Tip of the Week: How to Slide on Clay

By Steve Annacone
With the French Open about to begin, it will help players to watch how the pros use their slide to cover the court and keep their balance. The best place to start when trying to improve your sliding technique is to do some practice movements with your racquet in hand but without hitting the ball...Read more

Tip of the Week: How to Deal With a Player Who Has Variety

By Steve Annacone
One of the most difficult situations a player may face on the tennis court is what to do when your opponent is capable of hitting a large variety of shots. This includes changing the pace, different spins, different trajectories, and different depths of shot. Your goal should be to try to hit your...Read more

Tip of the Week: Play Your Opponent's Weakness

By Steve Annacone
Almost every player has a shot that can be exploited. Initially, most players' forehands are stronger than their backhands. If you are not sure which side is weaker, try attacking their backhand first and see what the response is. It may be necessary to hit the ball to their stronger side initially...Read more

Tip of the Week: The Modern Serve

By Steve Annacone
Players have always had different service motions. If you put 10 players on the baseline at once and watch them hit a serve, you will see 10 different serves. There will be similarities and there will also be many things that the best servers have in common. The toss will be consistent, the...Read more

Tip of the Week: How to Deal With "Off" Days

There are only a few days a year when you will walk on a tennis court and all seems to go well. There are many more instances when you are struggling with one or more shots and the ability to put a good point together.
By Steve Annacone
There are only a few days a year when you will walk on a tennis court and all seems to go well. There are many more instances when you are struggling with one or more shots and the ability to put a good point together. It is extremely important to learn how to be competitive (and even successful)...Read more

Tip of the Week: Take Advantage of Opponent's Slice Backhand

A player with a good slice backhand can cause a lot of frustration, especially in rallies from the baseline. The shot has less pace, bounces low, and it is difficult to change the direction of the shot due to the spin.
By Steve Annacone
A player with a good slice backhand can cause a lot of frustration, especially in rallies from the baseline. The shot has less pace, bounces low, and it is difficult to change the direction of the shot due to the spin. A great strategy against players with a good slice backhand is to move forward...Read more

Tip of the Week: Play Relaxed

By Steve Annacone
It is human nature to get nervous during a match. Your best defense against nerves is to stay, or return to, as relaxed a state as possible. There are a few physical things you can do to achieve this relaxed state. First, take some nice deep breaths just after, as well as, just prior to playing a...Read more

Tip of the Week: How to Deal With Slice

Players who have a good slice can be very frustrating, but there are several things you can do to handle this shot better.
By Steve Annacone
Players who have a good slice can be very frustrating, but there are several things you can do to handle this shot better. First, try to keep your position on or inside the baseline. A slice will stay low and you must be ready to move right towards where the ball will bounce. Next, stand in a very...Read more

Tip of the Week: Return of Serve

By Steve Annacone
The return of serve is one of the two most important shots in tennis—the serve being other. Most people can hit their serve faster than any other shot. In addition, the serve has to land inside the service line forcing the returner to hit the return of serve sooner than other shots. Because of...Read more

Tip of the Week: Get Your First Serve In

By Steve Annacone
It is such a big advantage to get your first serve in play. Your opponent has no idea how you are going to hit the first serve-speed, spin, direction, etc. If you miss your first serve, you have to get the second serve in. This means you have to give yourself more margin for error and it is likely...Read more

Tip of the Week: Play the Ball, Not the Opponent

By Steve Annacone
It is very difficult to make the tennis ball your main focus on the court. Often, players try to hit the ball to the openings on the court as well as trying to anticipate the next shot our opponents’ might hit. This tends to result in watching the court openings or the players, rather than the ball...Read more

Tip of the Week: Use Your Footwork to Help Hit the Ball More Solid

By Steve Annacone
The tennis ball is traveling faster and faster in today's game. By reminding yourself to contact the ball at the peak of the bounce you will get to the ball more quickly, be able to use your regular swing, and give yourself the best chance of consistently hitting the ball more solid. Human nature...Read more
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