Ball Control in Tennis

Ball control is the root of every successful tennis game. A good exercise to improve ball control is to practice bouncing the ball up off the strings of the racquet. Flip the racquet head over so the next bounce comes off the other surface. This will help develop control and strengthen your wrist.

Judging the flight of the ball as it comes toward you is an essential skill, and you can improve it with this series of simple exercises:

Throw a ball back and forth with a partner, catching it before it bounces.
Bounce the ball to each other and catch it.
Stretch your abilities by throwing two balls back and forth with a partner simultaneously.
Use the palm of your hand to hit a ball thrown by a partner. This will develop your basic groundstroke timing, of hitting the falling ball between knee and waist height.

The forehand is the major groundstroke for beginner and advanced player alike, and is the most natural of the groundstrokes. When using the forehand, develop a flowing movement that allows you to run for your next shot or recover to your previous position. Develop the skill of anticipation. When I first began playing tennis, one of the biggest mistakes I consistently made was making my shot and then stopping, standing, and watching to see what happened. I had to learn to always return to the middle of the court, be ready for the next return, and anticipate where the ball was going to go next.

In tennis, preparation rules. Commit this to memory and make it a mantra. The important thing to remember is that the power of the stroke comes from behind you. You need to get that racket behind you in preparation for the swing and the hit before the ball arrives. If you stand there waiting for the ball and then draw your racket back as it comes to you, you've lost every advantage, since your timing will be off and you will be wasting valuable seconds getting into a position that you should have been in before the ball arrived. Always remember, "racquet back, racquet back," and you'll be ready for anything.

A good teacher will watch your natural style and movement and be able to determine what type of backhand is best for you. The double-handed backhand, for example, is a perfect option for young players who lack physical strength, and for older players just starting out. Some pros also prefer it to the one-handed version. Backhands are always hard to master and you may have to experiment. One rule of thumb I've found helpful is to prepare for the shot by turning sideways with your right shoulder towards the net (reverse this if you're a lefty), racquet back as usual.