Why is 'mini-tennis' considered a warm-up drill?

[thomasferrett]

Mini tennis is when you play groundstrokes that have to land in one or both service boxes instead of the depth of the whole court.

Why is it considered a warm-up?

Mini tennis requires EXTREME racket head speed - much more racket head speed than full court tennis. You have to swing as fast as if you were trying to hit a winner on every rally ball, but just use that racket head speed vertically instead of horizontally, otherwise the ball will not dip before it sails long of the service box - particularly when you consider that you are hitting it not from the baseline but your own service box, so you have to swing even faster to make it drop even shorter.

This sort of drill tires me out much faster than normal tennis, and I find it extremely hard to be consistent, because of the extreme racket head speed that has to be involved, just wondering why people consider it a warm up drill?

 

[Cobra Tennis]

I don't think you "have" to have extreme racquet speed to play mini tennis. You could just dink it.


However, trying to hit a winner does require the speed. It's a good exercise, but tennis isn't played at the service line.

 

[tennis_balla]

Mini tennis is when you play groundstrokes that have to land in one or both service boxes instead of the depth of the whole court.

Why is it considered a warm-up?

Mini tennis requires EXTREME racket head speed - much more racket head speed than full court tennis. You have to swing as fast as if you trying to hit a winner on every rally ball, but just use that racket head speed vertically instead of horizontally, otherwise the ball will not dip before it sails long of the service box - particularly when you consider that you are hitting it not from the baseline but your own service box, so you have to swing even faster to make it drop even shorter.

This sort of drill tires me out much faster than normal tennis, and I find it extremely hard to be consistent, because of the extreme racket head speed that has to be involved, just wondering why people consider it a warm up drill?

You're doing it wrong.

 

[heninfan99]

It allows me to groove my strokes and top spin. Also lets me ease into foot work. It shouldn't be strenuous.

 

[Lukhas]

You're doing it wrong.

I second that. Mini-tennis is good for warmup even with full strokes.

 

[GBplayer]

Mini tennis is when you play groundstrokes that have to land in one or both service boxes instead of the depth of the whole court.

Why is it considered a warm-up?

Mini tennis requires EXTREME racket head speed - much more racket head speed than full court tennis. You have to swing as fast as if you were trying to hit a winner on every rally ball, but just use that racket head speed vertically instead of horizontally, otherwise the ball will not dip before it sails long of the service box - particularly when you consider that you are hitting it not from the baseline but your own service box, so you have to swing even faster to make it drop even shorter.

This sort of drill tires me out much faster than normal tennis, and I find it extremely hard to be consistent, because of the extreme racket head speed that has to be involved, just wondering why people consider it a warm up drill?

Are you doing it with foam balls and a short racquet? Then yes you hit very fast.

When I warm up before a match with regular racquet and balls the object is not to hit winners but for you and your partner ( doubles ) to feed each other the full range of shots within the service line in as perfect a form as posslible, when they are working move back to the baseline.

 

[maggmaster]

Mini tennis doesn't really require that much racket head speed. It is a full swing, shortened back swing, brushing motion.

 

[penguyen17]

You are definitely doing it wrong. If you have "modern" ground strokes, you shouldn't need to be using extreme racket head speed. All you need to be doing is brushing up on the ball...

 

[ARKustom93]

Mini tennis is when you play groundstrokes that have to land in one or both service boxes instead of the depth of the whole court.

Why is it considered a warm-up?

Mini tennis requires EXTREME racket head speed - much more racket head speed than full court tennis. You have to swing as fast as if you were trying to hit a winner on every rally ball, but just use that racket head speed vertically instead of horizontally, otherwise the ball will not dip before it sails long of the service box - particularly when you consider that you are hitting it not from the baseline but your own service box, so you have to swing even faster to make it drop even shorter.

This sort of drill tires me out much faster than normal tennis, and I find it extremely hard to be consistent, because of the extreme racket head speed that has to be involved, just wondering why people consider it a warm up drill?

