Blog Archives

Maryna and Timur

3/23/2022

This past Monday morning at 1:00 am I picked them up at Logan airport. Maryna and her 16 year old son, Timur were waiting each with one medium bag of luggage and a set of golf clubs. They had flown in from Washington from Frankfort and departed from Bucharest, Romania, after taking a northern train from Sophia, Bulgaria. Before leaving Bucharest with his Mom, Timur was anxiously awaiting for her as she had taken a train from Kiev to meet him in Sophia, Bulgaria where he was staying safely with friends. From there they traveled back to Bucharest to fly to Frankfort. A United States Traveler was giving his air miles to Ukrainians.

Maryna showed me a picture of a flat that had been destroyed next to hers. The destruction in the city is appreciating daily as missiles land on homes. The city is a ghost town. The club where she managed several sports and coached tennis is now a Russian Command Center. Three million citizens populated Kiev. Not now. The Russian ground forces do not enter the city as they suffer great losses when they attempt to take it.

Timur is in the process of contacting golf courses in the area
and has made progress. I have a contact who is working on this. He may be teaching to juniors and training. He is listed as a scratch golfer and the number one ranked Ukrainian junior in the 16’s. He was was getting ready for international competition when the war began. Maryna worked from 7 am to 9 or 10 pm at night to fund his golf and extra schooling to learn English which he speaks quite well.
Maryna was former top five in Russia as a junior tennis player. Timur is an exceptional tennis player as well, but his first love is golf.

I’m learning a bit of Russian which is easily understood by Ukrainians. Learning Russian as an American is easier than learning the difficult annunciations of the Ukrainian language. They both enjoy my Coon Hound, Mandy and have met my son, Eric who lives with me. Eric is a tennis pro for the Marion Indoor Tennis Club, Menauhant Yacht Club, and the Boy's Tennis Coach at Falmouth High. This morning we ate rice with milk and sugar, bread with cheese and boiled eggs. It was explained to me that rice with milk is good for digestion and that left over food is given to the dog as a meal and given to stray dogs that roam Ukraine. Also, they compost for gardens. Timur, when seeing the heavy rain said to me, "Don't throw the dog into that." It is a Ukrainian saying that speaks of how one might discuss bad weather of the day. I had to explain that my dog dog has her own special food for sensitive stomach and skin. I could hardly explain it without holding back laughing. And they said the dog they had ate bread with cheese, rice with milk and boiled eggs. Nothing was ever wasted and their dog also enjoyed pizza from time to time.

I reached out to Oleksii, my tennis contact from the Ukraine who when we last spoke was in Chernivtsi. Chernivtsi is a border town to Romania. He’d like to be on the other side of the border but realizes he must stay. He has not signed into "the office" where you will immediately go into fighting service. He has not broken any law, it's not something he wants to sign up for and yet he cannot leave the country.
He is involved with some some sort of service in the town but of what I do not know.
He has already shared incredible information regarding the assessment of the war from inside the country. He’d rather be teaching tennis. I hope to hear from him again soon.

I'll update more later.

--Kevin

9 Comments

It’s been a hard day’s fight- Ukraine!

3/18/2022

6 Comments

The world got smaller. I’m in the process of locating a Ukrainian family to my home for a few months, to give them a breath of air. She was huddled in an Kiev underground shelter with her sister when we first spoke. Her 16 year old son, Timur was in Sophia, Bulgaria. She was the Tennis Director of a great club and former top five in Russia, and her son, the number one golfer of the Ukraine. They already had visa’s for travel. Maryna is an international tennis coach (ITF). I’ll update their progress soon. She left her sister in Keiv and is trying to get her out. Maryna took a midnight train to Romania and then to Sophia, Bulgaria, just in time. She had something most don’t, a visa!

I'm also talking to a good pro named Oleksii via email who can't get out. He’s on the Romanian border. He hasn’t had to fight yet. I’ll share with you our conversations:

3/3/22
Hello,
I’m a tennis professional from the United States, located on Cape Cod, Massachusetts, on the East Coast.

I googled tennis coaches and found you there in the Ukraine.

Are you safe? Did you leave the country. I’m worried for the people of the Ukraine. Perhaps you or some other coach (male or female) needs help leaving if they choose. Or a place to stay if coming to the United States.

