Coaching Tips - February 2007
Getting the Advantage in Windy Conditions
Windy conditions are every tennis player’s nightmare. It can turn anybody into a Sunday afternoon hack playing havoc with your ball toss, your footwork, your hitting stance and your concentration. Use these tips to become a master of playing with the wind…or join up at a club with indoor courts!
Warm up into the wind
Warm up in the worst of the conditions. Use your practice time acclimatising with the wind in your face. This may give you a crucial advantage early in the match as your opponent has to adjust during the game.
Play a psychological game…
As you change ends consider informing your opponent that conditions are more than a little tricky. Say it in a friendly way – “it sure is hard to serve down that end!” It may just get them thinking and therefore exaggerating the effect of the wind.
Use the cross breeze
Generally speaking the wind will not be straight up and down the court. It usually blows to some degree across the court as well. Angle your shots to take advantage of the wind, this will push them further into the corners and weaken their returns.
Topspin with the wind
With the wind at your back exaggerate topspin! Still take a full swing but add more topspin. It can be a tendency to start “pushing” with the wind but this will only lead to more problems.
Drive the ball hard into the wind
Conversely take a little topspin off if hitting into the wind. Imagine you are running up into the wind…you need that little more grunt. Lean forwards and try to get your full weight into the ball to prevent it dropping too short.
Take the wind out of play by attacking the net
By attacking the net you are giving the ball less distance to travel and therefore less time to misbehave. The short backswing on volleys may also help reduce the margin for error in windy conditions. Remember to always attack behind a strong shot, simply being at the net is not an advantage – especially with today’s racquets and slow court surfaces be 75% in control of the net when you approach.
Serve well
While this is true in any conditions serving well is particularly important in windy conditions. You are in control…wait until the gust dies down so you are in control of your ball toss. Hit with good margin for error and let them worry about the ball changing course mid path.
Drop shot into the breeze (but not with it)
Drop shots can be low percentage but if you get the opportunity play your drop shots into the breeze to exaggerate the effect of pulling your opponent forwards.
Don’t trust your 1st instinct
It seems that it is the talented, “instinctive” players who suffer the most when conditions are windy. This may be because they take their eye off the ball a moment early and don’t make the necessary adjustments needed in the wind. When it is windy don’t trust your 1st instincts and watch the ball to the last second and be prepared to make late corrections.
Nobody can honestly say they enjoy playing in windy conditions, but if you adopt a positive attitude and let the wind work for you and not against you - a crucial mental advantage will be gained.
This months coaching tip is bought to you by Global Sports Coaching.
For the largest collection of tennis drills, tennis articles, tips, coaching advice, fitness drills and exercises, lesson plans, resources, global coaches tennis chat forum and much more visit Global Sports Coaching!
Coaching Tips Archive
January 2007 Tip - Play the right shot at the right time.
February 2007 Tip - Getting the Advantage in Windy Conditions
March 2007 Tip - Take the ball at the top of its bounce
