Hello Tomaz,

Have so far had a good flick through the ideas it the Tennis Strategy Encyclopedia and I look forward to really getting into it.

Just a quick question for now based on a game I played earlier against an attacking & competitive aggressive baseliner, which I lost & is still haunting me.

I’d say I’m an all-rounder but his game dictated play throughout & gave me no rhythm, largely as in rallies his deep groundstrokes esp. on forehand were a lot quicker & harder than I’ve been used to & I struggled to cope with putting them back deep & with any control.

So throughout I was experimenting with suitable techniques eg on my forehand shorter swing & tighter grip & others without satisfactory success, I am a strong & athletic player, still learning after just a year, with a very good level for this time.

I feel that I am capable to handle this type of pace esp. on my forehand & also this type of player but just for now I would appreciate if you could advise on the best forehand technique for handling such power & pace on defence ie stance, grip, swing etc?

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If you are considering one or a two-handed backhand either as a tennis beginner or an advanced player, then you are probably trying to figure out what are the pros and cons of one and two-handed backhand.

In my experience, most children learn a two-handed backhand very quickly.

They are still weak for a one-handed backhand and can still develop good feel on the non-dominant side.

Adults learn a one-handed backhand faster since they are stronger and their non-dominant side improves slower.

The reason why I mention non-dominant side is because when you hit a two-handed backhand (right-hander), you need to drive forward mostly with your left hand.

You can improve the feel of the non-dominant arm by simply alternating shots with only one arm and then with both hands.

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Q: Since three weeks I am training (again, after an interruption of some months) with a good tournament player.

He is telling me exactly the same as you did before!

I tried today to focus only on the ball and the game. The improvement is stunning!

A: Yes, I tried to make this clear in the “How to Play Tennis” bonus videos.

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How do you handle a top spin kick serve ?

Do you stay further back or take it before the ball bounces high ?

How do you take the ball on the rise ?

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Yes, you can do it both ways – either go back and wait for the ball to lose some spin and speed and drop lower to a more comfortable hitting zone OR hit the ball on the rise, before it gets to high. (more…)

I asked my students a simple question: ” How do you know that you hit a top spin?”

There were lots of interesting answers and if we make a summary of your answers and differentiate between what is the proof of top spin and what a possible indicator is, then here are my tennis thoughts:

First, we have 5 senses through which we perceive outer world: sight, hearing, feel, smell and taste.

So obviously we cannot smell or taste a top spin shot , but we can see it, hear it and feel it.

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Hi, my coach keeps telling me to spin the ball, roll it. He basically tells me to focus on TECHNICAL PART OF TENNIS.

Do i have to do the same in match? To concentrate on swing, low to high, knees bend (technical part). Please just tell me what do pro tennis players think, focus on when they are in a match???

And what do i have got to do to get my swing, footwork during rally, drill time, in match?? E.i. what should i work on more?? More drills? More rally?? More matches???

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