—Kevin Pease
Kevinpeaseschooloftennis.com
Kpsotennis@gmail.com
USPTA (R)

Hello, Kevin! Nice to hear from you. Don't want to describe you what I passed these days. Now I stay alone with my friend at Ukrainian border. I was lucky to move my parents, girlfriend and friends parents abroad in EU. I can't cross the border because of the Presidents law, he said if you have a war or some weapon experience pls join army or some territory defence group. I never hold a weapon in my hands. In Kiev I had my own club at outdoor courts, dreamt to built an indoor club there, right in Kiev. I had many students in Ukraine, all over the world, some familys close to goverment. I became a Bidi Badu tennis clothes distributor in Ukraine. Never worked on a club. Now I'm lost everything. I just moved everybody I can to the border, now I'm alone and feel bad and lost everything. I want to go back home but further it goes less chances to come back, seems will have huge damages, but I will see. Waiting for opportunity to cross the border and I'll ask for the help to work maybe. Thank you for the message.

Oleksii,
I understand your position.

Please contact me if I can help any of your friends or family that need a place to stay outside of the Ukraine.

If you need a place to stay if you leave let me know. You are always welcome.

I pray for you and your country.

Also, if you need to email. You can anytime.

3/9/22

Are you safe Oleksii?

3/11/22

Hello, Kevin!
I'm still in Chernivtsi, close to the border, with my friends. Waiting for the Buelorussian invasion today. Hope that it's fake. Thank you for the message. Want to cross the border but I can't...
ср, 9 мар. 2022 г., 15:38 Kevin Pease Tennis Professional <kpsotennis@gmail.com>:

3/12/22

Oleksii,
Keep yourself safe a possible. Hopefully this war ends soon. Are you going to stay near the border.

—Kevin

Sent from my iPhone

3/13/22

Yes, i'm going to stay close to the border at least for 1 more month. Will try to work here to have money for food and leaving, but tennis is not popular here at all. I never served in Army, no sence for me to go there, im much productive in other way, in peacfull time. Lets wait, maybe they will open borders, or maybe it will be peace soon, who knows. But longer we stay here, longer our expectations for a war duration. If it wont stop this month we expect 1 year minimum of the war duration, and it couses much more troubles to leave normal life.Turkey doesnt do any sanctions to Russia. Russians has many jet and we dont. Total amount 450 russians airplanes, only around 50 are down ny our forces. Many legioners all over the world coming to ukraine, professionals, thats bery good. My cousin leaves in Chernigiv cant leave the country... Will keep you in touch what is happening.

вс, 13 мар. 2022 г. в 01:37, Kevin Pease Tennis Professional <kpsotennis@gmail.com>:

3/13/22

Thank you for the update. I’m glad your are not in the middle of this war. Can they make you fight?

3/14/22

All my friends that had army courses in university and went to military registration office after some sort courses going to fight. All of my friends who wanted to fight and has experience - already there. So the situation for now is like nobody catch you on a street but if you come to the office you will probably go fighting and 100% will go fighting if you was in army or had courses in University. Now it seems that This war will last for a long time... Can't believe

вс, 13 мар. 2022 г., 22:33 Kevin Pease Tennis Professional <kpsotennis@gmail.com>:

3/17/22

Saint Patrick’s Day

Can you get out of the Ukraine?Your country cannot keep up with this invasion over time.

318/22

No, can't leave the country, and know when I'll be able to do it.As I hear all the information we are going to win in this war. The coloumm movement not effective, javelin destroys it very easy, from 113 shots from javelin 100 are in the aim, this is a record of javelin usage. Last days we got stinger, so now on low altitube we destroy many airplanes. New help from USA provides us with higher alritude anti airplane systems. Russia is running out from airplanes. And that's it, So 2-3 weeks and they will need to go away from the Ukraine. That what analytics said, and it looks like true.
But that's what it should be only if putin won't do any dirty thing. We are very afraid of nuclear bomb, and many people who feel putin said that this is a question of time, strikes will go on USA also. So maybe, its better for you to go on vacation to Australia for some time, but I hope that some people won't let him do it. I hope it won't happen.

3/18/22

Oleksii,
I’m glad that you still are okay.

Your assessment is lucid, quite logical.

I pray for the world. Some day we will meet when this is over.

I’ll stay in contact with you.

3/18/22

Thank you, Kevin! Can't wait when it's going to be over and we will be able to travel all over the world. One day we will meet for sure.

пт, 18 мар. 2022 г., 08:10 Kevin Pease Tennis Professional <kpsotennis@gmail.com>:

Note: I’ll keep you updated here at KPST.

6 Comments

My long short Story

3/15/2022

0 Comments

Recently my son, Sean- my doubles partner for summer grass courts, sent me a text-- Dad, we are number one in New England for Senior Father Son and number nine National for 2021. It was great news. I had no idea how they figure this stuff. We were a match point away from being number two in the country, he said. And now we are at our clubs, teaching for those who believe we offer something of value during a conflicted time in the history. Tennis gives us a meditation that is never lost no matter what circumstances come our way--personal struggles, injuries, health, pandemics, or wars. We look to the Spring with hope for grass tennis court competitions, stronger minds, bodies and spirit and firm resolve to improve ourselves (on and off the court).