What happened to hitting flat or slice of both wings, SL volleying, and all the other stuff you can do in mini??

And if you need "extreme RH speed" to hit TS in mini, you're doing something wrong. Since you mentioned consistency problems, my guess would be timing issues.

 

[sureshs]

Mini tennis requires EXTREME racket head speed - much more racket head speed than full court tennis. You have to swing as fast as if you were trying to hit a winner on every rally ball, but just use that racket head speed vertically instead of horizontally, otherwise the ball will not dip before it sails long of the service box - particularly when you consider that you are hitting it not from the baseline but your own service box, so you have to swing even faster to make it drop even shorter.

Not at all the case, but what worries me is whether you can put sufficient forward momentum on any shot in a regular game. I have not come across a single person who swings fast in mini tennis. In a regular game, do you brush up excessively without sufficient linear momentum?

 

[thomasferrett]

I do have what I think of as modern strokes - I use a semi-western one handed backhand and a full western forehand.

Mini tennis requires me to swing pretty extremely steeply otherwise I won't clear the net, and then once I am clearing the net I can't clear the net without hitting a lot of speed (because of the closed racket face), so then I have to swing even faster than normal to make it dip before it goes long.

It is certainly much harder for me to hold a rally in mini tennis than in normal tennis.

Sure, I could just switch my grip to an eastern forehand and a continental backhand and 'dink' the shots in with a more open face than I am used to hitting with, but in mini tennis you're meant to be using your proper ground-game technique.

 

[heninfan99]

Wondering if you'd do better with a full eastern or semi-eastern bh grip.

With the forehand try just grazing the ball with your racquet, brushing upwards and smoothly exaggerating the top spin.

I do have what I think of as modern strokes - I use a semi-western one handed backhand and a full western forehand.

Mini tennis requires me to swing pretty extremely steeply otherwise I won't clear the net, and then once I am clearing the net I can't clear the net without hitting a lot of speed (because of the closed racket face), so then I have to swing even faster than normal to make it dip before it goes long.

It is certainly much harder for me to hold a rally in mini tennis than in normal tennis.

Sure, I could just switch my grip to an eastern forehand and a continental backhand and 'dink' the shots in with a more open face than I am used to hitting with, but in mini tennis you're meant to be using your proper ground-game technique.

 

[WildVolley]

OP, Please post a video. Thanks.

 

[Deleted member 23235]

Mini tennis is when you play groundstrokes that have to land in one or both service boxes instead of the depth of the whole court.

Why is it considered a warm-up?

Mini tennis requires EXTREME racket head speed - much more racket head speed than full court tennis. You have to swing as fast as if you were trying to hit a winner on every rally ball, but just use that racket head speed vertically instead of horizontally, otherwise the ball will not dip before it sails long of the service box - particularly when you consider that you are hitting it not from the baseline but your own service box, so you have to swing even faster to make it drop even shorter.

This sort of drill tires me out much faster than normal tennis, and I find it extremely hard to be consistent, because of the extreme racket head speed that has to be involved, just wondering why people consider it a warm up drill?

This is my preferred way to play mini tennis. My goals during mini tennis:

1. find my ground stroke contact points, by prepping myself to watch the contact point, get under the ball, etc...
2. get footwork going (taking many small adjusting steps)
3. incorporate full body to generate as fast a swing speed I can, with a full follow through

Most folks reading through this, are probably thinking, either (or both):
1) that's impossible to swing fast, and keep a rally at the svc line
2) that's rude - (ie. it sounds like I'm hitting winners from the service line)

The way to accomplish this by:
a) not take a very abbreviated backswing. I start my backswing, at or an inch or 2 before the contact, and take a fast/full swing from there (think of a pinball plunger, you pull back a small amount, and just let it go).
b) focus on topspin to get the ball up and down quickly

I still target the center of the service box, and even if the ball is over the height of the net, I try to translate all my racquet head speed into topspin.

