Podcast #196: Mini Tennis Essentials
November 15, 2011
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No matter what you’ve been told or currently think short court hitting is NOT just for beginners! In this episode of the podcast I explain exactly why mini tennis should be part of your practice or match warm up routine and how to best execute it, both in terms of targets and technique. Start using short court today for better rhythm and technique!
Please! Do a whole podcast on the split step. Thanks
I am a big fan, already. This series of instructions just adds to my belief! John
“Any fool can hit the ball hard, it takes skill to control it.” I cannot remember where this quote comes from but your podcast reaffirms it. I was very flattered to have been mentioned as an attendee in California. The pleasure was mine and I would thoroughly recommend your clinics to any true tennis enthusiast!
Ian,
many thanks for that podcast. Sorry it took so long, but I finally got around to listening to it, and I ‘m really glad I did. You do a superb job, as always. I look forward to those videos of top players doing minicourt.
Here’s the link you sent me for that 2008 podcast, wherein you mention minicourt. I find it a great podcast for a great many reasons!
http://essentialtennis.com/podcast/taking-lessons/20/50/
Another minicourt drill is cross-court and down the line. One player always hits cross court, the other always down the line. Then you switch. It’s a cooperative drill. Not easy. Very advanced.
Bob C.
Toronto
This really is a great warmup and it’s amazing how rarely you see it before actual matches. I play 4.0 USTA singles and my opponents always run straight to the baseline. Of course, 90% of them are pushers and/or junkballers, but I’m going to start making more of an effort to make them play mini tennis as a warmup.
Hi, thanks for the mini-tennis podcast. I always start with it. I have a two-handed backhand and comfortable to do mini-tennis with it. It is slow, controlled with a nice swing. But I have a hard time doing the same with my forehand. I am fine with blocking it or pushing the ball over, but not doing the full slow forehand swing. I feel that my racket is too long for my forehand mini-tennis. I wish I could play with my palm
. What can I improve? Thanks!
It never fails that when I just jump into hitting the full length of the court, I just have a bad day. It feels like I never get my rhythm, and I just have a huge number of unforced errors. I also use this time to get into really looking at the ball all the way through the contact point. If I do this during short court, everything else just flows a lot easier.
Bag Check? I’ve got a set of the low compression balls that I use for short court. With these balls you can swing through at a bit more like normal speed, and still keep the mini point going. Available, of course, at Tennis Express (http://www.tennisexpress.com/PENN-QST-36-Foam-3-Tennis-Balls-18249).
Great Podcast, the best part about a podcast is if you don’t like what your hearing you can turn it off….
That being said, great way to warm up before doing some baseline hitting. I find that doing some mini tennis warm ups helps my eyes adjust to timing and position of the ball. Making my groundies later that much easier.
Well done podcast!
Thanks, Ian. Mini tennis has always been a lot more difficult for me than doing ground strokes, and I wondered why. Now I realize it’s probably because I need a lot more work on my control and rhythm, and for that matter, split steps. Thanks!
Don,
You’ve got it, now start working it into your normal routine!
Hi Ian,
Just wanted to say thank you!
I enjoy your podcasts a-lot and I make sure I download each and every new episode.
Keep up the great work!
Ari
Netanya, Israel.
Ari,
Awesome, great to hear you’re enjoying the show. Thanks for checking in from Israel!
been following your previous instruction, they are great and helpful
Good to hear!
Ian, thank you. You are an incredible resource for those of us who need the mental aspect of the game fulfilled as much as the physical drills we get from our instructors. I am always looking to pick the brains of anyone I respect in the tennis teaching world because I am such a mental player. A wide range of players can benefit from your clear and specific instruction because you address so many different scenarios. And since my game is always improving (with your help) and evolving, I can keep an open mind to the advice that is not necessarily directed at me at the moment.
So, I just wanted to thank you for the info and emphasis on mini tennis, which I do before EVERY game and drill and practice. Keep up the good work!!
BTW, I love waffles, don’t you??!!
Julia,
Absolutely, some people love hearing about topics such as this in audio form because it just “makes sense” to them in that format, others just don’t have the patience for it (and that’s fine). Haha…..waffles are the BEST!!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=klkHBB7AzZo
Hi Ian. This Video you did shows what you mean right? But a Bit of Footwork missing right?
Greetz from Germany
Timo
Yup, that’s it! Toshi and Charles aren’t perfect examples but they’re definitely on the right track!
Great topic. I am a 3.0 player trying to improve and every lesson, clinic and warmup starts with the short court. At first since I thought I knew everything I was standing in the back waiting to blast every ball. but the teachers and friends I play with said no you need to get a rythem. People do not realize that you can have a full forehand or backhand on a short court it is great as a warm up and it allows you to move stretch out follow through everything that you are required to do when you play on the full court.
Reid,
Great to hear that you’re now using short court, it will definitely make a difference for you!
great topic. I started doing this only after I had been playing for a number of years, and it made a huge difference in my singles game. As a result of these drills, i was able to finally comfortably put away short forehands and backhands with control and angle. Easily overlooked practice technique, thanks for posting.
Eric,
You’re welcome, thanks for listening! That’s actually a great point on the short forehands, a shot that many rec players dread hitting.
What a lot of waffle this podcasr was! No instruction .. all I heard was this guy waffling on about his previous on court sessions .. awsum, awsum .. awsum – does this guy know anything else?
I thought this was about playing in the boxes .. after 8 minutes he starts actually mentioning the short court. Oh wait – now he’s on about his students again .. where he’s been .. his previous students .. where they came from. Boring!
Tony,
Wow, well, sorry I wasted your time. One seventh of the show was the intro and thanking the clinic attendees, sorry it didn’t keep moving well enough for you. Best of luck with your tennis.
try three minutes. Seriously, did you even listen to the podcast?
Ian, why even respond to idiotic comments like this, you might as well just delete them.