A New Footwork Manifesto

Much of what you’ve heard about moving on a tennis court is wrong. Here are the real keys to footwork in the modern game. By Jose Higueras(Tennis Magazine) How many times have you heard the following phrases: “don’t give any ground”; “always move forward for the ball”; “don’t hit off your back foot”? In the United States, “hug the baseline” and “take the ball on the rise” have become self-evident truths; to play well, you must play it this way. This is a myth. If you want proof, look at the pro game. The world’s best players frequently hit the ball while leaning backward, not into the court, or while retreating from the baseline. The pros don’t do this because of nerves or bad technique, but out of necessity. As Rafael Nadal, who might have the best feet in the world, explained when a reporter asked him why he spent so much time well behind the baseline against Fernando Verdasco in the Australian Open semifinals, “Did you see the speed of the ball or not?” Nadal points out a simple fact about footwork in today’s modern, baseline-oriented game: You can’t fight the ball. If it’s coming slowly, move in and take the offensive. But if it’s coming quickly, you need to adjust. Imagine you’re standing in the middle of a circle, ready to react to the ball from 4 feet behind the baseline. You have four obvious choices—forward, left, right or back—along with all the directions in between. In other words, footwork is a 360-degree skill. It requires reading the ball immediately and taking the most efficient path to the ball. This is what I’m teaching students right now as the USTA’s director of coaching for elite player development, because it’s essential for players to learn these skills as early as possible. Here are four pointers and a drill that will help you dramatically improve your footwork. 1. Take pride in defense If someone throws a hard punch at your nose, should you step forward and absorb the full force of the blow, or lean back, minimize the impact and throw your own punch? The answer is obvious, yet too few people apply the principle to tennis. If someone drills a ball close to the baseline, don’t try to cut the ball off at a sharp angle. Move back diagonally, make sure you’re balanced, and try to get the ball back deep. As much as we think of Roger Federer as the ultimate offensive player, his defense and positioning are what allow him so many opportunities to hit offensive shots. Tennis is a game of errors, even for the pros; if you make fewer of them than your opponent, you’ll win more often than you’ll lose. That said, let me emphasize that “defense” and “pushing” are not the same thing. Playing defense doesn’t mean being passive. 2. Think balance, not weight transfer If you can arrive at the ball early enough to step into your shots, by all means do it. But at some point, you’re going to have to hit a ball off your back foot, with a slightly more open stance than you would like, or with your feet farther apart than you want. No one adjusts his movement like this better than Andy Murray. Fortunately, changing your technique on the fly is easier than ever today, thanks to lighter racquets that have larger sweet spots and better stability. The key to success on a shot like this is maintaining your balance. Keep your center of gravity low as you move and don’t slump your shoulders or bend over at the waist. 3. Use large steps if needed It’s generally good advice to take many small steps, rather than a few large ones, when approaching the ball. But follow it only when it’s practical to do so. Sometimes you have no choice but to take a big step, as Jelena Jankovic does here, and put the best swing you can on the ball. If you have to run a long distance, it’s OK to take bigger strides at first, and if you have time, shorten them as you near the ball so you can be more precise with your positioning. Many times, I find that players take too many steps when only a few are needed. This causes just as many problems—bad timing, weak strokes, errors—as taking too few steps. You want to move decisively (see the ball, react to the ball) and economically. 4. Find your own middle You’ve been told to return to the middle of the court after every shot. It’s better to learn where your neutral position is and return there. For most, neutral means favoring the forehand side; righties would stand 2 to 3 feet to the left of the center hash mark, like Andre Agassi does here. Others prefer to hit more backhands. Either way, move to a spot that allows you to use your weapon as often as possible. If your strokes are equally strong on both sides, but you move better to the right or left, leave more room on your faster side. Footwork isn’t just about moving to the ball. It involves orienting the court in a way that forces your opponent to place the ball where you would prefer to hit it. Use your positioning on the court to influence where your opponent hits the ball. If you simply go back to the middle after every shot and ignore your strengths, you’ll put yourself at a disadvantage. Drill: Scramble I run this drill with our USTA players. Stand facing the net behind the baseline in the ready position. Your practice partner should stand a few feet in front of you, facing you. When your partner tosses a ball—either to your backhand or forehand, and at varying depths—run after it and hit your normal stroke. From this close range, a partner can force you to hit many shots in a few seconds, and also make you move in various directions. As you improve, ask your partner to speed up the drill and toss balls to more difficult spots on the court. It won’t be long before you find yourself reacting to the ball more quickly and making better decisions.

