Grand Slam Tennis Academy

Interesting read: Unlike the strategy he used against Fed at Indian Wells, Djokovic goes to work on the legs and lungs of Murray.

Novak’s Calling Card Brain Game explains how Novak Djokovic won the exhausting, physical Miami final over Andy Murray.

Must read for all tennis players. Great Game Plan by Team Djoko.

Brain Game: Djokovic Serves Up Clever Tactics For Victory

It's a day to celebrate the game we love no matter where we are. Happy !

GSTA and Matunga Gymkhana Tennis Tournament - 21st and 22nd Feb 2015

TENNIS TIP: THE NET GAME IN A MODERN GAME WORLD

In the 90s most tennis fans used to look forward to watching the slams, simply because we were much more likely to experience the joys of watching a variety of players who played very different type of tennis. Some baseliners, some big servers and some serve/volley.

Today’s tennis in my opinion is like watching TABLE TENNIS ON A TENNIS COURT.

Clearly, there are players on tour who are comfortable at the net. But, it is probably safe to say that most players on the pro tours are oriented toward big serves, big returns and a ground stroke-oriented form of play.

What I hope to do with this short write up is inspire some of you to develop a serve/volley and chip/charge oriented game. Develop it as a plan B if required and I for one am totally convinced that there is a place for the competent net player in the modern tennis world. I am sure the likes of John McEnroe/Stefan Edberg/Pete Sampras/Pat Rafter/Boris Becker would agree.

In the advance or intermediate level of competition, top seeded players are generally complete in their abilities and adaptable in their tactics. It is my firm belief that even a reasonably competent net player can beat opponents that are considered "superior." How you ask?.You see when one rarely sees a net charger; it is a bit disconcerting when one does. He/she is expecting rallies, and coast-to-coast play.

No doubt about it. Net players are going to get passed at times. But, I strongly believe that there is a net game approach where the practitioner will prevail more than be passed... particularly if competing on the advance, intermediate or recreational levels.

The first piece of advice that I would give the would-be net player is to embrace the faster surfaces and approach the slower surfaces with caution.

Assuming that you are competing on a net game friendly surface, you need to have some strokes, footwork and tactics firmly grounded to play winning tennis.

FIRST SERVES: An essential serve to own in the net game is the sliced serve. Slice serves can be served with pace, and if their sidespin is significant, they can be extremely difficult to return with authority. Usually, the slice serve stays relatively low after its bounce. Combining these elements, there are two locations for the slice serve that are ideal.

First, if you are right handed, serving a slice serve wide into the deuce court is an outstanding selection, even if your opponent eventually guesses that this is where and how you are going to serve. This serves pulls the opponent out wide. If the opponent is a right handed player, she/he is probably using a semi-western or western forehand grip. These two grips are not well suited to return a powerful serve that stays low and spins to the side. If the opponent is left handed the serve is equally effective even if the opponent uses a two handed backhand to return your serve. The player who is left handed and has a great sliced, one handed backhand is probably the opponent who is most likely to be returning this serve successfully.

For left handed players, the slice serves works exactly the same... only here it should be employed when serving to the ad court. Believe me. A lefty who has a good slice serve and uses it when serving to the ad side will win many points and frustrate many players... even other lefties!!!

The second way to employ a slice serve or a flat serve is to "JAM" your opponent. If you have a big, flat serve don't hesitate to go for the ace by serving down the T. But, use that flat serve to “JAM” your opponent by sending it directly at his/her body.

Most of us are not blessed with huge, flat serves. Well, the slice serve into the opponent's body is equally effective even if it lacks the pace of a flat serve.

The strategy associated with the above serve patterns is three-fold. First, move your opponent out of court. Second, elicit a weaker return of serve. Third, forcing the opponent to hit up on the return of serve usually makes for an easier first volley.

SECOND SERVES: Second serves are usually where most players are least likely to attempt any net play. This makes sense statistically. However, Stefan Edberg realized the secret to winning points on second serve. Edberg was quite simply a serve/volley player. However, he had an incredibly good kick serve. He could place it with accuracy, and the ball would really jump off the court to high altitudes.

