As you warm up for the match, notice if you are able to see the spin on the ball before you meet the ball or if you can see a “yellow streak” into and out of your racquet.  If you can see either of these consistently in the warm up – you are probably focused enough to start the match with good results.

2.) Move like the pros… 

The pros average 10-12 steps between each ball they contact.  How about you? Want to be a better player?  Add 2 more steps to your footwork between each ball you hit.  Strokes will improve, speed to the ball will be faster and your intensity will stay high.

3.) Get a grip on your game. 

Practice your ground strokes or volleys with the tightest grip you have (call it level 5) now go to level 4, then 3 then 2 then just barely holding the racquet in your hand level 1.  The pros use mostly level 2 and 3 on their grip tension.  You will not be able to follow through with a grip tension of 5 or 4 on your ground strokes and your volleys with vary between going long and dying on the strings with a 5 or 4 grip tension.  The next time your player misses a shot or has an unusual finish to their shot, ask them to identify their grip tension.  Keep it light for success.

4.) Breathe for success… 

Most errors come from not breathing as you contact the ball which can cause a whole host of errors from no finish to a stroke to feeling fatigue even when you are in good condition.  Do it like you would if you were lifting weights, breathe as you exert your effort – blow the ball off your racquet.  It helps to breathe as your opponent contacts the ball as well so you breathe twice during a point.  You will feel relaxed, have a sense of timing and seldom tire in a match.

5.) Out of sync? 

Try counting as you meet the ball and when your opponent contacts their shot.  Counting at the exact moment of contact with improve your focus, sense of timing, breathing and keep your mind focused in the moment.  Hear the rhythm, as you count you begin to recognize the rhythm of a rally, relax at contact and stay focused on the task at hand.

Photo Credits: heraldpost

• 5 Drills to Improve Your Game by Yourself [/caption] 1. A 5 minute warm up is a must. 20 jumping jacks – Puts you on the balls of your feet and stretches out the body. 20 alley shuffles – Start in the alley and side-shuffle across the doubles, then singles side lines, until you have crossed a line......
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• “I” Receiving Formation – Both Back [/caption]**This UDF works well at club level play, USTA league play, junior and high school matches as well as college matches. This (UDF) Unusual Doubles Receiving Formation puts the receiver and partner on the same side of the court.  The receiver (let’s say – deuce court) is in regular receiving......

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There are lots of adjustments and new schedules.

DON’T FORGET TENNIS in your schedule for your junior player!!!

5 Reasons to do tennis NOW!

1. Physical release from all the mental stress (Not a bad idea for parents as well-join our adult drop in drill clinic.)
2. Proven results - Kids do better in school with sports or activity part of their schedule.
3. Compete in Jr team tennis matches on weekends – This makes lessons more meaningful. Bring a friend with you to lessons.
4. Great activity for parents to do with their kids - It creates a common area to talk about challenges, school and friends.
5. It is a sport you can play your whole life and with all ages, gender and skill levels.

Jr Stars:

Ages 4-8 with no tennis experience

• Tues and Thurs 3:40-4:30 & Sat 2-2:50
• $120 members, $130 fitness members, $136 non members

Jr Aces:

Ages 7-10 with some tennis experience

• Tues and Thurs 4-5 & Sat 1-2
• $130 member, $144 fitness member, $150 non-member

Jr Challengers:

Ages 8-15 with some tennis experience

• Tues and Thurs 4-6 & Sat 11:30-1:30
• $230 member, $240 fitness member, $250 non-member

Jr Excellence:

Ages 12-18 experienced players Jr High or High School

• Mon and Wed 4-6 & Sat 3-5
• $230 member, $240 fitness member, $250 non-member

Check us out on line at www.kendeharttennis.com for rates and Adult Drop In Clinic times.

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I have a question regarding how to counter the inside out forehand. I’m a 4.5-5.0 player with an all court game, with a two handed backhand. Lately, I have been having trouble with one high level opponent who grew up on clay courts. Typically, we rally a few strokes and then my opponent starts hitting inside out shots to my backhand from his backhand corner. I typically return the balls cross court trying hit shots to his backhand, but given his position and the fact that I’m hitting while on the move this becomes increasingly difficult and I find myself moving further and further out to my backhand side as he cranks heavier and ever more angled shots. The point usually ends by my hitting a short ball and my opponent hits a winner to the (now) open court.

