Tennis doubles is primarily about controlling the net, but there are times when your team needs to extricate itself from a bad position. The use of a lob is a way to recover and give the team time to regain position. Of course, the lob must be well struck and deep to be effective as a defense. A few tennis instructions and lessons help the beginner apply these fundamentals.
The value of the serve cannot be over emphasized since it gives the net to the server. Having service broken in first-class doubles is an unpardonable sin. The aim in tennis doubles is to keep all shots low or very high. Shoulder high shots are an easy kill for your opponent. Volley the ball down and hard when possible.
Generally regarded as a good tennis tip, hitting down the center of the court is suppose to disrupt the opposing team. Hit to the sidelines for more outright winners.
In basic tennis doubles, picking out the weaker opponent and attacking him may be an effective strategy. Under continuous attack the player may crack.
You should never become annoyed with your partner if he starts to play poorly. Do not scold him. He is doing the best he can, and fighting with him does no good. Encourage him at all times.
Offering suggestions to your partner is fine, but do not insist on him following your tennis instructions. Who knows? He may be right on his point of view.
All doubles team should have a leader to guide its play; but that leader must be willing to take a back seat for any point when his partner has the better position.
Another tip for a tennis beginner, or any tennis player, is once you pick a partner you should try to stick with him. First, he should be someone you like, and he should like you. This may eliminate much friction and tension. His style should compliment your type of play.
Monday, May 10, 2010
Saturday, May 8, 2010
A Few Basic Instructions for Tennis Doubles - Part 1
There have been a few outstanding tennis tandems throughout the years. Great team work is a trademark of any successful team. Doubles is four-handed tennis. It is just as vital to play to your partner in tennis as in bridge. Each shot you make should avoid putting your partner in trouble. When both players are of equal ability, an equal division of the court should be the strategy of play. If one member of the team is stronger, he may have the chore of protecting and defending the weaker player.
The first tennis instruction for doubles is to put the ball in play. A double fault is truly a no-no in doubles. Make sure to return the service. It should be low and to the servers feet if he is coming in.
Tennis lessons should stress that doubles is an attacking game. The fundamentals of doubles are that it is a net game and you should strive to attack from the net. Poaching is a way to go for the kill. To poach is to go for a shot that is really at aimed away from your net position. It is a win or nothing shot since it opens your whole court. If you are missing badly do not poach, as it is very disconcerting to your partner.
The tennis beginner will soon realize that in doubles the team is striving to attain net position at all times. And every shot has a purpose with that in mind. Retreat should be avoided. Volley and smash whenever possible.
In tennis basics for doubles, while both players are at the net position, when the ball goes toward the side-line the net player on that side goes in close and toward the line. THe other player should fall back slightly and to the center of the court. The two players should move to the opposite position when if the next return goes to the other side. The theory of court covering is two sides of a triangle, with the angle in the center and the two sides running to the side-lines and in the direction of the net.
An overhead ball should be covered by the man whose it is to unless he calls for his partner to take it. If one player is outguessed while poaching and a ball is played over his head, then the other player should move to take the ball. If a over head is allowed to drop, it allows the other team to attain better position.
A player should not take an overhead which is to his teammate's unless it is a certain kill. The player should call "mine" and hit decisively. These are general tennis fundamentals on how to play tennis doubles. Partners should arrange strategy according to their strengths and weaknesses.
The first tennis instruction for doubles is to put the ball in play. A double fault is truly a no-no in doubles. Make sure to return the service. It should be low and to the servers feet if he is coming in.
Tennis lessons should stress that doubles is an attacking game. The fundamentals of doubles are that it is a net game and you should strive to attack from the net. Poaching is a way to go for the kill. To poach is to go for a shot that is really at aimed away from your net position. It is a win or nothing shot since it opens your whole court. If you are missing badly do not poach, as it is very disconcerting to your partner.
The tennis beginner will soon realize that in doubles the team is striving to attain net position at all times. And every shot has a purpose with that in mind. Retreat should be avoided. Volley and smash whenever possible.
In tennis basics for doubles, while both players are at the net position, when the ball goes toward the side-line the net player on that side goes in close and toward the line. THe other player should fall back slightly and to the center of the court. The two players should move to the opposite position when if the next return goes to the other side. The theory of court covering is two sides of a triangle, with the angle in the center and the two sides running to the side-lines and in the direction of the net.
An overhead ball should be covered by the man whose it is to unless he calls for his partner to take it. If one player is outguessed while poaching and a ball is played over his head, then the other player should move to take the ball. If a over head is allowed to drop, it allows the other team to attain better position.
A player should not take an overhead which is to his teammate's unless it is a certain kill. The player should call "mine" and hit decisively. These are general tennis fundamentals on how to play tennis doubles. Partners should arrange strategy according to their strengths and weaknesses.
Tuesday, May 4, 2010
The Tennis Overhead
The overhead shot in tennis is somewhat related to the serve. The motion can be closely allied to the slice service, the racquet and arm swinging freely from the shoulder, the wrist flexible and the racquet imparting a slight twist to the ball to hold it in court. The beginner tennis player will have the most difficult time with the stroke and will benefit from instruction and drills.
Today, you might see players leaping to hit an overhead. The flare exhibited by these players is nice, but generally you do not need to leap to hit the ball. In the tennis fundamentals of the shot, try to keep at least one foot, and when possible both feet, on the ground in smashing, as it aids in regulating the weight, and gives better balance. Hit flat and decisively to the point if desired.