When I'm doing this right, it feels like my arm's sole responsibility is to get under the ball, and generate topspin, and the way pace (forward) is being generated is the energy from the incoming ball, and my body weight moving forward.

When I first started doing mini tennis this way (after taking lessons from a former touring pro), I found it difficult, because I actually didn't know where I was contacting the ball. I couldn't stop myself from taking a full loopy western grip windup, so I'd end up taking a full loopy windup, then *slowing down* my racquet head speed to "control" the ball from going out.

Over time, I've been able to divide my backswing into 4ish different "lengths" (again, think pinball plunger), all along the same swing path of my "full-from-the-baseline" backswing (keep in mind all these have a generally full follow through)
1. no backswing (eg. start at the contact point), great for delicate shots at the net
2. "half volley backswing" - slightly more backswing, but generally used for half volley (eg. either against balls that hit the base, or at my feet when attacking the net)
3. 3/4 rally ball - eg. from approximately the "pat the dog" position.. minimal loop... used for service returns,; 3/4 rally ball where I'm not quite in position to take a full swing; vs. low ball in the midcourt, where I still need to get the ball deep, but because I have less court to hit into, i "take a little off" by limiting my backswing; on clay, because the bounces are always irreguar; when approaching with a drive (not quite a half volley, but precision is needed more than power); against heavy hitters where I'm having timing challenges
4. full swing with a loop (eg. racquet tip up, does the "C" drop below the ball, etc...) - used when: deep behind baseline; whenever I have time; putaways where contact is above the net; etc...

Before every match, practice, etc... I always ask to do mini tennis, and most folks kinda look at me like "that's a drill my kids do", and then they proceed to take every ball as a volley, refuse to move their feet, etc... Whereas even if the ball is hit down the middle every time, I'm running around alternatining between the bh and fh, taking 5-6 adjusting steps per shot, and usually sweating at the end of the 5 min.

Jeff describes mini tennis similarly here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IVrPoN6a8so

I'm playing tonight, so I'll record and post a vid tomorrow.

 

[Deleted member 23235]

Mini tennis doesn't really require that much racket head speed. It is a full swing, shortened back swing, brushing motion.

Agreed... while I'm trying to generate as much racket head speed as possible, it's from an abbreviated backswing (so I can't generate as much compared to a full backswing). 90% (in my mind) of my arm swing is going into the brushing up motion. forward velocity is coming from 1. body weight moving into ball 2. energy of incoming ball

 

[Deleted member 23235]

I don't think you "have" to have extreme racquet speed to play mini tennis. You could just dink it.

I think part of issue with describing this topspin style of mini tennis, is as soon as you say "mini tennis" you think of the dinking game (continental grip, used for beginners, and developing touch/sensitivity at the net).

 

[Ash_Smith]

It's a warm up precisely because it doesn't require you to swing at full speed, but allows you to complete full range of motion at a slower pace and under less load that full hitting.

 

[sovertennis]

You're doing it wrong.

You beat me to it again, Balla...

OP, you're doing it really wrong, and your really overthinking it. Watch two advanced players do mini-tennis and try to imitate them.

 

[tennis_balla]

It's a warm up precisely because it doesn't require you to swing at full speed, but allows you to complete full range of motion at a slower pace and under less load that full hitting.

I've noticed a lot of pros skip mini tennis warmup all together. I believe Rafa and Fed are two off the top of my head. I believe Dimitrov does as well, but not sure on that one.

 

[Ash_Smith]

^^^Probably - but those guys are training everyday and have a team of physio's and S&C coaches keeping them in competition shape - they should be able to achieve full range of motion straight out of the box.

Most regular humans can't do this/risk this as modern life often pushes us towards shortened ranges of motion, poor posture etc etc

Kelly Starrett talks about this a lot in his book "How to be a Supple Leopard"

 

[tennis_balla]

^^^Probably - but those guys are training everyday and have a team of physio's and S&C coaches keeping them in competition shape - they should be able to achieve full range of motion straight out of the box.

