How to improve your skills on ground strokes

by wild bill
(atlanta ga usa)

I am a 66 year old player who is still trying to improve my skills. I play at the Bitsy Grant tennis center in Atlanta which has a great observation deck with rocking chairs where anyone can spend hours watching the better players on court #1.

What I have observed is that the better players watch the angle of their opponent's rackets so that they know immediately whether the return is coming to their forehand or their backhand. Less experienced players don't know this technique.

Then I have seen that the better players move their feet quicker to the side on position (belly button turned to the side).

Then the better players move their rackets in lightening fast time to the hitting position (rackets pointed to the back fence) - the speed of this movement is alien to the mind of the less experienced player - he thinks his racquet is going back in plenty of time but he is way behind.

I think it would be worth the cost of an hour's lesson with a pro to get this technique down.

If the mind lets you do these three things virtually at once then I think you have the chance to put the ball where you want with some pace.

I would say that the fun of tennis is to try to improve your skills so that you can have a chance of using your mind to defeat someone who is really better.