The best instruction to keep in mind is that it is very important to keep your eye on the ball, otherwise your timing will be off. A lack of confidence will also create errors. This mental handicap can cause a cramped, half-hearted swing.
The tennis overhead, as a tactic, is used more frequently in doubles. In singles the chances of passing the net man are greater than lobbing over his head, while in doubles two men cover the net so easily that the best way to open the court is to lob one man back
Beginners will soon learn that in hitting a overhead, the longest distance is the safest shot since it allows a greater margin of error. Thus hit overheads 'cross court when pressed, but pull your short lobs either side as determined by the man you are playing.
You should try to avoid letting an overhead drop so that you can hit it as a ground stroke. You may be surrendering an offensive position. The more tennis instructions, lessons and practice an individual has, he will avoid this approach.
Today, you might see players leaping to hit an overhead. The flare exhibited by these players is nice, but generally you do not need to leap to hit the ball. In the tennis fundamentals of the shot, try to keep at least one foot, and when possible both feet, on the ground in smashing, as it aids in regulating the weight, and gives better balance. Hit flat and decisively to the point if desired.
The best instruction to keep in mind is that it is very important to keep your eye on the ball, otherwise your timing will be off. A lack of confidence will also create errors. This mental handicap can cause a cramped, half-hearted swing.
The tennis overhead, as a tactic, is used more frequently in doubles. In singles the chances of passing the net man are greater than lobbing over his head, while in doubles two men cover the net so easily that the best way to open the court is to lob one man back
Beginners will soon learn that in hitting a overhead, the longest distance is the safest shot since it allows a greater margin of error. Thus hit overheads 'cross court when pressed, but pull your short lobs either side as determined by the man you are playing.
You should try to avoid letting an overhead drop so that you can hit it as a ground stroke. You may be surrendering an offensive position. The more tennis instructions, lessons and practice an individual has, he will avoid this approach.
Monday, May 3, 2010
Chop, Slice, and Drop Shot
Did you know there is a stroke in tennis called a chop shot? We are familiar with the slice and drop shots. The term chop shot may have been popular in the era of Bobby Riggs. :)
The chop stroke is explained in this manner: In Tennis, a chop stroke is a shot where the angle towards the player and behind the racquet, made by the line of flight of the ball, and the racquet traveling down across it, is greater than 45 degrees and may be 90 degrees. The racquet face passes slightly outside the ball and down the side, chopping it, as a man chops wood. The spin and curve is from right to left. It is made with a stiff wrist. Got that?
The slice shot is a shot that is used frequently by many players. In fact, Steffi Graf used a backhand slice very effectively the majority of time. The shot differs from the chop by reducing the angle mentioned from 45 degrees down to a very small one. The racquet face passes either inside or outside the ball, according to direction desired, while the stroke is mainly a wrist twist or slap. This slap imparts a decided skidding break to the ball, while a chop "drags" the ball off the ground without break. Both shots can be employed as defensive measures. A slice deep to the opponent baseline, though, is very effective when attacking the net, if the ball stays low and is penetrating. Both shots are not recommended when trying to pass a player at the net.
The drop-shot is an extremely soft, sharply-angled chop stroke, played with the wrist. It should land within 3 to 5 feet of the net to be effective. The racket face passes around the outside of the ball and under it with a distinct "wrist turn." Avoid swinging the racket from the shoulder. The drop shot has no relation to a stop-volley. The drop shot is all wrist. The stop-volley has no wrist at all.
The tendency in today's tennis is to drive the ball with topspin, although you see the slice with some regularity. The tennis novice should be aware that having a variety of shots in their arsenal will help you win points. It is good tennis fundamentals. Practicing these shots will pay off in match situations.
The chop stroke is explained in this manner: In Tennis, a chop stroke is a shot where the angle towards the player and behind the racquet, made by the line of flight of the ball, and the racquet traveling down across it, is greater than 45 degrees and may be 90 degrees. The racquet face passes slightly outside the ball and down the side, chopping it, as a man chops wood. The spin and curve is from right to left. It is made with a stiff wrist. Got that?
The slice shot is a shot that is used frequently by many players. In fact, Steffi Graf used a backhand slice very effectively the majority of time. The shot differs from the chop by reducing the angle mentioned from 45 degrees down to a very small one. The racquet face passes either inside or outside the ball, according to direction desired, while the stroke is mainly a wrist twist or slap. This slap imparts a decided skidding break to the ball, while a chop "drags" the ball off the ground without break. Both shots can be employed as defensive measures. A slice deep to the opponent baseline, though, is very effective when attacking the net, if the ball stays low and is penetrating. Both shots are not recommended when trying to pass a player at the net.
The drop-shot is an extremely soft, sharply-angled chop stroke, played with the wrist. It should land within 3 to 5 feet of the net to be effective. The racket face passes around the outside of the ball and under it with a distinct "wrist turn." Avoid swinging the racket from the shoulder. The drop shot has no relation to a stop-volley. The drop shot is all wrist. The stop-volley has no wrist at all.
The tendency in today's tennis is to drive the ball with topspin, although you see the slice with some regularity. The tennis novice should be aware that having a variety of shots in their arsenal will help you win points. It is good tennis fundamentals. Practicing these shots will pay off in match situations.
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