Everyone receives challenges in life. It's how we deal with the “at bat” that defines us. As I look back down the bumpy road I live I feel gratitude. They say that if you stay in one place long enough the whole world passes you by. It’s true. The secret to life is bringing it to you and then, taking it with you! There’s grass at Longwood, Newport, and in New York, the bike rides to the Sports Center, Harbor Head, West Falmouth Ball Park, and the beach runs with Mandy (my Coon Hound running mate) and Cal, my grand dog puppy of Kara’s.

I've been teaching tennis since the summer of 1977 as a graduate of Falmouth High on Cape Cod. Not getting cut my freshman year was my goal. My training regime included hitting on a backboard daily for hours on the public courts in West Falmouth and hitting with anyone who showed up. The sound of tennis balls were constant during the seventies. I would set up matches every night on the phone. Being a tall lefty with a good serve and volleys, doubles became my forte. My high school doubles partner, Jim Estes (owner of the Landfall in Woods Hole) and I made it to the quarter finals of the south section in Brockton of my senior year.

That fall I attended the University of Massachusetts, Amherst where I barely walked (recovering from mono) on a Division 1 tennis team. There must have been 60 players who tried out and were 50 tennis courts on campus. I made it to the last cut and was told - "Pease you’re cut!” I asked Coach Steve Williams (former #1 at Virginia and a traveling pro for the New England Nets) if I could help in practice by feeding balls and hitting serves to players. He agreed. That year I moved up the team ladder to the top 12 and received a letter. By my senior year I finished my college career at #6 singles for one day, despite an ACL injury, and received a degree in Sport Management.

In the Fall of 1982 I took a Tennis Directorship of the Falmouth Sports Center and created five amazing children over the years. My oldest Scott, taught tennis for me and has sadly passed, Eric USPTA now teaches at the Marion, MA Indoor and the Menauhant Yacht Club, Sean USPTA at Cedardale in Haverhill, MA, Kara USPTA with me in Falmouth, and Matt, who lives in Charleston, S.C., works and is a part-time student.

Influencers:

Billie Jean King!

We met and coached at a Team Tennis Clinic sponsored by Dominos Pizza, in Danvers, Ma, where we coached the volley station together. Again we met as fellow USTA High Performance classmates in Chicago. Billie believes in team and having men and women compete together. Remember her and Bobby Riggs playing for battle of the sexes?

Vic Braden!

Vic founded his own teaching academy for teaching pros and offered adult tennis camps. His slogan was that he could make you "famous by Friday". Vic was personable, made you laugh, and used biomechanics before it was an industry. I taught for Vic at his adult summer tennis camps for adults in New Seabury on Cape Cod, Ma.

Dennis Van Der Meer!

Dennis founded the USPTR. I studied for my teaching certification and worked my way up to a National Tester for teaching pros and established the PTR New England as it’s first President. Dennis’ teaching progressions has helped my ability to teach large groups.

Arthur Ashe!

“From what we get, we can make a living; what we give, however, makes a life!”

This quote is from Arthur. He commanded the audience of teaching pros with great respect and thoughtfulness. I met Arthur on Hilton Head, S.C. while attending a PTR conference where I played the National PTR open singles and doubles.

I have certification's and awards from the USPTA, USPTR, USTA High Performance, and Wilson.

Throughout the years I've held New England and National USTA rankings, including #1 Father Son and Father Daughter in New England (Current), #1 National Senior Father Son New England (Current), #19 National Father Son, and #1 Doubles in Men's 45 Doubles in New England. Playing family tennis is a huge part of my life! We always try to get a hit in.

Doubles is a great game. You are part of a team.

—Kevin

0 Comments

My First Days of Tennis

3/15/2022

0 Comments

Do you remember the first day you played? My mother took me to the courts with wood racquets that cost not much more than a metal can of tennis balls. I remember being 10 years old and experiencing my first attempt to he hit the ball back and forth with no idea of form. My mother could hit it pretty well and just hitting inside the lines was a challenge. There were no points.

That day and days like those at the old asphalt tennis courts located 10 minutes by car were my first experience with tennis. The sound of the ball off the frame was crisp off the wooden racquets on the courts. We'd wait patiently for a court to open. Courts were crammed in the early 70's.

"Darn it," she'd say as I hit one over the fence into the briars-the place of lost balls. I'd go get it and bring back others. I'd find and save them in a paper shopping bag. The Spaulding tennis balls we used were white. They came out of a thick metal can that had a key tool to twist the metal top off. The vacuum pop it made an air rushing burst. And the smell of new tennis balls was much richer then. We'd save a can of balls for many weeks. I'd rinse it out and use it as water container. It was a solid metal water container with a pop off top metal top.

