Good Judgement and Time (Part-1)
FOR first class players anticipating or judging a ball comes as second nature. But how many average tennis players can anticipate where the ball will drop in court on their opponent's return? To do this the mind must work with the eye. The best place to stand in meeting a ball is about three feet back of where the ball is going to land. This varies a little with the pace of the ball. Not only must a player have his eye on the ball, but he must have his mind centered on the stroke that he wants to play. It is always advisable when judging a ball to first notice its height, second its speed, and third where it will land in court. The player will thereby know in just what position to get to meet the ball to make a proper return stroke.
The time to begin to judge the ball is when it leaves your opponent's racquet. Learn to watch your opponent's racquet, as by doing so a player can tell beforehand the direction in which the ball is going to be placed. Very few players can change a stroke once the mind has been centered on the kind of a stroke they wish to play. For instance, if your opponent meets the ball directly opposite his body, it is to be expected that his return will be straight down the side line, as his swing is straight and directly out. In case his racquet meets the ball sooner or a little more in front of him, his return would be more for a cross court shot.
On overhead strokes only can the player conceal his direction before hitting the ball.
Why is it players let the ball get too far back of them on their backhand shots before returning it? It is because one does not judge his ball as well on backhand as he does on his forehand. That's what makes the backhand shots so difficult for many players to make. It's the player himself who makes it a harder stroke by not anticipating where the ball is going to drop so he could be in proper position to meet it.
Start well back with your swing, just as you do on your forehand stroke. Time it so you hit it the right moment, that is, just as the ball is opposite the body.
Another reason backhand seems harder to execute is that players do not face the ball right.
On taking forehand shots you are faced a little to the right. The reverse is true when taking backhand shots.
A forehand stroke should be played off your left foot, i. e., the left foot is ahead. On a backhand shot one plays off his right foot.
Remember at all times after your return to face the net squarely.
Here is another thing that often causes a weak backhand. Players seem to favor their forehand more, and by doing so they are facing a little to the right when waiting to see what the opponent's shot is going to be. That prevents them from getting quickly into backhand shot position and prevents also judging the ball right on their backhand. The ball is on top of them before they know it.
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