A Little Give and Take
A tennis match, like many sports, has an element of "ground acquisition". It's a bit like war before the 18th century. Two sides line up against each other, one pushes forward and the other is forced to retreat.
Imagine a football game, or a soccer match, that you could watch from high overhead, as if from the viewpoint of a hot air balloon (or the Goodyear Blimp) . As you look at the two sides battling below, it is a regular occurrence that one side attempts to move the ball forward, to take ground, in an incursion into the other side's territory. If they are successful, their forward progress causes the defending side to retreat, and to lose ground.
These are both concepts and terms that we use in HP training. Within a tennis point, players can hit deep, penetrating balls that actually push back their opponents, further from the net and into a more defensive status. They have to give ground, and until they recover or the point ends, they are at a disadvantage. Similarly, the player who has given ground is much more likely to be forced into hitting a shorter ball, and in so doing invite their opponent forward. This opportunity to take ground puts the recipient on attack (if they capitalize), and they can move into a more offensive position. This giving and taking of ground is a fundamental measure of a point's progress. Surely players can win points when giving ground, and lose them when taking ground. But the percentages and likelihood of the outcomes are obvious. Like football or ancient battle, the side on the offensive is generally in the stronger position, and the side on defense is tasked with holding back the attack until they get an opportunity to neutralize, or turn the tables on the aggressor.
In our training, we encourage players constantly to take ground when that opportunity presents itself. One concept we emphasize is attempting to play balls at the top of their bounce, (or on the rise). This usually means moving forward, "taking ground", and playing the ball earlier and closer to the net offering multiple offensive advantages. Likewise, if an opponent's shot pushes a player back, that player often must give ground, either forced or by choice, in order to gain the position and/or time to play the most effective shot
Think of a serve and volley player, and their super aggressive system of rushing the net, and taking ground, before their opponent has even hit their first shot. Though not as popular as it once was, it is a style that depends on the effectiveness of that first strike, the serve, to gain the opportunity to take ground. Other players who use a defensive, counter punching style, choose to give more ground to their opponent to increase the time they have to defend their court. Neither system is "better", but both rely on a solid understanding of court sense and the giving and taking of ground.
Start to be aware of where you are, where you should be, and the opportunities and limitations presented by where you are on the court. Use the giving and taking of ground to augment and enhance your personal style of play. As you improve your ability to take a little ground in the right moment, you will doubtlessly improve your ability to take a few more titles..
