Objective

With specific purposeful training and match play application, master the ability to cover the full dimension of the court with efficiency, dynamic balance and agility in movement to the ball and in recovery after the shot in the process of hitting groundstrokes, volleys and overheads and in movement after hitting the serve. Demonstrate control of all footwork patterns required to facilitate court coverage. Learn how to cover the court for both singles and doubles.

1. Learn how to take the most direct line to the ball to reduce the amount of court to cover. Ensure to make accommodation to ensure proper spacing for stroke execution. Work on taking the ball early to reduce the time your opponent has to respond.
2. Work on footwork patterns to the ball and in recovery after the shot. Learn how to execute and apply a drop step (to initiate the first step to the ball), crossover steps, shuffle steps, skip step (in aligning feet), double skip step (in driving forward with an approach shot or in attacking a short ball with the forehand), carioca steps (most often used when approaching the net with a down-the-line slice backhand), adjustment steps, split step, dynamic split step (where you split and turnout to initiate the first move to the ball), one foot and two feet pivot steps (to generate ground and rotational force for the forehand groundstroke), jump step (to attack a high ball up and out of your standard strike zone), scissor kick (for the overhead), and (for lack of a better word) a corkscrew step (where you step back, load and kick up and out in response to a ball hit high, deep and slightly behind you). Learn how to transition from one footwork pattern to another and how to transition out of a footwork step pattern. Work on your ability to hit from closed stance, semi-open stance and open stance with the forehand and backhand groundstrokes.
3. Work on linear and multi-directional court coverage – up, back, left and right. On average, spend 70% of your focus on lateral movement, 20% on forward movement and 10% on backward movement (with variation based on your playing style and specific needs). Learn how to move forward to take balls with momentum inside the baseline including closing into the net following your serve (serve and volley). Work on moving forward to dig out balls hit short. Work on leading with both the left foot and right foot with the choice of which foot to lead with depending on your intention to move forward, hold your ground or retreat back after hitting the shot. Learn how to move back in response to deep balls. Work on running down lobs. Work on moving back to hit overheads. Work on lateral and diagonal movement to the ball for volleys and groundstrokes hitting with both open and closed stances. Work on coverage patterns and point situations requiring three to five changes of direction per exchange (the average number of changes of direction you would expect to encounter each point).
4. Learn how to slide when stretched on court surfaces conducive to sliding. Work on timing the slide into the shot. Learn how to lower your center of gravity. Learn how to apply equal pressure with the ball and heel of your front or lead foot in initiating the slide. Learn how to adjust pressure with the lead foot, flex the back leg and drag your toes to control the slide. Work on recovering after the slide and execution of the shot in anticipation of the next shot.
5. Work on recovering after the shot to an ideal position on the court bisecting the angle of shot options for your opponent left and right. Work also on recovering to a position that allows coverage of balls hit both short and deep. Learn how to recognize tendencies to better anticipate the location of each shot by your opponent. Learn how to establish a position on the court with each shot that plays to your strengths (provides you with the best opponent to hit your strongest shots). Learn when it is best to fall back in a more defensive posture, when to close in on top of the baseline and when to close into the net.
6. Work on acceleration to the ball (quick, explosive movement) and deceleration as you approach and prepare the feet for stroke execution (contact). Deceleration ideally includes short, abbreviated adjustments steps to position the body in preparation for the shot. It also includes a gathering of your feet (not necessarily a full stop) as for example when you are closing to hit an approach shot.
7. Work on your ability to successfully execute all shots from any position on the court. Establish and maintain an exchange from different positions on the court (ranging from up close to the net to a position well behind the baseline) and in transition up and back, left and right. Develop the ability to be agile with your footwork utilizing adjustment and other footwork patterns to get into an ideal position in relation to the ball to execute each and every shot. Establish control of the contact point in relation to the bounce hitting the ball on the rise, as the ball peaks or as the ball drops into your strike zone as required by your position on the court.
8. Work on your anticipation, ability to get a read on what to expect with each shot from your opponent. Work on recognizing cues for location, depth, spin and pace of the serve of your opponent based on the toss, grip changes, path of the swing and tendencies of the server. Learn the most likely shot option by your opponent based on the location and characteristics of your prior shot. Understand the concept of mirroring and the expectation that opponents often match the height, trajectory, spin and pace of your prior shot, particularly if they have difficulty changing pace, spin and trajectory, taking the ball on the rise and adjusting to balls outside their strike zone. Look at the grip your opponent uses in preparation to return your serve. A backhand or continental grip indicates your opponent may be looking to block or chip the return back in play. Identify your opponent’s grip, take back and stance with the groundstrokes. How your opponent prepares for each shot provides cues for ball direction, spin, pace, trajectory, etc. Recognize basic patterns of play and playing styles of your opponents. Does your opponent have a high shot threshold? Under what situations does your opponent look to pull the trigger and go for something more offensive? Recognize how quickly your opponent gets to the ball and how this impacts his/her ability to control the location and depth of his/her shot. For example, a player getting to a short ball late is more likely to pop the ball up and/or drop it short. There are more things to look for (some of which become instinctive) but the key takeaway is to be engaged and observant.
9. Work on your ability to recover between points and during changeovers to sustain your level of intensity and foot speed, balance and agility through an entire match. Use the 20 or 25 seconds afforded between points to take slow, deep controlled breaths through your nose. Focus on a long exhale. The process helps regulate your heart rate, resupplies oxygen to your lungs and serves to calm the mind in preparation for the next point.
10. Improve your court coverage with repeated success of specific shot sequences and patterns. Make an effort to get to every ball. Establish a work effort and intensity in all practice situations. Demonstrate speed and agility in practice with execution of progressively more difficult and complex shot requirements and patterns. Play point situations with defined movement patterns and shot requirements. Develop skill by playing matches versus opponents with different styles, strengths and weaknesses. Test ability to cover the court with efficiency and skill under the pressure of competition.

