| your tennis strokes makes all the difference. Learning | | | | tennis, should travel across the racquet face, along the |
| how to play tennis can be fun and rewarding. Tennis is | | | | short strings. The racquet face should always be |
| a great game once you have mastered the basics but | | | | slightly outside the ball. |
| in the initial stages developing control and technique | | | | The half volley is essentially a defensive stroke, since it |
| takes some practise. This article teaches a few | | | | should only be made as a last resort, when caught out |
| basics. | | | | of position by your opponent's attacking shot. It is a |
| Chop stroke. | | | | desperate attempt to keep the ball in play when |
| One of the most important teniis strokes to master is | | | | otherwise the point would be lost. If at all possible, try |
| the chop stroke. The chop stroke is a shot where the | | | | to move in closer for a full volley shot - relying on the |
| angle towards the player and behind the racquet, | | | | half volley when other options are open to you is |
| made by the line of flight of the ball, and the racquet | | | | unwise. |
| travelling down across it, is greater than 45 degrees | | | | Positioning Yourself on the Court. |
| and may be 90 degrees. The racquet face passes | | | | Familiarize yourself with the dimensions and geometry |
| slightly outside the ball and down the side, chopping it, | | | | of the tennis court and learn where to be to play an |
| as a man chops wood. The spin and curve is from | | | | effective game. Playing good tennis strokes while out |
| right to left. It is made with a stiff wrist. | | | | of position is a sure way to open yourself up to attack. |
| Turning the chop into a slice. | | | | A tennis court is 39 feet long from baseline to net. In |
| The slice is one of the tennis strokes that requires a | | | | general play while waiting for the ball from your |
| deft touch. The slice shot merely reduced the angle | | | | opponent, you should be in one of only two places. |
| mentioned from 45 degrees down to a very small one. | | | | These are: |
| The face of the racquet passes either inside or | | | | Either standing about 1 metre (3 feet) behind the |
| outside the ball, according to direction desired, while the | | | | baseline, centred between the sidelines or 2-2.5 meters |
| stroke is mainly a wrist twist or slap. This slap imparts | | | | (about 6 to 8 feet) behind the net and inline with the |
| a decided skidding break to the ball, while a chop | | | | ball. |
| "drags" the ball off the ground without break. | | | | The former is the position for all baseline players and |
| Footwork for the chop and slice shots. | | | | the second is the standard net-play position. |
| The rules of footwork for both these shots should be | | | | Whenever you are forced or drawn to play a ball |
| the same as the drive, but because both are made | | | | away from these areas it is important to return to |
| with a short swing and more wrist play, without the | | | | them as soon as possible. Failure to do so will leave |
| need of weight, the rules of footwork may be more | | | | you wide open to your opponent's attack. |
| safely discarded and body position not so carefully | | | | Standing in no-man's-land after your shot (the area |
| considered. As with any tennis strokes, proper | | | | between the baseline up to 3 metres back of the net) |
| execution calls for a commitment to practise and | | | | will leave you vulnerable, and is basically asking your |
| training - a one hour coaching lesson can pinpoint your | | | | opponent to drive right at you. Making the effort to get |
| weaknesses and let you know which areas of your | | | | back behind the baseline will pay off in saved and won |
| game to work on. | | | | points. It is much easier to come forward again for the |
| Strategic use of the chop and slice shots. | | | | next shot if required than to try to play the ball as you |
| Both these shots are essentially defensive, and are | | | | are chasing it backward. |
| labour-saving devices when your opponent is on the | | | | If you cannot get back then shift to the net position |
| baseline. A chop or slice is very hard to drive, and will | | | | and prepare for avolley - try to turn defense into |
| break up any driving game. | | | | offense. |
| It is not a shot to use against a volley, as it is too slow | | | | Stay on the move, rather than standing and watching |
| to pass and too high to cause any worry. It should be | | | | your shot. Every tenth of a second counts, and you |
| used to drop short, soft shots at the feet of the net | | | | need to get back into position as quickly as possible. |
