A Guide For Players...

The Balance Move

With every contact move there is also a relevant balance move which is crucial for balance on contact and helps define each contact move.

A balance move is the use of a knee, leg, foot or feet while making contact with the ball. Selection of a balance move will depend on intention of shot i.e. hitting the ball down the line, through the middle or across-court.

Note: The same contact move can also have a different balance move depending on the height of the ball.

1.) Knee Up

2.) Back-knee drop

3.) Inside-knee drop

4.) Kick back-foot kicks behind body towards side fence
               
5.) Leg curl-heel kicks up towards butt

6.) Mogul step-shift sideways, brake with inside foot & push off inside foot

Therefore the reason for missing a shot is not just a poor grip or swing!

In fact there are many reasons a mistake might be made when playing tennis. And, as footwork coach it is important that the correct reason for the mistake be identified (though it might be a combination of reasons).

Many coaches are very swing orientated (i.e. wrong grip, turned racket face up or down, not enough spin on the ball etc …..and this EXTREMELY IMPORTANT but they also need to think about other causes of errors.

These could include-

• Poor footwork i.e. got too close to the ball or are reaching for the ball, didn’t split step etc.. 
• Wrong stance i.e. feet are too close, too narrow, too closed or too open etc.. 
• Wrong contact move i.e. the wrong shot selection, selected the wrong move on the wrong ball etc.. 
• Bad contact point i.e. contacted to high, too low, too late, too early etc… 
• Lost balance i.e. no use of the non hitting arm, wrong balance move by the non hitting leg, fell off the shot, poor body alignment etc..
  Didn’t watch the ball i.e. miss hit the ball, looked at the target instead of the ball, lifted the head etc.. 
• Mental error i.e. got nervous, lost focus, made a low percentage shot selection 

All the above can and will be reasons for missing a shot, and it is important that coaches have a great understanding of footwork so they can be more complete when assessing!

A player can have perfect footwork and miss a shot and also have a perfect swing and miss a shot because they are not positioned properly.

Many times I ask my players….”Do you think your missed shot was footwork? Shot selection, balance, swing or contact point error?”

…..It is really important that our players UNDERSTAND & FEEL why they missed and know the difference between the discussed points above!!!

In my Player's Guide Book I discuss these points with Jarmila Gajdosova  who is from Slovakia.  She started training with me in March 2005 when she was ranked 300 and at the time of this interview in January 2006, she had risen to 100 and by October 2006 was ranked 67. 

Jarmila explains how and where she practices in preparation for tournaments and prior to a game and gives lots of hints and ideas on how to practice, different kinds of resistance equipment to use and how to develop speed and strength that will add to your confidence. She emphasises the value of working with a coach who fully understands The Bailey Method and the importance of working together as a team and the importance of developing good communication between you.  Click here to read more...