Our Catholic Church located within view of the public courts in North Falmouth, Cape Cod. It's now a condo complex. I'd been asked to become an alter boy but I declined. The thought of being in front of rows of people terrified me. It wouldn't happen. And I'm perfectly fine that it didn't. After church, the first thing I wanted to do was play tennis. We'd go home; I'd whip off my church clothes put on white tennis shorts, a white polo shirt and head back to North Falmouth for Sunday practice. The practices would last about one hour and the only goal was to hit the ball over the net and in the court. We would have some long rallies and those were the best. After getting tired we'd head home and have one Sunday Donut served with a slice of apple on the side and read the Boston Globe. I'd read the funnies and look for the Peanuts Cartoon. Snoopy playing tennis was the best. I'd draw Snoopy on self made birthday cards, love notes and letters for years.

I had no idea that I'd become a Tennis
Teaching Professional. My Mom would now have her weekly indoor tennis lesson with me. One day we counted a 53 ball rally over the net. I wrote the number on a tennis ball and gave it to her. That ball was placed on my parents living room family bookcase.

0 Comments

Ball Machine Practice

3/15/2022

2 Comments

Set the ball machine on the side of the court, not in the middle of the court. Most of the time in tennis you are hitting the ball cross court, both in singles and doubles.

Best Singles Practice!

Place the machine in the deuce court firing the ball to your deuce court forehand where you can hit cross court or up the line! Be sure to practice your proper recovery position on the court so you are not camping out in the corner expecting the shot.

The machine is firing the ball to your forehand. You can change the direction of your shot at will. You can also have the machine shoot up the line from the deuce court, you then can hit your backhand crosscourt or back up the line. By selecting the change direction feature on the machine you can run to forehand or backhand.

Move the machine to other corner and repeat these plays, plus you can run around your backhand and hit inside and outside shots! There's a lot going on there! A lefty would be reverse of the righty set ups but all the shots would be the same.

You have now practiced hitting from both corners in both directions. You have returned the direction of the ball and changed direction of the ball from both sides. This is tennis! Standing in the middle of the court just hitting balls is not real tennis!

Think about how much stamina you can gain form this. If you go with a friend you can take turns at say at 10-12 balls each while the other player hits the ball on the other side of the net to the opposite corner from where you are playing. In 30 minutes you can have a serious training session.

Best Doubles Practice

Place the machine in the deuce court and have it fire to your deuce side. You practice forehands or backhands cross court or down the line. Practice the same drill from the ad court. You have now practiced both forehands and backhands from both sides of the court while hitting you shots cross court and/or down the ally. That's real doubles options, You can also have the machine vary the direction slightly to the corner with the change feed option, but much easier than a singles workout, because in doubles you don't typically run from ally to ally hitting shots.

Enjoy you ball machine practice and train with a purpose. My next post on the machine will be net play drills.

2 Comments

Percentage Doubles

3/15/2022

0 Comments

Get your first serve in.
It puts less pressure on your second serve, and
makes your opponent have to work harder. Your
percentages go up for winning the game.

Develop a second serve that isn't easy to attack.
Again, your percentages go up.

Percentage serving means serving the T on the
deuce box and body in the ad. Those
placements take away angles and keep your
net partner in front of the angle of return.

Hit good cross court return of serves that are
difficult to poach and force your cross court
opponent to stay back or hit up.

When returning a fast server, try taking the
return early (inside baseline) with a block
backswing and counter the pace away from
the net player. Try standing way back and lob, or
stand just three feet behind the baseline and
and take guided short swing. You will have to
try different things to get into the point.

When returning a soft serve or easier kick,
shorten your swing, chip or drive and take
position beside your partner about one foot
inside the service box.
If your team can take a position inside the service boxes, and volley the ball to a
groundstroke of your opponents you stand
a 65 to 35 % chance on winning the point given
equal ability levels. Take the ball in the air!

The player in front of the opponent striking the
ball should be closer to the net to be able to
poach if needed. The partner has to take a
position that is either off net at the service line
or baseline to cover lob threats.

When both players are at the net, the diagonal
player takes the middle volley. When both
players are back, the stronger middle shot
takes the middle ball.

When lobbed over your head and out of reach,
concede your offensive net position, switch
to the other side, while facing opponents,
and retreat diagonally to the service line or
back court depending on the time you have.

When taking non-obvious overheads, tell "me
or you" to your partner early, so that proper
court positions can be maintained.

If your partner or you can't clear the net player
then your team should start both back to
defend smashes.

If your partner hits a good poach or volley,
approach to the service line and join them in a
staggered net position.

If you approach the net take a position one foot
inside the service line and split step.

If you hit a baseline shot take a position two feet behind the baseline.