I have 2 specific questions:

1) If I want to control of the point by hitting a backhand down the line, what key reference points do you suggest for hitting a ball with heavy topspin on the rise with a two-hander?

2) I can change the rhythm of the point and get some more time by hitting a slice. What’s the best way to hit a slice on a ball with heavy topspin?

If you’ve got any other expert tips I’m all ears!

Handing the Inside-Outer

Options:

1. When you get into a situation where your opponent starts going to your backhand and you are still running around to hit your inside out backhand, play the ball “inside in” or down the line to force him to move back to the deuce court so you can get your next shot back into his backhand.

When we work with players and tell them to play an opponent’s backhand, it only means for a few shots.  If they start running around their backhand too far, go to their forehand to open up the backhand again.  They now have to hit their backhand on the run which often produces a weak return that lets you begin to control the point.

When your opponent starts to pull you outside your comfort zone on the backhand side, add height and spin to your recovery shot to buy time and re-establish your position – renegotiate, as he is dictating the deal.

2. If you choose to play a backhand down the line, remember you are changing the direction of the shot (COD – change of direction) and that is best done on a shorter ball not a deeper ball. You need to plan on contacting the back of the ball with lots of upper motion and racquet acceleration to avoid the ball reflecting out into the alley.  A slow or tentative swing will cause the ball to reflect wider off your strings.

It is best to be moving forward into the shot as your hit it on the rise.

3. Slice is king to neutralize the ball and buy time. Just got back from the US Open and watched how often the pros slice on heavy deep balls (Nadal, Federer and Roddick etc).  They force the opponent to wait on the ball to arrive and the underspin makes them really have to pay attention to be able to execute another aggressive topspin (most end up hitting it in the net).

You will make a few errors as you add new shots to your game but remember the idea is to have “Weapons of Mass Confusion” for your opponent.

Ken DeHart
SJSRC Director of Tennis
PTR & USPTA Master Professional

Photo Credits: CORE-Materials

• Where does Power come from? What are the secrets of power? - Not trying but let it flow.... 1. Just the thought of hitting "hard" will make you tense up and grip the racquet tightly. This does the exact opposite or what you are trying to achieve - it takes away your power. 2. Tension......
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Your first opponent is the net.

Opponent #1 – The Net

The first opponent is the net. Unless you clear the net with your shots, you cannot begin to compete against your opponent on the other side of the net.  The game you will be playing will resemble golf – you hit the ball into the net then go pick it up and repeat the process.  Doesn’t sound like much fun to me.

Opponent’s Description:

1. The net is a deceptive opponent; it is almost transparent, it has holes and you can see through it.
2. The net is only 3 feet high at the center and grows to 3 feet 6 inches at the net posts – about the height of the character “ET” in the movie with the same name.
3. It is distracting when you are playing. Your eyes seem to be attracted to the white band at the top of the net.  This amazingly seems to direct all your shots to this 3 inch target – which means you seldom get a chance to play the person on the other side of the net – Advantage Net.

Problem:

1. Because 60% of your points lost never clear the net, you end up losing to an opponent that doesn’t even move.
2. 60% of the time you have to go pick up our own mistake.
3. You have a hard time defeating the player on the other side when we give them 60% of their points with no effort on their part.

Solution – create consequences in practice.  The next time you go out to practice, select from the following options:

1. Any ball hit in the net equals 5 push ups for the striker.
2. Any ball hit into the net gives your opponent 2 points.
3. Any ball hit into the net on your service game (your serve) allows your opponent to become the server and visa versa.
4. Any ball hit into the net within the first 4 balls of a rally (including the serve and return) equals a game for the opponent.

Opponent #2 – The Lines

Once you have defeated your first opponent, you will now face your next opponent – the lines. Unless you are able to place your shots on or inside the lines designated for serving, receiving and rallying (depending upon whether you are playing singles or doubles) you will never be able to score a point against that “person on the other side of the net.”

The lines on the opponent’s court create a network of options for us when we play.

1. First there are 4 giant squares or actually rectangles in which to hit our shots.  The two rectangles near the net are 13 ½ feet. wide and 21 feet long. The two in the back are 13 ½ feet wide and 19 feet long in which to direct our shots.
2. If we are playing doubles there are two alleys that are 4 ½ feet wide and 39 feet long to add to our shots.
3. There are singles sidelines, doubles sidelines, center service lines, baselines, service lines and even a center service hash mark that divides the baseline into a deuce and ad court half to distract us.