The slower paced, effectively placed and high bouncing kick serve is perfect for getting to the net on second serves. Why? Well, the slowness actually buys you a little more time to get close to the net. High bouncing kick serves are usually not as easily placed when the opponent attempts to return them. Lastly, if you can vary the placement of your kick serve; your opponent will have more difficulty becoming familiar with how to return your second serves effectively. More often than not, kick serves work best when directed to the opponent's backhand wing. But, you must vary the placement of kickers.

So ideally, you spend whatever time it may take you to develop three reliable serves: the flat serve down the T, the slice serve wide or into the opponent's body, and a slow, high bouncing second serve that you can place with authority.

Get out there and do buckets of serves!!!

VOLLEYS: There are some (VERY FEW) advance and intermediate players who rarely practice volleys at all. Volley is either a block or a touch... it is NOT a stroke. Just touch the ball with your racquet strings! Let your opponent's pace do all the work.

When you about to hit a volley, remember change your grip to continental(hammer grip), try not to impart power, and simply put your racquet face on the ball in front of you.

Again, practice, practice, practice volleying!!!

A little side note about practicing volleys: stand at the service line as you practice your volleys!!! Why? Well in the real world, you may not get as close to the net as you would like on your first volley. BUT, you can make it to the service line before you intersect the return of serve. By practicing volleys from the service line, you are assuring that any volley that you strike inside the service box will be an easier volley.

THE CHIP SHOT: If you are going to play the net game, you will invariably need to be able to hit a good chip shot. A chip shot is usually hit off the backhand wing that has excessive backspin but may or may not have lots of pace. Unlike a simple backhand slice, the chip shot is always struck while moving forward to the net.

In the 90’s we often saw singles players who recognize the value of the chip and charge return of serve.

The second time that a chip shot is needed is when you are caught in "no man's land." (That vulnerable area between the baseline and the service line.) There will be times when after you serve, your opponent has guessed correctly and will have an excellent return. If you can chip, you probably can take that good return and put it back in a manner that allows you time to get closer to the net.

Whether you chip/charge on return or not, every net player needs to own a good chip shot.

Here again, you need to practice, practice, practice.

FOOTWORK AND MOVEMENT: Big strides do not work when playing the net game!!! In some ways, this may be the reason that so many modern players have difficulty with playing a net game.

You need to learn to run forward using smaller steps. Smaller steps allow you to adjust your body more easily to intersect the opponent's return of serve.

When playing tennis, the last thing you want to be thinking about is your feet! So, you need to run "toe sprints" regularly as an off-court training component. Toe sprints are forward running sprints where you are on your toes at all times. The heel is not allowed to touch the ground.
Another movement tip is always move your HEAD to the ball when volleying. If you are about to hit a first or second volley, simply pretend that you want the ball to hit you in the head. I assure you. I have never had a student or player actually have the ball hit her/him in the head, but this little tip keeps the body at the appropriate height to execute a perfect volley.

For example if the ball is low after clearing the net, by moving your head to the ball you will automatically bend your knees and be down low to execute the best possible volley. Conversely, if the ball travels at a significantly high level over the net, moving your head to the ball will automatically put you in the position to hit a volley that is likely to be a winner.

To master all of these, you are going to have to make a commitment to the net game, practice regularly and be willing to lose in order to learn to win. You need to have the courage to play important matches in tournaments, against rivals, etc. and force yourself to play the net game.

This wonderful game of ours may seem to have become a bit homogenized. To some degree, this is probably true. But, I believe that the net game has not died. Indeed, I suspect that in the not too distance future; we will see it resurrected on pro tours.

What I do know is that most of us can beat our opponents using the net game if only because they see it played so infrequently.

TENNIS TIP: KEY TO RACKET PREPARATION

Shot preparation is as important to making good shots as the actual ex*****on itself. Without good preparation, your body will not be able to generate power, find its balance and control needed to hit an effective shot.

Footwork and racket preparation are the key elements for a good shot. Footwork in shot preparation is basically getting to the ball. Most coaches will tell you that you should split-step, pivot the foot that is in the direction where the ball is heading and get to the ball as soon as possible. This is critical for establishing a solid foundation for a properly timed back swing.

