ETI 027 The 3 R's of TennisDownload this podcast – You may need to right-click and select Save Link As to download the file to your computer
Ready Read React – the all important “3 R’s” of tennis.
But the question, once you have been ready and now have read the incoming direction of the ball – how do you react? What is your first move?
The first move is about quickness, it is about simplicity, but equally if not more importantly, it is about committing and reacting to only and simply what you have read.
If you want to be quicker and find more time to hit the ball – improve your first move.
Let me know what you think…
26 Comments
Robert
September 5, 2014I thought about this podcast last week, I think during his match with Granollers, when Federer at a step outside the baseline had reacted to a ball on his FH side with his body turned and his racket tip angled in his usual manner when the ball hit the tape and plopped down a third of the way into the service box. That is, he had already reacted before the ball hit the net.
Greg Pierce
March 4, 2014Makes sense. Essentially at the same time you’re reading forehand or backhand, you’re also reading “far” forehand, “near” forehand, “oh c**p, it’s right at me” forehand and reacting accordingly. I will try to send you some video soon. I deliberately included the last type of forehand because it’s one I struggle w/ occasionally. I’m a little over 6 feet tall w/ long arms and sometimes it can be difficult to back away from a ball hit directly at me in order to have room to swing.
Greg Pierce
March 4, 2014Just a comment about the react move as it relates to gravity motion. From my experimenting, it seems that these 2 should be combined. If I just turn my hips and shoulders, my weight goes on my back foot and from there it seems awkward to then initiate a gravity turn. However, if I combine the turn w/ the drop step, everything flows nicely together. Even though it’s an extra step (sic) – shoulder turn + hip turn + drop step, it seems to be more fluid. Thoughts?
Jim McLennan
March 4, 2014Greg – yes, but …. when I was learning these moves the trick became to see and feel when I needed this gravity turn to cover a lot of court quickly, and when I did not need it because the ball was much closer – and in those instances a simple pivot was enough
Jim
send me something of your footwork
Very old guy
February 26, 2014My partner is injured so I tried this out on a practice wall. Amazing how many shots I was contacting out front, in a good hitting space. Thanks for the tip.
vic borgogno
February 25, 2014What are your comments concerning this Return of Serve?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_kdvS6Vrfc4
Jim McLennan
February 25, 2014Vic – I am going to do a full follow up article on this and bring in your materials – but in a previous comment I suggested that Djokovic has an extremely low ready split when returning serve – I am not sure how that influences the one legged landing – but there has been good response to this so I will pursue further – stay tuned
Jim
Junior
February 25, 2014Jim – among the (and I’m allowed to say this cause I’m about the same age myself) “older” coaches out there, you are the one who has best understood and adapted to modern tennis. If only the USTA were to adopt the same thinking the US might start producing great tennis players again.
One of the most damaging things to teach beginners is to turn their feet to the side and get the racket back early. Yet this continues to permeate US coaching methodology. As you say, it is the shoulders and hips that turn, and the racket is not brought back too far. This is what I would call “tracking” the ball, and best done with both hands still on the racket. Yes, tracking should begin immediately you read the ball, but only when the ball bounces should the off hand be released and the racket taken back and forwards in the actual – short – backswing. All of this can be done with an open stance, and should be taught to even the youngest beginning players.
When I started doing this myself a few years ago (and I am over 60) my tennis improved immediately. I couldn’t believe how much better my groundstroke timing and power became. Yet coaches keep frowning and telling me “no no, turn to the side and get that racket back early”…
Keep it up Jim, you are the best.
Jim McLennan
February 25, 2014Junior – it can be that the present speed of the game is training this “tracking” or said another way those who do not track find the game way too difficult
Jim
Rodger Schuester
February 25, 2014Strange how tennis grows on us over time. On return of serve, I’m now able to get real value from a slight jump up as part of my gentle split step. I use to just move into a wide stance as jumping up felt too disruptive. Times change. Maybe the off-court training of my toes has helped…just lifting my body plus some dumbbell weight with my toes.
Learning to block from Your Art of Return course has also improved with becoming comfortable with a slight jump up. I find that coming down from the slight gentle jump, I’m better able to move forward into the ball better, resulting in more of a natural driving blocked return of serve.
