"Tennis Tips" by Charlotte
                                            2009/December


NICE GIRLS FINISH
In a doubles' match, a playere chased dowen a ball, returned it with a sitter, and then stumbled and fell on the court. The opposing player, who was ready to put away the weak return, stopped to see if the fallen opponent was OK. Should the point have been replayed since it was stopped out of concern for a fellow players' health, or does the team who stopped play early lose the point? (G. Smith, Wexford, PA)
Answer:
Though the opponent who stopped playing obviously did so with the best of intentions, kindness doesn't score points in tennis. She loses the point. A player falling on the court, not an uncommon occurrence, isn't considered a hindrance (Rule 26, Case 2). Still, it would have been a nice gesture, and also within the rules, if the opponent had repaid the opposing team's concern by conceding the point.


SERVE TO THE BODY
During a recent match, my opponent hit a serve so long that it missed the service box and hit my foot before bouncing. (I was standing six inches inside the baseline.) I immediately called to replay the point, but my opponent said it was his because the ball made contact with me before it bounced. I would have called the serve out if it hadn't hit me. Who had the right to claim the point? (K. Fierro, La Habra, CA)
Answer:
This is one of those rare moments when a terrible serve becomes a weapon. According to Rule24, Case 7, the server wins the point when "a ball that has just been served hits the receiver, or in doubles, the receiver's partner before it hits the ground," unless it's a service let. Next time, get out of the way if you can.

LET IT STAND
In a league match, a woman on our team hit a ground stroke just before a stray ball rolled onto her court. She finished her stroke, then noticed the ball and called a let. Her shot went wide. Is a let allowed in a case like this, or should she have lost the point? (Andy Durham,. Auburndale, FL)
Answer:
As The Code, Item 19, states, "When a ball from an adjacent court enters the playing area, any player on the court affected may call a let as soon as the player becomes aware of the ball." If the stray ball affected your teammates' swing in any way, she has the right to call a let, which she should do immediately, and replay the point. Once her shot was on its way, however, she wasn't entitled to a let unless her shot landed in. Since she didn't become aware of the ball until after she had hit her shot, she must accept that her errore--hitting the ball wide--counts.


DOUBLE BOUNCE
In a match where players make the line calls, whose responsibility is it to call double bounces: Some double bounces are almost impossible to call. (Don Skaggs, Dallas, TX)
Answer:
As the first principle of The Code states, "Tennis is a game that requires cooperation and courtesy from all participants" That's especially true on double bounces, which are left to the offending party to call on himself. (The Code, Item 20, says, "The opponent is not entitled to make these calls.") If you're uncertain whether a ball in your court bounced twice, you must give the point to your opponent under The Code, Item 6.
                                             2009/November 

HOW TO HIT A BOUNCE OVERHEAD

Sometimes it's better to wait before you whale away at an overhead. Here are four steps to help you hit a bounce overhead:
   1.   When your opponent throws up a lob that it is so high it seems like it will be difficult to time, or if you are struggling with the sun or wind, let the ball bounce. Start as you would with an ordinary overhead and track the ball by pointing at it with your off hand. Bring your racquet up as you get into position and stay on your toes so that you can make small adjustments with your feet as the ball falls to the court.
   2.   As the ball bounces and comes back up, keep your head, off hand and racquet up. Your legs should be slightly bent so you can move upward into the shot.
   3.   Since you often hit bounce overheads far away from the net, you need to treat them more like serves. Go up after the ball, extend fully, don't collapse at the waist and attack the ball at the same contact point where you hit your serve. Step in with your left foot (if you're right-handed) so that you can uncoil into the shot. Consider slicing the ball as you would on a serve to add control.
   4.   Snap your wrist as you follow through and keep your head up. If you are closer to the baseline than the net, don't snap down as much as you would on an ordinary overhead because you need more length to ensure that the ball travels over the net. Your left foot (if you're right-handed) should be firmly planted to keep you balanced as your right side comes through the stroke.       (By Katrina Adams, Tennis Channel Commentator) 
                                              2009/October 

KNOCKOUT

In a doubles' match , I hit a short shot high in the air that barely cleared the net. The opposing net man took a big swing and struck a winner, but on his follow-through, his racquet crossed the net and hit my partner, who had rushed forward when I threw up my soft shot. Our opponents took the point, but the contact happened before the ball hit the court twice. Did we deserve the point?

