What to do about those pesky...

HIGH KICKING BALLS to your BACKHAND? Yeah, good question. The absolute WORST thing to do in reponse is to back up and get yourself way off the court. Then your weak return will be shallow and your opponent will be able to read WAR and PEACE in the interim while they are readying themself for your ball.

SO if that is the worst, the BEST bet would be to MOVE IN- before the topspin takes over and it climbs above your shoulders. This way you can take it as a volley, or half volley. Another idea is when practicing, have someone hit 50 of them (high kicking backhands) to you while you hold your ground and LEARN to hit a ball ON THE RISE-- ala the Nick Bolleteri - Andre Agassi school of thought.

This is a hard shot for everyone but it becomes easier with practice. So pick one of those 3 styles mentioned above, or practice all three, until you get comfortable handling these difficult shots.

Reading about...

Not exactly reading a "how to" book, but if you are an Agassi fan, as I once was and to a certain extent, still am, it's an interesting read that puts you into the locker room before a big match, what's going on, an inside look that I hadn't really read before.

It's probably at your library, but reserve it since this 2009 book goes fast.

Also, Sampras's book is there though I didn't see James Blake's book though I am told it too is a good read.

A Contrarian Moment

I first heard the word contrarian maybe 20 years ago when I would follow the stock market with some interest. A contrarian would buy stock in a company when everyone else would be running for the exits. A contrarian acts contrary or against what would seem to be "common sense".

The common sense for most people on the tennis court is to win you have to hit the ball hard, harder or hardest.

The other day I was playing a good friend whose game I know well and once again he was attacking the net. His shot to me was mid-court to my backhand side. I generally loop the ball to his backhand with topspin so he has to volley UP or hit a half-volley. I have erred in the past hitting a hard line drive right at him but that usually results in an easy block volley putaway for him and I lose the point.

-- Back to the point above. My opponent is at the net and instead of me looping the ball with topspin or hitting it hard, from my backhand side, I hit an angled 25 mph slice to his backhand side that would land at his feet-- knowing he would have to half volley. He can half volley "okay" and I would not do this against a doubles specialist or someone else who is gifted with short balls. So what happened? My opponent half volleyed weakly (as I expected or hoped) and I came in and won the point.

It takes brains, instinct, and a contrarians appetite for risk taking to hit a ball softly to your opponent but sometimes it's exactly the right thing to do.

Are You Addicted?

***** BREAKING NEWS!!*****
This is even MORE important than hitting with the right racquet!

Yes, that might sound sacrilegious, especially if you work for Wilson or Prince, but I am continually reminded of what is MORE important than using the "best" equipment. Actually there are probably 5-10 things more important-- just read some of my older posts-- but I would say the number one thing is to TAKE THE BALL EARLY (inside the baseline, like our pal Fed in this picture).

Many tennis players sit (and camp out, build a house, raise a family...) AT or BEHIND that security blanket called the BASELINE-- waiting, waiting, waiting for the ball to come to them, which with topspin, it often does. I think the addiction to staying on the baseline is even more common than being hooked on Twitter, Reality TV, or Facebook. There are so many balls that you can come into the court and take 5-8 feet early and just those few feet can make a world of difference to your opponents "prep time". Being INSIDE the court just a few feet also gives you better angles into your opponents court; angles that don't exist from behind the baseline.

Worse than camping out at the baseline are those players that BACK-UP because the ball is coming in at an extreme angle, and they fear the ball getting above their shoulders. If you do back up, it now gives your opponent even MORE time to set up for their next shot. If the ball is coming in and going to kick up high, taking the ball early-- with a 1/2 volley, full volley, swinging volley, or a regular shot will be much better than giving your opponent ample time to get into the court and become the aggressor.

Taking the ball earlier than usual many times also has the added benefit of hitting a slightly flatter ball, which is faster and that too gives your opponent less time to set up for their shot.

Finally, a long baseline rally gets into a rhythm, and that is not necessarily a good thing. By taking the ball early, it disrupts your opponents rhythm, perhaps enough to draw an error.

Resist the Urge

We could be talking about eating chips here, or donuts. We all know how tempting those are, but of course this will have something to do with tennis.

As I watched Juan Martin del Potro play James Blake yesterday I couldn't help but notice how unnaturally hard that the Argentinian could hit the ball. It got me excited and I tried to look to see what racquet he was playing with. The fantasy behind that thought was "if I get that racquet I can hit like him!"