Be your own court Trainer

Come to your own rescue with these treatments for common on-court injuries. By Dana Sullivan Even a minor injury like a blister can be a major problem on the court. But keeping a few basic first-aid supplies in your racquet bag and knowing how to treat some typical on-court injuries will keep you in the game, or at least get you back on court quickly. Here’s a look at some familiar scenarios, and how to treat them a.s.a.p., with advice from Dr. Christopher Van Tilburg, M.D., editor of Wilderness Medicine magazine and an avid tennis player. The injury: Blister How to treat it: “The sooner you can catch a blister, the better chance you have to prevent it from turning into a three-weeklong annoyance,” says Van Tilburg, who works at Providence Hood River Memorial Hospital Mountain Clinic in Oregon. If the blister develops while you’re playing and you don’t want to stop, cover it with a thin layer of first-aid tape (Band-Aids probably won’t stay in place during play and thick material can bunch up and cause friction that can lead to more blisters). If the blister is on your hand, you might have to wrap the tape around your wrist to keep it in place. “Never pop a blister,” Van Tilburg says. The fluid inside has immune cells that help with healing, he explains, so opening the blister slows that process. You also risk introducing bacteria that could lead to infection. If the bubble bursts on its own, clean it as described in the following section on scrapes and cuts. For the next few days, leave the blister exposed to air as much as possible. If the blister is on your foot and you need to wear shoes, cover it with a piece of moleskin or a special blister bandage like GlacierGel Blister and Burn Dressings, which are waterproof bandages that have a layer of cooling gel. And while you may have heard that duct tape can be used as a blister bandage, Van Tilburg advises against this remedy because the tape isn’t hypoallergenic and could ultimately cause more irritation than the blister itself. The injury: Scrape or cut How to treat it: On a scrape, squirt a solution of baby shampoo mixed with water, making sure to rinse out any debris. “We use baby shampoo in the ER because it doesn’t sting and does a good job of cleaning surface wounds,” Van Tilburg says. Next, add a layer of antibiotic ointment and, if the scrape is bleeding, cover it with a bandage or a piece of sterile gauze and first-aid tape. For a cut, stop the bleeding by placing clean gauze or a cloth over the wound and applying direct pressure. If the bleeding won’t stop, the cut may need to be closed with stitches or a type of “super glue” that seals cuts. If the bleeding has stopped, treat the cut as you would an abrasion, but use a sterile saline solution to clean it since there’s more risk of infection with a deeper cut. Then cover it with a butterfly bandage or gauze and first-aid tape. After you’re done playing, leave the wound open to speed healing. Even surface wounds can get infected, so if the area becomes red, warm to the touch, and swollen after 24 to 72 hours, see your doctor because you might need antibiotics. Slather the area with sunscreen when you’re outside for two to three months after. “Scrapes scar really easily,” Van Tilburg says. “Using sunscreen diligently will prevent a permanent reminder.” The injury: Sprained ankle, knee or wrist How to treat it: Break open an ice pack and hold it on the injured joint for 10–15 minutes. Next, wrap the injured area in an ACE bandage, making the bandage snug, but not so tight that it cuts off circulation. Finally, elevate your leg or arm so it’s above your heart for another 15 minutes. (The acronym for these four steps is RICE: Rest, Ice, Compression and Elevation.) If there is significant swelling, if you heard a pop or crack, or you cannot move the joint normally after 15 minutes of rest, see a physician within 24 hours since you may have a more severe injury. “If you ignore a minor fracture it can become major, possibly even requiring surgery,” Van Tilburg says.

