SD Newsletter Fall 2011 final.indd - USPTA divisions - United States ...

Second Serves Should Not Find Your
Backhand
By Mark Centrella, USPTA
In most levels of play, second serves do not strike
fear into opponents. They are typically hit with a
slower motion and as a result do not have as much
pace or spin. Returners should take full advantage.
Each player has a stronger side off the ground that
they prefer. Most prefer forehands. In a case where
a right handed player strongly prefers their forehand
over their backhand, this player should cheat over to
the left as far as possible when preparing to receive
a second serve. “How far?” one might ask. In most
cases they can stand one step away from the center of
the court on the Deuce side and straddle the doubles
sideline on the Ad side. This leaves virtually no
room for their opponent to fi nd their weaker side.
With a weak second serve, there is no need to worry
about getting burned by standing over so far, even if
the player telegraphs what they are doing very early.
There may be the occasional, lucky serve out wide
on the Deuce side, or down the “T” on the Ad side
– but chances are, your opponent is going to hit you
a cupcake that you your forehand will devour time
after time.
Volley “In Front of the Wall” and “Above
the Table”
By Mark Centrella, USPTA
When instructing the basics of the volley, beginners
constantly fi ght the temptation to swing. This implies
that they are bringing the racquet back behind them
on the backswing and following through below their
waist. To encourage a more compact volley, tell your
player to pretend that there is a wall touching their
back and that there is a table in front of them that is
the same height as their waist. Whenever they are
volleying at the net, they should do their best not
to touch the wall with their backswing and not to
TENNIS TIPS
touch the table on their follow through. The concept of
not touching the table will remain even on low volleys.
Since a player must bend their knees on a low volley, their
waist (and imaginary table) will naturally be lower as well.
Once your beginner students make a habit of volleying
“in front of the wall” and “above the table” they will gain
confi dence and will be more inclined to more freely rush
towards that scary obstacle that always seems to get in
their way – the net!
Mark Centrella is a Past President and current Head
Tester for Middle States. He is the Director of Racquet
Sports at the Greenville Country Club in Wilmington, DE.
Membership News
New Members:
Kyle Bowman (San Diego), Jesus Cardoso Jr. (Chula
Vista), Julie Fairchild (Cardiff), Onnaca Heron (Palm
Springs), David Norvell (San Diego), Nikola Ojdanic
(San Diego), Stacy Schrader (San Diego), and Sangsoo
Sou (La Jolla)
Reinstatements:
Erick Collas (Palm Desert), Isabel Collas (Palm Desert),
Derek Kelly ( San Diego), and Barbara Wintroub (Palm
Desert)
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