The key for me on being consistent with my return of serve, especially in doubles, is to commit to a full shoulder turn out of my ready position (the ready position is that neutral position where you’re facing forward not knowing if you’re going to be getting a forehand or backhand as the server is tossing).

If I can get can a quick full shoulder turn to commit to either a forehand or backhand, then my chances go way up that I’ll have better spacing (distance away) to the path of the incoming serve which allows me to play the return as an approach shot and that I’ll be able to make better instinctive shot selection choices.

To be able to make a full shoulder turn, I must have soft hands on the racket as the server is tossing the ball for their serve and when they make contact.

Soft meaning very light grip tension…

And I’m telling ya, you’d be amazed at just how much strength we apply to the racket handle prior to contact by the server.

Hand strength on the racket handle also equates to poor shot selection choices.

Mai and I are playing the USTA National Husband-Wife Grass Court tournament this upcoming week of March 8 at the Mission Hills Country Club in Ranch Mirage, CA (Palm Springs), and if you’re in that area, we’d love to have chance to meet you and say hi.

Lots of WebTennis players go to the Indian Wells tournament which also starts next week, so it’d be great to say hi if you’re going to watch that tournament.

We’re currently at the Mauna Kea resort on the big island of Hawaii and practicing lots and lots of returns of serve.

(Hey, life’s tough, I know, but my prize for winning the 2009 National 60s Hardcourt Singles last April was 2 round trip tix to Hawaii on Hawaiian Airlines, and since the points expire next month, well, you get the picture…).

Anyway, check out this short video (sorry about the nasty wind the day we filmed).

Here’s the link to the Husband-Wife draw and match times for next week in Palm Springs.

Hope to see you there.

And by the way, what’s your biggest challenge, your #1 question for your return of serve?  Would like to hear your feedback.

Please detail your feedback in the Leave A Reply area below (not email, thanks)…

Brent
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Thanks in advance for your continued interest & support.  Brent

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One of the big mistakes we make after we’ve just played an eastern or semi-western grip forehand groundstroke from the baseline is we get stuck with that grip after our shot and now have to use it for whatever comes back from our opponent on the next shot.

And most likely, our opponent is not giving us another shot opportunity or challenge that requires that grip.

If you’re getting a challenge situation from your opponent where you have to receive either difficult pace, exceptionally or high low shot trajectory, a shot that takes you out wide, or short, or wherever, you get the picture, that full eastern or semi-western forehand grip that you’re locked into just may be what you;d ideally like yo use.

On the other hand, your opponent may have just given you a major opportunity for an approach shot, drop shot, etc., and if you’re still locked into that eastern or semi-western forehand grip, guess what, opportunity lost.

So, I want you to take a few minutes this week, find some space inside at home where you’ve got enough room to swing the racket for a forehand groundstroke, and…

• practice going from a neutral position with a continental grip as if  you don’t know if your opponent is hitting you a forehand or a backhand,
• and then as you’re turning as you normally would for a forehand, switch to a full eastern, go through your forehand swing all the way to the finish position,
• and then as you come back to your ready position for the next shot, make sure you’ve switched back to that continental grip.

A lot of players hold their extreme forehand grip as their neutral grip in their ready position because that’s what they’re hoping their opponent is going to give them.

If that’s your case, and you and I are warming up for a tournament or league match, and I see you holding that grip as your neutral grip, guess what, you’ll be getting a steady diet of low slices to your forehand, especially if you don’t like to switch to a continental grip.

Check out this video…

Brent’s Recommended Lessons For This Tip:

• Grips – What Are They and When & Where On The Court Are They Used? – Click here
• Topspin Forehand Groundstroke Drive – Click here
• Customize Your Own 3 Lesson Bundle And Get a 30% Discount - Click Here
• 40% Discount On Brent’s “All Lessons Package” which includes all future lessons at no cost -
  Click here

We all strive to become better tennis players, but most of us don’t have a formula of how to effectively make changes to our game.

The easy part is to identify a problem and go get a lesson to hopefully make changes and improve.

There are lots of great teaching pros out there, but they aren’t miracle workers.

The most common missing component of making long lasting real improvement for tennis players is committing to on and off court rehearsing.

I spoke with tennis writer Joel Drucker this morning and we discussed step #4 of my soon to be released 7 step lesson on the specific sequential process for creating long lasting improvement to either a specific stroke or strategy.

Listen in…

I want some feedback from you if you’ve got 1 minute.  Please answer a few simple questions about your perceptions of what’s needed to make significant changes to your game.  Your answers can be anonymous…

Click on this link here
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Brent’s DVD & Downloadable Tennis Lessons
Discover How To Get Up To A 40% Discount On Brent’s Lessons
Tennis Injuries? – I’ve had all of them and here’s what I did to quickly self-treat and prevent another injury…
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