Roger Federer's Forehand

Roger Federer’s forehand is the most beautiful, versatile, and powerful weapon in pro tennis. It may also be the most misunderstood. We’ll dissect four major elements of this superb stroke. By John Yandell 1. GRIP Many people think Roger Federer plays with a semi-Western grip, similar to Andy Roddick’s. In reality, his grip is closer to Pete Sampras’. Federer keeps part of his hand off the end of the grip, but most of it is still on the back of the handle, directly aligned with the face of the racquet. He shifts his index base knuckle slightly downward about half a bevel toward a semi-Western grip (to do this, stand the racquet on its end, as in the diagram below, and place your index base knuckle between bevels 3 and 4 if you’re right-handed or between 6 and 7 if you’re a lefty). This modifi ed Eastern grip is more conservative than that of most top players, who typically shift farther toward the Western grip and place part or most of their hands under the handle. This grip allows for the ideal contact height for a player who stands close to the baseline and plays the ball early, a key to Federer’s effectiveness. 2. STANCE & TORSO ROTATION One might expect that with his grip, Federer would hit in the classical style—that he’d use a neutral stance, step directly into the line of a shot, and swing with less torso rotation. Players with traditional grips of old, like Rod Laver and Ken Rosewall, typically rotated their torsos less and fi nished with their hitting shoulders almost parallel to the baseline. Federer can do this (see above), but usually he doesn’t. Instead, like the more extreme-grip players of today, he routinely hits from semi-open and open stances, rotates his torso radically, and finishes with his racquet shoulder facing his opponent. The semi-open and open stances allow Federer’s body to rotate fully without being blocked by his front leg. Yet his grip gives him versatility—the option to hit comfortably from a traditional stance with less rotation—that most extreme-grip players lack. Players with Western grips typically rotate their torsos much farther forward just to get the racquet head through the stroke. They would fi nd it awkward to step into the ball, because their front legs would block the forward swing. Federer has synthesized elements of classical and modern technique. He fi nishes with as much body rotation on his forehand as players like Roddick and Rafael Nadal. Yet his grip makes him more comfortable than they are standing closer to the baseline and hitting the ball on the rise. 3. EXTENSION Many observers have noted how Federer finishes across his body, with his hitting arm and racquet wrapped around his torso at the end of the follow-through. What’s usually overlooked is how far out in front of his body he swings before bringing the racquet across. When Federer drives the ball, the length of his swing toward his target equals or exceeds that of virtually any player in the game. This is one source of his effortless power. Federer’s extension happens so quickly that it’s difficult to see with the naked eye. In the photo below, Federer’s hand has reached about eye level, and his arm and racquet are almost completely straight, reaching out toward the target. Typically his hand is somewhere between shoulder and eye level. His hand and his torso are 2 feet apart, if not more. Federer reaches this point of maximum extension before the racquet starts to move downward and wrap around the side of his body. Most players who think they’re copying his motion use a wraparound follow-through but miss a critical element in not hitting completely through the ball first. 4. WIPER FINISH Federer’s windshield wiper follow-through often confuses observers who associate this fi nish with more extreme grips. Federer turns his hand and racquet over during his follow-through, fi nishing across his torso rather than over his left shoulder. The rotation in his arm can be as much as 180 degrees. By combining a wiper fi nish and a classical grip, Federer can hit the ball hard and with a low trajectory over the net. But at the same time he can generate as much spin as almost anyone in tennis (see chart). There’s one more advantage to his use of the wiper fi nish: By varying how quickly he turns his hand over and the length of his extension, Federer creates a bewildering range of angles and spins, everything from crosscourt passes to precise topspin lobs. Because of his grip, he is able to do this while still hitting the ball early. Combining the extreme and classical components gives him a variety of options unequaled in the modern game. LEARN FROM THE MASTER How applicable are the elements of Federer’s forehand to the average player? In many ways, he’s a better model for club players than his rivals who play with all modern techniques. His grip is better suited to handle the majority of balls recreational players face. Club players aren’t forced to deal with the extreme high-bouncing shots you see in pro tennis. The natural contact point of most balls tends to be at around waist-level or a little higher, which is perfectly suited to an Eastern grip. This relatively conservative grip also allows players to hit from numerous stances without the need for radical torso rotation. Most important, Federer shows that by rotating the hand and racquet as a unit in the wiper motion, players can generate signifi cant spin and at the same time hit through the ball for depth and pace. Most club players should not use the wiper on every ball, but it can add spin, short angles, and versatility. It’s a paradox: At the pro level, few players have the timing necessary to make a synthesis of classical and modern elements work together. But in club play, where the ball is slower and lower, this combination is a realistic option. Federer’s forehand is both a stroke of genius and a stroke for the masses.

