Tennis Training Theme #2 – Depth and Direction

Objective

With specific purposeful training and match play application, master the ability to control and vary depth and direction for all strokes including the serve, groundstrokes, volleys and overhead. Demonstrate the ability to control and vary depth and direction to execute patterns for both singles and doubles.

1. Manage the factors influencing depth and directional control – swing path and speed, angle of racquet at point of contact, launch angle, initial ball velocity off the racquet, net clearance, spin, drag (air resistance), climatic conditions (wind, humidity, air temperature and air pressure), quality of tennis balls and gravity. Learn how to make adjustments as playing conditions and situations change.
2. Develop the ability to hit identified targets and target zones (both short and deep) particularly the two deep corner and two short angle targets for the groundstrokes and volleys and the three identified targets for the serve (middle T, at the body and out wide). Work on maintaining depth in an extended rally. Acquire the skill to hit consistently within 18 feet from the baseline (past the service line) and then incrementally within nine, six and three feet from the baseline.
3. Develop the ability to hit identified cross-court and down-the-line patterns. Establish and maintain with control of depth and direction (and other variables such as net clearance, trajectory, pace and spin) a groundstroke crosscourt exchange with your outside stroke (forehand and backhand sides). Establish and maintain with control of the same variables with your inside stroke (inside/out). Establish and maintain with control of the same variables a down-the-line groundstroke exchange with your outside stroke (forehand and backhand sides). Establish and maintain with control of same variables a down-the-line groundstroke exchange with inside stroke (inside/in). Accomplish the same objectives with crosscourt and down-the-line groundstroke to volley and volley to volley exchanges. Follow a cross-court exchange with redirection down-the-line. Follow a down-the-line exchange with a cross-court angle redirection. Establish and maintain with control of variables an extended cross-court down-the-line exchange. Execute short and deep patterns (such as drop shot/lob and deep to the corner/short angle to the opposite side patterns). Establish consistency for all patterns through repetition. Increase difficulty by upping the tempo, pace and spin.
4. Learn how to hit with consistency by using spin to establish margin, hitting with high net clearance and depth, hitting to the middle two-thirds of the court, and maintaining the direction of the ball. Demonstrate a high shot tolerance (willingness to hit as many shots as required to win the point) in working through rally patterns of 9⁺ shots. The goal is to wear down your opponent through attrition (while also being opportunistic when provided with an opportunity to attack).
5. Learn how to hit with controlled aggression by control of depth and direction and execution of directional patterns. Controlled aggression requires hitting with acceleration and length, hitting with heavy spin as necessary for margin, hitting to big primarily cross-court targets and hitting over the middle of the net. It requires maintaining the direction of the ball until presented with the right opportunity to change direction and when given the right opportunity to change direction, attacking with conviction by hitting through the court with pace. Controlled aggression requires taking the ball early from a position on or inside the baseline to take time away from your opponent. It requires recognition of when and how to close into the net to finish the point with a volley or overhead. It requires working the point with a high shot tolerance. It requires looking to maintain advantage by systematic, sustained pressure rather than looking to win each point with an outright winner.
6. Work on hitting the three service targets with a high percentage of success. Execute first-strike patterns for serves hit out wide, serves hit at the body and serves hit down the middle T with the second shot following the serve hit to one of four target zones either to the open court (as created by the serve) or behind the serve returner.
7. Work to first neutralize the server with the serve return and then learn how to use the serve return to gain positional advantage and force your opponent(s) into a weak reply. Work on hitting your targets with the return and subsequent shots and shot patterns following the return. Develop confidence in returning serves from different return positions. Learn how to use this ability to vary your return position to disrupt and alter the sightline and timing of the server.
8. Learn how to vary depth and direction to disrupt the timing of your opponent by placing the ball outside the strike zone of your opponent, not allowing your opponent to establish a consistent rhythm and making it difficult for your opponent to get to the ball and judge where and how to take the bounce.
9. Learn how to respond to balls hit short and deep, capitalizing by attacking balls hit short and defending to establish or reestablish court position in response to balls hit deep. Develop the ability to effectively respond to balls hit to different targets on the court and from different directional paths and angles. Work on countering specific patterns and well-placed shots. Work on hitting and recovering out of the corners. Dig out balls hit short. Move and kick back to intercept deep lobs out of the air with overheads or track, run down and return lobs on the bounce. Drive back to return deep, penetrating balls hit with heavy topspin. Recognize best shot options based on court position and your position in relation to the ball. Develop a situational awareness of best shot options when taking the ball in, above or below your strike zone. Learn best shot options when you are in a strong position to hit the ball with ideal spacing and alternatively when your spacing is compromised and you are not in an ideal hitting position, Develop the knowledge of what shot options you have when taking the ball on the rise and when taking the ball as it is dropping? Learn when to take the ball before the bounce with a volley or overhead and when to take to the ball after the bounce. For all these situations, recognize how your response changes when hitting from the backcourt, mid court or forecourt, hitting from an advantageous or disadvantageous court position and/or hitting on different playing surfaces.
10. Develop control over depth, direction and directional patterns with repetition in practice. Demonstrate control in practice with execution of progressively more difficult and complex shot and shot response requirements and patterns. Play point situations with defined pattern and shot requirements to further establish ability to control all required variables. Develop skill by playing matches versus opponents with different styles, strengths and weaknesses. Test skill, control, ability to make adjustments, and resiliency under pressure by playing competitive events.