Most regular humans can't do this/risk this as modern life often pushes us towards shortened ranges of motion, poor posture etc etc

Kelly Starrett talks about this a lot in his book "How to be a Supple Leopard"

Yea biggest difference is they spend at least 15min before playing warming up. Skipping rope, jog, rubber bands etc.

 

[sovertennis]

I've noticed a lot of pros skip mini tennis warmup all together. I believe Rafa and Fed are two off the top of my head. I believe Dimitrov does as well, but not sure on that one.

I always start with mini-tennis, except in tourney play, as do the college players I coach. We're at the service line for only about 5-6 shots though, then begin to work our way back incrementally, trying to keep one ball in play the whole time. After about 15 shots, you and your partner should be back at the baseline.

Some of the guys I play with like to play for way too long from the service line and, IMO, it become redundant unless you working on a particular stroke.

 

[rkelley]

It's a warm up precisely because it doesn't require you to swing at full speed, but allows you to complete full range of motion at a slower pace and under less load that full hitting.

So is the primary purpose to warm up the joints? I personally find it really helpful to establish the swing and the contact point as well because it's probably been days since I last played.

I use mini-tennis on the wall all the time to groove the swing at a slower pace and swing speed, shortening the backswing but using a full but slower swing forward with the same form I use from the baseline (hopefully correct form). I focus on the vertical part of the swing and that feeling of letting the racquet flow into the ball. I want to see a ball with lots of spin, not a lot of pace. As I move back the pace comes with a fuller backswing, ideally while maintaining the spin.

 

[tennis_ocd]

You're doing it wrong.

Or he's doing it extremely well.... I can't imagine swinging out and keeping the ball inside service line to service line (if using reg balls.) I'd like to see that. I have a difficult time with this "game." Usually moves to volleys or quickly moving back.

 

[Ash_Smith]

So is the primary purpose to warm up the joints? I personally find it really helpful to establish the swing and the contact point as well because it's probably been days since I last played.

Primary purpose is pretty much whatever goal you set, but yes for me it's about establishing full range of motion without over stressing the muscles, tendons etc etc (as there is less acceleration and little load).

It's also a good way to tune your timing, feel contact points and so on - so yeah, make it about whatever works for you.

 

[ARKustom93]

Or he's doing it extremely well.... I can't imagine swinging out and keeping the ball inside service line to service line (if using reg balls.) I'd like to see that. I have a difficult time with this "game." Usually moves to volleys or quickly moving back.

He did mention finding it very hard to be consistent, sooo ...

 

[Say Chi Sin Lo]

Mini tennis requires "extreme" racquet head speed? Seriously? Dude, learn to control your s***.

 

[LeeD]

Philosophical question.
My background, horrid at mini tennis using topspin. Very using underspin.
Why hit topspin shots from 2' behind the service line?
Can we agree, we are what we practice?
Should we practice for hitting, or should we practice for match play.
When you're right at the service line, just hit a slice approach deep.
NOT a topspin shot short.
When I hit from the baseline, I mostly hit with topspin on the forehand side, and practice hitting shorter to create angles, but I hit up the middle in warmups.
Yes, I do use mostly slice on the backhand side, but can hit topspin with greater penetration is needed, or just a faster ball.

 

[heninfan99]

Though I do know one guy that keeps score during mini tennis for me it's not a competitive thing or a time to beat the other player with angles.

I do it to dial in the topspin until it feels effortless. When I move back to the baseline I feel more on point with my timing & can vary the amount of spin.

You really should stick with it until it clicks for you. I don't even like to play without first doing mini tennis anymore.

