of getting a certain distance from the ball at it's peak, and then adjusts his/her swing speed and height to the expected bounce based on EXPERIENCE watching many balls coming his/her way about the same spin, speed, and height of this particular ball.
A + B does not always equate to C.

 

[GA-TennisCoach]

I would only tell them to do that if they couldn't do it currently. If they are already getting behind the ball correctly I wouldn't confuse them by telling them how

 

[LeeD]

Some players can learn by ABC's, other's need to get ready early, set, and hit the ball.
The computer upstairs doesn't work the same for everyone.
Most top players cannot explain how they hit the ball whatsoever. But that computer upstairs does work.

 

[sureshs]

Yes true it's not always possible, if the opponent hits a rising ball that lands at three quarter length or deeper then you probably won't have time to get behind the second bounce so you have to take it early

Unfortunately I play a guy every Friday night who does exactly this. Sometimes I can move back in time but often I have to take it on the rise. On the FH it is not an issue for me, but my 1 handed BH becomes weak for such shots.

 

[GA-TennisCoach]

Ok so if you were coaching a player who couldn't beat the bounce and set behind the ball would you tell them to get ready early, set and hit the ball? I'm not sure that would help

 

[LeeD]

NOT saying I have the solution, but when I have to half volley my groundstroke 1hbh, I just swing slower to use the upwards momentum to add the power. If it's flat, it's OK too.
It's an adjustment. Just aim 4' above the net, not too hard, and to the opponent's weaker side.

 

[GA-TennisCoach]

Lee have you ever been a politician in your life before? Ha your answer has nothing to do with the question

 

[sureshs]

Ok so if you were coaching a player who couldn't beat the bounce and set behind the ball would you tell them to get ready early, set and hit the ball? I'm not sure that would help

Good point. That is why the classical advice "take the ball early" or "take it on the rise" just does not work for adult club players. They try it couple of times in a lesson, and then give up. I am also not sure it is even valid anymore. Sure, pros are always taking it earlier than club players, but you have a full spectrum from Djokovic thru Federer thru Nadal thru Gasquet.

 

[LeeD]

I hate politicians and lawyers. Both lie, by hiding some facts and presenting other's.
Yes, I was answering Suresh's post of his weak backhand on half volley deep balls.

 

[Power Player]

Another option is to take it early with slice instead of your typical backhand. I play a guy who does this real well, he hits drop shots on a dime and if you are not running towards the net before he makes contact, the point is over.

 

[LeeD]

Key is sighting the ball height, knowing the spin, knowing the speed, knowing the court temps, the balls, and your own style.
Gee, maybe that take tennis EXPERIENCE, and a how to guide is only just that, a guide, while you need to actually go out there and hit with hundreds of people for thousands of hours!