Ken Dehart - TennisDrills TV

Three Ways to Improve Your Net Reaction Time

Many players fear then net because they do not think they have fast enough reactions to be effective there. Ignoring this deficiency in ones game will lead to a lot of problems down the road. In this video, Ken DeHart discusses 3 ways to improve your net reaction time.

1) Fast Gun: For this tip, the player holds their racket at the throat with their non-hitting hand and taps their hip twice with their hitting hand. Then they grab the racket with their hitting hand and execute a volley. This is repeated several times until the player gets quicker and more comfortable with it. If done properly, it looks like they are drawing a gun out of a holster.

2) Superman (or Superwoman): For this tip, the player puts both hands up and in front of them (like superman flying through the air). While in this position, the pro feeds the player a volley and the player lowers their racket and executes a volley and then goes back into the superman pose.

3) Disappearing Racket: For this tip, the player uses their non-hitting hand and takes the racket completely behind their back and then to the front again in time to hit a volley with their hitting hand off the incoming ball

This drill is effective I teaching players to move their hands forward (not backwards) when they volley. It teaches them that they have more time than they think while requiring them to actually prepare earlier, before the ball even reaches them as opposed to waiting for the ball to get on top of them.

After the player does all three skills, it is best to challenge them by having them do all three skills together. This is an effective way to teach players how to react faster at the net while having fun.

Ken DeHart - TennisDrills TV

Ken DeHart and Jorge Capestany are both Master Professionals with the PTR and the USPTA. Together they have published a DVD titled Corrective Techniques and Myth Busters. The DVD can be purchased on Ken’s website at: www.kendeharttennis.com

Jorge Capestany is the Founder of www.tennisdrills.tv - a video based website that shows more than 780 videos of tennis drills and tips.