S=server, R=receiver, P=partner, O=opponentThis shows the natural directional and keeps the court closed!
Your pro in the trenches,
Kevin Pease
Thursday, April 9, 2009
Serve and Volley Backhand
S=server, R=receiver, P=partner, O=opponentThis shows the natural directional and keeps the court closed!
Your pro in the trenches,
Kevin Pease
Singles Approach Down the Line
S=server, R=receiverDown the line keeps you in front of the angle of return and forces your opponent to react faster to pass you.
Your pro in the trenches,
Kevin Pease
Singles Approach Cross Court
S=server, R=receiverApproaching cross court from the outer third of the court gives your fast opponent too much court for you to cover; not a good idea.
Your pro in the trenches,
Kevin Pease
Tuesday, April 7, 2009
How to beat a retriever
What is a retriever?
This is a player who gets everything back--just like my golden. The ball keeps coming back no matter what I throw them.
Strategy One:
Be patient (without looking like you forgot how to play) and stay with your solid fundamentals: turn, move to the ball with quick adjusting steps, finish, and then recover. When you finally get a short ball work your shot combinations (game style) that finish the point. The less pressure you put on them the longer you must rally. It can be frustrating but you must rally patiently till they offer something to you. Do not get creative! That's exactly what retrievers like to do; take you out of your rythm.
Strategy Two:
Hit a short ball and bring them to the net to open court.
Strategy Three:
Charge the net when the opportunity strikes; be ready, the retriever has great lobs, trust me.
This is a player who gets everything back--just like my golden. The ball keeps coming back no matter what I throw them.
Strategy One:
Be patient (without looking like you forgot how to play) and stay with your solid fundamentals: turn, move to the ball with quick adjusting steps, finish, and then recover. When you finally get a short ball work your shot combinations (game style) that finish the point. The less pressure you put on them the longer you must rally. It can be frustrating but you must rally patiently till they offer something to you. Do not get creative! That's exactly what retrievers like to do; take you out of your rythm.
Strategy Two:
Hit a short ball and bring them to the net to open court.
Strategy Three:
Charge the net when the opportunity strikes; be ready, the retriever has great lobs, trust me.
Thursday, March 26, 2009
Singles Strategy 101
Regarding singles strategy, there are two main issues each with their own components:
1) You are playing against the geometry of the court and of your body.
Hit the ball cross court to reach the most court available, the lowest net, use the natural
rotation of the body, and least amount of recovery distance.
2) You are playing an opponent who has strengths and weaknesses (you hope); so you must
match your skills against theirs relative to #1.
Example 1 For instance you might have to overplay your forehand to your opponents backhand and risk more down the line shots otherwise they beat you to often on the forehand exchange cross court.
Example 2 You might have to hit lower drives to your opponent's forehand because they hit difficult angles on you which open up the court and create a disruption to your timing.
Example 3 You are close in level but in better shape. Wear them down and don't check out of
points too soon.
The example are endless; what makes singles fun is to try to figure a way to balance (1) and (2) that allows you to dictate play regardless of the final outcome of the match.
Basic plans:
Hit cross court till you get a short ball and then hit a down the line approach, or stinger and stay back, angle or drop shot: then get ready for the next shot!
Good Luck!
Your pro in the trenches,
Kevin Pease
1) You are playing against the geometry of the court and of your body.
Hit the ball cross court to reach the most court available, the lowest net, use the natural
rotation of the body, and least amount of recovery distance.
2) You are playing an opponent who has strengths and weaknesses (you hope); so you must
match your skills against theirs relative to #1.
Example 1 For instance you might have to overplay your forehand to your opponents backhand and risk more down the line shots otherwise they beat you to often on the forehand exchange cross court.
Example 2 You might have to hit lower drives to your opponent's forehand because they hit difficult angles on you which open up the court and create a disruption to your timing.
Example 3 You are close in level but in better shape. Wear them down and don't check out of
points too soon.
The example are endless; what makes singles fun is to try to figure a way to balance (1) and (2) that allows you to dictate play regardless of the final outcome of the match.
Basic plans:
Hit cross court till you get a short ball and then hit a down the line approach, or stinger and stay back, angle or drop shot: then get ready for the next shot!
Good Luck!
Your pro in the trenches,
Kevin Pease
Saturday, February 28, 2009
Slice Serve v. Kick Serve
Today the serve. Is it important to be able to hit a kick serve? I think it's important to learn but it doesn't have to be your bread and butter shot. First, if your kick serve isn't a good one, it's going to get "rocked!" A good kick serve has strong pace with spin, a deadly combination. If your kick serve is marginal, work on a better slice serve and flat serve. Many matches I have used a flat second serve to get out of a jam. Sure its dicey, but it's not as bad a receiving a cannon winner return. The slice serve stays low and can mess with timing especially when you vary placement and with flat ball combinations. I equate the slice serve to the slider in baseball.
A good slider pitcher can kill you; look at McEnroe--he gives everyone trouble when that slider is hitting the lines. Accuracy and consistency can always be improved; speed can be improved upon to a degree but the gene pool determines most of that component.
A good slider pitcher can kill you; look at McEnroe--he gives everyone trouble when that slider is hitting the lines. Accuracy and consistency can always be improved; speed can be improved upon to a degree but the gene pool determines most of that component.
Doubles Tip
When you play doubles your favorite flavor should be vanilla. What the hell does that mean, Kev?
IT means when you hit a passing shot go down the middle and rip it with topspin. That is not the time to get creative with low percentage angles and down the line shots.
But hey, those are my best shots.
If they go in then do it; if they miss, go with vanilla.
Same with the first volley and most second volleys; hit through the cross court middle; forget about the sick drop volley angle.
But hey, I love that shot.
Then do it when your up by two or more points. Don't risk losing the point with a low percentage shot against a skilled opponent.
IT means when you hit a passing shot go down the middle and rip it with topspin. That is not the time to get creative with low percentage angles and down the line shots.
But hey, those are my best shots.
If they go in then do it; if they miss, go with vanilla.
Same with the first volley and most second volleys; hit through the cross court middle; forget about the sick drop volley angle.
But hey, I love that shot.
Then do it when your up by two or more points. Don't risk losing the point with a low percentage shot against a skilled opponent.
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