Communicate some obvious priorities (tactics)
but don't over complicate things. Be supportive
and upbeat no matter what with your partner.

If you and your partner are playing a team that has good lobbing ability then take a position off the net more then you normally would if you are the server's partner. Also, if you do approach the net together, hold up a t the service line, parallel with you partner so that you both can cover deeper lobs easier. If the ball does get over your head, yell "you" and switch to the baseline with your partner now returning a lob, allowing you both time to reset in a defensive baseline position. Your goal here is to stay in the point and patiently wait to you get an opportunity to take the net back. Hopefully your team will be able to hold the line with overheads more than you must retreat and concede the net to your opponents.

0 Comments

Doubles Partners

3/15/2022

0 Comments

Adjusting your game to fit for your doubles team is the key to match wins. If you know how you play your best then you can position yourself better with others.

Having a fast consistent player can work well with a powerful but perhaps less consistent game. A big return of serve matches well with a great server. A volley partner can match with a ground-stroke player. One can set up the other. No one does everything great but matching strengths and weaknesses allows for better covering of weakness and maximizing strengths.

At the very least, look at what your team does well and put your best foot forward as a team. Never keep a strength in the closet during a match. The ball isn’t always going to be shared 50/50 during a match. The ball sharing percentage is determined by whom you are playing and the priorities that are required to win points.

Plays should be set up to defeat opponents. Serving to an opponent’s strength should be avoided on key points! Why give your opponents their best chance to win a point? Hopefully you’ve measured returns of serves in your match and kept mental statistics. When you watch the movie, Money Ball, you see how statistics play out when choosing a baseball team. The same is true when picking a doubles partner, or selecting a play to run. If you are playing totally unconsciously, then you are missing opportunities to win.

Executing plays take experience as a team to run. Trust can only be developed over time. Is your partner going to commit to the poach, time it right, cross all the way to create the proper switch? Does a signal cause confusion and delay? Does your partner get frustrated if things aren’t going your way. Should you just play it straight with no signals. Frustration can lead to selecting easier plays to execute and actually improves results. Though this can be absolutely true, in the long run, a doubles team should pre-plan plays. If the server and net player work together properly, they know where the serve is going and if net player is going to poach. Knowing in advance is much easier to handle than being surprised.
If the your serve strategy is just get the ball in the box then the net player has to be ready for that.

Many times we are playing social doubles or league doubles. The competitive juices are impossible to hold back if you are a true competitor. I never enjoy losing. Who does? Having a plan takes pressure off. And it gives your team tactics that are fluid.

If you're a league player, social player, round robin player you probably already know how your opponent play and their tendencies. Have you thought about your own, your partner’s? If you never have then you should. Assess the strengths and weaknesses of yourself and partner. “You don't have to know everything, but one or two observations can sway a match.”

The key to your tennis partner is to position them for the plays they can execute best while giving our opponents their least favorite plays to run. In some cases without your partner knowing you have given them their best play opportunities. They not be aware of their own tendencies. They could be a stronger deuce court player, a better baseliner, lobber or serve returner. Working with your partner's strengths is easier than trying to make them fit into a mold. Your partner's strategy may be as simple as run around the backhand or hit a slice serve. It doesn't have to be a list of ten things. In fact, one or two ideas is plenty. If we think too much we get mentally stuck.

Having pre-designed plays shows the other team you are up to something and they don’t know what is. It may be poach or a fake as the servers partner. It could be a poach after a return of serve by the receivers partner. It could be a position switch during a point by partners. It can run a gambit of different net positions for the servers partner such as a wedge position. The wedge position is when the servers partner takes a center crouch position in the middle of the net and then takes a left or right position as the receiver starts the return of serve. It could be the Australian position— where the server and servers net partner line up on the same side of the court to take away a big cross court return of serve and for the receiver to go up the line away from the net player.

Both the “wedge and the Australian” positions have to be weighed out by testing, as they require a quick reaction time and good movement and volley skills. Not anyone can just execute those kinds of plays. I’d say they start showing up at the 4.0 level. And it also depends who is on the other side of the net. Executing these plays takes practice and pre-match conversation and strategizing with your partner, typically on a practice court with much repetition. It's difficult to run new plays in competition before getting rid of a least a few bugs in the system.

These are the main considerations for you and your partner. Assess your game, you're partner's game, and play to your strengths. Measure your opponent's game and play to their weaknesses. Practice doubles drills with your partner or at least with someone else who enjoys doubles. Talk about strategy (but don't over think it in match play). The best partner to have is yourself. I will post future doubles drills you can do one on one and two on one that will help you improve your doubles game.

