Zen Tennis

 Zen Ideas

1. When playing or practicing concentrate on one shot at a time. Although this sounds easy, the conscious mind can drift to many places (the crowd, wind, your strings, your opponent, etc.). All that really matters is the ball and what "it" is doing at the present moment. By allowing yourself (unconscious) to react to the ball in a relaxed manner, you can play your best. When watching a sunset you focus is on one thing, the sun. In tennis your focus must be the ball. And when you watch a sunset, you might feel at peace. The same is true when watching the ball. The sun is the sun and a ball is a ball. The more in tune you are with those two object you are, the more they will tell you without you having to ask.

2. Play at your pace which allows you to recover from the past and get ready for the future. Rushing yourself leads to making quick errors and your unconscious can not catch up with your body. That doesn't mean you should stall the game. It means, give yourself time to let go of the last point, and come back to breathing, settling down your body, and resting (not easy to do when you are in a competitive match; your training play effects your ability to recover quickly). When a point ends, slow down and regain the present.

3.Take your time when hitting a ball and complete the swing.  Asking yourself to think of that sunset and breathing can help, or listening to a favorite song in your mind. Giving our mind a break will help you relax and flow completely. The strike zone is further back than we realize. Most errors tend to go in the net because we are not finding the proper strike zone. If you get tense you cant take a complete fluid swing, even though you know you own the shot in practice.

4. Less is more. There is no perfect way of hitting the ball for everyone. There are fundamentals that we must have. Regardless of how you hit the ball, adjusting to strike the ball, with good timing is number one. Its better to have any inefficient movements, hitches, back-swings removed from our shots. In the heat of battle one must be a well oiled machine. It s better to have a 10% back-swing with a 90% follow-through, than a 80% back-swing with a 20% deceleration after contact, with little follow-through. A simple block when close to the net is good enough. There is no need to hit a reverse spin volley that comes back over to your side of the net, after hitting on your opponents side first. Go with great tasting vanilla! Keep it simple. Quality over quantity, get the maximum from the minimum.

5. Schedule routines and rituals. Success demands repeat performance. Schedule practices and workouts specific to your needs. Take time before you serve by bouncing the ball three times before you serve. Sit down during breaks and drink ice water with lemon. Have your towel in an easy place to access during practices and matches. Take planned breaks and recover, using the same time intervals as a match. Practice for a designated period of time and move on. Train with intensity for short periods of time with short breaks. Schedule practices in your calendar weekly, monthly, and yearly, allowing for tournaments, leagues, indoor season, outdoor season, and teams.

6. Watch the ball. Observe it and see it before it comes off the strings of your opponent. This has the effect of slowing time down, and makes you faster! Look for reasons to watch the ball, despite anything else that happens around the court. Nothing else matters in the end. Don't look for reasons not to watch the ball, and blame something else on your error. Those distractions are part of the game. You only can control your reaction and focus. All that other "stuff" is a mine field of distraction. It can remain there, but it doesn't effect your focus on the ball; you are meditating on the ball, and you are aware of how it's behaving.

---Kevin

Crucial Strategies of Doubles

First of all,its great to be back. After a way too long hiatus, I'm back in the writing saddle  again. The other day I was out assisting my daughter (the Head Coach for Falmouth High School Girl's Varsity Tennis) and I was assigned the Doubles Teams. The level of play was 3.0 for both Marshfield and Falmouth High Schools. I also just finished up coaching for a Women's 3.0 League Team in Plymouth at the Village Racquet Club. There's a couple of points I'd like to address.

When playing doubles at any level your main goal should be to return serve and rally cross court away from the net player. If you cannot do this then that net players will pound winners against you all day. And your partner, who is located on the service line will become an easy target. If you want to get better at doubles, write this down--"Hit the ball cross court away from the net player." That is tennis 101. If you cant do that, take the course over again, and again till you pass it. Hit it deep cross court is the best, your opponent cant get to the net as easy and most players at 3.0 to 3.5 do not recover properly after returning a cross court ball. What do they do? They stand inside the baseline which makes returning a deep ball weak, they throw up playable shots from their feet. I've seen it happen over and over, and its a hard habit to break.

Then next most important strategy is to approach the net when your partner gets an easy ball or you get a short ball. When you do come in, stop just inside the service line. Many players stop short of the line or go right up to the net. Both of those ideas are not good. Hold the line, and take the came as it unfolds; you can move in on balls the pressure your opponent, or hold at the line if your opponent can lob or smack it at your face. You've got to know when to hold em and when to fold em.