Opponent’s Description:

The lines are 2 inches in width and white in color.  They mark the boundaries of the court which may be a variety of colors; green, blue, tan, etc.

Problem:

Because the lines are the only targets you usually see when we are selecting our options for our shots, we will have a tendency to aim for them.  They are awfully small targets from so far away, while hitting a ball hard with a small racquet.

Solution – create consequences:

1. Keep score, minus 1 point for every ball hit into the net and minus 2 points for a shot hit wide of the correct side lines and minus 3 points for a shot hit beyond the baseline.
2. Any 1^st or 2^nd serve hit wide of the service box sidelines allows your opponent to become the server.
3. Any ground stroke or volley hit wide of the singles or doubles sidelines allows your opponent to become the server.
4. Any shot hit wide or long, equals 5 push ups (not as punishment but to create fatigue in the arms for subsequent shots.)
5. Any shot hit wide or long before completing a 4 ball rally will equal a game for the opponent (the average length of a point for most players is 4 shots at most every level of play.)

Once you have defeated the Net and the Lines you now have a chance of defeating your Opponent on the other side of the net – using your shot selection, speed, cunning and guile.

Check out my next article on “Defeating the Player on the Other Side of the Net” and visit my website at www.kendeharttennis.com.

Good Luck to you and may you never lose to the net or the lines – only to a better opponent.

Ken DeHart
USPTA Master Professional
USA High Performance Coach

Photo Credits: DaveMontPhotography

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T is for Tennis

Think back to the great coaches and teachers in school or life who motivated or inspired you.  What were some of their characteristics that made them special in your eyes and made you want to be like them?

By no way is this complete, but here is a list of traits they often possessed, that you may recall from A to Z:

1. Always available.
2. Believes in others.
3. Compassionate.
4. Dependable.
5. Energetic.
6. Fun loving.
7. Gracious & a good listener.
8. Humble.
9. Inspiring.
10. Juggles many tasks at one time.
11. Kind.
12. Listener & learner.
13. Motivator.
14. Nonjudgmental.
15. Optimistic.
16. Problem solver.
17. Quality person.
18. Respectful of others.
19. Satisfying just to be around.
20. Trustworthy.
21. Understanding.
22. Volunteer.
23. Witty with a laugh & words.
24. X-cited about life in unique ways.
25. Yes man – it can be done.
26. Zealous about life and others.

We owe it to those who inspired us to pass along inspiration to others.  We should work to be an inspiration to others by how we live each day.

You never know who you might be coaching.

Ken DeHart

Photo Credits: nsaplayer

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• Tips For Improving your Tennis Game Serve - This is the first in a series on improving your serve through different tennis playing tips. Top ranking players tend to exhibit far fewer variations in terms of their style and their form in their serves than any other type of stroke in the game of tennis.......

Review your match.

1. What were your best strokes and plays during the match?
2. What were their best strokes and plays during the match?
3. What were your weaknesses in the match?
4. What were their weaknesses in the match?
5. What was your confidence level like in the match – beginning, middle and end?
6. What was your conditioning level like in the match?
7. What was their conditioning level like in the match?
8. What key adjustments did you make in the match?
9. How did you adjust to their adjustments in the match?
10. If you had a chance to re-play the match what would you change?

Each match you play will help you get better, give you more information about your game and yourself.  You must pay attention to what each match teaches you to grow as a player.

From your mistakes you will learn the most -  but don’t forget to know why you won as well.

Each match is not the end but one more step on your journey to becoming the best player you can be – and it never ends.

Forever be a learner.

Ken DeHart

www.kendeharttennis.com
kendehart@aol.com

Photo Credits: pixeljones

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Tennis Lesson

Make your tennis lessons “likeable” by avoiding these 4 undesirables.

1. Lines – avoid having your students stand in lines and waiting for their next turn to play.  Make it a “moving experience” by using cones, donuts and games so the players are purposefully moving.
2. Yelling – don’t yell from across the net.  Learn to coach from the same side of the net they are on by using ball machines, other feeders and games.
3. Picking up balls – don’t make them pick up balls.  Use that time to teach them how to exercise their hamstrings, quads, glutes, groin and learning how to do a split step.  These are the 2 exercises a personal trainer would use to get them in shape: lunges and squats.  We don’t even charge extra for the personal training during our lessons.
4. Shadowing – they hate to “shadow” – it’s not real tennis.  It’s not shadowing, its free practice time.  It takes 10,000 to 12,000 hours to become a high level player.  The more swings you get in during this hour the closer you are to being good.  Besides, if you can’t do  the skill without the ball – how can you do it when the ball coming to you?