ANSWER: NO.
The opposing net player committed no infraction when his racquet hit your partner because, as you said, he hit a winner. If the racquet had prevented your partner from making a play, you should have played a let under Rule 26, "Hinderance". It made no difference that the ball had yet to bounce a second time when your opponent's racquet broke the plane of the net, which is legal unless the racquet hits the net.
                                                                                                                                                                                                    Pete Tseng, Port Huron, Michigan 

WHAT'S THE SCORE?

In a recent USTA League match, our opponents refused to call the score before serving.When we repeatedly asked them for the score, they would give it, but grudgingly and in soft voices that were barely audible. I know the rules say that the server must announce the score before each serve, but are there penalties if a server doesn't comply?
                                                                                                                                                                                                    Nancy Sneed, Sarasota, Florida
ANSWER:
The server is required to announce the score before she serves (The Code, Item 31 and USTA Comment 5.3). If your match has an official, he can instruct the team to announce the score when serving. If the team doesn't follow the rules, and do as the official says, the official can give them a code violation for unsportsmanlike conduct. It's probably best to take matters into your own hands and call the score yourselves if your opponents refuse to do so.
                                               2009/September 

DISORDER IN THE COURT

In a recent doubles match, the same person served twice in a row for the opposing team, but we didn't realize it until the score was 40-0. Everyone agreed that the serving order had inadvertently been mixed up, but we couldn't agree on what to do next. Our opponents switched servers and completed the game with the new server, starting at 40-0. We pro-tested that the game should start over. Who was correct? (M. O'Dwyer, Conn.)

Answer: Your opponents had it right under Rule 27 ("Correcting Errors"). As USTA Comment 27.1 notes, the guiding philosophy for serving out of turn, failing to change ends, or similar mistakes, is this: "Any such error shall be rectified as soon as discovered, but not while the ball is in play, and any points completed under the erroneous condition shall be counted." The Code, Item 2, also offers clear guidance. "All points played in good faith stand." Note that, under Rule 27(c), if you had completed that game before noticing the error, the altered serving order would stand for the rest of the match.

COLLATERAL DAMAGE

My opponent hit a lob over my head that caused me to race back toward the fence. I got there in time and took a swipe at the ball, but my racquet hit the fence first, then the ball. The ball landed in, and never hit the fence. My opponent claimed the point was his because hitting the fence was just like hitting the net. I gave him the point. Was that the right call?
(Shad Giles, Polson, Montana)
Answer: No. If the ball hit the fence, you would have lost the point. Otherwise, when the ball is in play, you are only prohibited from having your racquet touch the net, net posts, singles sticks, net strap, netcord, or your opponent's court, according to Rule 24(g).

CHOKING UP

I have developed the habit of sliding my left hand up above the grip to the throat of the racquet on backhand volleys. It helps me punch through the shot, but is it legal?
(Patrick Casey, Lombard, Illinois)
Answer: While the rules of tennis place many restrictions on the racquet, such as its size and string pattern, they won't stop you from volleying this way (Rule 4 and Appendix II). There is no rule that addresses unique grips or hand placement. But your grip may come at a risk: If a ball in play makes contact with your hand rather than the racquet, you lose the point under Rule 24 (i).
                                              2009/August
SWING FASTER

        (1) SWING QUICKLY NOT VIOLENTLY
When people hear that they need to swing their racquets faster, they tend to do too much. Violence doesn't produce racquet-head speed. You need to think about swinging quickly and smoothly, not forcefully. (Just watch Roger Federer!)

        (2) SIT FOR SUCCESS
Here's a drill that will make your strokes faster and more fluid, yet teach you about balance and control. Sit on a bucket inside the baseline, facing the court as you would in a semi-open forehand stance and have a partner feed balls slowly to your forehand. When you hit forehands like this, you'll better understand that your shoulders must remain level at all times. You'll see the importance of hitting through the ball and following through, and you'll know why good posture (which helps you maintain balance) is essential for racquet-head speed.

        (3) FORGET YOUR WRIST
Your wrist is an important component of every stroke in tennis, but it will do its job without any effort if the rest of your swing is sound. Make sure you hold the racquet with a semi-western grip, which places your palm behind the handle for support and allows for plenty of topspin. Think of a whip: it's strong, yet limber, and when you snap it, it accelerates and cracks. That's the essence of racquet-head speed, and the foundation of a great forehand.