Objective

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

1. Manage the factors influencing spin and pace – swing path and speed, angle of racquet at point of contact, launch angle, initial ball velocity off the racquet, spin, drag (air resistance), climatic conditions (wind, humidity, air temperature and air pressure), quality of tennis balls and gravity. Work specifically on racquet head speed (acceleration) to generate more spin and pace. Learn how to make adjustments as playing conditions and situations change.
2. Learn how to hit with little to no spin, topspin, underspin and sidespin for the groundstrokes. Learn how to hit underspin and topspin (swinging) volleys. Learn how to hit a relatively flat, slice, topspin (kick), hybrid and reverse twist serve. Develop the ability to hit a flat overhead with little to no spin and how to hit an overhead with hybrid (slice/topspin) spin when taking the ball on the bounce and in the air from a deep position on the court.
3. Learn how to vary spin (as well as trajectory, net clearance and pace) to effectuate the angle of incidence in which the ball strikes the court and the height and projection of the bounce. Get the ball to sit up and not carry into the court with backspin. Get the ball to bounce up with forward projection above the strike zone of your opponent with topspin. Get the ball to stay low requiring an opponent to take the ball below the strike zone with a biting slice (underspin with pace). Get the ball to bounce horizontally in a left or right direction to potentially jam or stretch an opponent into difficult spacing with sidespin. Minimize spin and maximize pace to get the ball to drive through the court. Learn how and when to vary spin and pace to vary the height and projection of the bounce. Learn how to disguise spin and pace and how to make adjustments for different playing surfaces.
4. Learn how to use spin and pace to get both vertical and horizontal movement on the ball both before and after the bounce. Use both sidespin and underspin to work the ball to the outside of the court and to jam or stretch your opponent into uncomfortable spacing. Use topspin to get the ball to dip allowing balls to be hit with more pace and higher net clearance and margin
5. Develop the ability to match the spin of incoming balls. As example, return a heavy topspin ball with heavy topspin. Develop the ability to change the spin of incoming balls. Take a ball hit with underspin and respond with topspin a the reverse. Develop the ability to add or reduce the spin of incoming balls. Work to exaggerate the spin (topspin), net clearance and arc of trajectory and then incrementally reduce the spin of your shots, net clearance and arc of trajectory until you are hitting a relatively flat drive with minimal net clearance. Reverse the process beginning with little to no spin and then progressing to a stroke with excessive spin, net clearance and arc of trajectory. Work the entire spectrum from heavy slice to heavy topspin and the reverse.
6. Acquire the skill to absorb pace (take pace off the ball) and slow the pace of the rally with spin. Learn how to generate pace and how to quicken the pace of the rally. Learn how to maintain or change pace. Work on generating more racquet head velocity (acceleration) with the objective of being able to sustain a rally of controlled aggression at a much higher pace of shots. Incrementally ramp up the pace of your shots and your ability to manage a higher pace of shots with fewer and fewer errors.
7. Develop the ability to utilize pace and spin to execute both offensive and defensive playing styles and patterns. Learn how to use pace and spin to shorten the length of rallies, to conclude the point in less than four shots. Likewise, use spin in particular to lengthen rallies and extend the length of each point (making your opponent hit more balls).
8. Learn how to utilize and vary spin and pace to disrupt the timing of your opponent by slowing or increasing the pace of the rally, 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 judge where and how to take the bounce.
9. Develop the ability to effectively respond to balls hit with different spins and pace. 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 under what circumstances and situations it is best to take the ball before the bounce with a volley or overhead and under what circumstances it is best 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 spin and pace with repeated success of specific shots, shot sequences and patterns. 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.