0 Comments

Tennis Time & Motion

3/15/2022

0 Comments

Doubles Volley Drills3/11/2022
0 Comments

Do you ever ask yourself, how can I practice for doubles? I'm just not where I want to be. The answer is yes you can! And there are so many good videos available online. Here are some great volley drills to practice:

Intro to the volley with Mike Bryan: www.youtube.com/watch?v=sqgu-H2WVUA

Volley Drill: This is how to practice volley to baseliner. Notice the split step hop at contact of the ball. To me, this is living the dream! The Bryan Brothers! www.youtube.com/watch?v=_L8ak57V9KA

Poaching with four players: Cat and Mouse with the Bryans (Go where you think the ball is going to be!):
www.youtube.com/watch?v=_L8ak57V9KA

Volley to Volley Drill: Romanian Davis Cup (RDC drill) with the Bryans
www.youtube.com/watch?v=F9qQbRitBRE

How to hit a forehand volley correctly with the Bryans (split step in the air before your opponent hits the ball; you then can land and take off for the ball with correct timing!:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=F9qQbRitBRE

0 Comments Where do I Stand?2/23/2022
0 Comments

When I first began playing doubles I had very little knowledge as to why I was standing in the standard one up one back formation and serve and volley wasn't a top priority for me. As I got older players got younger and their returns came back like serves. I still depend upon my net partner to make quick kill of returns saving my strength for the next big serve.

When serving I desire quick points with lots of quality first and second serves. It is a time when I'll hold nothing back on that one shot. It is without question the most important shot in a game of doubles. You should position yourself as a server to place it to the receiver's weakest shot, typically the backhand, but not always!

And when I have a bad day serving it leads me back to my fan base, a flock of seagulls watching me practice hitting serves on a broken outdoor court into the wind by the sea. I'd say, that's the one. No, that won't do, it's not what I want at all. It was a freak lucky serve, non-replicable. Toss at one o'clock like Taylor Dent. This is the self talk I go through to this day.

I'll save writing more about the serve for another day. But it's importance must be stated here in the beginning of your journey of doubles. Without a good serve, doubles will be a tough day at the office. My digression is over.

Doubles Positioning
There are general positions on the court that you should know to play doubles.

The starting positions:
“The server” is typically located half way between the doubles line and the center slash mark, staking claim to the middle of that half court. This allows the server to cover both the serving side and the back court of the net partner should a lob clear the smash zone of the net player, causing a retrieval by the server on the net player’s side of the court.

“The net player of the server” should take position six feet from the net, centering half way between the doubles line and the center service line. This position allows the net player to attack a middle return from the opponent and protect the alley. This position can be adjusted depending on where the ball is served and also if the opponent tends to lob frequently.

“The receiver” should stand in a position that draws a straight line from server to the receiver, and that line splits the receiver’s service box in half. If the server changes position then the receiver must adjust to keep the line through the service box straight to the server causing an equal division of the box. If the server stands wide in the court then the receiver would take a wide position. If the the server moves closer to the middle then the receiver must take a more middle position. If the server hits a weaker serve then the receiver should take position inside the baseline. If the server hits difficult hard serves then the receiver should back up behind the baseline. Alternatively the receiver may try blocking the return of serve early to reduce width the angle of return. The receiver should make calls on wide serves in the service box. “The receiver’s first job is to return the ball away from the net player.”

“The receiver’s partner” should take a position on the service line, facing 45 degrees to the back service line, close to the middle of the court. This allows the receiver’s partner to make good back service line calls and cover a volley from the server’s net player off the return of serve.

“Following the ball” as a net player: If the receiver of serve returns a ball cross court and clears the server’s net player, then the “receiver’s net player” should move up at a 45 degree angle toward the net (distance moved is determined by the speed of the ball, player’s ability to cover ground, and opponent’s tendencies) and cover the alley and potentially poach. At that point the “server’s net partner” should move back at a diagonal 45 degrees toward the center service line and cover the receiver’s net player in a defensive volley position. This “following the ball”ball movement by the net players occurs during the rally. This is a “diagonal shift.”

“A vertical shift” occurs when one or both players move toward the net. If two players are up and the other team is one up and one back then the team that is split will no longer diagonal shift as the opponents have taken the net position. It also occurs if two net players run back to retrieve a bouncing deep lob, hence giving up their net position to their opponents.

“A lateral shift” occurs when both members of a team move to the left or right based upon where they direct their ball. Lateral shifts occur in two up verses two back positions. This allows the team to cover the angle of return.

In general, two players up at net verses one up and one back is an advantage for the net team. That would be an offense verses defense positioning. Put-aways are easier for two up at net. One up and one back verses one up and one back is neutral. Two up verses two back is offense verses defense. Two up verses two up is neutral. It is best to be offensive, then neutral, then defensive. That being said, any formation can win if played by a team with better skill sets than their opponent’s.

