Win More Points With Your Feet

If you watch your players and try to pinpoint the recurring and primary reason players lose points, you will be amazed to see how many errors are the result of poor positioning -- not stroke mechanics.

You will rarely see a player in perfect position to hit a ball mis-hit a groundstroke.

Players are either too close too balls and get jammed; they are not properly positioned to the side of the ball and have to swing at a ball directly in front of them; they hit balls with their weight back, losing depth and pace; or are too far away from balls and end up slapping at shots and losing control.

Strokes Come Last
The striking skill is the third skill a tennis player needs. She must first learn to quickly judge the direction, depth, spin and speed of incoming balls. Once she has determined where the ball will land, how soon and with what type of spin, she then must properly position herself to properly make the shot.

Only after your player has correctly executed these first two skills can she make a proper swing. Yet how often do coaches and players practice ball reception and positioning skills?

Following are several tips to help your players better get into position to hit optimal groundstrokes and reduce errors.

The article contiues with five specific tips and training methods which will help coaches avoid drills and practice sessions which promote and imprint poor body balance and which help teams practice more correctly.