|
Each Game is up to 4 Points, but players must be ahead by 2 points When the score is tied at 40, the score is called ‘deuce’ The player who wins the next point has the advantage and must win 1 more point to win the game. The Server’s score is always called out first.
0 = Love
1st point = 15
2nd point = 30
3rd point = 40
4th point = Wins Game
Back to Top
- One player serves the entire game
- Players alternate serving games
- The server begins the game from the right side of the court and alternates sides each point
- For each point the server gets 2 attempts to land the ball in the diagonal service box (if both serves are missed – the opponent wins the point) Term: “Double Fault”
- When a shot lands Out, the receiver must call it “Out” immediately
- A ball landing on a line is considered In
- The ball may only bounce once o During the rally a player may play a ball before it bounces or after 1 bounce
- The serve is the only shot which must bounce before being returned
Back to Top
All procedures are the same as a singles game with the following exceptions:
- The court is increased in size by the doubles alley on each side
- Serving team switches sides (left/right) for each point / receiving team does not switch sides
- During the rally either partner can hit the ball (except on the serve)
- When returning serve: players choose a side (left/right) and return from that side each point
Back to Top
Topspin refers to the forward rotation of the ball as it travels toward the target.
Topspin has two benefits:
- It aids gravity – helping the ball to land sooner and in a shorter distance
- Accelerated bounce – the ball will be accelerated after impact with the ground (high / long bounce)
Topspin allows for accelerated / aggressive strokes, which are more likely to land in the court
To create topspin, the racquet must ‘brush’ up the back of the ball from below the ball to above it.
It is important to maintain a (nearly) straight or vertical racquet angle through the contact zone.
The racquet should be accelerated just prior to contact with good use of the forearm and wrist segments.
This racquet path produces a long follow through, often passing over the opposite shoulder.
Topspin is ideal for Forehand and Backhand (especially 2 handed) ground strokes and can be used on serves by more advanced players. Back to Top
1. Toss Consistency:
To achieve a consistent and reliable toss requires practice. Try to make the tossing
motion as simple as possible by eliminating any unnecessary movements. Bending the elbow or flicking the wrist are 2 common causes of inconsistency. Picture your tossing arm as a straight piece of wood, which is being levered up from the shoulder. Extend your hand up as high as it will reach and let the ball come out of the hand slowly. Practice this motion and see if you can get the ball to come directly back to the spot where you released it (a straight toss).
2. Extend to Contact Point:
It is ideal to impact the ball at or near the highest point that you can reach
your racquet. The best way to do this is to make sure that your toss is only slightly
higher than that point (6 – 18 inches). This allows for a continuous serving motion,
whereas if the toss is much higher than is necessary, there must be a delay in the
motion to allow the ball to drop into the ‘hitting zone’.
3. Throwing Motion:
The serve motion is very similar to the throwing motion. In order to execute a
good throw or serve, you must turn your shoulders sideways to the target and allow your throwing arm to bend in a relaxed manner (racquet drops in behind your back). From this position the body starts to rotate to the target and the elbow extends upward and forward before the racquet extends to contact. It is also important to allow the arm to follow through across the body and down beside the far leg.
4. Relax Your Grip and Muscles:
Make sure that you are not squeezing the racquet before you serve. A relaxed grip ensures that the forearm muscles are loose and this will allow the wrist to ‘snap’ or fold through impact, which increases the speed of the swing. Try holding the
racquet with just 3 fingers (baby finger off the bottom of the grip) to help feel how loose
your wrist can be and the resulting racquet speed.
5. Pronation:
The ideal grip for a serve is the ‘continental’ or ‘hammer’ grip, where the ‘U’ shape between your thumb and index finger is lined up with the edge of the racquet. Pronation is the rotation of the forearm in an inside out direction just prior to contact. This action adds power to the serve and offers the ability to put spin on the ball (side or top).
6. Window Above the Net:
It is important to look at the ball when you are making contact. But it is also helpful to visualize a target area when hitting a serve. Just before you serve focus on the service box width and envision a ‘window’ of that width beginning at the top of the net and extending up a few feet. The height of the imaginary window is dependant upon the speed of the intended serve. For a slow serve the window could extend up to 6 feet above the height of the net, but for very fast serves it may only extend 1 foot above. Try to visualize you’re ball traveling through the ‘window’, rather than landing in the box.
Back to Top
- Make it your #1 Goal – To Have Fun and Get a Good Workout!
- Be Realistic – Expect to make mistakes during the match. Don’t let the first few mistakes, which will likely happen in the first game, upset your focus and enjoyment of the match.
- When feeling Nervous – Play very energetically. Have a very active warm-up to calm the muscles.
- Assume that each shot will land IN & Assume that each shot is coming to YOU
- Having a Serving Ritual (ie. bouncing ball twice) will help to relax you.
- During the point: focus on the opponents – this will help you anticipate where the shot is coming from
Back to Top
Basic
- A. Server - Position to cover cross-court return. Serve to “T” to reduce likelihood of down Alley return.
- B. Server’s Partner - Position to protect ‘alley’ but also to intercept cross-court returns.
- C. Returner - Position short or deep depending on speed of serve (1st/2nd). Return to avoid Server’s Partner.
- D. Returner’s Partner - Position to defend against Server’s Partner intercepting the service return
General Rule Always position to cover the left or right side of the court (Don’t stay in the center when at net)
Advanced
- A. Server - Serve and volley to put pressure on returner
- B. Server’s Partner - On high volley attack middle of court or feet of returner’s partner
- C. Returner - Return deep if server is not approaching net / return low if server is approaching net
- D. Returner’s Partner - On good return (cross-court & deep), Move forward into aggressive net position
Back to Top
1. Take Control of the Net
- Look for opportunities to join your partner at the net
- When at net - look for a return that is shoulder height or higher – to attack
- When both partners are at net – position just back of Ideal net distance
2. Make Your Approach Shot Effective
- You can approach with various shots (serve, serve return, forehand, backhand)
- The goal is to look for a short ball from the opponent (ie. a short serve)
- Make your approach shot effective with: Depth, Pace or Placement
- If you approach with an ‘easy’ ball to the opponents – your success will be minimized
3. Short to Short / Deep to Deep (hit to opponents Feet)
- If your opponent is positioned deep – hit deep shots
- If your opponent is positioned near the net – hit lower/softer shots
- Use ‘Window’ over the net to control height (depth) of your shots
4. Attack Open Space or Closest Opponent’s Feet
- Pre-plan where to hit your shots when you are at or approaching the Net
- Know where openings are (between partners, angles)
- When at net - Hit floating balls (shoulder height or above) toward feet of closest opponent (the one who is standing helplessly on the service line or even closer).
- An opponent, who is within 20 feet, will not have time to return an aggressive shot.
5. Learn When and How to ‘Split Step’
- The purpose of the ‘split step’ is to hop into a neutral ready position to react to the shot
- A ‘split step’ should occur each time the opponents hit (especially if you are at net)
- The ‘split step’ creates a springboard effect to react quickly to the shot
6. Cover The court as a Team
- It is each partner’s responsibility to cover Half of the court (Left or Right)
- Position on the ‘median line’ of your half of court and adjust with position of the ball
- If the net player positions in the middle of the court – his partner will feel Lost !
- Partners will always help each other by taking any ball on the other half of the court, which would be very difficult/impossible for the other player
- Switch sides when one partner has to cover the other side (Yell: “Switch”)
Back to Top
Ontario Tennis Association (OTA) - www.TennisOntario.com
www.Tennis4you.com
tennis.about.com
Back to Top
|
