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.