Don’t Watch The Ball. Huh?

When the ball is coming toward you, watch it as if your life depends on it. If the wind is blowing, it may well curve a couple of feet in its flight path toward you. If it is spinning, it may add even more movement to the arc of its flight. 

Then there's the bounce! Once again, spin of some sort (either intentional or from a mis-hit) will alter the rebound off of the court and betray the mental picture of where you should be set up to make your stroke. 

This part of the rally sequence has to be adhered to zealously if you have any expectation of hitting solid, high-quality shots!! 

Then there's the other part of the rally sequence!  

I'm going to tell you to NOT WATCH THE BALL! 

Once the ball leaves your racket and you have finished your follow-through completely, your eyes should go immediately to the opponent to ascertain the effect of your shot on their position and balance. 

Stay bouncy and light on your feet as you are watching them set up to hit and then split step as their moment of contact is imminent. Yes, you heard me, DON'T WATCH THE BALL as it's in flight toward the opponent!! WATCH THE OPPONENT!  

As the match progresses you will instinctively pick up cues as to their shot selection, and once you have an inkling of where they are prone to play in each situation, your ability to arrive at the ball well-prepared and in balance is turbocharged. 

The key ideas to remember are to never take your eyes off of the ball when it's coming toward you and to watch the opponent after you have sent the ball in their direction. 

 YOU DON'T ALWAYS WATCH THE BALL!! 

Howie Burnett is a USPTA Elite Level Professional with over 50 years of coaching experience. Before accepting the Tennis Director position at the Island Country Club in 1998, he operated the Net Advantage Tennis Club management company and concurrently served for 10 years as Head Coach of the USTA Training Center for elite-level Juniors in Central Massachusetts and New Hampshire. Howie was inducted into the United States Professional Tennis Association New England Hall of Fame in 2016.He is currently teaching part-time on the Tennis Staff at the Marco Island YMCA. His Book --NET NOTES (common sense ideas to lift your game) is available on amazon.com. You may contact him with tennis questions or lesson inquiries athb10s@me.com or text at 239-450-0226.