3.5+ Tennis Practice Drills. Serve, Return.

Serve Review
Middle grip, maybe a bit Eastern.
Pinpoint your feet.
Relax your arm.
“Be water, my friend.”
Racquet palm toward you so that a side edge of your racquet “leads.”
(You can see this in the picture)
Experiment:
Space your grip fingers more.
Bend your knees to jump higher.
Underhand serve.

Maci: Serve, Feet Together (1 Min)
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=_gTFT5Ho2WQ

Macci: Serve, Kinetic Chain (1 Min)
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=xed3lmub3Fo&pp=ygUQTWFjY2kgcG9zaXRpdml0eQ%3D%3D

Macci: Serve Drill, Legs First (1 Min)
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=WPIQC3ndrNE&pp=ygUObWFjY2kgYmFja2hhbmQ%3D

Nick Kyrgios Serve, Pinpoint (6 Mins)
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=rS2JGEI-twk&pp=ygUZc2VydmUgdGVubmlzIG5pY2sga3lyZ2lvcw%3D%3D

Macci: Serve Mechanics (20 Mins)
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=F-r7bpP3psM

Return of Serve
1st: Get the ball back over the net.
Forward “split, for better hit.”
Quick, brief backswing.
Generally return cross court.
Consider chip, volley your return.
Consider more lobs.
Think “Return to Sender.”

Elvis Presley
Return to Sender (2 Minutes)
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=PU5xxh5UX4U&pp=ygUeRWx2aXMgUHJlc2xleSByZXR1cm4gdG8gc2VuZGVy

Macci: Return of Serve (8 Mins)
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=phKa3TEolPM&pp=ygUTUmV0dXJuIHNlcnZlIG1hY2NpIA%3D%3D

Mouratoglou: Return of Serve
Masterclass (21 Mins)
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=vPtNtNi8_NI&pp=ygUbcmV0dXJuIG9mIHNlcnZlIG1hc3RlcmNsYXNz

Lobs/Overheads & High Ball Volleys
Overhead Experiment:
Point your left elbow at the lob. This induces you to turn while your left hand guides your racquet back.
Left elbow and point, hit.
2/3 Speed, controlled placement.
Goal: Make 50 in a row

Intuitive Tennis
High or Swing Volley or Overhead (8)
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=sv2ui0iJbFg&pp=ygUaSGlnaCB2b2xsZXkgc3dpbmcgb3ZlcmhlYWTSBwkJygkBhyohjO8%3D

Ground Strokes
Relax & Focus, Goal: 100 in a row
Give ‘em a “surprise, hit on the rise.”
Lean toward the net.
Hit the ball higher over the net.
FH: Elbow up, Pet, Legs, Pull.
BH Slice: Shoulder turn, knuckles up.
For balance, finish like eagle wings.

Novak Djokovic
Forehand, Backhand (6 Mins)
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=FmrLQmZ1CVQ&pp=ygUZbm92YWsgZGpva292aWMgc2xvIG1vdGlvbg%3D%3D

Drop Shot (Dropper)
Delay and “disguise to surprise.”
Lock your wrist, 90 degrees.
For backspin, pull down high to low.
You “hit the drop and make it stop.”
Goal: 50 in a row

Volleys
Shoulder turn, “U” shape.
Racquet head higher than your wrist.
High ball: High energy 8, finish point.
Low ball: Low energy 2, finesse/drop.
Aim for sharp angle “Low and slow.”
Fast ball: No time, just BLOCK it.
Half Volleys: Forward “ta-da.”

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USTA NTRP Ratings Information:
https://www.usta.com/en/home/play/adult-tennis/programs/national/usta-ntrp-ratings-faqs.html#tab=tournaments

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Prerequisite: Proficient NTRP Level 3.5 +. RSVP to attend, no walk-ons. Donate a new can of balls or $$. Thanks.

Value your time.
You probably won’t get it back.

Today’s practice is not a lesson with a teaching pro.

Now stop eating sweets, get outside, get it done and get in shape.

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Videos for visual learning.

Novak Djokovic & Carlos Alcaraz
Practice (13 Mins)
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=C4Gl-T2dtss&pp=ygUdY2FybG9zIGFsY2FyYXogcHJhY3RpY2UgcGFyaXPSBwkJwQkBhyohjO8%3D

Macci: Overhead, Elbow (1 Min)
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=9SRQmIzLnsE&pp=ygUQbWFjY2kgb3ZlcmhlYXJkIA%3D%3D

Macci: Overhead, Turn (1 Min)
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=8ZNwSE2ttZ8&pp=ygUQbWFjY2kgb3ZlcmhlYXJkIA%3D%3D

Macci: Overhead, Edge (1 Min)
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=OcAZvEfT4kA&pp=ygUQbWFjY2kgb3ZlcmhlYXJkIA%3D%3D

How 3 Star Michelin Chef
Makes Salmon (9 Mins)
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=Lrn2AONZyCM&pp=ygUSSG93IHRvIG1ha2Ugc2FsbW9u0gcJCeAJAYcqIYzv

Teddy Wilson
Moonglow (4 Mins)
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=6on2OyKOPm4&list=RD6on2OyKOPm4&index=1&pp=8AUB

Stanley Turrentine
On A Clear Day (7 Mins)
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=B2eZnmdAXmA&list=RDB2eZnmdAXmA&start_radio=1&pp=ygUhb24gYSBjbGVhciBkYXkgc3RhbmxleSB0dXJyZW50aW5loAcB

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LIABILITY WAIVER: By signing up for or attending this Event, I agree that the Organizers of this Group and any of its Members will not be held responsible for the actions of any participant at this Event. Each tennis player attends Event at their own risk and is solely responsible for any injury or damage to themselves, their equipment, other Persons or Property.