Philosophical question.
My background, horrid at mini tennis using topspin. Very using underspin.
Why hit topspin shots from 2' behind the service line?
Can we agree, we are what we practice?
Should we practice for hitting, or should we practice for match play.
When you're right at the service line, just hit a slice approach deep.
NOT a topspin shot short.
When I hit from the baseline, I mostly hit with topspin on the forehand side, and practice hitting shorter to create angles, but I hit up the middle in warmups.
Yes, I do use mostly slice on the backhand side, but can hit topspin with greater penetration is needed, or just a faster ball.

 

[LeeD]

Fair enough answer!
I get tired hitting topspin shots from the service line.
But, to be fair, I get tired after 5 minutes of total warmup. Any kind.
Yesterday, played slice mini tennis with Papa Mango for 1/2 hour, then topspin mini tennis with him for that much time.
Then, 4 minutes into groundies warmup, I was too tired to continue, so ask to play tiebreaker's instead. We hadn't practiced ANY volleys whatsoever.
My legs were dead from the beginning of what amounted to 10 tiebreakers. Dead, giving out on approach shots, collapsing on most volleys and ROS's.

 

[heninfan99]

^^It all can get very tiring. Though I've injured myself too many times with no warm up and the first ball in approach. Getting older.

 

[TennisCJC]

It's a warm up precisely because it doesn't require you to swing at full speed, but allows you to complete full range of motion at a slower pace and under less load that full hitting.

I like Ash's description and I use it to try to get warmed up with good stroking patterns. I do try to brush more to keep the ball inside the service line.

But, all in all, I am not a fan of the mini-tennis. I think it would be better and more productive to spend 2-3 minutes doing dynamic stretching and range of motion exercises and then maybe do a few drop and hit strokes where you hit into the side fence to get the muscles warmed up, stretched and stroke patterns grooved. To me, mini-tennis stroke patterns are too brushy and those exact patterns are extremely rare in actual match play. If you drop a dozen balls and hit normal stroke patterns into side fence, it is a better warm-up. I don't drop and hit all the time but if my hitting partner is fiddling with their gear or a few minutes late, I'll take the time to drop and hit which is better in my mind as a warm-up.

 

[BMC9670]

Primary purpose is pretty much whatever goal you set, but yes for me it's about establishing full range of motion without over stressing the muscles, tendons etc etc (as there is less acceleration and little load).

It's also a good way to tune your timing, feel contact points and so on - so yeah, make it about whatever works for you.

I agree. To me it's like warm-ups before a basketball game - you don't just walk out there cold and start shooting three-pointers. You do some layups, get the blood moving, then some short shots and get the feel, take some free throws to visualize the ball going through the hoop. It's a progression to warm up the body and the focus.

 

[thomasferrett]

Seems like some people see it as a warm-up, and others see it as a way of drilling hitting with extreme topspin.

I used to try and make it like a warm-up but then the coach noticed that I was shifting my normal western forehand to an eastern forehand grip, and my backhand from semi-western to modified eastern, and bunting the ball over with a semi-open racket face and slow racket head speed. Obviously it's very easy to rally all day like this.

But then he told me to play with my normal groundstroke grips and techniques.

And, as I swung at the same speed with my 'proper' groundstroke technique as I was doing with my bunting technique, the ball went straight into the floor because my racket face is so closed.

So I found that the only way I can hit the ball in using proper groundstroke technique is to swing as fast as I can at the ball using an almost entirely vertical swing path. Otherwise it just won't clear the net.

And even as I do this the ball travels quite fast over the net, so my partner tends to get quite annoyed with me that I'm not hitting cooperatively.

In an odd way I think the ball is going too fast because I'm not swinging quickly enough at it.

Basically my goal right now is to swing as fast as I can at the ball, with a very closed racket face and an entirely vertical swing path, and hit an extremely slow ball that is travelling at about 40mph, but has about 5000rpm of topspin on it, so it is slow enough for my partner to comfortably rally with, yet has enough spin to make it drop comfortably inside the service box.

