Cat and Mouse
by
To master the game of tennis, you must learn to hit sound shots and move quickly to the
ball, there’s really very little else. But the real time connection between moving
and hitting may be difficult to learn. Not the verbal ability to describe how to move,
most of us can do that but training the body to know how it feels, that is something else.
One of my favorite drills is cat and mouse, named after my cat Alex who liked to
practice his own particular blood sport. Alex was playful, harmless, and rarely killed the
little animals she captured. But once a mouse was cornered the fun (for Alex) began. Alex
would crouch, ready to pounce, then wait silently. The mouse, with no escape routes, would
eventually move and Alex would bat it back into the corner, ready to replay this game
again and again. Always Alex would wait for the mouse to move. Never would Alex move
first, never was Alex slow to move, and never was Alex off balance.
stand to close to the net and
the ball will get to your partner
too quickly so if he returns it,
you won't have time to respond |
Cat and Mouse is a great way to practice timing the split step and develop the cat like
quickness to move to the ball. For Cat and Mouse, position yourself on the service line
with your hitting partner on the opposite service line (if you stand to close to the net
the ball will get to your partner to quickly so if he returns it, you will not have time
to respond). Now try to keep the ball in play with volleys. The game is quick, requires
balance and timing, and because the drill is live the split step will be naturally
promoted. The game is all about balance and anticipation. The Cat and Mouse metaphor is an
excellent model that captures the feeling of waiting, moving, and then hitting. If you are
not balanced and waiting you will be slow to the ball, In a sense, the mouse will have
escaped The specific qualities of the cat and mouse predicament offer great visual
pictures, simple training models, and challenging drills.
As a player, I have been on both sides of this game. Years before I came to understand
cat and mouse, I can remember matches where I was totally frustrated, feeling cornered,
having no options, and always wondering why. Now I realize, my opponent had controlled me,
maneuvered me into a corner, and then waited for my move (shot) to which he quickly and
easily responded. These days I much prefer being the cat. Knowing when to move. Feeling
you can get to everything. Cornering your opponent. It's fun to be the cat. |
