Changing Direction Successfully

If you coach baseliners, you will inevitably see them get into long, crosscourt rallies. Baseliners with steady, if not overpowering strokes, will often dare an opponent to outlast them in a crosscourt rally, especially off the backhand side.

Quite often, the first player to switch directions loses the point on the first, down-the-line attempt, while players who make the switch first, successfully, often win the point. This has more to do with physics than anything else. Without going into too much detail, if players are hitting the ball outside their bodies (e.g. right-handers hitting backhands to backhands in the ad court or forehands to forehands in the deuce court) it takes one racquet head speed to return a ball crosscourt that is hit from crossourt, and it takes a higher racquet head speed (faster swing) to change direction (go down the line) on a ball coming from crosscourt. The other option is to hit the ball down the line well inside (about 3 feet) inside the sideline.

This is why if a player has been in a groove for several crosscourt shots, if she then attempts to stay in her same rhythm to make a down-the-line shot near the line, the ball goes wide.

Help your players practice changing directions with a simple, live-ball drill which lets them experience the affect of physics on a tennis point, and help your players with their science grades, as well!

Step #1 — Have players rally crosscourt from outside their bodies, attempting to keep the ball in play past the service line. Have players spend approximately two-to-three minutes getting into a groove. This should be a cooperative, but aggressive rally.

Step #2 — Identify one player who will make a directional change, hitting down the line after each player hits three-to-four balls crosscourt. After player changes direction, players play out point. Do not discuss with players the physics of a directional change at this point. Have players play five points this way, with each player getting the change to change direction.

Step #3 — Explain to players that a change in racquet head speed is needed when switching from crosscourt to down-the-line, and have players practice changing direction after a six-to-eight stroke crosscourt rally. Allow each player to practice changing direction several times during a rally.

Step #4 — Repeat Step #2, with players running the drill with their new found racquet head speed.

Step #5 — Have players run the drill by beginning with a second serve, trying to simulate a point in a match.

Explain to players that they should be changing direction on their opponent’s weaker shots and that they should be using their crosscourt shots to produce a weak or short ball which can be attacked, rather than just waiting for the short ball.

The down-the-line shot does not have to be a winner; it can be the final forcing shot which opens up the court for a winner on the next stroke. Discuss with your players what options their opponents have if your player successfully changes direction and discuss your player’s option (if the opponent hits short crosscourt; deep crosscourt; etc.).

Practicing this situation which occurs often in high school tennis matches and preparing to be the aggressor in this frequent exchange may add several more points to your player’s score each set.