TENNIS: COMMON MISTAKES

Last time I told you I might tell you about the most common mistakes that lead to unforced errors.

Mistakes having to do with Perception:

• Running towards the bounce. In the beginning it's easiest to take the ball when it's on its way down AFTER the first bounce.

• Taking the ball too high or too low. Generally speaking it's easiest to take the ball between hip and shoulder height. It depends a bit on your grip, on your position on court, personal preference, etc.

• Moving to close to the ball. Sometimes in combination with a very low contact point.

Mistakes having to do with decision:

• Preparing too late. Especially for beginners it's a good idea to turn your shoulder and initiate your backswing as soon as you see where   the ball goes. Even if that means a less than fluent stroke.

• Hitting the ball too low. (Remember the 4 zones from last week?) To avoid any misunderstanding, here I mean AIMING too low.

• Hitting the ball too hard.

• Trying difficult changes in angles.

• Not adjusting to the ball enough. Often results in standing too close to the ball.         

          
Mistakes having to do with execution:

• Starting the swing forward too late resulting in a late contact point.

• Not swinging from high to low enough resulting in a shot that is too 'flat'.

• Preparing by taking back only the arm instead of turning the shoulders and hips as well. This often happens in combination with too little distance from the ball.

• Hitting the ball off-center. You can recognize this by the sound of the ball on your strings.

Mistakes having to do with a lack of internal feedback

• Making the same mistake over and over again. Even if you have little knowledge of tennis technique you can often prevent making the same mistake more than twice in a row by just looking at the result. You can't hit the ball cross court enough? Try to hit it even more cross court!

• Getting too emotional: "Darn! I KNOW I can make this shot!" And then making the same mistake again....and again....getting madder and madder....

Okay, that's only a handful of common mistakes. Correct only a couple of them and you will start to beat some buddies you thought you would never beat!