How to eliminate net errors from your game

What is the most common error made in the game of tennis? The answer is hitting the ball in the net. Why? The answer has four parts: players don’t get to the ball early enough so they clip the ball out in front without having a solid foundation to hit the shot, or they are in position, but then open up too early and take their eyes off the ball, the swing (wrist related) is too vertical, or the aim too low.

             Start your warm-up focus with split stepping (hopping in a ready position on the balls of your feet) and then adjusting quickly with small adjusting steps to the ball. Your shoulders and racket should be prepared to strike. If you don’t get to the ball early enough you will be out of athletic balance and have to improvise the shot. Hey, that’s okay if you have to do it. We don’t always get in perfect position. If that happens just get the ball back in play without trying to make a low percentage shot. This solves one of the causes of net balls, positioning.

            Another reason why we hit the net is we take our eyes off the ball, lifting our head up. The result is a quick flick off the ball dropping it into the net. There is only one ball on the court. Take care of it. I know it’s very interesting to look at the opponent. Looking at the opponent will not help your shot in the least. That doesn’t mean you don’t have a sense of what he/she is doing. It means that you are keeping your head down during the strike till you finish the shot. Try keeping your head down or up if a serve/overhead till the ball goes over the net. You will absolutely be amazed at the quality and cleanness of your ball striking.

 

           

A good way to keep your eye on the ball is to point to it on the serve, forehand, overhead, and forehand volley. Keep the non-dominate pointing hand on the ball through the strike with your eyes (head) fixed on the ball. This should eliminate clipping and hitting the ball early into the net.

            Another problem players can have is closing the racket face too much at the point of contact. This can cause miss-directs and net shots. There is so much brush on the ball that there isn’t enough forward movement to drive the shot over the net. The solution to this problem is to get the racket head more behind the ball and extend a longer horizontal swing path (strike zone) through the ball. When you make that correction you will have a better feel for the ball and a cleaner hit.  

            Many players still hit the net even though their swing path appears correct. That player has to image a target above the net rather that looking through the net. This player needs vertical lift to create arc on the shot. Try getting your racket one foot below the point of contact as you swing low to high at the ball. This should give you the lift you need to clear the net. Sometimes you aim low to the net when you are faced with passing an opponent. At those times hitting the net is better than hitting long because you are trying to force the opponent to hit up.

            In summary, split step, get to the ball early, keep your head down, stay turned on the shot, and swing low to high. That should do the trick. I know that’s a lot to remember. Start with getting to the ball quickly and build from there one step at a time.