Sure, and if I switch to T-Mobile I will be chatting up with Catherine Zeta-Jones. Okay, so we all know that to be folly, and yet, we all have the illusion that if I buy racquet X, I will be playing like my favorite player. Forget the fact that I played tennis maybe for 300-400 hours last year, am 49 years old, almost 5' 10" and not quite Herculean at 155lbs.

Would my using del Potro's racquet allow me to hit like him? Let's compare those above statistics with his-- all estimated on an annual basis:

• 1000-1200 hours playing or practicing


• 300-500 hours additional physical training


• 6' 6" and 180 lbs


• 21 years old

Coupled with this are numerous meetings with an entourage including nutritionists, sports psychologists, coaches, equipment gurus, and massage therapists/trainers, etc. Sure, give me the same racquet as del Potro and I'm ready for the tour.

It's ridiculous but everytime Federer wins a Grand Slam, more Wilson racquets are sold. And everytime Tiger wins, more Nike golf equipment goes out the door, well that and Trojan condoms (sorry, couldn't resist).

But the best racquet for you (and me) is the one we can control the best. One that combines both power and control and one that won't lead to arm pain or tennis elbow. Sure it would be nice to hit with "the next big thing" but resist the temptation. Better training and practice, more intelligent shot selection, better strategy, and losing some weight will all result in improved tennis, as much or more than the new racquet we lust for.

If you're interested, here is a related post I wrote last year- but more on the "new technology" that racquets have. http://paul-ihearttennis.blogspot.com/2009/02/searching-for-holy-grail.html

Trying to Hide Your Weakness

It use to be that this man, Fernando Gonzalez, would hardly hit a backhand. If so, it was generally a defensive stroke. You will still see him today sometimes get into that old bad habit of running around his backhand to hit a powerful forehand, but as many of us know, if it doesn't end the point, most of the court is now open for your opponent to reply.

Gonzalez today is an improved player. He has practiced and practiced, and... his topspin backhand and will hit it in pressure situations often with good results.

On the recreational level however, many are not confident with their backhand, or other weakness, and not hit it very often. A few years ago while coaching the boys high school team, there was a player in matches who would only slice his backhand, and often, not very well. In practice however, at my urging, he would hit over it with topspin, often hitting a powerful shot. But in a match he was too afraid to try this. When I would see him hit his ineffective slice, short, he would often lose the point, so I would insist he hit topspin. Then he would try and few and upon missing a shot, he would go back to his old safe pattern. To quote Proverbs, a dog always returns to it's vomit.

Why bring this up, again? As I have said before - http://paul-ihearttennis.blogspot.com/2009/08/superman-had-kryptonite.htmlte.html - and will say again, you have to practice what you are not good at. Your opponent is a problem solver and will quickly discover what you don't do very well. Can you imagine having a weakness driving a car? Uh, yeah I don't brake well and my right turns I always hit the curb and sometimes pedestrians feet if they stand too close. Sounds dumb? It is. And that's not the way to play tennis either, with a glaring weakness or two. Shaq needs to practice freethrows, and you and I need to practice our serve, volleys, overheads, backhands, or anything else that makes us less than we could be on the court.

Fartlek - it's not what you think!

Okay, quiz time. Fartlek is:

a. something embarassing that happens while playing tennis

b. a South American herb found near the Orinoco River known for it's antioxidant and edurance producing properties

c. a type of running; Swedish for "speed play"

Okay, it's C, though I tried to fake you out with B.

Yesterday I spoke to the tennis coach that replaced me and asked her what she had planned for her first week of practice. "Conditioning, running on the track", came her swift reply. I said "great", and I meant it. Later I started thinking about the type of running that is required in tennis. In singles, at the highest levels, there is the need for raw speed, power, and endurance. In doubles, running tends to vary more depending on the level, age and style of your opponents.

Regardless of the type of tennis, we can all agree at any level or game (singles or doubles) that running in tennis is not a regular, static jog. The type of running varies a lot, and thus a type of running or training called fartlek is perfect for tennis.

Here's how it works, at least for me. I find a loop (high school track, pond, around the block, etc.) and I run for 7 - 10 minutes a slow to moderate warm-up, then I begin. I'll pick out something in the distance, maybe a telephone pole and if it's 40 yards away, I might go from my 9 minute mile to a 6 minute pace for that 40 yards. Then I will slow to my 9 minute pace again for 20-30 seconds, find something else in the distance (maybe 200 yards away) to run to and then run at maybe 8:00 pace effort, and so on. I will keep this up for 20-40 minutes, always varying the pace and then a brief warm down and stretching before calling it quits.

