Tennis Tip of The Week: (part 2) 3-9-09 :: The Perfect Way To Punish A Pusher!

I don’t know about you, but my mind is still on those pushers. I just couldn’t stop thinking about them for the past 2 days. Is it an obsession? I sure hope not :wink:.

Anyway, I was so consumed with that style of play that I went back and reviewed our last tip of the week, and I noticed that I left something out, and I’m really sorry.

I didn’t even tell you how to really “take it to them.” It was more of how to “hang in there.” So, let me ask you a question.

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Why are the pushers so successful?
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It’s easy. They’re on the attack! No, they’re not attacking you with powerful strokes, but they’re penetrating into your game plan, the spot where you’re the most comfortable and the thing that really drives your game.

They know you love balls that have nice pace so you can find your rhythm, but they’re not giving you any of them. So, what do you do? Attack them back! Hey, it’s the golden rule. Do unto others as you would have them do unto you. It’s only fair.

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What’s the best way to do that?
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Yank them out of their comfort zone by coming to the net the first chance you get. You have to be decisive with it though. So, when you get a short ball (…which pushers seem to hit a lot of), BOOM, you’re coming in!

When you come to the net, it puts added pressure on that pusher of yours and forces him to think. They’re going to be saying to themselves, “Where should I go, cross-court pass, down the line, or should I hit it right into their body?”

So, all of a sudden, you’ve forced them into having to make very quick strategic decisions. And that’s definitely not their strong point.

I mean, just the thought of seeing you in an unfamiliar spot on the court can be extremely frustrating for them. It’s sooooo much easier for them to hang out behind the baseline in a huge open space.

So as a result, they’ll be the one coughing up unforced error after unforced error, while you’re the one laughing on the inside about how so much easier winning the match has become.

Try this out on the next pusher you face, and let me know how it works for you. The results should be amazing, and the stress you used to experience should have decreased by at least 75%.

Have a good day, and an even better game!

All the best,

Brian Hall, Head Coach
Tennis Mind Camp
http://www.Myspace.com/TennisMindCamp
webmaster@TennisMindCamp.com

P.S. If you have any suggestions for future tips of the week or have concepts that you would like covered, simply reply to this post.

TMC -Volley Warriors 101

Being able to play at the net is incredibly important. If you can’t, taking advantage of points that could be easy winners for you will be far and few between. When you can come to the net and execute efficiently and effectively, you allow yourself to become a multi-dimensional player and a great volley warrior.

Nothing is worse than being “stuck” with only one plan of attack. You’ll quickly become predictable, and predictability is the last attribute you want to be associated with.

In order to establish a proper volley strategy, the #1 thing you should be concerned with is the appropriate positioning. In most ideal situations, it should be at the “T” also known as the center-hash mark. From there, you’ll be able to conveniently move up to the net and defend most shots.

Now I do want to stress “most” shots. The reason I say that is because not every volley requires the same stance and recovery position. But setting up at the “T” will leave you in pretty good shape to cover most down the line and cross-court passing shots.

Jot down the tips below in your tennis notebook, and you’ll be on the road to becoming a volley warrior in no time!

Volley Tips:

1. The best way to play is to understand how to play the different volley variations appropriately.

2. Do not always wait for the ball to come to you. Move forward so you can unload on it, especially if it’s high enough and in your SSR (sweet spot range).

3. In case of a low volley, assess the point where it is likely to drop and return the ball before it bounces by using a firm grip along with a strong wrist .

4. In case of a chest level volley, use your opponent’s force to return the ball by simply blocking it with a firm wrist.

5. If a shot comes at you much quicker than expected, keep your racket going forward instead of sideways. This will give you a better opportunity togenerate enough force behind it and place it in the area of your choosing.