Racket preparation is the back swing taken before the point of contact. It may not sound like much, but racket preparation is a key to generating power because it is the source of your racket head speed, an essential to a hard ball.
Here are the keys of getting the most out of your racket preparation.

After the split-step, your racket should be taken back at the same time as you pivot your foot and move to the ball. In other words, your racket should be back by the time the ball has gotten to your side of the net.

After mastering the basic timing of the back swing, you should decide which kind of back swing you want to take. Most tennis players use two different types, whether they know or not.

Straight Back swing: The simplicity of taking the racket back in a straight line is attractive to many players, especially beginners. The racket should be parallel to the ground at waist level, with the tip of the racket head back first. When hitting your forehand, your elbow should be comfortably close to your body and slightly bent as the arm extends back. (If you are struggling to get out of the habit of having your elbow away from your body, try keeping a tennis ball in between your body and elbow). The left hand is used to direct the racket head into ready position. The hitting arm should be slightly bent.

Circular Back swing: Most professionals use a circular back swing which provides a continuous and rhythmic motion. The tip of the racket head still goes back first, with the arm and wrist following.
The racket head ascends to eye level, the arm bends at the elbow (not wrist), and the body rotates to the side. Near the end of the back swing, the racket head starts to drop down as the arm straightens somewhat at the elbow (not by dropping the wrist) to the ready position. The arc of this swing should appear like a large oval.

Here are some common errors players often encounter with their back swing:
• The back swing is started too early or too late. This will lead to misplacement of the ball
• The elbow gets too far away from the body causing excessive wrist movement
• The wrist drags the racket back
• The back swing is too high
• The arm is too straight on the forehand or too bent on the backhand

If you notice that you are having these problems you can seek the advice of a coach or, for some problems, practice muscle memory. For example If you are having a problem with your arm being too straight, try practicing the correct swing repeatedly without actually hitting a ball. This will re-teach your muscles the correct way of hitting the shot

TENNIS TIP: STAY FOCUSED

Most of us tennis players are all too familiar with the difficulty of the staying focused during a match. The power of the mind is evident at every level, from Grand slam matches to a ten year old afraid to use any of his/her full strokes in his/her first tournament.

Here are a few simple techniques you can try right away that might help you stay focused:

TIP 1: One of my favorite all-around mental repair tools is the simple phrase, "only the ball." It helps me get an eye on the ball right from the warm up stage. Whether you're upset, angry, nervous, or just distracted, repeat this phrase to block out negative thoughts and return your focus to where it belongs, the ball.

TIP 2: One of the toughest times to concentrate is when you are getting ready to return serve. Your opponent has the ball, so your mind seems to sense that this is an opportunity for a little time off. The next thing you know, you’re humming your favorite Bollywood track OR your musings about which movie to watch tonight and before you know it you are rudely interrupted by a chunk of yellow fuzz coming at you. A combination of the below might help keep your mind on the job:

a. While your opponent is preparing, try to focus on something undistracting, like your strings.
b. As your opponent tosses the ball, try to watch it come out of his/her hand and say to yourself a long, drawn-out, "baaalll."
c. As your opponent hits the serve, say "hit” on your return swing

TIP 3: It's possible to become too analytical in the middle of a match, which will keep you from letting your strokes take their natural flow. If you miss a shot you shouldn't have, take a moment to figure out what you did wrong, then say to yourself, "Okay, I won't do that again." It's usually a good idea to repeat the stroke right away with the correct motion. You might make the same error the next time the stroke comes up, but just go ahead and apply the same process. Eventually you will get it right.

TIP 4: If you have only one playing style, and it's not working, your lack of strategic options also creates a shortage of mental safety valves. If you have a Plan B, C, and D on the tennis court, the failure of Plan A is unlikely to cause panic. Tennis players often lose because at least a part of them secretly gives up. You won't give up while you have something else to try. Learn to play every part of the court and hit every kind of shot with every kind of spin. You'll likely uncover a weakness in a seemingly invincible opponent. Variety makes the game more creative and interesting, too.

TIP 5: Look alert, energetic, confident, and happy. Looking so will actually help you be so to a significant extent, and it will keep you from giving encouragement to your opponent. If your opponent is at all prone to choking, your look of ready confidence on the verge of seeming defeat might keep just enough doubt in his/her mind to make them cave under the pressure of closing out the match.

