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Stop and squash
As my Little Tennis students move from hitting stationary groundstrokes to hitting on the move, I find it is difficult to get them to stop and set their feet. They invariably either run into the ball or spin around as they move through it. I used to get blue in the face telling them to stop before they hit. Now, to teach them to stop and set their feet the proper distance from the ball, I have come up with a simple and fun exercise.
• Start by having the class form a single-file line on the service “T.” (Always have the other students in line give the first person plenty of room.)
• After first demonstrating the drill, the instructor sits cross legged at the net about halfway between the singles and center lines.
• The instructor rolls the ball easily about three or four steps in front of the first student in line.
• The first hitter (holding the racquet frying-pan style) runs to the ball and attempts to “squash” it with the racquet. She should hold the ball sandwiched between the court and the racquet until the instructor tells her it is OK to kick the ball away.
• Go through this exercise for three or four rounds and then have them hit a “normal” feed, reminding them to stop just as they did when they were squashing the ball.
There are many benefits to doing this drill: footwork, visual acuity, balance and distance judgment. All will benefit from this fun and enjoyable drill.
Richard Katz, USPTA
Barnegat, N.J.
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