3. Know your quick fixes
Good players have fewer“ bad days.” Learn to reduce your errors and keep the ball in play longer. Here is a checklist for self-help if you are having an off day.
- Chances are, you are not watching the ball closely. Keep your eyes riveted on the ball for a crisp shot.
- Lethargic? Go home, or prepare as if you are eager to hit the ball. Step into your shots.
- You may be looking up and shanking the ball. Keep your head down throughout the shot.
- Sluggish footwork? Get out there and prance. Nobody becomes a top-level player imitating a slug. Move your feet in the warm-up.
- Use your follow-throughs to make your shots precise rather than ho-hum.
Don’ t wait until you are down a game to analyze your problem. Start thinking in the warm-up.
4. Read your opponent
In the warm-up, be sure to move the ball around so that you can read your opponent and learn his strengths and weaknesses. Hit a few lobs. Hit to his backhand. Hit some deep balls and some short balls. Is he careless on his forehand? Does he bend on his backhand? Develop a game plan.
The warm-up is Opportunity Central. Where does he like to serve? Can he go back for overheads? By the time the referee calls you to check paddles, you should have a plan and know why. That way, if you need to change the plan, you have good information.
5. Practice combinations
You have a game, not just shots. The importance of utilizing combinations helps you and your partner. You don’ t want to surprise your partner with random shots. Think of it as a dance. You don’ t want your partner doing the tango while you are waltzing. Practice combinations.
For example, Player A serves down the middle expecting the return to come back up the middle rather than a wide angle. Partner of A should be ready with a plan. It is safest to go back down the middle and get to the NVZ line. If Player A serves wide to the forehand, the partner of A had better be ready to run and cover the wide ball, the down-the-line ball, the lob and the dink. Everyone should practice moving the ball wide then down the line.
Create drills that give you the opportunity to hit to the opening. Example: Player B is returning the ball on the backhand side. He hits a sharp crosscourt to the opponent’ s backhand. The partner of B needs to be ready to cut off the return by poaching and hitting to the center opening that B has created. Don’ t just go with a bucket of balls and practice your serve. Combinations are more realistic.
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SPRING 2026 | MAGAZINE 61