        (4) AIM YOUR BUTT CAP
Here's a tip to make sure your racquet is in the right position as you line up a forehand. When you turn your hips and shouldes as you start your backswing, the butt cap of your handle will point toward the ball. This will give you plenty of time to accelerate as the racquet moves toward the contact point.

        (5) THINK BOTTOM UP, NOT TOP DOWN
A strong foundation is the key to everything you do on the tennis court. Make sure you spread your feet apart to at least the width of your shoulders and keep your weight slightly forward and your knees relaxed. Both arms should extend away from your body. This ready position will help you maintain your balance for any shot that comes your way.

                                               2009/July
COURT OF APPEALS
        (1) BALL TRICK
In a doubles match, our opponent held a second ball in his hand while he served. In the middle of the point, he rolled the second ball away from the court. I asked our opponents to stop the point and demanded that the point be given to us. They argued that it was their point because I had no right to stop play. My partner and I agreed to play at let, but who was correct? (Naval Verma, Sunnyvale, CA)

Answer: You had every right to object, but you didn't deserve the point. Nothing prevents your opponent from serving with an extra ball in his hand, but discarding the ball during play is considered a hindrance (USTA Comment 26.4). Since you objected immediately and during the point, it was correct to play a let. From there on, "any continued discarding of the ball constitutes a deliberate hindrance, and the server loses the point." If you object after the point ends, the point stands, but it puts your opponent on notice that another casually dis-carded ball will cost him a point.

     (2) BIG MISTAKE
In a doubles' match, my teammate hit a first serve that looked to be about 8 to 10 inches long. Our opponents were weaker players and I called my partner's serve out in an attempt to be nice. However, the receiver returned the serve as if it were good. He then complained that I couldn't make an out call on my partner's serve. We replayed the point (with a second serve), but my teammate later suggested that the point might have belonged to our opponents. Should we have awarded them the point?
(Richard Briggs, Columbia, MD)

Answer: You are correct; you shouldn't have made the call. The rules and The Code encourage accurate calls and fair play at all times, as well as calling your own shots out if you have a clear view of them. However, The Code, Item 13, makes an exception for the first serve. If your opponents return the serve, the point continues. In this case, the winning point would have been the best way for you to emphasize the importance of making proper calls.

     (3) FALLING OVER
In a friendly doubles' match, I poached and put the ball away. My partner also attempted to play the ball and swerved around me. He tried to avoid the net, but couldn't and fell across it onto our opponents' court. Our opponents claimed the point, but from my vantage point, I saw the ball bounce twice before my partner touched the net. Whose point was it? (Charles Fairbrother, Ledyard, CT)

Answer: If the ball bounced twice before your partner made contact with the net, you won the points be-cause touching the net is illegal only when the ball is in play [Rule 24g]. Your opponents might have dis-agreed, but the call wasn't theirs to make. In an unofficiated match, the team who touches the net should make the call [The Code, Item 20]. If you were the least bit uncertain whether the ball bounced twice before your teammate touched the net, the point belonged to your opponents [The Code, Item 6].

HOW TO HIT A CLOSED STANCE FOREHAND

(by Katrina Adams, commentator for the Tennis Channel)

Almost everyone today hits a ground strokes with an open stance. However, there are instances for using the closed-stance forehand in your arsenal. If you have time to turn sideways and step into the court, especially on a short ball, you should do it. You'll hit a powerful, more accurate shot and keep your momentum moving forward, which will give you a chance to approach the net and finish off the point.

l. To hit from a closed stance, turn to the side and take your racquet back. Your "off arm"
should point toward the incoming ball, as should your racquet's butt cap. Your weight
will be on your back foot.
2. Step forward into the shot--not sideways. Make contact out in front, level with your
lead knee. Don't overextend your hitting arm or hit the ball close to your body.
3. Drive forward through the ball, and make sure you fully erxtend your racquet toward the
target before you follow through. Your head should remain still during this stroke and
your eyes should focus on the point of contact.
4. Your follow-through should end up over your opposite shoulder, with the butt cap of
your racquet pointing toward the target. Now it's time to move in for the put-away
volley.