 

[torpantennis]

I use mini-tennis solely as a warm-up for my mind and vision, building that focus on the ball. I vary all spins in mini-tennis, topspin and slice off both wings. Mini-tennis is all about touch, focus and feel.

Whenever I skip mini-tennis, I tend to be too anxious and overly agile in a way. And the focus on the ball is not as consistent.

 

[SystemicAnomaly]

Mini tennis doesn't really require that much racket head speed. It is a full swing, shortened back swing, brushing motion.

It also promotes an early preparation. Agreed, it does not require extreme RHS. Often more WW swings, steeper swing path, for mini-tennis than full court tennis. The dinking style of mini-tennis that some players do is not the way it should be done at all.

So is the primary purpose to warm up the joints? ...

Not so much for warming up joints or muscles. For me it is more for warming up timing and hand-eye coordination. Warming up joints and muscles is typically done prior to mini-tennis.

I've noticed a lot of pros skip mini tennis warmup all together. I believe Rafa and Fed are two off the top of my head. I believe Dimitrov does as well, but not sure on that one.

Some pros do it, some don't. Their timing and hand-eye is world class and often do not need it. However, it is used by many collegiate and high level junior players.

 

[penguyen17]

Seems like some people see it as a warm-up, and others see it as a way of drilling hitting with extreme topspin.

I used to try and make it like a warm-up but then the coach noticed that I was shifting my normal western forehand to an eastern forehand grip, and my backhand from semi-western to modified eastern, and bunting the ball over with a semi-open racket face and slow racket head speed. Obviously it's very easy to rally all day like this.

But then he told me to play with my normal groundstroke grips and techniques.

And, as I swung at the same speed with my 'proper' groundstroke technique as I was doing with my bunting technique, the ball went straight into the floor because my racket face is so closed.

So I found that the only way I can hit the ball in using proper groundstroke technique is to swing as fast as I can at the ball using an almost entirely vertical swing path. Otherwise it just won't clear the net.

And even as I do this the ball travels quite fast over the net, so my partner tends to get quite annoyed with me that I'm not hitting cooperatively.

In an odd way I think the ball is going too fast because I'm not swinging quickly enough at it.

Basically my goal right now is to swing as fast as I can at the ball, with a very closed racket face and an entirely vertical swing path, and hit an extremely slow ball that is travelling at about 40mph, but has about 5000rpm of topspin on it, so it is slow enough for my partner to comfortably rally with, yet has enough spin to make it drop comfortably inside the service box.

Try not to be so stubborn. I use to have a full western grip forehand, and never had this problem. I knew many players with full western grip forehands, and also never had this problem. Yes, the racket head will be very close as it is inherent to full western grip forehand, but you just need to get under the ball and make adjustments: drop the racket head, bend your knees, open the racket face, contact the ball when it at the top of the bounce, etc etc. Don't just keep hitting the ball into the bottom of the net expecting a different result, and then blaming the drill. And you certainly don't need to be ripping Rafa-like forehands (he tops at around 4500 rpms btw) in the short court, which I find hard to believe. Perhaps you can post a video for us to see you hit mini-tennis. I'm sorry if I'm being too blunt or rude, but mini-tennis shouldn't be as hard as you make it out to be, even with the extreme grips you have.

 

[BMC9670]

Basically my goal right now is to swing as fast as I can at the ball, with a very closed racket face and an entirely vertical swing path, and hit an extremely slow ball that is travelling at about 40mph, but has about 5000rpm of topspin on it, so it is slow enough for my partner to comfortably rally with, yet has enough spin to make it drop comfortably inside the service box.

Nothing "comfortable" about this for either player. You gotta post a video of this!

 

[thomasferrett]

Nothing "comfortable" about this for either player. You gotta post a video of this!

You won't see any video because I can't do it, which is why I'm having difficulties with this drill.

If I could hit balls that travel as slow as 40mph yet have as much as 5000rpm of spin on them, then I could play mini-tennis easily!

I can't, hence I am struggling with it.