Here is a link that probably explains it better: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fartlek

Fartlek training is excellent for tennis because it approximates the way tennis is played - overall aerobic conditioning interspersed with high intensity anaerobic sprinting. Another benefit that this type of running provides it's light years more interesting and enjoyable than the standard same paced running that we usually do. I mean, c'mon, nothing is more boring than running like a gerbil on a treadmil or around a track, that's why God invented MP3 players. However, I can honestly say that for me, fartlek running is (almost) as good as listening to your favorite podcast or band while you run, and the running is more purposeful too - at least for tennis.

Try it, what do you have to lose?

Moving in Singles

About a week ago I was glad my playing partner was about 10 minutes late. It was about 48 degrees, overcast and cold! I used this time to do side to side to side to SIDE steps in an effort to warm up my legs, tendons and ligaments. When it came time to play, I was much more confident in doing my side steps when covering the courts from side to side. Why is this movement important? After hitting a ball from near a sideline, you have to recover through side-steps to the center of the court to cut down on angles that your opponent has.

As you probably know in singles, there isn't as much sprinting side to side to get a ball. And if one does have to turn to run (forward) to the other baseline, it's many times to throw up a lob or some other desperation shot.

So I did my warmup side steps, maybe 2 feet between steps but when I was actually playing, I noticed that many of this side to side steps were more on the order of 6 to 12 inches at a time; more often a sideways stutter step. In a long rally, you might have 10-15 balls to hit, and of that, maybe 8-12 changes of direction. Many of those direction changes take small steps, large steps, microadjustments, etc.

And like practicing your serve, overheads, backhands or more, it makes sense to PRACTICE MOVEMENT on the court. Personally, I can move very fast forward and my stamina is better than average. However, moving side to side in a long rally, I tire quickly. You do not use the same standard muscles (quadriceps, hamstrings) that you use when running forward, that you use when you go side-to-side.

So the next time your partner is late, or hey- here's an idea-- arrive early to do this WORK- yeah, it's not as fun as hitting a ball but if practiced enough, movement drills will ultimately lead to better tennis and more winning, and that is fun.

A little Coke, a little Pepsi...

A Little Crystal Meth

I generally keep this blog to improving your game but me, like everyone else, is a bit surprised by the confessions made by Andre Agassi this week about his crystal methamphetamine use when he was down (and almost out) in '97. I have always liked Andre, and still do, partly because I try to play like him and he was always an underdog when playing his nemesis Pistol Pete Sampras.

It is unfortunate however if young readers get the impression that you can fool around with drugs, quit anytime, and then remake yourself into something special. Andre's meth use is the exception and not the rule. But when you are 15 or 20, it's hard to believe you can't just stop when you want to, it's the hubris of youth.

I read the full excerpt in Sports Illustrated yesterday and what is more amazing and entertaining (and frightening) is how Andre talks about his father's single-mindedness of making him a champion. It's a story of child abuse but not in the usual sense. It's a cautionary tale for overzealous parents and for those high achieving juniors who are trading in their youth for the dreams of their parents.

It is exquisitely well written which means Andre didn't write it, but he told the stories and approved of what was written. While Pete got the better of him most times on the court, it's Pete now who double faulted when asked by a reporter last month about what is his most inspiring project he is currently committed to. After a long awkward pause, he mumbled something about being busy raising young kids. Indeed. You know after reading about Andre's father Mike that Andre and Steffi won't be little league parents.

Superman Had Kryptonite

I have...

I am playing some new guy the other day and about 3 games into it he yells in exasperation either during or right after a point, "what's your weakness?"

I didn't yell back "my second serve" but instead yelled back something slightly off-color, trying to be funny.

Five years earlier I would have had to respond to him, "well, where do you want me to start?"

I have told players before, and probably already written this in somewhere earlier in this blog but, you are only as good as your weakest stroke. Under pressure, that weak shot becomes your achilles heel and is sure to break down even further.

We all like to hit our favorite shots but to improve, schedule some time with a ball machine, or a tennis lesson, because if you're not getting better, you're getting worse-- because your opponent is improving, so in relation to her/him, standing still is taking a step back.

What is your weakness? fitness, overheads, backhands, pace, no pace, second serve ad court, volleys, half-volleys, keeping score, returns... Think about it and then set a goal to improve and a plan to get there. Aloha.