vary the serve with the same motion. Don’t telegraph
your variations.
Sunday
Practice your best serves in your Sunday clothes. This
is who you are and what you are building your game
around. Strut your stuff.
Groundstroke Drill
Now that was just a service drill all by yourself! Let’s
move on to a basic groundstroke drill done correctly.
The drill sounds easy—forehand cross courts. But the
key components are not so easy, yet they are what will
lead you to a higher level.
1. Start at the center tick so you have to move wide to
every ball. Don’t cheat wide so that you don’t have
to move. Return to the tick after every stroke. This
is imperative.
2. Focus on early preparation. Take your paddle back
as soon as your opponent strikes the ball and you
realize the trajectory of the ball.
3. Bisect the angle of the ball as you move. Don’t
run along the baseline. Move forward and bisect
the angle so that you are headed toward the net.
Sloppy, lazy players wait and get trapped back at the
baseline.
4. Bend your knees and stay down so you hit a “heavy”
ball with some authority. If you stand up, the
ball will pop up. You will be a sitting duck on the
next shot.
5. Work on your depth. Good depth gives you time to
get to the net and gain better court position. It also
traps your opponent back at the baseline.
6. If you get a short ball, hit it and approach the net.
Work on your approach shot while hitting cross
courts. Force your practice partner to work on
his depth.
7. Work on your follow-through. Your paddle should
be out in front as you finish. It helps to bring you
forward into the ready position for the volley. Your
paddle should point to the spot where you are
aiming the ball. A good follow-through will give you
accuracy. Extend as you finish.
8. When you start the sequence, begin by hitting
the ball deep. Even the start is practice! It’s all
about fundamentals. Footwork is the secret of
groundstrokes. It’s not about hitting 100 forehands
in a row. It’s about mindful practice so that you
acquire correct muscle memory.
This same regimen can be used to drill backhand cross
courts and both down the line forehands and backhands
(remember to start at the tick in the center).
A good lob/overhead drill using the half court either
cross court or down the line would emphasize the
following components:
1. The person hitting overheads turns sideways as
soon as he detects a lob. Immediately. In doing so,
he takes his paddle up and back into position. This
should be done as he takes his first step.
2. A scissor step is used to go backward on balance.
3. His position is somewhat like an archer as he tracks
the ball in the air. Shoulders up. It helps to point at
the ball with your non-paddle hand.
4. Work on light footwork and staying balanced at
all times.
5. Power comes from the back leg pushing up and into
the ball via your hips and shoulders.
6. Use cones for targets. Accuracy is more important
than power.
7. Practice reaching as high as possible to take the ball.
It will help you achieve greater angles as well as
keep the opponent from getting set.
8. Practice hitting deep overheads to the center and to
the corners.
9. Most importantly, move in after each overhead.
Do not sit back and admire your shot. Your mantra
is, “The ball will always come back and it will come
back to the logical opening.”
10. Practice consistency. You are in a commanding
position at the net. There is no need to overplay the
overhead. Keep track. Were you able to hit your 100
overheads in the court or did they go wide? Deep?
Can you hit as well cross court from the right court
as well as you can from the left court? That way you
know what to work on the next time.
These are simple drills. You can make
them much more complex, but focus on the
fundamental components. Consistency, accuracy and
placement are all part of drilling properly so that you
can transfer them into match play. Push yourself to
isolate specific components of the game so that you can
improve. Really watch the ball. Really stay down as you
stroke the ball. Really meet the volley out in front and
really reach for the overhead. Then you will have good
muscle memory and be able to self-diagnose in a match.
You will know what shots you have confidence in and be
able to use them at the proper time. Drilling helps you
eliminate those low-percentage shots that let you down.
Drilling is not glamorous. It simply gives you the building
blocks to become a better player. •
AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2020 | MAGAZINE 31