 

[SystemicAnomaly]

^ Do not need anything remotely close to 5000 rpm. Closer to 2000 rpm might be ok (as long as you can get a good spin-to-speed ratio). Should be able to hit even slower than 40 mph with a full follow-thru. Mini-tennis should be a cooperative effort, not a competitive one.

Try it by yourself at first. Grab a basket of balls and start a couple of feet or so behind the back service line. (You can stand on the back service line for mini-tennis but I prefer 2-3 feet back). Start with a drop feed (self-feed). Use a shortish take-back (not a full one). Employ a brushing swing with a fairly steep swing path at a moderate speed. Players often use a WW swing for mini-tennis. You should be able to get the ball into the serve boxes on the the side of the net, without dinking, as long as your preparation is not late (or excessive).

 

[ARKustom93]

You won't see any video because I can't do it, which is why I'm having difficulties with this drill.

If I could hit balls that travel as slow as 40mph yet have as much as 5000rpm of spin on them, then I could play mini-tennis easily!

I can't, hence I am struggling with it.

Instead of torturing your partner, who's most likely trying to get a decent warmup, practice TS mini against the wall. From the imaginary SL, your ball should apex a couple of feet before wall contact and be a 'sitter' with minimal TS after bouncing, easy to turn around and replicate your initial shot.
If you can't do that at a somewhat consistent level, don't take it on the court, simple as that

In case your partner is willing and able, have him/her return the ball with short, loopy slice that sits up for you. If they want to practice their TS, switch after a couple of minutes and return the favor. I've used this little exercise with students as low as 3.0, works like a charm.

 

[dominikk1985]

I often start mini tennis using a conti grip trying to hit the ball with absolutely no spin. that is good for getting a good feel for the ball. after that I start to gently brush the ball and hit with more spin but still not hit with anywhere close to "extreme racket head speed".

 

[sureshs]

I find it more convenient to use a 2 handed BH in mini tennis.

 

[LeeD]

Topspin off both sides, I"m about 3.2 in skill level, from a foot behind the service line.
Slice volley stroke, around 4.5 off both sides.

 

[torpantennis]

It's relatively easy to create topspin off high bounce in mini-tennis. But try to brush up at knee level, and keep the ball inside the service box. Me, no can do.

 

[BMC9670]

Topspin off both sides, I"m about 3.2 in skill level, from a foot behind the service line.

C'mon, we know you're rounding up from 3.176! :twisted:

 

[willeric]

You won't see any video because I can't do it, which is why I'm having difficulties with this drill.

If I could hit balls that travel as slow as 40mph yet have as much as 5000rpm of spin on them, then I could play mini-tennis easily!

I can't, hence I am struggling with it.

The whole point of mini tennis warmup is that it looks identical to you full court shots albeit slower. You need good footwork and setup. With practice, you can pretty much be exact on where you want the ball to bounce on the other side, close to the net or by the service line. I bet if someone looked at your full stroke, they would know what your problem with mini tennis is.

 

[SystemicAnomaly]

^ This could be the case or it could be that the preparation is too late to execute anything except for a very fast swing. Mini-tennis swings are not identical to ALL of your full court swings. The takeback is often, but not always, a bit shorter for mini-tennis and many players tend to use more WW swings for mini-tennis than for full court swings. For the most part, however, the shape of the forward swing for mini-tennis and for full-court WW swings would be the same.

 

[LeeD]

BMC, the word "ABOUT" can be a roundup, or a rounddown.
In this case, it's a round up, as you surmised.
Forehand, I can mostly do it.
Backhand, I'm about 40%.
But, my normal backhand groundstroke is a slice.

 

[BMC9670]

BMC, the word "ABOUT" can be a roundup, or a rounddown.
In this case, it's a round up, as you surmised.
Forehand, I can mostly do it.
Backhand, I'm about 40%.
But, my normal backhand groundstroke is a slice.

Ah LeeD, you take the the fun out of sarcasm. :?