Hitting Zones [height adaptations]

Hitting Zones are pivotal concepts in taking tennis from a purely learning stage to a competitive stage. It facilitates rally balls to point-construction in a methodical format that becomes unique for the individual player. Without an understanding of hitting zones and height adaptations, a player will lack ability to understand and execute higher levels of play.

Let's take a deeper look at what makes each zone unique and the set of parameters required to maximize the shots in each zone. We will also discuss how to solve the status and options in each zone and what they look like.

1) Location on court (your body)

2) Balance & Positioning (your body)

3) Contact height (striking ball)

Defensive Zone + Target locations

Definition:

Outside ideal body positioning for controlling shots. Hit safe, centered and high spinning counter.

Status

1) Location on court (your body)

• We are likely off center in a difficult position to make a play. This can be laterally off the side of the court or deep behind the baseline towards the fence.

  
  

2) Balance & Positioning (your body)

• We are likely in a difficult position to keep an ideal and balanced stance. This can be on the stretch or a ball hit hard and deep towards the baseline.

3) Contact height (striking ball)

• It can be quite high, stretched laterally or digging out a low ball we are having difficulty getting to.

Options

1) Location on court (your body)

• Your tennis court boundaries have increased in length. The normal 78' (baseline to baseline) is respectively longer based upon your defensive position.

• Hit with:

  • Height (6'+ or a lob)

  • Depth (aim passed the service line, center of the court)

  • Spin (Topspin would be ideal, or underspin if you are proficient)

    
    

2) Balance & Positioning (your body)

• Keep a wide stance. This will likely end up being an open stance or closed stance if you know how to pivot the back foot at the right timing.

• Stay low and hold the position throughout the swing. Dont' life the body up too early.

• If you have to be off balance, keep your head from lifting up. This is common on difficult shots and will tend to create off-center contacts or force us to pull off of the contact point.

3) Contact height (striking ball)

• It can be quite high, stretched laterally or digging out a low ball we are having difficulty getting to.

• If we are pushed into a high or wide contact point:

  • Watch the racket angle.

  • Give it forward drive with height.

  • Add topspin.

• If we are pushed into a low contact point:

  • Decide early to use topspin or underspin (slice).

  • For topspin, accelerate the wrist up and forward for safe net clearance.

  • For underspin, keep and open racket angle for safe net clearance.

Opportunity Zone + Target locations

Definition:

Ideal body positioning for a controlling shot. Hit more aggressively causing a court-opening that allows for forward movement towards the net.

Status

1) Location on court (your body)

• We are likely somewhere between the baseline and the service line.

• Almost any ball in this zone will be an opportunity to either:

  • Move forward to the net.

  • Move back towards baseline but keep control of the point.

    
    

2) Balance & Positioning (your body)

• We should be in in an ideal or preferrable position and stance for this shot. This will vary as the opportunity zone will consist of at least half of our side of the court.

3) Contact height (striking ball)

• This can be a high, low or moderate height depending on what the opponent hit to us for this zone.

Options

1) Location on court (your body)

• Be sure we have a clear idea of what we are wanting to do with this shot.

  • Hit and keep baseline position.

    • Be sure it's an aggressively hit ball that allows us to maintain control of the point.

  • Hit and move forward to the net.

    • Follow the shot to the appropriate position at net.

      • Right in the middle - Rare unless we approach up the middle of the court.

      • 1-step right of the middle line.

      • 1-step left of the middle line.

2) Balance & Positioning (your body)

• The tennis court is now smaller as we move forward.

  • This means we must adjust the ball height to accommodate this change. We must:

    • Lower the height of the shot.

    • Hit through the contact point for depth and pace.

    • Keep plenty of spin on the ball.

      
      

3) Contact height (striking ball)

• This can be a high, low or moderate height depending on what they opponent hit to us for this zone.

  • If we are given a high contact point:

    • Take your time, you already have control over the point.

    • Use the time to setup the body in the ideal striking position.

    • Body weight forward on the strike.

  • If we are given a low contact point:

    • Decide early to use topspin or underspin (slice).

    • For topspin, accelerate the wrist more forward than up as the court has shrunk by 20-35%.

    • For underspin, keep the ball low, driving and deep into the court. This will allow maintaining of point control.

  • If we are given an ideal contact point:

    • You can try to take time away by taking the ball earlier.

    • Body weight forward on the strike.

    • Definitely come to net.

  
  

Offensive Zone + Target locations

Definition:

Offensive body positioning for a controlling or point-finishing shot. Hit aggressively causing a court-opening or forced error to finish the point.

Status

1) Location on court (your body)

• Likely on the Service line or inside the Service boxes.

• Almost any ball in this zone will be an opportunity to either:

  • Finish the point.

  • Force an error.

    
    

2) Balance & Positioning (your body)

• Most of these shots will be in ideal positioning and balance.

• Unless the opponent hits a very good defensive shot.

3) Contact height (striking ball)

• This can be a high, low or moderate height depending on what the opponent hit to us for this zone.

Options

1) Location on court (your body)

• Have a clear idea of what we are wanting to do with this shot. Finish the point or force an error.

  • Balls should be hit in a target area that:

    • Gives you a point-finishing next shot.

    • Finishes the point outright.

      
      

2) Balance & Positioning (your body)

• Most of these shots will be in ideal positioning and balance.

  • Stay calm and execute:

    • It doesn't have to be perfect. A winner and a forced error are both equal to 1 point.

    • Be conscious of what you hit and if you will need a follow-up shot.

    • Stay alert as the opponent could surprise you.

      
      

3) Contact height (striking ball)

• This can be a high, low or moderate height depending on what the opponent hit to us for this zone.

  • When at the net, if we are given a high contact point:

    • Don't take a big backswing, place the necessary shot, not a forceful shot.

  • When at the net, if we are given a low contact point:

    • Understand that if you have a low contact you will need to play smart then you can look for the opportunity on the next shot.

    • Open the racket angle for a safe and deep volley to your opponent.

    • It could be an option for a drop volley depending on the ball speed.

    • Don't force a shot that is risky.

  • When at the net, if we are given an ideal contact point:

    • Play a smart volley to the open court, don't over do it with a swing or follow-through.

    • Body weight forward on the strike. Get a solid cross-over step on your volley.

    • Move forward with confidence.

We come back to the portion from above:

This is an opponent specific situation. This means that different caliber of players are able to do unexpected or create opportunities contradictory to following the above parameters. Some examples of this:

1. Nadal's forehand on the run.

   1. He can be on an unbelievable stretch with the opponent surely thinking he's won the point. Then somehow a forehand winner from Nadal's strings.

2. Djokovic's 2-handed backhand on the stretch.

   1. In the last 15 years we have seen Djokovic come up with shots on the full backhand stretch that were 100% defense and turned into offense.

3. Fernando González and Juan Martin Del Potro and the rocket forehands.

   1. We saw Fernando hit some forehands with jetstream behind them. He absolutely obliterated forehands from positions that were normally supposed to be defense.

4. At all levels of tennis, we face opponents who may excel at particular shot-making or a specific shot in a particular position.

   1. We take a look at what they excel at and we must try to adapt the parameters around that specific opponent. Therefore to not give them something they would prefer.

There are many more, but these are to name a few. Follow the parameters above and make tennis:

• Simple

• Logical

• Process oriented

You will achieve far greater results and contentment with the game.