When you play, how often do you hit your strokes in optimal conditions? Probably not often. As a matter of fact, in most of your matches you’ll be lucky if you hit as much as a third of your shots, not counting your serve, from a good position. The rest of the time you will be running, stretching and lunging for balls. Yet many players spend their practice time honing their strokes under optimal circumstances by having their partner hit the ball right back to them, thereby neglecting the skills needed to hit their shots under stress. Take this into account the next time you go out to work on your game and be sure to spend plenty of time hitting while you’re on the move.
Try to:
* Recognize that playing good tennis is not so much about hitting perfect shots as it is about managing the series of minor crises that make up a tennis match and responding well under pressure. And a big part of doing that well is learning to make effective shots even though you’re stretched and stressed. Those players who perform the best when they’re on the move are usually the ones who win the most matches, not the players with the most polished technique.
* Incorporate running drills into your workout. Have your partner move you from side-to-side as well as up and back. Also, mini-tennis (hitting softly inside the service boxes) is an excellent way to practice hitting with control while you’re on the move without having to play all-out.