| man as he comes in. Do not strive to pass someone | | | | Strive to attain a position so that you always arrive at |
| at the net with a chop or slice, except when there is a | | | | the spot the ball is going to before it actually arrives. |
| large open side. | | | | Do your hard running while the ball is in the air, so you |
| The drop-shot is a very soft, sharply-angled chop | | | | can steady yourself prior to playing your stroke. |
| stroke, played almost completely by action of the wrist. | | | | It is in learning to do this that natural anticipation plays a |
| Look to drop the ball within 1 to 1.5 metres of the net | | | | big role. Some players instinctively know where the |
| for your shot to be effective. The racquet face | | | | next return is going and take position accordingly, while |
| passes around the outside of the ball and under it with | | | | others will never sense it. It is to the latter class that I |
| a distinct "wrist turn." A full shoulder swing is not | | | | urge court position, and recommend always coming in |
| required for this shot. The drop shot should not be | | | | from behind the baseline to meet the ball, since it is |
| confused with a stop-volley. The drop shot is a wrist | | | | much easier to run forward than back. |
| shot whereas the stop-volley shot is played with the | | | | Should you be caught at the net, with a short shot to |
| wrist locked. | | | | your opponent, do not stand still and let your opponent |
| Use your short game sparingly. | | | | pass you at will, as they can easily do. Pick out the |
| Use all your wrist-action shots such as the chop, drop | | | | side where you think they will hit, and jump to it |
| shot and slice sparingly. These are the tennis strokes | | | | suddenly as he swings. If you guess right, you win the |
| to pull out of your hat at opportune times. They are to | | | | point. If you are wrong, you are no worse off, since he |
| complement your main game as opposed to your | | | | would have beaten you anyway with his shot. |
| game being built around them. You still need to make | | | | Your position should always strive to be such that you |
| your power and strength drives and a strong serving | | | | can cover the greatest possible area of court without |
| game the mainstays of your tennis. Use your wrist | | | | sacrificing safety, since the straight shot is the surest, |
| variations only as an auxiliary for the purpose of | | | | most dangerous, and must be covered. It is merely a |
| upsetting your opponent's rhythm by varying the pace | | | | question of how much more court than that |
| and spin on the ball. | | | | immediately in front of the ball may be guarded. |
| Saving points with the half-volley shot. | | | | A well-grounded knowledge of court position saves |
| The half-volley shot requires precise timing and | | | | many points, to say nothing of much breath expended |
| extreme accuracy. Practising this shot is important if | | | | in long runs after hopeless shots. Many of the top |
| you want to be able to call on it in a pinch. The margin | | | | players have spent many hours doing positional drills - |
| for error is less than with virtually any other tennis shot, | | | | practising the art of moving back into position as soon |
| and an ill-timed or executed half volley is almost certain | | | | as they have played their strokes. Sharpening your |
| to lose you points. However, getting it right will give you | | | | skills and honing your reflexes will pay out in the long |
| a definite edge and can save points just when your | | | | run. |
| opponent is on the attack. | | | | It is a good idea to get some more indepth guides and |
| It is a pick-up. The ball meets the ground and racquet | | | | coaching manuals for insights on the game from |
| face at nearly the same moment, the ball bouncing off | | | | professional players. The main thing is to keep |
| the ground, on the strings. This shot is a stiff-wrist, | | | | practising. Sometimes strains and sore muscles can |
| short swing, like a volley with no follow through. Gym | | | | put you off your training but often working through |
| training focusing on wieght training with help develop | | | | them is the fastest way to overcome them and |
| your wrist strength - crucial in these tennis strokes. For | | | | increase your strength. Remember that building your |
| the half-volley, the racquet face travels along the | | | | aerobic fitness and strength will make it easier to play |
| ground with a slight tilt over the ball and towards the | | | | your tennis strokes with precision and control. |
| net, thus holding the ball low; the shot, like all others in | | | | |