Think outside the box for a moment!

I see many players adjusting their swing to accommodate the ball height rather than adjusting their feet to hit the ball in their optimal strike zone.

Quick fix: Practice standing back behind the baseline ten feet and rally the ball with your practice partner for a few minutes. Now stand right on top of the baseline and strike the ball on the rise for a few minutes. Both of the court positions feel very different and require different movement skills and timing issues and stroke adjustments. Now adjust to the ball as how you feel most comfortable based upon what you're dealt in an open range exchange; this is more how a real point is played.

The game is about adjusting your timing, strokes, and court positioned based upon what you deliver and what your opponent throws at you! Think outside the box!

Your coach in the trenches,

Kevin Pease

Warm Up

Make sure you warm-up slow before play and stretch down after play. I'll take a good warm-up over a hamstring stretch outside in March any day. If you plan to play outside, drop your string tension a little. You are now playing against the elements...I swear outdoor tennis is a different sport. Outdoor clay should be ruled another sport.

Kevin Pease

Adjustments

If you are having trouble staying in points you might not be adjusting your swing. If you are back far in the court take a bigger cut at the ball. If you are close to the baseline take a shorter back swing like Andre Agassi. When you are returning serve try starting your stroke at the contact point and push forward from there. If you are trying to power the ball play deeper in the court. If you are trying to counter punch the ball on the rise move closer to the baseline and shorten up your swing. Adjusting will help you play better percentage tennis and make less unforced errors.

Warm-up exercise
Stand on one leg and swing the other leg back and forth for a few reps. Then do the same with the other leg. Then try making circles in the air with one leg extended and the other balanced on the ground. Then try making the front leg go side to side in front of you while standing on one leg. Then make one leg swing back and forth behind you in a similar fashion. If you need to you may hold on to something for balance. This limbers and conditions your legs for tennis. I know as I get older it takes a few minutes for my body to get going. I want to start ready in the first set not half way through the second.

Good Luck

Kevin Pease