I purchased a membership at my local In-Shape club, with newly resurfaced tennis courts. I mention that because they have five TRX suspension trainers, but no RIP trainers yet. I was able to purchase the new TRX suspension training CD for tennis and I find it a very enjoyable workout routine I’m slowly getting into.
I think happiness in tennis, for me, is constantly learning. And the fundamentals seem to never get stale as they are like fine wine if we keep reviewing them.
Jim McLennan
February 25, 2014Constant learning !!!
rhees
February 24, 2014If receiving a 1st serve, then the 1st move after the ‘ready’ is a reaction with minimal back-swing from the shoulder turn. If you’re reacting to a rally ball then your 1st move could be based on 2 factors.
If you’re reacting to an aggressive shot then the read quickly becomes a reaction to survive – if you’ve played the aggressive shot then the read can be preempted by an expected reply for you to react too. Early prep, a game plan and fast feet will often be the difference – for me, the 1st move to any ball is to pivot the back foot on the hitting side with the shoulder turn, which provides a solid base too move forward into the shot.
Robert
February 24, 2014This is the most important advice that I ever received when I first learned it from you, and I revisit it as I learn better to hang in during FH rallies with baseline guys who drive the ball very fast.
As to your dialogue with Lucy below, when I watch video of top pros on the practice court where I can see the incoming ball and their preparation, I see the racket already starting back (= torso rotation) when the ball begins to arc down toward the court.
Robert Allan
February 24, 2014A timely reminder for me, I was just thinking about it today while on the court
Richard
February 24, 2014Good advice. I find the simpler the better. Getting the shoulders turned as soon as you read the ball, watch the ball and hit. Most returns go in then. Nothing fancy: just a solid, effective, consistent return, especially in doubles.
Mazlan
February 24, 2014I think there’s an r missing. The one before ready. Which is the biggest problem for seniors.. Recover. After chasing a wide ball I crash into the side fence.
Jim McLennan
February 24, 2014Mazlan – you are probably right – they say the two cardinal rules of tennis are to
1 – put the ball over the net
2 – always be ready for the opponents reply
And without an adequate recovery all is probably lost
Jim
Martin Hassner
February 24, 2014Simplest is best and you capture that perfectly here all the while showing us all we need to know to make things better.
Thanks
Jim McLennan
February 24, 2014Thanks Kid!
Jim C
February 24, 2014Jim, I find I stand well inside the baseline on returns for most competitors because I feel I’m quick enough to read and react, but not fast enough to chase a serve if I’m back too far behind the baseline. It also prevents the ball from bouncing too high out of my “strike zone”. What do you think?
Jim C
Jim McLennan
February 24, 2014Jim – if your strokes are not overlarge (which can create timing problems) what you said makes good sense
Jim
John Danise
February 24, 2014While I agree with what you said, we teach that decision hopefully is made at the top of the split step.
Jim McLennan
February 24, 2014John
I do some work on this with vic Bogorno – and tend to agree but equally that depends a lot on the athleticism and the practice habits of the student – that said Djokovic has an extremely LOW ready split when returning serve and that does not entirely match this “off foot landing”
Lets pursue this further – it is a good topic
Jim
Lucy
February 24, 2014CORRECTION:
Interesting tip, Jim. Another school of thought suggests that the longer you wait, the more time you have to react. It sounds illogical but when applied is immensely useful. By waiting until the ball has bounced to react you respond to what is actually happening, not what you think will happen (as Tom Stow pointed out to you). The ball slows down 50% plus from baseline to baseline; there is ample time to react, even at advanced level pace. The longer you wait the more you get into the zone, to the point that the ball actually seems to slow down or even stop! Preparing early is a difficult habit to break, but when applied correctly waiting yields amazing results.
Jim McLennan
February 24, 2014Lucy I agree entirely – the pros wait for the ball to begin their back and forth swing – but I believe they turn to the side immediately – look and see if it appears that way for you –
Jim
Lucy
February 24, 2014Interesting tip, Jim. Another school of thought suggests that the longer you wait, the more time you have to react. It sounds illogical but when applied is immensely useful. By waiting until the ball has bounced to react you respond to what is actually happening, not what you think will happen (as Tom Stow pointed out to you). The ball slows down 50% plus fro baseline to baseline; there is ample time to react, even at advanced level pace. The longer you wait the more you get into the zone, to the point that the ball actually seems to slow down or even stop! Preparing early is a difficult habit to break, but when applied correctly yields amazing results.
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