In my books its Nadal, Pistol Pete and then the rest...Let the debate continue :)

TENNIS TIP: SINGLES STRATEGY
Good tennis is a game of opportunities; it is a game of closing out a point and not letting your opponent keep playing. There are basic five things that a player can do to his opponent from the baseline:
1. Hit to your opponent's left.
2. To his right.
3. Over his head.
4. At his feet.
5. Through him.

For a beginner the first and most basic rule is to get it "Down the middle and deep". It helps you win by:
1. Keeping your opponent hitting from behind the baseline.
2. The net is 5 1/2" lower in the middle, thereby giving you less chance for error.
3. You can concentrate more confidently on the stroke because you are not gambling with the sidelines.
4. By hitting down the middle you reduce the length of the diagonal available to your opponent if he wants to hit cross court.

However the problem with hitting down the middle is an opponent with a strong shot can step around and hit from his strength every time. If you can keep it going deep enough you will still come out ahead. Once you get better at this strategy you can play slightly to his weaker side.

Attack the net: An advanced player will attack the net at every opportunity and the intermediate will wait for the first short ball before going in. The average player is average because he seldom hits the ball deep. In fact against most players the odds are that the next ball or every other ball will be short so you should anticipate this and be inside the baseline expecting a short ball. This means you must fight to get to the net. If you can develop the confidence to take the short ball and move in to close out the point, you will find yourself naturally always moving forward rather than naturally staying back. Your opponent will feel this pressure and this will affect his concentration and rhythm of his swing and he will produce errors.

Play the percentages: More points are lost than won in a match. When points are combined of both players, errors always out number winners. To reduce errors you must simplify your strategy. Keep the ball deep, safe and be ready in anticipation for short balls. The more creative you get the more chance for errors. Limit your chances of errors by following the percentages i.e. deep and down the middle. When forced by a tough shot, hit a ball that has the highest percentage of staying in the court and keeping you in the point. Trying for a winner to get you out of trouble is not a percentage play; it is a gamble and not a good one. If you are winning keep winning by doing exactly the same thing that got you in the winning position. Trying something new will only allow the momentum to shift and when the momentum switches, all you can do is watch it go right out from under you. Don't let this happen by testing your skill with fancy circus shots in a match. Follow the JUST WIN STRATEGY, practice the new shots tomorrow.

When in trouble, get the ball up: In a baseline rally one player will get pulled wide which forces him to either try to blast the ball back hoping for a winner or produce an error. The best way to buy time and to get back into the point is to elevate this shot 8 to 10 feet above the net to get you back in to the point. By getting the ball back it forces your opponent’s technique to be better along with his concentration and most likely gets him frustrated thereby making him/her try for too much and miss the ball long or into the net. Simply put, he will feel aggravated by your ability to return his best shot.

Break down your opponent’s rhythm: If you are playing someone who likes pace hit them soft/under spin balls that they have to prepare for differently. For example most two hander’s like the ball in the strike zone where they can use the natural body movement and hit solid ground strokes. One way to avoid this area is by hitting short and low and then hit topspin deep and high. This will force them to adjust to the variances and thus gets them out of their natural rhythm. Determining what your opponent does not like is quite easy, what produces errors and what makes him angry and frustrated.

Break down your opponent’s strong shot: One of my favorite and my go to strategy when I’m playing someone equal or better than me. When your opponent has a great forehand and a weak backhand do not let him win with his strength. Anticipate the shot and force him to hit it better than he is capable of. For example, if he hits flat forehands, OVERPLAY to cross court side forcing him to hit down the line over a higher net. Remember a flat forehand is hit with a horizontal swing which is more difficult to execute down the line for many reasons. You can further break his strong shot by slicing to his forehand that stays low and pulls away. This will cause him more difficulty and produce more errors on his better side. You will frustrate him and further open up his weaker side for any order of shot.

Hit cross court groundies: It is much safer to go cross court for these reasons:
1. The net is lower in the middle than on the sides.
2. The court is longer, thus you give yourself more time.
3. You tempt your opponent to hit the tougher return i.e. down the line.
In addition it requires less control to return a ball back upon the path of its origin. This is because when a ball is arriving at the racquet on a diagonal path, it tends to deflect off the racquet at an angle in direct relation to the angle of its approach.