A masterful tennis professional will make learning fun by using these  “4 Undesirables” in a positive way so students will learn tennis in a fun environment. They will make lesson time “likeable” by doing the following “4 Desirable” things with their students:

1. Be organized – so time passes quickly and is used efficiently so they get true value.
2. Teamwork – use games and competitions where students learn to cooperate to improve.
3. Play – give them a game situation so they can see the progress of their skills they have worked on in the lessons.  They take lessons so they can become better players not lesson-takers.
4. Learning – they want to improve.  Remind them of what they worked on during the lesson and how much they have improved. Also point out how to practice so they will improve faster for the next lesson or their next big match.

Photo Credits: Joe Shlabotnik

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Tennis Practice

Cindy Lopper sung a song “Girls Just Wanta Have Fun”.  The same is true for adults.  They play tennis because they “Just Wanta Have Fun”.  They take lessons for the same reason.  As a tennis professional you have to know how adults learn so they can have fun.  Lets take a look at some of these key elements:

1. Experience is how they learn best. They want to know how but mostly they want to do it.  Get them involve in doing quickly.
2. They learn when they see a need. Determine what their goals are and capitalize on their desire to meet that goal. Be positive with them and encourage them to step outside the box.
3. Self directed learning is the best. Don’t tell them what you know, help them learn how they best learn and how they can direct their own learning about the game. Provide feedback so they can adjust their actions.
4. Age and experience are key factors in how, when and why they learn. Adjust your teaching to where they are in their life and learning style.
5. “Just like” - because of their experiences they can pick up on things that are just like other things they already do in life and work.  Help them see how they already know how to.

Not everyone learns the same way and adults often learn different from children.  Be aware of teaching to the needs and level of your students not just how you like to teach.

Photo Credits: yonghokim

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Tennis Volley

Here are 7 questions you might consider before you start:

1. Is there 1 best grip?
2. What is the experience status of the player – beginner, intermediate or advanced?
3. What is the age of the player?
4. What is the physical strength of the player?
5. What are their aspirations as far as development of their game?
6. Will they practice new skills sets?
7. Do they want to change?

Which of the grips do I choose to teach:

1. Eastern backhand
2. Continental
3. Eastern forehand
4. Semi-western
5. Hybrid

You will need to evaluate several tactical questions to come up with the correct technical answer.

Here are 9 to consider:

1. Where is the position your opponent sending the ball from?
2. What is the height of the incoming ball you are receiving?
3. What kind of spin are you receiving?
4. What kind of speed are you receiving?
5. What is the position from which you are receiving the ball?
6. What is the position of the opponent as you send the ball?
7. Do you wish to stay in the point or finish the point?
8. What kind of spin are you going to send away?
9. What kind of speed are you going to send away?

Sample tactical situations you might be faced with – for a right handed player:

You are inside the service line and the ball you are receiving is coming to your right side but close to your body and between waist and chest high.

Options: Based upon the speed of the ball to be received you may choose:

1. Play a forehand or backhand
2. On a faster ball, use more of an eastern forehand grip to block or hit with some underspin into the open court
3. On a slower ball, use more of a continental grip, move away from the incoming ball to create better spacing and hit a short or sharply angled ball to your left
4. On a slower ball, use more of an eastern forehand grip, move away from the ball and play an inside out ball to your right

If the ball to be received were wide to your right, slightly below net height and barely reachable you may:

1. Switch to a heavy continental or even an eastern backhand grip to open the racquet face, maximize your reach and attempt to apply underspin.  This would help to reduce the speed of the ball, apply spin to direct the ball back up over the net and reduce the depth of the ball if the opponent were deep in the court.
2. You may firm up the grip a contact to get more depth with the spin if the opponent were wide or inside the service line and you needed to send it back behind him.
3. You may try for a sharply angled volley behind your position, softer return or deeper return – based upon you skill level, their position, you position and luck.

As you can see, there are literally hundreds of tactical factors to consider in choosing the technical skill.  It takes lots of practice balls to gain the experience to recognize the tactical situation you are in.  It takes lots of practice balls to develop the technical skills to execute correct option available to you in that tactical moment.

