Action

Pro

Tip

Warm up

Larry Starr

(pro trainer)

Do not do static stretching before first playing; but rather, do a series of muscle warm-ups – and stretch AFTER you play.

Volley

Roy Emerson

The first thing you do is turn your lead shoulder, which will automatically bring your racquet back into volleying position; the harder your opponent hits the ball at you, the shorter you volley swing should be

Volley – High

Fred Stolle

On the volley above the net, never hit down so dramatically that your racquet head ends below the net cord; rather, try to hit as much as possible through the ball on a level plane

Volley – Low

Fred Stolle

On the low volley, make sure your racquet head starts below the ball and then volley up

Volley – Reflex

Fred Stolle

The harder your opponent hits the ball at you, the shorter you volley swing should be

Lob

Owen Davidson and Ross Case

The defensive lob is hit basically flat with ‘soft hands’ with the objective of only getting it over your opponent’s head/reach; while the offensive lob has a tighter grip and more spin

Overhead

Owen Davidson

You almost never hit the ball flat; but should always have some slice on it for control; the key to a good overhead is getting your feet in position first and then moving into the ball; and go for placement rather than power

Practice

Roy Emerson

select the shot you want to work on and (whatever it is) start all your practice rallies with that stroke

Volley – backhand

Roy Emerson

the catch phrase is “lock and block”… turn your lead shoulder back to start the stoke, lock your wrist in place, and block the ball back into the court.

Volley – half

Dick Stockton

go down to the ball by bending your knees, not your back, try to get your eyes down low and watch the ball into the racquet.

Volley – reflex

Mark Woodforde

always come back to ‘the ready position’, with your left hand on the throat and your racquet head perpendicular

Serve

Charlie Pasarell

the key to a good serve starts with ‘good balance’, which he teaches by having people serve and keeping their lead foot in place. Vary your starting position on the baseline when you are serving to give your opponent different looks and make them think about where you may be serving. And when you do, change the angle of your body so that it is always perpendicular to your general direction

Doubles – net play

Mark Woodforde

if your serving partner has to lunge for a ball over the middle, you are not doing your job. Give the opponent the alley, and cheat towards the middle of the court to volley anything within your reach.