TennisOne Lessons

Ball Control - Height

Wayne Elderton

As I have said repeatedly throughout this series, no matter your level, success in tennis really comes down to one simple thing: “making the little round yellow fuzzy thing go where you want it to.” Manipulating the ball is the essence of the game.

In the last installment (Ball Control – Win with Spin), we learned that spin creates specific ball trajectories. Height was definitely part of the spin equation. In this article, we will further explore how controlling the height is a key to successful tennis play.

Height and Tactics

Tennis is just like any other game, tactics are required to win. Learning the tactics of winning tennis is the advantage of the Game-based approach (see my first article on Tennis One: “Are you Learning to Play the Game-based way”).

Here are a few key tactical tennis concepts and how controlling height is critical to performing them well.

Consistency: The number one tactic for tennis success is consistency. The nature of the game is such that unforced errors gain players more points than good shots. This is true for all but the very top levels of play.

Tactically speaking, height is a major aspect of consistency. Because of the physical characteristics of the court and the game (putting a ball over a barrier and into an area marked by boundaries), controlling height is critical. For example, in a baseline rally (beginner to advanced players), up to 75% of all errors are into the net! Clearing the net becomes even more of a challenge on serves.

I am convinced the reasons players hit the net so often are two-fold:

1. From the baseline, players can’t see any of the court over the net.

2. You can see through the net.

In other words, all their visual aiming to targets on the other side happens through the net. Basically, your mind says the net is not there. There are even very useful teaching aids that cover the net to ‘re-train’ the brain. It is amazing how quickly a player changes the height and arc of the ball when the net becomes opaque. Let’s face it, if tennis was invented with a three foot high brick wall rather than a net, wouldn’t you feel like a fool constantly hitting the ball into it?

Height/time Connection: Height is the main way to control time. For example, for good defense, you can give yourself more time by increasing height. When attacking, you can take away an opponent’s time by hitting lower (just make sure to clear the net).

Challenging an Opponent’s Impact: Height can also be used to challenge an opponent’s impact. The ideal height to strike a ball is between chest and knees. Opponents' can be challenged by keeping it out of their preferred "strike zone." For example, put the ball low, at the feet of an opponent at net or, high over their heads. Rafael Nadal had success at this year's French Open by consistently playing the ball high to Roger Federer's backhand.

Tactical/Technical Connection

Too often tennis becomes a purely technical pursuit for players and coaches. However, achieving the perfect biomechanical forehand isn’t useful if one can’t do anything with it tactically.

This series of articles was written to outline the tools needed for a Game-Based Approach. Typical lessons teach players mechanics, but not how to play the game. This is called "isolated" technical instruction. The movements learned don’t directly connect to the tactics of winning.

So what is the connection? In tennis, you should learn technique that helps you perform tactics (like controlling height). That is what tennis technique is supposedly for. Tennis is not played so people can follow-through, it is played to win. All the techniques learned should help players win more (or lose less).

In traditional instruction, the coach’s job was complete once you could mimic the stroke (“who cares how you play as long as you exhibit proper technique). How often have you heard a player come off the court saying, "I should have won, I had much better strokes."

Traditional coaching advice on height control just adds to the frustration. Tips like "bend your knees" and "follow-through higher" don’t directly deal with the realities of height control. So what does directly determine the height of the ball?

Technique for Height Control

As mentioned in the other articles of this series, all of the five Ball Controls (Height, Direction, Distance, Speed, Spin) are determined by the PAS principles. This is the technique needed to control the ball. PAS stands for the Path, Angle, and Speed of the racquet through the impact.

Each spin has it’s own PAS to control height:

Flat Shots: Flat shots can be hit with any height and trajectory. Simultaneously opening the racquet face and increasing the steepness of the low-to-high path of the racquet will send the ball higher. Conversely, closing the face to make it more vertical, and decreasing the steepness of the racquet path, will lower the height. For example, on a shoulder height drive, the racquet path can be leveled out and the face kept vertical.

Topspin Shots: Topspin shots are best for arced trajectories and are not practical for straight or downward trajectories. Increasing the steepness of the upward path of the racquet (while keeping the speed constant) will send the ball higher. Decreasing the steepness of the racquet path will lower the height. Increasing the speed (if the racquet angle and path remain constant) will also increase the height.

Remember, if the speed is increased, more spin will result. The ball will go initially higher but will travel in a more exaggerated arc and therefore, land shorter. Decreasing the speed will lower the height.