There is no/less margin for safety when you go down the line; what looks to be an easy shot is not. It is a lower percentage play and must be hit with more control. Any deficiency will produce an error wide or into the net because of the force of gravity and the height of the net, and long because of the shorter distance and the need for a more precise impact and topspin to control the flight of the ball.

Few additional basics of sound strategy:
1. Every shot is very important because it could be your last.
2. Anticipate opportunities and hit the first short ball.
3. Instinctively want to move forward not back.
4. Mentally know that you are here for the whole match.
5. Forget the winners that your opponent hit just play.
6. Buy time at every opportunity so you can be prepared to hit.
7. Get all your serves in deep. The first puts pressure on the returner the second on the server.
8. Keep the ball down the middle and deep consistently.
9. Swing through your shots don’t shorten your swing if you hit long at first.
10. Keep moving and be aware of your balance.
11. Strive to hit technically correct shots during the match.
12. Visualize your shots as you hit them, mental pictures produce physical results.

Good Article 'When Rafa Blinked' by one of my favorite tennis journalist Peter Bodo

http://www.tennis.com/pro-game/2014/04/when-rafa-blinked/51299/ #.U2CLq1WSySo

TENNIS TIP: IMPROVE THE BACKHAND

Tennis backhand technique is one of the least practiced areas of the game, it is often weaker than the forehand. Whether a player uses a two handed tennis backhand or a one handed backhand, the technique is important. A rigid backhand shot will limit the ability of the player to generate power as well as inhibit the necessary rotation needed to hit a powerful and heavy tennis backhand.

The technique on the tennis backhand must be improved through correct repetition and ample practice.

Here are a couple of tips for the backhand which will help to make the backhand shot a dependable tennis stroke.

Grip (Two handed backhand): Players use different types of tennis grips when they execute the backhand. If you are a right handed player, the most common grip to use in the two handed backhand are the Eastern forehand grip for your left hand (if you are right handed), while the continental grip is used for the right hand.

Grip (One handed backhand): In the one handed backhand technique, the tennis grip to be used depends on the ex*****on you want to achieve. The eastern backhand is the ideal grip for generating topspin on the one handed backhand.

Letting the backhand come along with the ride: This is one of the most important points. The body should help initiate the back swing on the backhand, and the hands and racket should do minimal work in taking the racquet back. The only role of the hands and arm is to guide the racquet back in a compact and simple motion. Allow the racquet to come back as a result of the overall body turn and coil. The racquet itself is doing very little, and there is almost no swinging on the tennis backhand.

Footwork: The feet turning sideways on the preparation, thereby helping to begin the coil on the backhand. Remember it is the coil that should do most of the necessary work in taking the racquet back.

Point of contact: Less than a second before the point of contact, your racquet should be below the ball. This is an important aspect of backhand technique to produce topspin. When the ball is short, ideally it is best to make contact with the ball a few inches in front of your knee. However if the ball is high, the contact point can be a bit farther back. In case of the one handed backhand, the point of contact differs depending on the grip you use. If you want to create topspin, do not use the continental grip unless you want to hit a slice backhand. If you are using the eastern backhand grip, you have to hit the ball in front of your body.

When you make contact, make sure that your racquet is positioned parallel to the ground, your body is facing sideways and your eyes glued to the ball.

Follow through: An important aspect of the backhand technique is to make clean contact and extend outwards with the arm and racquet towards the intended direction of the ball. This is part of the follow through phase. The full extension of the arm and racquet is key in order to maximize the line of the shot and create a full and fluid tennis backhand. Without good extension on the backhand it will be difficult to maximize the depth and spin.

Typically, lower level players who have improper backhand technique fail to get the full extension in the follow through before wrapping around the right shoulder (right handed player) or the left shoulder (left handed player).This is due to the swing itself, or an overly active wrist (e.g. snapping the wrist at contact, rather than driving through with the backhand).

Tennis backhand technique and all the aspects concerning the tennis backhand is a time consuming process that a player must dedicate practice time to perfect the small components which make up the tennis technique.