How can I get better at these strategies? Practice!!!!!!

Get a good outside forehand and backhand so that you can isolate the deep court player, a tag team that player until you and your partner decide to change the direction of the ball to the short side of the opponents. You have to be able to rally on both wings right to left or left to right. Practice cross court rally's one on one! Get real good at it!

What else?

Practice volleys from just inside the service line and hit them to either side of the court. Hit volleys from the offensive net position (six feet from the net) to the back court player on either side of the court. Your partner will be expecting the ball so its good training for you and them. Its a great workout too.

How can I remember all of this, it seems complicated? " Okay remember this:

Rally or volley the ball to the deepest person, both you and your partner!!!!!

Opportunities will arise to take the point. This is percentage tennis for players working on getting better at doubles and its simple to remember. By the way, both doubles teams for Falmouth won and a number one doubles team form the South Shore lost a first set to two players from my Plymouth Team who who were old enough to be  their Mothers, and number doubles won against a couple of kids too! That was a moral victory.

In the trenches.

Kevin Pease

Ten Points to Better Singles

There are many helpful reminders for the game of singles. Here's a few that I've found to be true in my own game. These ten pointers will get you to the next level for sure. Competitive matches require you to keep your head if your going to win.

1. Serve with an intention, i.e., serve wide to pull the opponent off court. Serve inside to keep the rally down the middle. This one's going at the body because I haven't shown this yet. On my second serve I'm going to keep my racquet speed fast and drive my serve to locations, using some spin to improve my consistency, but; I'm not going to give my opponent batting practice.

2. Return with an intention, i.e., if the ball is served to the T side I'm going down the the line. If the ball is served wide I'm going cross court. I'm going to get myself in front of the ball and drive it back with a drive return deep, because he has been teeing off on my lack luster returns.

3. During wide cross court rallies hit solid deep shots cross court. How you hit it cross court is your game style. I like to launch solid drives to the corners as this gives my opponent less time to react and more likely to keep the rally at least neutral. I don't like being yanked around the court like a puppet on a string. The deeper and faster the ball the less likely this is to happen.

4. Return deep middle balls to the side that feels right. This means you can go to either wing of your opponent. If possible launch your weapon shot (if you have one) to the weaker side or the side which is most available.

5. Short balls management: either dish them cross court if they are low and untenable, or pound it to the most pressure location if the shot is above the net. You must master the attack of short balls on both your wings. Players are too good no not to take advantage of them. You should practice them as much as serves and returns which are the two most important shots of the game. Following the "shorty" to the net depends on your game style, size, volley ability, opponent's passing ability, and how much distress you've caused your opponent. There's a lot of material there. A general rule to follow for most players is--"go to the net to finish a point, not start one." That means if you approach to a closed court with your opponent standing there, you'd better have some great stuff on your shot and a great net game. A good opponent is going to make you play. Going to the net to finish a point is more of an open court situation where you have given your opponent a difficult shot to handle and a weak return is likely, or that you are making them run a long distance to hit a difficult passing shot.

6.When an opponent is at the net, pass with a dipping shot to get them volley up, if you are inside the baseline and balanced. If those two requirements are not met, then you should lob and make it a good one. Practice defense often. If you can score on defense, it's like forcing a fumble. It produces changes of momentum.

7. Against a heavy hitter (one with pace, spin or both) back up in the court to create space for yourself and give yourself time to get ready to leverage the shot. You may have to lengthen your follow-through to stay on line with the ball and respect its power line. Don't get creative with a power hitter. Hit clean yourself and don't give them short stuff to pound on. Most power players (good ones, are consistent too). Focus on getting in great position and hit your corners. Don't be afraid of big shots. Standing up closer to counter punch is another idea (sending the ball back quick giving your opponent less reaction time). If you can be successful shortening up and timing that, then do it. Personally, I'm not so inclined.

8. Take easy balls early. Take away your opponent's reaction time. Anytime you get an easy shot with or without height, get to it early, take it on the rise (above the net for higher balls) and punish it and or place it. Attack when given the chance. Don't push. You will loose for sure against great players. Practice for playing great players not poor ones.