MIX IT UP IN DOUBLES

(by Lisa Raymond, former #1 Doubles Player)

The crosscourt return is a safe bet in doubles, but sometimes it pays to take a risk.

You've been told to return serve crosscourt in doubles to keep the ball away from the op-ponent at the net. This is good advice, but you shouldn't return crosscourt every time. If you do, your opponent will poach more confidently and volley the ball past your partner.

A few times a set, keep your opponents honest with a down-the-line return. Here's one play that works well: On a second serve or a serve in your strike zone, hit a forceful return low and right at your opponent at net. As soon as you finish your stroke, move a few steps in-side the baseline in anticipation of a short volley from your handcuffed opponent. Line up an approach shot down the middle or crosscourt; let it rip, and charge the net.
This tactic allows you to take the offensive during your return game, rather than hitting pre-dictably crosscourt all the time.

                                               2009/May-June
MIX IT UP IN DOUBLES
        The cross-court return is a safe bet in doubles, but sometimes it pays to take a risk:
You've been told to return serve cross-court in doubles to keep the ball away from the opponent at the net. This is good advice, but you shouldn't return cross-court every time. If you do, your opponent will poach more confidently and volley the ball past your partner.

A few times a set, keep your opponents honest with a down-the-line return. Here's one play that works well: On a second serve or a serve in your strike zone, hit a forceful return low and right at your opponent at the net. As soon as you finish your stroke, move a few steps inside the baseline in anticipation of a short volley from your handcuffed opponent. Line up an approach shot down the middle or cross-court, let it rip and charge the net. This tactic allows you to take the offensive during your return game, rather that hitting predictably cross-court all the time. (by Lisa Raymond, former #1 Doubles Player)
                                                2009/April
MAKE YOU SLICE BITE
        Follow these five steps to transform your soft, floating under-spin backhand into a penetrating weapon:
1. For a strong slice, use a continental grip.
2. Turn your shoulderes and bring the racquet back with the face slightly open. Your off hand should remain on the throat of the racquet to steady your take-back. The head of your racquet should start slightly above the contact point (if it's too high, you'll chomp down on the ball and either dump it into the net, or hit a softly spinning pop-up). With yhour weight on yor back foot, begin to push forward into the shot.
3. As you swing forward, your arm will extend and straighten. Hit slightly down and through the ball ("carve it"). Transfer your weight onto your front foot before impact. Your knees should have some bend as you move forward.
4. With the face slightly open at contact, hit the lower part of the ball. (Your elbow should remain straight). The ideal contact point is slightly above, and in front of your lead knee.Your off arm should mirror your hitting arm and move backward to help you keep your balance.
5. On your follow-through, your non-dominant arm should travel as far back as your lead arm travels forward. This will keep you balanced and help you hit through the shot.
         (by Elke Juul, Manager of USTA Elite-Pl;ayer Development Facility, Boca Raton, FL)
                                                2009/March
FREE SWINGER
        QUESTION: In a heated league match, I approached the net at full speed and crushed a swinging volley for a winner. I made contact with the ball on my side of the court, but my follow-through ended on my opponents side. I didn't touch the net but my opponent claimed that no part of my racquet could cross to the other side. We decided to play a let. Did we make the right choice?
         ANSWER:  According to Rule 25(e) which defines legal shots, states: It is a good return if: the player's racquet passes over the net after hitting the ball on the player's own side of the net and the ball hits the ground in the correct court.
REACH FOR THE SKY
Do you often hit overheads into the net? If so, you may have forgotten an old, but useful, piece of advice. The next time you hit an overhead, reach for the sky with your non hitting arm, point at the ball and keep your arm up until a few moments before you make contact with the ball, as you would on a serve. This prevents you from dropping your head or your shoulder too early and should ensure that your overheads clear the net.