0 Comments Doubles Questions Answered from Scott, Frank and Anastassiya!2/17/2022
0 Comments

Doubles Questions Answered

From Frank:

Should both players go to the net?
Frank loves tennis and I’ve known him for years. He plays mixed and mens doubles.

If all levels on the court are equal and you and your partner are mid court volley competent then both going to the net is a better strategy. See my last post on time and motion for doubles. There are some times when both going up isn’t a good idea: You or your partner cannot cover a well placed lob causing switching to occur too often or there is limited mobility to hunt down lobs, your opponent’s groundstrokes are simply too hot to handle for one or both of you, or the other team is playing one up and one back creating a neutral formation on the court.

The priorities of a team’s strengths and weakness may outweigh the “two up”
preferred strategy. Nothing ever is cast in stone but being able to play both up is the mark of a more well rounded doubles player.

From Scott:

When should the Australian doubles formation be used? Scott plays in Florida and I’ve met his Dad who also is a great player and pro.

If your opponent has a strong cross court return making it tough on your partner server to volley and too difficult to poach at net then try having your net partner line up on the same side of the court as the server takes this shot away. Now the receiver is forced to change the direction of the ball if the serve is placed wide in the box, hit over the highest part of the net, with the least amount of court available. This alone can create an error if timing hasn’t been established on this shot. The net player can also fake causing further disruption.

A great time to use this is on a key point, causing additional pressure on the receiver to hit a shot they are not grooved to hit. This can get your team an easy point.

Note: if the receiver has a laser ability up the line this can cause trouble in the Australian formation. It should be tested at some point in the match to see how effective it is before or at least have a quick discussion with your partner about the outside return capability before using it.

Note: Serving a ball down the middle creates a natural wrap around down the line on the righty forehand in the ad court. That isn’t a great play to run in my opinion. Also if your partner is a weak server that can pose more problems running the Australian.

From Anastassiya:

How to be better net partner?

I’ve seen Anastassiya play and she covers the court very well and is always improving her shots. She is a powerful ground-stroker. In general to be a better net partner you have to know your partner’s and opponent’s shot tendencies and finish points with angles and placements that score points.

If the ball is above the net and easier to handle go to the short side with your volley or overhead not back to the deep court player.

If you are in the back court and your partner is hitting an easy volley or overhead you should take a free pass to the net and join them.

When your partner is serving it is a good idea to fake a poach and occasionally poach to disrupt the receiver’s timing.

Also talking to your server about any weaker return capability’s of the receiver sets up more volley opportunities for you at the net.

Following the serve (shading wide or to the middle) when playing net puts you in better position to cover the return and prevent passes on your side that you should be able to cover.

Finally, adjusting your distance from the net based upon the time and motion of your opponent is key. See my Time and Motion post on doubles. You can fake your opponent to create a shot you want if you know how to time it. Example: your partner hits a deep groundstroke and you take one step in from the service line as if you are going to close tighter to the net but then quickly adjust back to the service line, baiting for a lob to smash. Another example: your parter hits a short low ball down the middle; you should close the net toward the middle and be ready to poach.

These are some examples of how to be a better net partner.

0 Comments Singles Playbook2/16/2022
0 Comments

This time of year high school players from all over the country are thinking that tennis is just one month away. In New England it's typically the third Monday of March. I remember riding my bike on a sunny cold day down to the Sea Crest Hotel on windy Buzzard's Bay to practice my serve and hit against a backboard. I was a freshman. There were few guests staying in February. The Seagulls were there, my sentinels. I wanted to start for the team.

One: From playing matches I learned to keep the ball in play. It sounds so basic but it's true. Especially with sun, wind, and a host of other distractions that occur while playing outside.

Two: if the ball has been sliced or hit very weak and short you must get to the ball early and take it off the hop. If you don't the ball will play you and the elements now become the partner of your opponent. When you play outside you must be willing to run and recognize what the ball is doing before it hits the court!

Three: if the wind is at your back, use more topspin or aim lower to keep the ball in the court. Approaching the net can be easier with more power behind you and weakens your opponent’s pass. If the wind is in your face aim higher and hit harder. Also, drop shots and lobs are best hit into the wind. The ball plays tricks on your opponent.

Four: because the elements change conditions, managing them in your favor from the beginning is a good idea. Serving into the sun isn't fun. Plan for that from the coin toss on deciding which court to take. If you win the toss, let your opponent choose first, then you choose the correct selection based on their choice.

Five: cross courting the ball is a safer shot in a rally then down the line. Aim safely cross court (more court, lower net, natural rotation of your body) most of the time, and pick your long lines carefully, based upon your skill, the ball, and court available. If you hit cross court, recover to four feet from the middle slash mark to the side you just hit your shot. If you long line recover to the center slash mark. Bjorn Borg once said that he hits cross court most of the time and sometimes goes down the line. He won five Wimbledon titles in a row!

