For Coaches

On Critics 

“Bullfight critics row on row,

Pack the vast arena full.

But there’s only one there who knows,

And he’s the one who fights the bull.”

From Michener’s “Mexico” 

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Next to net play, the service return requires the most quickness. Good players “unweight” or bounce slightly to ready themselves.

You have to get wide, get low, and get ready. The first part of quick is ready!

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Diversity: Coaches hitched on to the popular gravy train of “diversity”. Diversity in college tennis became an American with a large scholarship.

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There are four corners on each side of the court. Two are up at the net.  Hint: Drop shots.

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Service Returns

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“OFF SEASON” ?

“There is no off season”

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A NEW SHOT?

Watch this shot emerge as the next  “ old “emerging shot: THE TOPSPIN LOB.

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I watched one of Coach Leighton’s varsity players use a forehand grip that violated much of Leighton’s fundamental thought. I asked, Are you gonna let him keep playing that way? He simply said, “Watch him hit it!” Boom, boom, boom! Then the Coach said, “if a flaw works don’t change it.”

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 “Every match is preparation for another match.”
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 If I taught a 2015 talented youngster I might suggest: 

You must change your western forehand to this universal grip to volley, hit most forehand approach shots, and short, low forehands.

Use a western grip for all deep forehand shots

Use the backhand to continental grip(s) for every other shot. It is the most versatile and functional grip.

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Your knees are your elevators on low volleys. Right-handers – on your low forehand your right knee almost touches the court. Backhands, left knee.

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Once Borg, when asked by Bud Collins to cite his most valuable tennis asset, replied simply, “legs!”

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Golf Advice Only?

It’s the only thing written on his (Harvey Penick’s)  personal brand of golf clubs. “Take dead aim!” ThinkTarget.

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Good Eye?

We adopted this policy: 1) In practice, if you have any doubt let it go and see if you are right. 2) In a match, with any doubt, go ahead and play it. Soon I could see our players use better and better judgment. We would occasionally let one drop in, but our percentage grew dramatically.

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—don’t have your finger in your ear and your mind in neutral
and miss the one-two of doubles.

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THROWING ?

 If you think women are anatomically limited in throwing,

watch modern women’s tennis, or better still, collegiate women’s softball.

Zing!

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Charlie Owens perfected a “just high enough” forehand lob down the line to force the net player to hit a lukewarm backhand overhead to his only logical cross-court target. Charlie would be there waiting for it with a  “passer.”

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Volley Tip

This is an area in which American players and teachers could get better. For example, we are “spot specific” on passing shots, but on volleys many of our kids just sort of “bang it over on the other side.”

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“Balance is the clue to good tennis, and footwork is the clue to good

balance” –Welby Van Horn.

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Two rally suggestions: (1. Hit ground strokes off the first bounce only. Second bounce hits are not legal, plus first bounce makes you hustle to the ball and hit some awkward shots. 2. There is no need to hit balls that are out of bounds. Just knock them down, or let
them go, and start a new inbounds rally.)

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Compare the “hit spot” for a backhand two-hander to a one-handed backhand slice.

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“Doubles is a one-two game”. “Double faults are double trouble in doubles”.

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“YOU ARE COACHING THE WOMEN’S TEAM! “

Before I said anything, one young lady offered, “we are so glad we now have a man coach.” They all shook their heads in agreement. I didn’t agree and told them so. In my first “coaching” of women. I offered, “You wouldn’t mind a good woman coach. What you don’t want is a poor coach,

man or woman.” 

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MEN COACHING WOMEN? Men are from Mars; women are from Venus. How do you identify these
differences as far as coaching goes? The best source for a “crash course”
on the subject would be to consult Anson Dorrance’s book on the subject.

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BEGINNING FOOTWORK

• Tennis starts in your eyes and brain and goes to  your feet and legs immediately.  Here is a beginning footwork drill for newcomers:  It is done without a racket or ball.  ONLY FOOTWORK.  And  mimicking several shots you will have to master.
•  ALWAYS RETURN TO THE MIDDLE OF THEIR BEST SHOT, USING PROPER FOOTWORK-BEGIN WITH A QUICK WALK-LIKE FOOTWORK TO THE BALL. USUALLY SHUFFLE STEPS BACK TO CENTER.

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A “BIGGIE “

Teaching “killer instinct” is key. Ahead a service break? Get a second.

I think that the most vulnerable points are “ahead points,” 40–15 and

30–0. These are the points that 20 year olds lose concentration on, thus

allowing that “old sinking feeling” to reenter.

When ahead, keep the pressure off yourself by staying ahead.

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THE TOUGH AREA

There are three main “parts” you have to coach: physical, mental, and

emotional. The emotional part is the toughest to deal with. However, there

are really only two villainous emotions: Fear and anger. And they are both

Self-directed.

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COLLEGE CHOICES—ANOTHER ANGLE?

Malcolm Gladwell’s new book, DAVID AND GOLIATH has an interesting viewpoint regarding one’s choice of institutions for pursuing higher education. He suggests being a

” big fish in a little pond” yields better results than the other way around. Being in the top third of your class breeds esteem, whereas being in the lower third (albeit a third with fine students) often discourages those who are always looking up at those who out-perform them.

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Some one said “… a tennis player is as strong or as weak as their weakest link, and the weakest link in tennis is the second serve.”

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