4 Serve Rituals

enjoy ppl my first video tut (not mine but only posted here by me)

Do comment good or bad ...

Put It on a Dime

By Nick Saviano Photos By Lara Tomlin All the speed and spin in the world won’t matter if you can’t place the serve where you want it. The ability to control the direction of the serve is a critical component to its overall success. Hitting an ace is great. But not everybody can consistently crank the speed needed to blow a ball by an opponent. What’s more important is to set up the point tactically. The advantage of being the server is that it gives you a chance to dictate the point from the start. With good control you can choose to do things such as serve your opponent out wide or play to his weaker side. Here are some things to keep in mind if you want to have total control over your serve. PAY ATTENTION TO YOUR FRONT FOOT To manipulate the placement of your serve, you must first have control over your balance. Many players blame a bad toss for problems with their service accuracy, but I think you should look at the feet first. If your front foot is moving around to accommodate an errant toss, you’re going to hit from an unstable base. It’s fine to drag your back foot up during your service motion, but that front foot, apart from turning slightly to assist your upper-body rotation, should stay where it is. In fact, most of the time your toss should be in line with your front big toe, give or take an inch or two. If you can consistently put the toss in that location, you’ll have a better opportunity to control your serve. The big mistake players make is changing the toss to help hit to a target. Obviously, if you’re hitting a kick serve, the toss will have to move more behind your head, but on your basic power first serve the toss needs to be more in line with your front foot, no matter what direction you’re aiming the ball in. USE GOOD SHOULDER ROTATION Not only does turning your shoulders add power to your shot, but it aids in accuracy as well. Too often recreational players simply face the net. This forces more of the power burden to fall on the serving arm, which can cause a loss of accuracy. The players who hit their locations most frequently generally have a healthy shoulder turn. This also provides good disguise during the preparation phase of the serve and will give your opponent trouble when he’s trying to read where you’re aiming. PRACTICE HITTING TARGETS There are three primary locations you are going to serve to—out wide, into your opponent’s body, and down the middle. While there are variations depending on the amount and type of spin you use, these are the crucial spots. The best way to practice hitting these locations is to set up targets that cover a decent-sized area. Don’t limit yourself to a space the size of a tennis ball, because that’s unrealistic and would become too frustrating to try to hit. And avoid trying to crush the ball. Rather, focus on good rhythm, timing, toss, and location. Attempt to hit the same target no more than three to five times in a row. This will prevent you from altering your toss or service action in order to hit that spot. A fourth target to consider is a shorter angle on a wide slice serve. You can place it a couple of inches from the singles sideline and several feet up from the service line. This serve is great for pulling your opponent outside of the court and out of position. MOVE THE RETURNER AROUND There are two locations to be concerned with on the serve—the spot where the ball lands, and, perhaps more important, where the opponent makes his return. For example, say you’re a right-handed player trying to hit the ball down the T in the deuce court. If you hit a serve with some slice (which curves from right to left), the ball may land near the T, but it will curve toward your opponent. It may still be a good shot, but a flatter serve that lands in the same spot will stay farther away from your opponent and potentially be a more difficult return. On the other hand, if you’re a righty and serving from the deuce side, that same slice serve placed out wide will curve away from your opponent more than a flat serve hit to the same location will. So you have to experiment with your serves and spins to figure out the spots you need to hit to stretch or jam your opponents. Depending on the flight path of your serve you may have to start the ball directly at the target or slightly to one side to achieve the desired effect. That’s why placement and spin are just as important as pace when it comes to the success of your serve. PS : The shoes this girl is wearing in the pic is same as mine [:P]