9. Don't get creative. Stick to the fundamental strategies of the game.  If you are not winning, try to improve execution. This could be mental, getting the body into a relaxed state of performance, Stick to your style. Be true to yourself. Don't try new strokes that you haven't had the chance to own. Don't start serving and volleying if your a baseline player. Change your tactics not your style. If you feel you can play better, get better timing, improve your returns and serve, then that could be all it takes to get competitive. Once your competing, you then can make other adjustments. The more you get in those situations the better you will handle them.

10. Practice with intensity. Hit hard, deep, with direction. Train with someone who delivers power and spin as well. See how many hard drives you can keep going. Train in all areas of your game with focus and intensity. Serves, returns, rallying, approach shots, volleys, overheads, lobs, passing shots, drop shots, and angles, etc. Also strive to improve your techniques, timing, and court coverage ability. Obviously you cant do everything everyday. I think its important to a least do a cordial warm-up (all shots) right away (ten minutes). Request a few practice shots of one area of your game. Your practice partner may want this as well. Then rally practice: start by keeping the ball deep and easy and develop timing and build the pace up to as high as you can while still maintaining consistency. Then play points (serve five each, play tie-breaks, or games.) There are many drill games also. I like playing real points because I feel the pressure adds to the competition. If you don't have pressure then you are not training to play up for higher levels. Pressure is good. Take care of all the little things really well. Practice agility, strength training for tennis, stretch, eat and sleep well. If you prepare well you will be prepared for higher levels of competition. I think playing three out of five sets is great training once in a while because you get plenty of stamina work in and your body will be used to the demands of tournament play. Any practice is better than no practice. Practice and train as much as you can. Do what works best for you.

Ten Points To Better Doubles

1. Get your first serve in because it sets up your partner for a possible poach.

2. Return the serve cross court, well.

3. Rally Cross Court, well.

4. After every shot transition to the net or behind the baseline and split-step.

5. Make easy volleys. Don't get greedy or to creative.

6. When you and your partner are at the net, and have a high easy ball, go to the short side, not deep.

7. Hit passing shots down the middle, most of the time.

8. If you are deep behind the baseline and both players are at the net, lob.

9. The secret sauce of the game is poaching diagonally at the net and cutting off baseline shots and 

    volleys.

10. Communicate: up, back, you, me, switch, go, and poaching signals.

Merry Christmas.

Tomorrow, ten basic points of singles.

Mini Tennis and Full Court Tennis

Mini tennis is the short game you play when you can only use the service boxes (for singles) and extend the service line out into the alleys for doubles. For the serve, stand to start in the same position as you would on a full court, the right side. Drop the ball to the court first before hitting it. It should be an easy serve, not an attempt to ace off a feed. Rally the ball as you would in full court tennis. The only rule for basic mini tennis is that you may not volley the ball nor smash it down. Many of your shots will be blocked or shortened. You may hit any type of spin you wish. These mini court games sound gentle but you can get an amazing workout rallying cross court and down the line shots. If you play first to five points, then shift serve every two points, if you get to four points all, then the server serves the final point and the receiver chooses which side to receive that serve.

The advantage of practicing mini tennis is that it teaches you touch close to the net. You need control to win this game. It isn't easy. There are other rules options for this game but try this basic one first. Many players practice mini tennis for a couple of minutes before starting the large court traditional warm-up. It gets your eyes, hands and feet working with control before going to full court. It makes sense. In Basketball you start with lay-ups. In baseball you throw close. In soccer you kick close. 

Let me know if you have any questions about this great game. 

Play Like You Practice

I recommend reading the Inner Game of Tennis for anyone looking for a clean approach on how to view the psychology of learning tennis, competing in tennis, other sports and even life. One area worth considering is the practice / play relationship. And that is something that I'm going to focus on today.

A player named Jimmy Connors, a great number one in the world, used to practice for short periods of time and train as hard as he could during that period. It would be intense focused drills and play for just one hour. He would jump rope for up to forty-five minutes as well. That was pretty much it. Can you imagine how good your game would be if you trained just a few minutes per day of concentrated effort. Several of our top juniors here at the club, Sean Pease, Joe Delinks, Regis Chang, Kara Pease, the Maxwell's, and many other players have trained here in Falmouth with short durations of focused execution. They achieved success in New England and beyond through their intense efforts. Now we are integrating the Etchfit program with short intense on court movement drills, and strength training specific for tennis, proper nutrition, and mental conditioning. All of these factors must be balanced together to allow for the most enjoyable and productive tennis experience.

