Tennis Tips

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How to play on a windy day

If you have ever played in windy weather you definitely know how challenging this is - erratic ball bounces challenge everyone regardless of their skill level.
The secret is to learn to use the wind in your favor and not fight it. It is about which player can deal with the conditions better.
The way you approach the situation mentally can make the difference between winning or losing the match. You must adjust your playing style depending on the direction of the wind.
When the wind is blowing against you:
- prepare early and shorten your back-swing; the ball comes faster into your racquet.
- your shots will tend to land short in your opponent's court; hit harder and more flat over the net.
- use the drop shot; it can take your opponent by surprise.
- the passing shots (if your opponent attacks) are very difficult against the wind; avoid getting yourself into this situation.
When the wind is coming from behind you:
- play aggressive:  your opponent's shots are landing short in your court - attack them.
- use more spin to make sure the ball lands in, avoid "pushing" the ball - go for it with more spin.
- moving up to the net is a very good idea - your volleys are going to be more penetrating and your opponent's shots are coming slower.
- serve flat and hard on the first attempt - the wind will add extra speed to it.
- use extra top spin on second serves to bring the ball down, aiming shorter into the service box.
When the wind is blowing from the sides:
- aim your shots more over the middle of the net.
- depending on which side the wind blows from, be careful with going down the line and high over the net - being in the air longer, the ball can be moved wide.
- the type of spin on the ball doesn't make too much difference as long as you hit towards the middle of the court.
- serve towards the middle of the service box.
Playing in a swirling wind:
- it is very important that you move well.  This is the most difficult of all the windy situations; stay low and be ready to react to the sudden changes in direction of the ball.
- aim more towards the middle of the court.
- avoid hitting too high over the net; the longer the ball stays in the air the greater the chance it could be carried over the lines.
General mental check list:
- stay calm; wait for the ball and carefully watch the direction it takes after the bounce.
- pay attention to changes in the wind's direction.
- give your shots a margin for error; aim more inside the lines.
- remember that the player who makes the fewest errors will win the match not the one who hits the most winners.
- keep a positive mental attitude; don't get frustrated, be patient and use the wind to your advantage by following the before-mentioned tips.

Ten tips for better consistency on ground strokes

1. Prepare early: Turn shoulders and set the racquet behind the path of the incoming ball before it bounces on your side of the court.
2. Contact the ball about waist high: Don't rush into hitting the ball right away, wait for it to drop below shoulder level especially if you have to hit a high bouncing ball.
3. Move to the ball using small steps to keep your body in good balance and be ready for late body adjustments.
4. Recover quickly after you hit the ball - avoid standing and watching where it goes; watch it as you get ready for the next one.
5. Aim your strokes at least two feet over the net. Get down under the level of the ball so you can swing up on it.
6. Hit most of your shots cross-court: you will have more court to hit to and lower net to aim over.
7. Spin the ball - the pressure created on top of the ball will make it come down into the court earlier.
8. Practice for consistency: rally with your partner trying to make 10, 20, 30 balls in a row during a rally.
9. Hit against the wall: challenge yourself to hit, let's say 20 balls in a row; then go for 30, then 40 and so on.
10. Ultimately, consistency is a state of mind... every time you practice, don't accept to miss. Every ball that comes your way is like the most important ball in the world. Hit it over no matter what!

The Serve - Ball Toss

A good serve starts with a good toss.
If you have ever served a tennis ball you definitely found yourself tossing and catching the ball a few times until you got it right. Let's face it: if you cannot toss the ball in the right spot you cannot serve well!
Here are some tips to ensure that you place the ball for optimal contact during the serve:

1. Cushion the ball with your fingers.
2. Imagine you have an egg in your hand. Hold the ball very lightly.
3. Keep your arm slightly bent and relaxed before the release.
4. Release the ball above eye level.
5. Let the ball go up with a smooth continuous motion.
6. Impart very little spin on the ball as it goes up. To do so, open your palm and spread your fingers as you let go of the ball.
7. The toss height should be approximately as high you can reach with the tip of your racquet.

Get Low, Stay Low

Your tennis teaching pro keeps telling you to bend your knees. And you should! But why exactly?

• First of all, think about the difference between a fast car like a Ferrari and an SUV... Assuming that both will drive at the same speed as they approach a sudden curve, which is going to tip over? Obviously the SUV which is higher off the ground. So by staying low, you will benefit by having a great balance due to the lower center of gravity.
• Second, you are going to be closer to the ball; your eyes are near the path of the ball which will help you make clean contact with it.
• You will generate more power because the bent knees put the body in a better position to provide hips, trunk and shoulder rotation.
• Staying low allows for a quicker recovery since you can push off the ground and spring in the direction of the next ball.