                                        2009/January-February
SOFT GRIP
If you have trouble snapping your wrist to create spin on your serve, you might be gripping your racquet too tightly. To serve effectively, you must relax your hand and keep your arm loose. Serving with three fingers can teach you the benefits of a relaxed grip. Line up to serve and drop your pinky and ring fingers off the racquet handle. With this grip you will see that your racquet drops down naturally and snaps through the ball. Once you understand what it feels like to serve without tension, return to your regular though now more relaxed, service grip.
HOP TO IT
To improve your footwork, take a small hop with both feet when you hear your opponent's racquet strike the ball. Doing this will prepare you to spring toward the on-coming balls quicklyl (Kim Dillard, USPTA Master Pro, Centerville, VA)
SELF-DEFENSE
        QUESTION: In a doubles match, I was playing at the net in the ad court when one of my opponents severely miss hit the ball on his serve. If I hadn't stopped the ball with my racquet, it would have hit me square in the face. Our opponents claimed the point, even though I touched the ball out of self-defence. What's the proper ruling?
         ANSWER:  According to Rule 24, Case 7, the server wins the point if "a ball that has just been served hits the receiver or, in doubles, the receiver's partner before it touches the ground." One exception: If the ball hits the net before hitting someone on the receiving team, the serve is a let.

                                         2008/November-December
MOVE OVER
If you want to dominate a match with your forehand, learn to hit it from any position on the court. Practice "inside-out" forehands that fly over the center of the net and pull your opponents off court. Also practice the "inside-in" forehand, a more difficult shot that travels down the backhand line and over the high part of the net. Most important, move your feet--without great footwork, you can't hit a great forehand. One tip: Learn to cheat after yor've hit a great shot. Immediately move to your left (lefties move to the right) so you'll be ready to line up that forehand again.
DON'T FORGET THE MIDDLE
Many players seem to ignore the middle of the court. More often than not, you want to keep your opponents moving from side to side to open up angles, but if your forehand goes off for a bit, you'll make errors if you insist on hitting close to the lines. Going down the middle can help you find your groove, and it can also confuse your opponents. If you can hit a high, deep forehand, your opponents will have fewer options, and eventually you'll have a chance to strike.

                                                  2008/October
WALL BALL
We all know that a backboard is a great practice partner because it doesn't miss a shot. The problem is, a regular tennis ball comes off it so quickly that you have little time to prepare for your next stroke. It won't do you much good to practice if you're rushing to keep up with quick returns off a wall. To make your wall workouts more effective, use a foam or low-compression ball instead of a regular tennis ball. You'll give yourself more time to move your feet and master your techniques. (Will Hoag, USPTA Master Pro, FL)
YELLOW LIGHT
Many players slow down their strokes as they anticipate contact with the ball. To hit consistently and powerfully, you need to accelerate as you hit through the ball. Here's a tip to do this: As the ball approaches, imagine you're driving up to a yellow light and you want to get by it before it turns red. Increase your swing speed from the moment you start moving your racquet forward and past the point of contact and your strokes will be more consistent and powerful. (Alan Cutler, USPTA Master Pro, Whittier, CA
A CURE FOR THE SECOND-SERVE YIPS
If you suffer from the second-serve yips, remember these three important elements: time, imagination and relaxation.
Time: Don't rush a second serve; bounce the ball a few times and make sure you're comfortable and balanced. Imagination: Take a second to visualize the path of the ball. In your mind's eye, it should travel 3 or 4 feet above the net and land comfortably in the box.
Relaxation: Finally, relax your serving hand and exhale as you swing. If you stick with this three-part plan, your confidence and serving percentage will increase. (Angel Lopez, USPTA Master Pro, San Diego, CA)

