How can I raise my overall game level?

JACKIE BOHANNON
Guest Columunist
tennis@lbknews.com

For those unfamiliar with ratings the NTRP classifies players by their tennis playing abilities. A 1.5-2.0 is a beginner, and a 7.0 is a touring pro. Therefore a 3.5 is your average tennis player, a strong intermediate, who can for the most part play and fit in with anyone at the club. A 4.5 is an advanced recreational player. They are usually your best players at the club.

Typically teaching pros start at 5.0 and higher, so your 4.5 players are usually your top echelon of recreational players.
As you improve up the ratings it increasingly becomes more difficult to get to the next level. That is because the details of the game start to become more minute.

To answer your question, the difference between a 3.5 and a 4.5 is everything. The 4.5 is more well-rounded. The 3.5 may have one or two aspects of their game that are perhaps stronger than the 4.5 but the 4.5 has fewer weaknesses, more diversity, more match tough experience, etc.

If a player rated 3.5 has a goal of reaching 4.5 there are many areas to focus on to improve, so I will focus on the following: footwork, stances, anticipation, reaction, consistency, control, placement, and power.

Footwork

Generally, the better the player the better the footwork. Many 3.5’s will split step for their volleys, but not at the baseline. Better players are always on their toes. Try split stepping anytime your opponent hits the ball.

Stance

Work on diversifying your stances. Many 3.5 players still hit with a mainly closed, or semi-closed stance. I highly recommend hitting open stance. Generally, more advanced players (like a 4.5 or higher) hit more balls with an open stance. You need a variety of footwork and stances, but the open stance disguises your shots more, gives you more topspin, and makes your recovery more efficient.

Anticipation

Beginners tend to start moving for the ball once it is already on their side. Intermediates usually start moving when the ball has already been hit by the opponent and is close to clearing the net. However advanced players tend to watch the ball come off their opponent’s racquet, so they are able to start reading where the ball might go, and anticipate where they need to move. That is why when you watch advanced players it can look more effortless. A 4.5 will look at their opponent and recognize when they are in trouble and move in to look for a short ball. A 4.5 will recognize when their opponent is going to drop shot them. A 4.5 will see their opponent is going to hit a topspin or slice backhand.

Reaction

A 4.5 has better hands and quicker reaction times. A 3.5 should work on volley volley drills back and forth working on consistency first and then speed. A 3.5 might be able to volley back and forth at the net with a friend 30 times in a row. A 4.5 can do it 100 times and the speed will increase. Also a 3.5 tends to watch their shots, but a 4.5 hits and recovers immediately. A 3.5 gets surprised by their great shots, but a 4.5 expects them. A 3.5 remembers their good shots after a match, a 4.5 dwells on their bad ones.

Consistency

Generally, a 4.5 is more consistent than a 3.5. One of my favorite drills is the 100 Ball Club. Try rallying with a friend or a pro and your goal is to get 100 balls consecutively baseline to baseline. Work on getting a higher first serve percentage. 3.5’s still make more mistakes than winners. A 4.5 generally doesn’t beat themselves. They make their opponent work for each and every point.

Control

A 3.5 needs to develop many speeds. Every ball can not be hit at the exact same pace. You need to have your consistent rally ball and your put away shot. Work on being able to hit at 25, 50, 75, and 100 percent power levels. You want to be able to hit angles, drop shots, lobs, as well as flat, topspin, and slice.

Placement ­

Work on hitting targets. Instead of focusing on a general area like hitting your forehand cross court, put targets out and aim for the target. Make the target smaller and smaller. At Bird Key we have a circle target where players can focus on hitting through the circle. This develops excellent placement and control. Always practice and hit with a purpose. Often I find players are thinking about just getting it in. A 4.5 really knows how to develop a point, and place the ball. They always have a plan.

Power ­

­Not only does a 4.5 usually hit harder, but they know when to hit harder. Sometimes you’ll have a 3.5 that can hit hard, but they are not consistent. A 4.5 attacks all short balls, and generally puts the ball away everytime they get a short, weak, or soft ball. If a 4.5 gets an overhead the point is done. If in doubles the 4.5 gets a shot at the net the point is done. A 4.5 knows when to pull the trigger and be more aggressive. Oftentimes a 3.5 doesn’t put the ball away when they get the chance, or it takes 2 or 3 times to finish the point. Focus on finishing the point and putting the ball away the first time you get the opportunity.

In conclusion, advancing from a 3.5 to a 4.5 brings to mind one of my favorite philosophies called marginal gains. Marginal gains is the process in which small incremental improvements add up to significant improvement when they are all added together. This is a perfect mentality and work ethic for a tennis player looking to improve. Hopefully my few suggestions today will help you reach your goals.

Jackie Bohannon is the Director of Tennis at the Bird Key Yacht Club.