In receiving the ball, you might consider 5 basic questions:

1. Who is sending the ball?
2. What kind of ball is being sent?
3. Where is the sender?
4. When will it get to you?
5. Why would you choose that tactical option?

In sending the ball, you might consider 5 basic questions:

1. Who are you sending the ball to?
2. What kind of ball should you send?
3. Where is the ball to be sent?
4. When should you contact the ball?
5. Why should you choose that tactical option?

The 5 tactical factors you must consider are:

1. Get the ball in play?
2. Determine the direction – cross court, down the middle or down the line?
3. Determine the depth – short, middle or deep depth?
4. Determine the spin – underspin, sidespin or topspin?
5. Determine the speed – soft, medium or fast?

Summary:

All grips are correct – based upon the tactical position from which you are receiving the ball and the tactical position you wish to send the ball:

Forehand:

1. Continental on a low ball
2. Continental or eastern of a ball above net high
3. Eastern or semi-western on balls above the chest or head high
4. Eastern backhand on low wide balls
5. Hybrid grip between any of he above

Backhand:

1. Eastern forehand or continental on low ball
2. Continental or eastern backhand grip on balls above net high
3. Eastern backhand or continental on balls above the chest or head high
4. Eastern forehand on low wide balls
5. Hybrid grip between any of the above.

These options are by no means complete – have fun and develop feel for the racquet and ball through practiced discovery with your professional.

The ultimate goal is to prepare the racquet face to receive then send the correct tactical shot.

Ken DeHart

PTR & USPTA Master Professional
USA High Performance Coach
2 time PTR International Pro of the Year
Wilson Premier Advisory Staff
4 time USPTA Divisional Pro of the Year

Photo Credits: nsaplayer

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Andy Murray Serves

Get the Competitive Edge with Ken DeHart

Learning a new skill can be quite challenging.  There are 4 basic stages we often encounter to take a new skill from unawareness to an unconscious performance level.

Stage 1

Unconsciously Incompetent – I didn’t know I needed to know that or that it existed.

Ex. I didn’t know I needed to have a continental grip for a serve!

Stage 2

Consciously Incompetent – I have a hard time remembering to use that or do that.

Ex. I find using a continental grip difficult and forget to change to that grip to serve.

Stage 3

Consciously Competent – If I think about it I can remember to use that grip

Ex. I have to make a conscious thought to select my continental grip before I serve.

Stage 4

Unconsciously Competent – I can do it or use it without thought, it is just part of what I do.

Ex. Using a continental grip is how I always hold my racquet to serve.

While this is a simple example of the 4 stages of learning, it identifies why as a player it is difficult to make changes in our game instantly.  It also shows why we as coaches must be aware of which level a player is at in attempting to make changes in their game and to be able to correctly assist them.

We often wonder why a student cannot make a change that we are working on.  We need to find out if they even know the change needs to be made.  We also need to determine how important they feel the change is we want them to make and do they want to make the change.

Two other factors to consider are:

1. What they will receive as a result of making the change.
2. What will happen if they do not make the change.

The stages in between, when the student keeps forgetting to make the change and needs to consciously think about the change before using it can take some time.  It can be a frustrating period where the student has to think before performing.  It was much easier to rely upon an automatic response they were using (although we felt it was in need of a change).

Results can be damaging as losses may occur to players they normally beat and performance levels can be inconsistent.  Students are tempted to just go back to what they already knew and be satisfied with at least knowing what to expect.

With guidance and persistence they will reach the point where the changes become automatic and they will be prepared to perform with out conscious thought.  From here they will be ready to look for new areas they can add to the list of unconscious behaviors that improve their level of performances.

Students may not always start at the “unconsciously incompetent” level.  They may choose a skill they were aware of but had given up on and now choose to work on adding it as an “unconsciously competent” skill.  They may also choose to modify an unconscious competent skill to move it to a new performance level.

Being aware of the 4 stages of learning may help students understand the road map to acquiring new skills or at least appreciate why the journey can be long or difficult.  Awareness of these 4 stages should also helpful to instructors in understand where students are in the stages of learning and how best to help them along their way.

The next time you have to do something, determine which of the 4 stages you are at.  You may find more patience from this awareness as you move through the journey off acquiring possession of new ideas, skills and techniques in your life.

Ken DeHart
USA High Performance Coach
PTR & USPTA Master Professional
PTR International Pro of the Year
Wilson Premier Advisory Staff

Photo Credits: delboy1203

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