Many tennis coaches still focus on teaching their players how to hit ten plus balls in a row. The theory is that if a player can consistently do this, their opponents will make a lot of mistakes, resulting in a winning formula for the match. This may still be true if the players are not at a high level. However, this strategy will be very difficult to execute the better the opponent is.
Tennis has changed. Players are capable of hitting their shots faster, with more spin, and more accurately. If your goal is to hit ten balls in a row on as many points as possible, it is very likely that your opponent will be controlling and dictating the majority of the points. This means that they will be making the “consistent” player run more, work harder, and force weaker replies to their shots. If the more “aggressive” players can put two, three or four shots together, it will be extremely difficult for the consistent player to achieve their ten shots in a row goal.
I have always been an advocate of keeping the points short. If a player can focus on serve plus one and return plus one, and back up those first two balls with some forward movement, they are likely to succeed in today’s game. Shortening the point will frustrate the players who are trying to hit a lot of balls in a row. They will find it difficult to get the timing and rhythm to consistently make the points last.
Players should spend more time sharpening their serve and return of serve skills, and practice keeping the points short. Moving forward, hitting more balls from inside the baseline, and approaching the net will help make it difficult for your opponent to lengthen the point.
Since the majority of points average less than four total hits, that type of point should be the focus. Long practice rallies or drills can still be helpful when players are trying to develop their strokes, improve their conditioning, or work on their footwork. However, practicing like you want to play is more likely to help win those points when the match gets tight. Shorten your practice points so you get used to what you will likely encounter in your matches.
Steve Annacone, USPTA Elite Pro, is the Director of Annacone Tennis, www.annaconetennis.com and MyHamptonsPro, www.myhamptonspro.com throughout the Hamptons, NY. Steve, Jeevaj Bondalapoati, and Gill Gross run the TOP (Tennis Optimization Players-Top Team) program at the Tucson Jewish Community Center (Tucson, AZ) for high level players ages 8-18. Please contact Steve at sannacone@tucsonjcc.org or 865-300-7323