Six: if your opponent drop shots you and you are arriving late to the party then drop it back low and hold a net position.

Seven: try to hit your favorite shots most often while at the same time having your opponent hit their least favorite shots. Start figuring that out from the warm-up.

Eight: when forced out of the court sidelines lob the ball high cross court, and recover back to the baseline.

This post will be updated with more guidelines....stay tuned. Remember, tennis isn’t about doing a ton of amazing things, it’s about executing a few things amazingly well.

0 Comments Tennis Time & Motion2/14/2022
0 Comments

I was thinking that players often show their hand too early during a rally. And when you do this you allow your opponent to hit their smartest shot with little difficulty.

There are a few examples of this in doubles: taking a close middle or ally when playing net, closing the net too close when an opponent is in a baseline position, and standing on or inside the baseline when playing a back position.

If you stand too close to the middle at the net when your partner is serving, and the serve is easy to return, your opponent can hit a difficult passing shot down your ally, especially if they have a great outside shot. You may try standing there to taunt the receiver, then take a safer position closer to the ally after the ball has been served. this makes the receiver think and you've risked nothing but getting in their head that you are looking to poach.

If you stand too close to the ally you are giving your opponent a clear easy return path with no risk of a poach. This allows the receiver to get excellent timing on their returns. You need to show you can volley or smash their returns because of your net prowess (poach and smash ability).

If your partner returns a serve cross court and you
rush the net tight too soon, from your service line position, the receiver can lob you easily with time on their side and force your partner to have to play a difficult lob shot making them change direction. It's much better to take an off net position, 10 feet off the net at least, depending how difficult the lobs are from your opponent.

And if your opponent is staying back during the cross court exchange and you and your partner are at the net, then both of you should take a defensive volley position closer to the service line. If one of you show a close net position early, your opponent now has time to make a well placed lob, taking you off the net causing a switch creating a missed "two up" opportunity to finish the point!

If you or your partner are choosing to stay back after a shot, you must recover two to three feet behind the baseline. If you stand inside the court you are saying to your opponent (I'm out of position and I will have to hit a deep return backing up). Your opponent should then hit a deep ball right at the player standing in the court and move to the net. They have backed you up and now have the net. You should have been “back already” and moving forward with “time and force,” neutralizing them in their back court position.

If you can think about where your opponent is and what their shot possibilities are based upon the “time” they have to think about them then you will be better able to cover their next shot! Your tennis I.Q. goes way up!

0 Comments

Singles Play Book

3/15/2022

0 Comments

This time of year high school players from all over the country are thinking that tennis is just one month away. In New England it's typically the third Monday of March. I remember riding my bike on a sunny cold day down to the Sea Crest Hotel on windy Buzzard's Bay to practice my serve and hit against a backboard. I was a freshman. There were few guests staying in February. The Seagulls were there, my sentinels. I wanted to start for the team.

One: From playing matches I learned to keep the ball in play. It sounds so basic but it's true. Especially with sun, wind, and a host of other distractions that occur while playing outside.

Two: if the ball has been sliced or hit very weak and short you must get to the ball early and take it off the hop. If you don't the ball will play you and the elements now become the partner of your opponent. When you play outside you must be willing to run and recognize what the ball is doing before it hits the court!

Three: if the wind is at your back, use more topspin or aim lower to keep the ball in the court. Approaching the net can be easier with more power behind you and weakens your opponent’s pass. If the wind is in your face aim higher and hit harder. Also, drop shots and lobs are best hit into the wind. The ball plays tricks on your opponent.

Four: because the elements change conditions, managing them in your favor from the beginning is a good idea. Serving into the sun isn't fun. Plan for that from the coin toss on deciding which court to take. If you win the toss, let your opponent choose first, then you choose the correct selection based on their choice.

Five: cross courting the ball is a safer shot in a rally then down the line. Aim safely cross court (more court, lower net, natural rotation of your body) most of the time, and pick your long lines carefully, based upon your skill, the ball, and court available. If you hit cross court, recover to four feet from the middle slash mark to the side you just hit your shot. If you long line recover to the center slash mark. Bjorn Borg once said that he hits cross court most of the time and sometimes goes down the line. He won five Wimbledon titles in a row!

Six: if your opponent drop shots you and you are arriving late to the party then drop it back low and hold a net position.

Seven: try to hit your favorite shots most often while at the same time having your opponent hit their least favorite shots. Start figuring that out from the warm-up.

Eight: when forced out of the court sidelines lob the ball high cross court, and recover back to the baseline.

This post will be updated with more guidelines....stay tuned. Remember, tennis isn’t about doing a ton of amazing things, it’s about executing a few things amazingly well.

0 Comments