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.

I have identified some basic themes for tennis training beginning with an overview of the things you need to work on to master control over net clearance, trajectory and bounce. The training themes focus on the things you can control with the ball such as spin, pace, direction, trajectory, net clearance, your position in relation to the ball and your position on the court. There will be overlaps in terms of things covered with each theme which is understandable since factors such as spin, pace and trajectory work in conjunction with each other. The training themes will in simple terms look at the two basic things you need to do to effectively “work the point” to your advantage. One, each theme will review the different things you need to do with the ball to dictate, and control play and to disrupt the rhythm of your opponent. Two, each theme will review the things you must be able to do to counter and exploit the different things your opponent may be able to do with the ball in response.

Tennis Training Theme #1 – Net Clearance, Trajectory and Bounce

Objective

With specific purposeful training and match play application, master the ability to control and vary net clearance (height over the net) and trajectory (flight path, vertical and horizontal movement and arc of the ball) for all strokes including the serve, groundstrokes, volleys and overhead. Demonstrate the ability to control and vary net clearance and trajectory to execute patterns for both singles and doubles.

1. Manage the factors influencing trajectory and clearance – swing path and speed, angle of racquet at point of contact, launch angle, initial ball velocity off the racquet, spin, drag (air resistance), climatic conditions (wind, humidity, air temperature and air pressure), quality of tennis balls and gravity. Learn how to adjust as playing conditions and situations change.
2. Learn how to vary net clearance and trajectory (as well as spin and pace) to effectuate the angle of incidence in which the ball strikes the court and the height and projection of the bounce. Get the ball to sit up and not carry into the court. Get the ball to bounce up with forward projection above the strike zone of your opponent. Get the ball to stay low requiring an opponent to take the ball below the strike zone. Get the ball to bounce horizontally in a left or right direction to potentially jam or stretch an opponent into difficult spacing. Get the ball to drive through the court with pace. Learn how and when to vary the path and height of the bounce, how to disguise your intent and how to make adjustments for different playing surfaces.
3. Judge and control the depth of your shots (short and deep) and your ability to hit specific targets using net clearance as your primary target reference and then managing spin, pace and the other variables influencing ball flight and direction for margin. Develop the ability to not only pinpoint the location and depth of your shots but also the ability to create the appropriate trajectory, spin and pace to make it difficult for your opponent to defend. As an example, demonstrate the ability to place the ball at the feet of your opponent (when your opponent is positioned inside the baseline) with a trajectory, spin and pace that affords your opponent little opportunity to adjust either forward, back, left or right in response.
4. Develop the ability to execute an offensive lob over the extended reach of your opponent. Disguise your intent and utilize a low margin of clearance and spin to make the lob difficult first, to recognize and then second, to run down and return. Also learn how to hit a defensive lob with sufficient height to recover, buy time and extend the rally.
5. Learn how to create sharp angles such as with slice serves hit out wide and cross court angled passing shots. Learn how to get the ball to curve back into the court, as required in executing a down-the-line passing shot with only a narrow window by which to clear the extended reach of your opponent.
6. Learn how to utilize and vary net clearance and trajectory to disrupt the timing of your opponent by slowing or increasing the pace of the rally, 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 judge where and how to take the bounce.
7. Learn how to raise the height and arc of the ball to recover when hitting from a difficult court position and how to lower net clearance and flatten the arc of trajectory to attack and drive through the court when hitting from an ideal court position and body position in relation to the ball and bounce.
8. Learn how to match the height and trajectory of incoming balls and how to change the height and trajectory of incoming balls.
9. Develop the ability to effectively respond to balls hit with different flight trajectories and clearances over the net and the subsequent variations in bounce and projection. 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 under what circumstances and situations it is best to take the ball before the bounce with a volley or overhead and under what circumstances it is best 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 net clearance, trajectory and the subsequent play on the ball following the bounce with repeated success of specific shots, shot sequences and patterns. 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.