When and How to smash (Part-3)
In serving or smashing start well back for the beginning of your stroke, get under your ball and watch it in order to be sure to hit it at the right moment with a steady uniform stroke.
If players realized how much time they really have in tennis they would not hurry. The only time to hurry is to get into court position after a return and when running back for a ball a player should take more time when running for ward than when running back. How often do players overrun--that is come too far for ward. This is due to hurrying. Then, being in cramped position, it is impossible to have a free stroke. Other players when running for ward meet the ball when it is still too far am too directly in front of them instead of to one side.
To have a free swing and power in the stroke it is necessary to meet the ball to one side just opposite the body. Meeting the ball in front of you forces you to make a short return in the opponent's court, as you have no power behind your stroke. By taking more time when running forward you can judge your ball better and keep well away from it so as to have a free swing.
By hurrying you show your opponent when you are going to put the ball. By taking time you have your opponent guessing. For instance, the fact that your opponent leaves an opening exposed to you does not signify that it is compulsory to put the ball there. Say, for instance, on his left. It does not follow that that is the best place to return it. If he goes toward that spot, put it behind him. You have time to change your plan according to his movements if you do not hurry. If you hurry he sees where you are going to put the ball and is there to meet it.
In playing tennis take time, think every second, judge the ball correctly, and you will have less running to do.
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