Under the Umbrella

I have always been a visual person. I learn and I teach in a visual way. You may do it differently, and it's the coaches job (mine!) to figure out how you learn. Then, I can target the important communication in that way. I think I'm more visual because of my art background, both as a visual artist, and as an active viewer of all kinds of visual and performing arts.

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Anyway, this visual emphasis has had a profound effect on how I teach tennis. Some years ago I taught at a club that was all clay courts. In addition to being wonderfully softer underfoot, the court provided me a constant chalkboard which I used frequently in lessons. I would simply use my racquet to draw whatever I felt would enhance the students understanding. Yep, I would draw it right there on the court in the middle of the lesson!

One image I used a lot was that of an umbrella. I would draw the umbrella on the court, and inside the umbrella I would write the word "hook-up". Hook-up was our staff's term for visual connection to the ball, i.e "How well are you hooked up to the ball?" The umbrella image is to signify that visual connection to the ball "covers" everything. If you don't see the ball well it doesn't matter if you have Federer's strokes, you still are going to have poor contact. Above all else, technique, speed, balance, training, etc - your first and most critical mission is to be visually connected to the ball throughout it's incoming flight.

Underneath the umbrella, I would write three words. I felt these words best illustrated for the student what made a "complete package", in terms of striking the ball. These words are

TIMING,

TARGET,

and

LOOSENESS.

Timing, as the last few posts have addressed, is reading and utilizing the flight time of your opponent's ball. Simply put, a player must design and execute a stroke that fits within the time frame of their opponent's shot. As stated, reacting to the beginning of the opponent's shot will maximize the player's time frame, and their opportunity for the most effective options.

Target? Have one. The more distinct the target, the more accurate the result. For tactical reasons, the target should be big, and have big margins- but the center of it should be clearly defined, like the cone inside a 7-10 foot circle

Looseness is the state of loosely releasing racquet head speed. Striking a ball is much more efficiently done through generating speed with big systems like leg drive, turning power, and leverage - and then releasing the racquet head to and through the ball. The application of muscular strength in the arm and hand can also move the racket, but is much less efficient and effective. If your timing and alignment are correct, you will loosely release the racquet head speed into the ball and toward your chosen target.

So have a look at, and give some thought to this umbrella image. If you can utilize these ideas in an effective way, it will definitely help you "cover" the court. And the next time your coach starts to scribble on the court, take a look!