                                                  2008/September
POSTURE PERFECT
It takes good posture to have good balance. If you bend from your front knee more than your back knee on your ground strokes, you'll find yourself falling into your shot. The trick is to bend your back knee more than your front. When you bend properly, you won't hunch over to get down for your shots. (J Pitkanen, USPTA & PTR Master Pro)
THE CORKSCREW
Too many players act like victims when they return serve. They stand in the same place and let the server fire away. While the server has a free swing at the ball, the returner can influence the server's delivery. If you change your position once in a while, the server will notice and try to react to your movement. So don't always return from the same spot. You might throw your opponent off with a new position. (Alan Cutter, USPTA Master Pro, CA)
THINK SPEED, NOT STRENGTH
When players go for a big serve, they usually try to muscle the ball. They tense up and often hold their breath while swinging. Instead of thinking about pummeling an ace, relax and move your racquet faster. Try exhaling as you swing and develop an easy, fast motion with a lot of racquet-head speed, not a tense, aggressive, hammer-like swing. Once you've master this, you'll hit your serve with more conviction and no longer feel like you're swinging so hard. (Feisal Hassan, USPTA Master Pro, McLean, VA)
DOORWAY TO SUCCESS
Do you often hit your volleys late? You're probably taking too big of a backswing. One way to break this habit is to practice your volley technique in a doorway. Stand on one side in the ready position and step forward through the door as if you were going to hit either a forehand or backhand volley. If you have a backswing, the back of your racquet will hit the door frame before you punch forward for your volley. Stay clear of the door frame and you'll volley better on the court. (Will Hoag, USPTA Master Pro, FL)
ANYTHING BUT NET
For many players, the net is a bigger enemy than their opponents. Remember that it's better to miss long or wide, rather than to hit into the net. If you are hitting the ball hard and high enough to clear the net, you have a 39' x 27' large box as your target. Play the percentages and learn to hit the ball a safe distance above the net, and you'll make fewer errors. (Dave Hagler, USPTA Master Pro, PTR, CA)
                                                  2008/August
FOLLOW THE BALL
When going to the net after either a serve or an approach shot, follow the path of your shot so you cover more of the court in a shorter time. For example, if you hit an inside-out approach and need to prepare for a down-the-line return from your opponent, it's better to run diagonally in a straight line rather than towards the middle of the net and then to the right. By following the ball, you cut off your opponent's angles, making it more difficult for him to pass you. (Alan Cutler, USPTA Master Pro, Whittier, CA)
SHADOW DRILL
A successful poach can win a point in doubles, but you can also win a lot of points by acting as if you're going to poach even if you don't intend to. Quickly move your shoulders, while keeping your feet in the ready position, can attract attention and disrupt the returner's motion, possibly causing an error or making him hit the return right to you. The key is shoulder fake. To improve yours, find a partner and take turns guarding each other, much the same way basketball players do. Alternate fakes and actual movements, trying to get free from your partner. (Ann Hobbs Roosevelt Island Racquet Club, NY)
BOTTOM VIEW
We’ve all heard that you should bend at the knees and not at the waist when hitting ground strokes. To learn to do this, try watching the bottom half of the ball as it moves toward you. When you’re looking for the lower half of the ball, you’ll find that you naturally lower your body by bending your knees. You alsomay find that you see the ball more clearly. This will help you set up for your shot and properly distribute your weight, so your strokes should gain some power, too. (Dave Hegler, USPTA Master Pr, PTR, Los Angeles)
VOLLEY LURCH
Do you lurch forward on your volleys and finish them off-balance? When you quickly stop your feet, the rest of your body continues forward. To prevent this, practice moving to the ball in small steps. Many players stop moving too soon and lunge forward or sideways in a last-second attempt to put the racquet on the ball. Don’t be afraid to take an extra-small step or two to adjust your feet until you’re balanced and ready to step forward naturally and punch the volley. (KenDeHart, USPTA Master Pro, San Jose, CA)
                                                        2008/July
LOW BLOW
If you are playing a tall or quick opponent who come to net often, you might have better luck aiming at his belly button than trying to pass him. A low blow shot will give your opponent limited angles for volley winners. The more spin you use, the better. Heavy spin will cause the ball to pop up off your opponent's racquet and give you a better chance to pass or lob on the second ball. ( Ken DeHart USPTA Pro, PTR, Master Pro)
TIME OUT
Many tennis players, when under pressure, make the mistake of speeding up after they commit errors. Rather then rushing after a lost point, call a timeout on yourself. Take a walk behing the baseline, breathe deeply and give yourself a chance to regroup. Be sure to adhere to time rules, but don't allow the momentum to swing any further in your opponent's favor. A few timeouts could help avoid disaster and minimize your opponent's effectiveness. (Dave Hegler, USPTA, Master Pro, PTR, L.A.)
PINPOINT YOUR STANCE
Do you own most of the makings of a good serve (smooth service motion, a good toss, and decent accuracy) but find that you can't generate enough power? Your problem may be that you don't shift your weight forward. Adding a step to your serve might help. To master the technique, called the "pinpoint" stance, put thin rubber targets (polyspots) at the baseline where you normally put your feet to serve. Stand on the targets to serve, and after you toss the ball, move your back foot onto the target next to your front foot. The forward movement will shift more of your weight into the stroke. (Mike O'Connell, Head Tennis Pro at IU in Indiana)