Often the best players in world are the best defenders as well as attackers. They can pick the right time to defend to be smart with their shots to give them more time and to make the opponents play an extra shot and lead them to making mistakes
Tip 1 – Position
A general rally position is a foot behind the baseline (for club players.) If you can anticipate the attack from your opponent shuffle back to give yourself more time. By moving back this give your more time to react and prepare for your shot. Ensure you recover to a neutral rally position of a good defending shot
Tip 2 – Hit High and down the middle
By hitting higher loopy balls this gives you more time and reduces errors (forced and potentially unforced), reduces the chance for angles and frustrates an impatient player. Swing the racket with a steeper low to high swing path and for advanced player ‘brush’ up the back of the ball for topspin. If successful recover from a neutral rally position.
TIP 3 – Use variety
If you keep hitting loopy high balls you will become predictable. Using slice shots can give variety to how you defend and challenge their timing. Hard hitters rely on excellent timing so if you can mix the spin by using a slice will force them to get low and give you time. They will either hit low and hard which is risky off a low ball or have to hit up ‘loopier’ rally ball.
DRILL 1 – Attacker V Defender
Ask you partner (or ball machine) to feed drive shots and practice hitting high loopy balls that are in a deep target area. Then play points starting with a fast feed (from inside the baseline) and see if you can push them behind the backwards of a deep high ball.
DRILL 2 – Wide Ball Pick ups
Get a coach or partner to tough feed wide balls in which you have to neutralise the ball deep down the middle. If it is not a tough feed rally deep or cross court. Know when to rally or when to defend by putting marker down for a rally shot and beyond the marker you know to defend.
DRILL 3 – Ozzy Doubles 2 players v 1 player
This is a tough exercise mentally for the lone player as they have to be mentally tough and get the balls back with height and makes the others play the errors. It is hard to hit winners and will increase your aerobic capacity and ability to last longer in rallies.