Underspin Shots: Underspin shots can be hit with any height and trajectory. Height control on underspin shots is a little more tricky than for flat or topspin. Increasing the steepness of the downward path will lower the height. Decreasing the steepness of the downward path of the racquet (leveling out more), without varying the speed, will send the ball higher. Closing the racquet face (without varying the speed) will also lower the height. Opening the racquet face will increase the height.

If the racquet path and angle remain constant, decreasing the racquet speed will allow the open racquet angle to influence the ball more, lifting it higher. Increasing the racquet speed will cause the downward path of the racquet to influence the ball more, sending it lower.

Height Control Drills

Practicing height control pays good dividends towards improving play. Players will often put targets down on the court to practice depth and direction but height is all too often ignored.

The best tool I know to practice height control is the “Air Zone” from OncourtOffcourt. It is a bright yellow cord that can be hooked to poles easily fastened to the net posts. The height is variable so multiple scenarios and drills can be created.

When practicing tactics, it is important to include decision-making. Knowing when to perform a tactic is just as important as knowing how to hit it.

Baseline Higher/Lower Drill

This is a baseline exchange drill for practicing rallying or pressuring opponents.

Set the Air Zone wire at about three feet over the net (a good height for deep penetrating rally shots). Start with a rally shot over the wire. Both players should try to keep their shots over the wire to push each other back. Before they hit each shot, the player receiving the ball should call “Higher” to indicate they intend to send a higher shot over the wire. If the ball lands shorter, the player receiving the shorter shot should call “Lower” to indicate they will now aim under the wire and level off the shot to take time away and pressure the opponent.

Baseline Height/Time Drill

This is a baseline exchange drill for learning the Height/Time connection.

Player #1 starts with a ‘friendly’ shot to a partner on the far side. Once the player hits the ball they start counting (e.g. “One tennis, two tennis, three tennis,” etc.). When their ball lands, they stop. This gives a reference for the time the shots are in flight. Typical rallies are “3’s,” a hard level drive may be a 2, or even a 1. A higher lob may be a 5.

To play the game, the player must call what they intend to hit. If a player has to run to the side, they should hit a 4 to give recovery time. If they get a weak ball, they should hit a 2 to drive it to the open court. Neutral rallies should be a 3. Play out the point and award one point for winning, but either player can get a bonus point for making the right height decision. First to 7 wins.

Volley Higher/Lower Drill

This drill is designed to help players at the net select when to add power to their volley or when to go for accuracy. It also helps the "passers" practice keeping their shots low.

For this drill, set the Air Zone wire about one foot over the net. The volleyer starts the drill by sending a "friendly’" shot to either corner of the passer's court. The passer then tries to pass the volleyer by keeping the shot lower than the wire (no lobs allowed). If the passer’s shot comes higher than the wire, the volleyer should call “Power” to indicate they intend to pounce on the ball and go for a power volley. If the ball comes lower than the wire, the volleyer should call “Place” to indicate they intend to hit a precision shot to the sides. After the volley, continue to play out the point.

Volley “Cat and Mouse”

This drill also helps players select when to add power to their volley or when to go for accuracy but it is more oriented for doubles. It can be played with four players, or with two (on a ½ width doubles court).

Players start at their respective servicelines. The feeder puts the ball into play to the feet of the opponent. The objective is to move in and pounce on any ball above the net (be a Cat). If the ball is received below net level, being a cat is too risky, more accuracy is required (be a Mouse). The Mouse should try to place shots at the feet of their opponents to prevent them from being a Cat. Players "mouse" each other until the ball floats high and someone can become a cat. Play out the point. First to 7 wins.

We will continue this series by looking at the final ball control of Distance in the next installment. Mastering ball control is the best way to be in control on the tennis court.

Your comments are welcome. Let us know what you think about Wayne Elderton's article by emailing us here at TennisOne.

Wayne Elderton

Wayne is the Head Course Conductor for Tennis Canada Coaching Certification in British Columbia. He is a certified Canadian national level 4 coach and a PTR Professional. For two consecutive years he was runner-up for Canadian national development coach-of-the-year out of nominated coaches from every sport. Wayne has also been selected as Tennis BC High Performance Coach-of-the-year.

Wayne is currently Tennis Director at the Grant Connell Tennis Center in North Vancouver. He has written coaching articles and materials for Tennis Canada, the PTR, Tennis Australia , and the ITF. He is a national expert on the Game-based Approach.

For more information on the Game-based approach, you can visit Wayne Elderton's website at www.acecoach.com