Returning Soft Shots

Q. I consider myself a solid 3.0 player. I love competing against other 3.0 and 3.5 level players and I do quite well. But when playing against what I would consider 2.5 level players, I usually end up losing the match. My problem is that I cannot seem to speed up their short slow balls. I return anything that comes my way slow with the same intensity that it comes in. If I take a good swing at it, all my shots go long. This has been going on for about six months! What is the best way to handle this situation? Obviously, I can push the ball back over the net all match long, but this does not change the pace, which is the outcome that I am looking for. —John Kelly, Boston A. Creating pace is difficult for many players because it requires polished technique to do it consistently. And it’s especially tricky to hit forcefully off really soft shots. You don’t say anything about your technique so I’ll address your situation in general terms. First, here’s what not to do. Don’t try to hit too hard. Just as you don’t take your car from first gear right to fourth, you shouldn’t attempt to take your opponent’s soft shots and send them back twice as hard as they came to you. Instead, whenever your opponent gives you a soft shot send it back with a little more pace than it came with. This may not feel as satisfying as you’d like but it’s a mental adjustment that you have to make if you want to successfully handle these soft, short balls. Get started by having a practice partner simulate the shots that give you trouble. There’s no substitute for hitting dozens of balls in a controlled environment. As you practice work on getting in position and preparing well. A full shoulder turn is critical if you want to create pace. (To ensure you’re turning your shoulders enough try this. Assuming you’re right-handed, if you’re hitting a forehand turn your upper body so that your left shoulder comes to your chin. For backhands your chin would rest on your right shoulder.) Since you say the balls you’re having trouble with are short and you have a tendency to hit long, you need to place a special emphasis on using extra topspin to keep the ball in the court. In fact, spin should be emphasized over power. Therefore, make sure you get your racquet below the intended point of impact as you’re swinging forward. That may mean using your legs to get lower than you normally do. Finally, focus on placement. Sure it feels good to hit the ball hard, but winning shots are more about putting the ball in the right place than they are about being struck with great force. Generally, aim the ball toward your opponent’s weaker side and go for depth. If it lands closer to the baseline than to the service line you’re doing good. —Tony Lance, Instruction Editor, TENNIS Magazine

Tag-team tennis

By Pat Whitworth The best doubles teams play as if they’re a tag-team wresting duo that tries whenever possible to turn points into two-on-one contests. The idea is to isolate and work over one of your opponents until you get the right ball to finish the point. This does three things for you: 1) Allows you to hold your position on the court instead of following the ball around as you would if you hit to both of your opponents। 2) Gives your opponents fewer gaps to exploit, since your position doesn’t change much। 3) Reduces your errors, since many errors occur when you try to change the direction of the ball too early in a point। Pat Whitworth is a USPTA Master Pro in Hamilton Mill, Dacula, Ga.

High backhand volleys made simple

High volleys should be easy, right? Then why do you miss so many on the backhand side? The problem is likely because of your backswing. Players miss volleys long because their backswing was too long and the ball got to their racquet before the racquet face got back forward. Players miss volleys into the net because their backswing was too long, they swung aggressively, and the racquet ended up too far forward. The good news is that it’s really hard to miss a routine volley—especially a high volley—if you don't take too big a backswing. How do you know if your backswing’s not too big? If, when you take your racquet back, you can still see the back of your strings (the side the ball's not on) it's almost impossible to make a mistake on the volley. All you have to do is line your racquet face up with the ball and push forward on impact. from the "tennis" mag.