From TB:
Which brings me to 5 ways we can all continue to strive to play “our own” best tennis (in no particular order) in preparation for next spring:
#1). Play Singles With A Doubles Purpose:
- at least twice as many balls will be hit than in doubles on a per game, set,
match basis making your time value of tennis very high.
- hit cross court on ground stroke
- throw in some serve n volley
- hit the majority of the returns cross court
#2). Play Players Better Than You
- if you aren’t accustomed to pushing your limits or playing under pressure in
practice how can one expect to rise to the occasion when it does count ( 1 or 2
times a regular season in our case the last couple years) Remember How Michael
Jordan use to practice - he wanted to go up against Pippen and Rodman driving
the lane in order to get better (not steve kerr and craig hodges).
- if good players aren’t jumping at the chance to play you try the following:
enter some mens open tournaments
join k-Swiss
hit up against the wall (that guy never misses)
#3). Play Players That Expose Your Weakness (Similar but not the same as #2)
If you love pace and can’t handle pushers, call up a pusher to make you better
and vice versa.
If you have a good serve that nobody gets back and thus you rarely sweat on your
serve / or rarely need to hit a first volley… tell the opponent where you are
going to be serving it, to level the playing field a little, and then you’ll get
some more practice because the ball will come back.
- Remember we get better by having to hit more balls. You need to want the ball
to come back. (this is why I hate when the other team double faults - I like to
earn it.. Saving Private Ryan style)
#4. Play With A Purpose To Focus On Specific Shots.
- I would recommend playing sets where you only get 1 serve (this encourages
focus on second serves consistency)
- play with your opponent getting the doubles alleys, while you get singles
alleys (this encourages focus on movement/speed and anticipation)
- Play games where if the ball hits the ground after the serve, it is an
automatic point for the other team (this encourages getting to the net)
#5. Obtain Comfort in Difficult Situations
- I would recommend playing sets where you start the service game down 0-30 and
then have to rally back to hold serve.
- You can also start sets scores off at 4-4 and see who can take the most sets.
I’ll leave you with a great quote from a tennis legend, which combines
competition and joy….
“You are never really playing an opponent. You are playing yourself, your own
highest standards, and when you reach your limits, that is real joy.”- Arthur
Ashe
