here are seven New Year resolutions that you may consider to raise your game on new plateau.
1) Will retool my trade. My forehand stance is still in the sixties. I will change it to open stance for more control and power. My racket is old as well and will buy a new one. I just can’t cling to a system that does not work anymore. Will always remember that tennis is a dynamic sport. Modernize so I can optimize.
2) Will check out the law of probability. The law of probability will teach me that you should not hit the ball deep all the time. This is why tennis today puts too much emphasis on ball spin because it keeps the ball land safely inside the court. I know the probability that my flat
ball (less spin) will sail beyond the baseline is higher than I hit it with topspin. Also the probability that my ball will be more out than in is greater if I try placing the ball closer to the line.
3) Will read the physics of tennis more. One thing about the physics of tennis is that serve must be hit up. I am missing my serve to the net because I am not doing this lest it will go up. I realize the pronation of my hand after impact will create a spin that will naturally drive the ball to go down. The reason why most players including big servers hit the net when serving is because they hit down instead of hitting up.
4) Will empty my brain of debunked myths. I will start the year by emptying my cerebrum with tennis information that is absolutely obsolete. They do not only clog my brain arteries. They also confuse my game. For instance, instructions such as stay down with the ball, put racket back early, hit the ball early, etc. are now modern day fallacies.
5) Will keep my game simple. Tennis is a natural sport. The movement is simple and uncomplicated. Tennis originally started as a hand game where the angle of the palm of the hand determines the direction of the ball. With the modern day tennis, the angle of the racket points to the placement of the ball. For my volley shot, I will remember that I should do it with my hand and not with my body
6) Will study court geometry. The length of the court is 78 feet from baseline to baseline. The ball speed that started from the baseline is reduced by 60 percent when it reaches the other baseline. And therefore there is no reason for me to rush the shot or get rattled. If I hit a drop shot that lands on the service box and then lob my opponent back to the baseline, he has to run 78 feet to retrieve the ball. It only shows how I can use the dimension of the court to my advantage.
7) Will work on my physical fitness. Contrary to popular understanding, tennis does not make me physically fit. I have to be physically fit to play the game. Otherwise, I will never enjoy it. And worst, it may injure me to retirement. First thing next year, I will consult a fitness pro to design me a tennis-related fitness program.
Happy New Year to all!
