Tip of the Week: Hit high over the net <br>by
Tony Lance, Contributing Editor www.tennis.com<br>
<br>May 28, 2001 -- Roland Garros begins today and most
of us will watch as much as possible on television.
Although TV is a great way to see the geometry of a tennis
match, it is misleading because of an optical illusion.
While it appears that groundstrokes sail just over the
top of the net, that's not the case at all. <br>If
you've ever seen a professional match up close,
especially on clay, you realize that the ball clears the net
by six feet or more most of the time. You will have
more success if you use the air space above the net.
Need convincing? Here's why: <br><br>The net is not a
barrier: Follow Gustavo Kuerten's example by hitting
topspin strokes so the ball clears the net by six to
eight feet. The ball will fall safely into the court.
<br>Height translates into depth: You can gain distance by
sending the ball on a high trajectory. When Arantxa
Sanchez-Vicario wants more depth she doesn't hit harder, she
simply clears the net by an extra foot or two.
<br><br>High balls are harder to return: The higher you hit
over the net, the higher the ball will bounce on the
other side. Balls that skim the net fall right into
your opponent's strike zone. Force your opponent to
either hit shoulder-high balls, hit on the rise, or move
back and take the ball as it drops. Either way you'll
make it harder for your opponent.<br>You can take your
game to new heights, and reduce errors, by clearing
the net by a few more feet.