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On The Line

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Caversham Park Tennis Club

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The Question Cave

Welcome to the Question Cave. Many have passed this way to consult the tennis oracle. If you click on the questions they left behind, you may catch an echo of the oracle's reply! . . . .

		Serving . . .
		Why do commentators go on and on about first serve percentages?
		How can I stop burying my serves and overheads in the net?
		How can I get more power on my serve?
		What is a topspin serve and how do you do it?
		How high should the ball be when you hit it?
		How can I make my toss more reliable?
		How can I beef up my spin serve?
		My serve is too predictable. What can I do?
		How do I master a basic service action?
		How can I get more topspin on my serve?
		My serve keeps going long. How can I fix it?
		What is pronation? I don't know if I'm doing it right?
		My game is ruined by double faults! What can I do?
		How do you jump properly when you serve?
		How do I set my racket so that my serve is more than a push?
		Should I use a pinpoint stance like the top pros?
		The wind-up on my serve is too fast. How can I slow it down?
		I'm too static when I serve. How can I correct this?
		Is it a bigger problem to hit serves in the net than long?

		Returning . . .
		How can I improve my return of a wide slice serve?
		How do you return a really big serve?
		How can I improve my reaction time on returns of serve?
		What grip should I use for my returns?
		How do you return a wide slice lefty serve in the ad court?

		Groundstrokes (general) . . .
		How do you hit with topspin?
		How come I do all the running when we're both at the baseline?
		How can I really bury those short high balls?
		Where should I aim my passing shots?
		How do you hit passing shots on the run?
		How do you avoid hitting short when you use topspin?
		How can I avoid overhitting when I get a real sitter?
		Should I pass crosscourt or down the line?
		What's the best way of hitting a lob?
		How early should I take my racket back for groundstrokes?
		How do you hold the racket?
		I hit a lot of shots off-balance. How can I improve this?
		How can I get more power without radically changing my technique?
		How do you hit down the line?
		How do you hit groundstrokes on the rise?
		How do you hit drop shots?
		What height should the ball be when I hit my groundstrokes?
		Is it really possible to watch the ball right onto the racket?
		What's the best type of approach shot?

		Groundstrokes (forehand) . . .
		Can you tell me how to play a basic forehand, as I'm new to tennis?
		How can I stop dumping my forehands in the net?
		I want a cleaner hit on my forehand. Should I change my western grip?
		What should you do with the non-racket hand when you play a forehand?
		Can you give me some tips on hitting the forehand slice?
		How can I stop missing easy putaways?
		Should my weight be on my front leg on the follow through?
		I have a closed stance forehand. How can I improve accuracy and power?

		Groundstrokes (backhand) . . .
		How can I hit a more powerful backhand without sending the ball out?
		How can I stop my whole game going to pot when my backhand won't fire?
		How can I hit my backhand slice with more pace?
		I'm having trouble playing my double-hander on the run. Should I change to a one-handed backhand?
		How can I stop my sliced backhand sailing out?
		How can I improve my two-handed backhand?
		How do you deal with a high ball to the backhand?
		What's better - a one-handed or a two-handed backhand?
		I want to keep my backhand approach shot low, but how do you do it?
		I only have a slice backhand. Should I learn to play a two-hander?

		Volley and smash . . .
		Why can't I control my backhand volleys?
		How can I stop swinging on my volley?
		I don't seem to reach wide volleys. Why?
		How can I really put the ball away with my smash?
		I volley well in practice. Why do I lose control in matches?
		Why is my racket always in the wrong place when I'm at the net?
		Why do I always put low volleys in the net?
		How do you hit a successful half volley?
		Can you suggest how I could practice playing drop volleys?
		What is a split-step and when should I use it?
		How do you volley a ball aimed straight at your body?
		I normally volley ok. Why do I make so many errors when I follow my serve in?
		Why do I struggle to get behind the ball for my smash?
		How can I put a bit more bite into my forehand volleys?

		General tactics . . .
		What is meant by 'the big points'? What are they?
		Why do I always lose when it's windy?
		How can I make my steady baseline game less predictable?

		Singles tactics . . .
		What is meant by playing the percentages in singles?
		How can I dominate a groundstroke rally without making errors?
		How can I find a player's weaknesses quickly?
		How do you wrong foot your opponent?
		How can I break serve against a strong server?
		How do you beat a "hacker"?
		What can I do to avoid people exploiting my weak backhand?
		Why is my game successful against some players and not others?
		How do you play a topspin slugger?
		Why do I always have trouble against net-rushers?
		How should I play a big-hitter?
		When is the right time to try a drop shot?
		It doesn't work when I change my game to play a moonballer. What do I do?

		Doubles tactics . . .
		What are the the basic principles of good doubles?
		Can I serve in a way that helps my partner intercept returns?
		Is it my job to guard the tramlines when my partner serves?
		Where should I aim my shots in doubles (when it's not obvious)?
		How often should I try to pass the net player with my return in doubles?
		What is my role as receiver's partner?
		How can I react better when a net player poaches (and avoid getting hit)?
		Where should I aim my returns?
		Can you suggest some hand signals to use when poaching returns?
		Where should I move when my partner is dragged out of court?
		Why shouldn't I look back at my partner while he is hitting the ball?
		Can I try to distract my opponents by moving when my partner's serving or receiving?
		What is the "I" formation?
		What do we do when our opponents start lobbing?
		Where should you aim your serves when you use "Australian" formation?

		Footwork, exercise & movement . . .
		I get to drop shots OK, but why can't I control the shot?
		What exactly is "good footwork"?
		I took up tennis recently but I tire quickly. How can I improve my stamina?
		How can I avoid getting injured all the time?
		Can you recommend footwork practices other than line drills?
		Can you recommend some abdominal exercises?

		Mental . . .
		People say I self-destruct. What can I do about it?
		How can I stop my bad temperament hurting my game?
		I keep losing. How do you cope with a bad run of results?
		How do you play the big points?
		The harder I try the worse I get. How come?
		When the top pros talk about focusing well, what do they mean?
		What should I look for in my opponent's body language?
		On big points, something always tells me I'm going to double-fault. What can I do about it?
		My intensity level goes up and down when I play. How can I control it?

		Other . . .
		I need more power. Should I have my racket strung tighter?
		Can you learn from watching tennis on TV?
		I wasn't sure about a call and suggested we replay the point. My opponent accused me of cheating. Was he right?
		How can I avoid blisters on my feet?
		I'm returning to tennis after a 10 year break. How do I pick from all these new rackets?
		Please explain the tennis scoring system
		What are the dimensions of an official tennis court?
		How do I become a professional tennis player?
		How do I know which grip size I need?
		Are heavy rackets better than light ones?
		What can I do about tennis elbow?
		Where do you put lead tape on a racket?
		My game is going nowhere. Should I change my coach?
		Should I partner my boyfriend in mixed doubles?

Dave 'Caveman' Winship

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