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Mastering the Art of Tennis: Winning Strategies and Drills to Elevate Your Game

Kendall Ward

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Published in The Art Of Doubles: Winning Tennis Strategies And Drills

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Welcome to the ultimate guide to winning tennis strategies and drills. Whether you're a seasoned pro or just starting out, our comprehensive guide will provide you with the tools and techniques to elevate your game and achieve tennis triumph.

The Art of Doubles: Winning Tennis Strategies and Drills

by Gabriyell Sarom

4.5 out of 5

Language	:	English
File size	:	1469 KB
Text-to-Speech	:	Enabled
Screen Reader	:	Supported
Enhanced typesetting	:	Enabled
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Print length	:	225 pages

We'll cover everything from the basics of serve technique to advanced tactics for court coverage. Along the way, we'll provide drills that you can use to practice and improve your skills.

Chapter 1: The Serve

The serve is one of the most important strokes in tennis. It gives you the opportunity to put your opponent on the back foot and take control of the point. A well-placed serve can also win you free points, so it's essential to master this technique.

Serve Technique

The serve begins with a good grip. The most common grip is the Continental grip, which is used by most professional players. To grip the racket with a Continental grip, place your hand on the handle so that your index knuckle is aligned with the eighth bevel on the handle. Your thumb should be resting on the opposite side of the handle, and your other three fingers should be wrapped around the handle behind your index finger.

Once you have a good grip, you need to stand with your feet shoulder-width apart and your knees slightly bent. Your weight should be distributed evenly on both feet. The racket should be held in front of your body, with the head of the racket pointing towards the ground.

To start the serve, toss the ball into the air about a foot in front of you. As the ball reaches its highest point, swing the racket back and up, keeping your elbow high. When the racket reaches the top of its swing, snap your wrist forward and hit the ball with the center of the racket strings.

Follow through with your swing, bringing the racket head across your body and finishing with the racket head pointing towards the ground.

Serve Drills

Toss Drill: This drill is designed to help you improve your toss. Simply toss the ball into the air and try to land it in the same spot every time. As you get better, try tossing the ball higher and higher.
Shadow Serve: This drill is a great way to practice your serve without actually hitting a ball. Simply go through the motions of serving, but don't hit the ball. Focus on keeping your swing smooth and fluid.
Live Serve: This drill is the most realistic way to practice your serve. Find a partner and take turns serving to each other. As you get better, start to add more variety to your serves, such as changing the speed, spin, and placement.

Chapter 2: Footwork

Footwork is essential for tennis players of all levels. Good footwork allows you to move around the court quickly and easily, which gives you the opportunity to hit the ball in the best possible position. It also helps you to stay balanced and avoid injuries.

Basic Footwork

The basic footwork for tennis is the split step. The split step is a small hop that you take just before your opponent hits the ball. This hop helps you to get your feet set and react to the ball quickly.

To perform the split step, stand with your feet shoulder-width apart and your knees slightly bent. As your opponent hits the ball, hop forward with your left foot (if you are right-handed) or your right foot (if you are left-handed). As you hop, bring your other foot forward and plant it beside your first foot.

Once you have planted your feet, you are ready to move in any direction. To move forward, simply push off with your back foot and step forward with your front foot. To move backward, push off with your front foot and step backward with your back foot.

Advanced Footwork

Once you have mastered the basic footwork, you can start to learn more advanced footwork techniques, such as the cross-court step, the side step, and the backpedaling step.

The cross-court step is used to move from one side of the court to the other. To perform the cross-court step, start by standing with your feet shoulder-width apart and your knees slightly bent. As your opponent hits the ball, hop forward with your left foot (if you are right-handed) or your right foot (if you are left-handed). As you hop, bring your other foot forward and across your body. Plant your foot on the other side of the court, next to your first foot.

The side step is used to move sideways along the court. To perform the side step, start by standing with your feet shoulder-width apart and your knees slightly bent. As your opponent hits the ball, hop sideways with your left foot (if you are right-handed) or your right foot (if you are left-handed). As you hop, bring your other foot sideways and plant it next to your first foot.

The backpedaling step is used to move backward along the court. To perform the backpedaling step, start by standing with your feet shoulder-width apart and your knees slightly bent. As your opponent hits the ball, hop backward with your left foot (if you are right-handed) or your right foot (if you are left-handed). As you hop, bring your other foot backward and plant it behind your first foot.

Footwork Drills

Cone Drill: This drill is a great way to practice your basic footwork. Set up a row of cones about 5 feet apart. Start at the first cone and perform the split step. As your opponent hits the ball, hop forward to the next cone and perform the split step again. Repeat this process until you reach the last cone.
Ladder Drill: This drill is a great way to practice your cross-court step and side step. Set up a ladder on the court. Start at one end of the ladder and perform the cross-court step to the other end. Then, perform the side step back to the starting position. Repeat this process until you have completed the ladder.
Baseline Drill: This drill is a great way to practice your backpedaling step. Stand at the baseline and have your opponent hit balls to you. Backpedal to hit the balls, keeping your feet shoulder-width apart and your knees slightly bent.

Chapter 3: Court Coverage

Court coverage is the ability to move around the court and hit the ball in the best possible position. Good court coverage gives you the opportunity to control the point and force your opponent to make mistakes.

Court Positioning

The first step to good court coverage is to position yourself correctly. When your opponent hits the ball, you should be positioned in the center of the court, facing your opponent. This position gives you the best chance to react to the ball and hit it in the best possible position.

If your opponent is hitting deep shots, you may need to move back to the baseline. If your opponent is hitting short shots, you may need to move up to the net.