Last month’s piece stressed the importance of consistency. A vital topic in tennis – so let’s continue the focus.
The challenge of playing consistent tennis tests all four aspects of your game:
- Technical do you have the range of shots needed to stay in a long rally?
- Tactical can you select the correct `percentage shots` as the rally develops?
- Physical do you have the speed and endurance to get to every ball?
- Mental do you have the concentration and resilience to prevail in long rallies?
KEYS TO RALLYING WITH CONSISTENCY
Margin for error.
In baseline rallies aim 1-2 metres over the net, 1 metre inside the sideline and 2-3 metres inside the baseline. If you are a little off target, the shot will still be in.
Hit the ball only as hard as you can control it.
Aryna Sabalenka’s average forehand speed is 80 mph. But you are not Aryna Sabalenka…
Use spin.
Topspin makes the ball dip and come into court. Slice allows you to control and return balls when you are under pressure, especially on the backhand side.
Hit crosscourt more often than down the line.
You will be hitting over the lower part of the net, into a `longer` court (the length of a court corner to corner is 23.77m, but corner to opposite corner it’s appreciably more).
Consistency may not always look spectacular, but it wins matches.
Here’s the latest article in our Tennis Unlocked series by Peter Farrell, one of Ireland’s most experienced coaches. The series will build into a library of knowledge, specifically designed for club-level players, that can help make your match play more effective.
