Grips and Practice (Part-3)
One can practice serving by himself. To get a second serve in as hard as your first one requires practice, determination and confidence. Take a dozen balls and serve each one as hard as the other. Then cross over and serve back. The same may be done on ground strokes by dropping the ball and taking it on the bounce.
Foot positions are of great importance. They are easily understood by some players, due to experience at different athletic games, such as baseball, football or gymnastics. You will find that these players are always on the balls of their feet.
The feet should be placed properly before taking your stroke. If the player is in position the stroke is not so hard. Many a point is lost owing to faulty foot position. The most frequent mistakes of players are these, as to position:
1. Being off balance.
2. Being caught on the flat of his feet instead of " on his toes."
3. The weight being on the wrong foot.
4. The player being out of position.
5. The player executing his stroke off the wrong foot.
Players should be on the alert before and after the stroke. Correct foot movement enables the player to shift into other correct positions easily and quickly. The balance should be preserved at all times. After the player returns the ball his position should be thought of, while watching the ball.
In starting forehand strokes the right foot should be back of the left. The weight is on the right foot at the time a player begins his stroke. It passes to the left when meeting the ball. The reverse position and weight on the legs holds good on a backhand shot. The player who does this is on the balls of his feet for the next return.
In volleying stand on your toes, to be ready for a return in either direction. There is no excuse for being caught on the flat of your feet.
Many players find themselves off balance through taking a backhand stroke. It comes from allowing the ball to get too far back before hitting it.
Before smashing a ball the position of your feet should be thought of. The right foot should be back. The weight is on the right foot while waiting for the ball, and until the ball is over you. On the smash the weight transfers to the left foot just at the time the player hits the ball.
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