If I had to boil it down to one ingredient most important to peak performance is playing like you practice. One has to play without fear and trust your shots. Your mind in play must be similar to that of practice--effortless movement, lack of score pressure and outcomes effecting timing and execution, not overly concerned about misses, quickly rebounding from any loss of momentum, staying aggressive when up, and taking time to get drinks, relax, and recover for the next point, and asking yourself  to fight when down and then letting it go and allowing it to happen without getting in your on way and putting yourself down. Clearing your mind of only watching the ball and reacting in a confident relaxed manner is the only way one can achieve highest potential. The unconscious plays the game and the conscious is only there to encourage, ask, and watch as the inner self is allowed to "play."

Kevin Pease

Joe Delinks, a recent graduate of University of Central Florida, from North Falmouth, is competing to break into the ATP tour. The former UCF Captain and Massachusetts State Division One Champion that played number one for Falmouth High School will be taking a short training interlude that will either send him to undetermined sites in Europe, Canada, and the United States. His major field of study was environmental science and biology. After graduating he continued to coach for the Kevin Pease School of Tennis at the Falmouth Sports Center and then tried breaking into the ATP by competing in the southern Future’s Circuit in Florida.

 The goal is to get into qualifying of a Future’s Event. There is prize money at the end of a Future’s Tournament but it only contributes to the expense of traveling to the event and possibly a room. Qualifying rounds are bitterly competitive with as many as 128 players competing to earn eight spots in the main draw. Basically you are playing a huge tournament with the hope of getting into the future’s main draw. Even with several wins in qualifying you would not receive any ATP points. Those can only be earned by winning matches in the Future’s main draw event. Many players, such as Joe will apply to as many Future’s events around the world with the hope of getting accepted into qualifying. If one already possesses enough points then they would probably not have to go through qualifying (depending on the event and prize money). Major tournaments have qualifying where most of the players hoping to get in the main draw have points on the ATP.

In Joe’s first tournament qualifier he won his first round 5-6,6-1,6-3 back in October only to be devastated 6-0, 6-0 by an All American form Auburn and couldn’t regroup. The following week he played a wild card tournament (an additional chance to get in a future) to get into Pensacola. He won his first round 6-3, 6-2, second round 6-4, 6-3 against a player from Argentina with ATP points, and won a semi- final match verses Marc Oljaca (a former UCF team-mate 3-6,6-3,10-6) who has been on the tour for four years. Joe then lost to a player form Latfia 7-6, 4-6, 5-10. That was just a few points shy of “making it.” After playing such vicious rounds of tennis, Joe had nothing left to give the qualifying of that same tournament and lost 1-6, 7-5, 4-6. He was beat up and sore.

Off to Niceville, the next stop in the southern tour. Joe lost to a Swede with ATP points in qualifying, 3-6,6-3,3-6. In the finals of the wildcard draw, Joe missed a forehand volley by one half an inch after being up 7-6,3-2 40-30. He was going close to the line because the clay makes you pay if you don’t finish a volley. The players are too fast and they run them down.

The players of the futures are consistent elite college players, a big step up from Division One.  Joe has been training with Blaze Schwartz, a top ten doubles NCAA doubles player, and all time most wins player—Brock Sakey also a former UCF Knight. All the play down in Florida is played on Har-Tru, a crushed stone metallic Basalt mixture that plays slower than hard courts but faster than European Red Clay which plays extremely slow (Brick and Red Clay). I would compare that to the moon.

 The slower the play leads to longer points. Joe has an attacking style of play that was honed on the fast indoor courts of the Falmouth Sports Center. That favors getting to the net and playing aggressively. Joe has been using that style of play quite a bit, but has to be very selective on when to approach as the quality of passing shots in today’s game are the best they ever been.

Getting into doubles draws of the futures requires breaking into the singles and securing points.

If Joe were to do this he would have an excellent chance in doubles due to the attacking nature of the doubles game which is dominated by strong volleys.

During the summer Joe enjoys fishing on the Cape for all local fish including Yellow Fin Tuna. He has caught a 5 foot Alligator and a 6 foot shark in Florida (both released of course). His favorite is duck hunting. He will be in Falmouth shortly, training at the Sports Center with Coach Kevin Pease for his next bid determined by acceptances from around the world. His training will include weight training, on court hitting and drills, hitting partners and movement training (Etcheberry Court Conditioning Drills targeted for attacking players).