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How to Become an Ace Tennis Player

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Dylan
The Chop Stroke
   
In the game of Tennis, a chop stroke is a shot in which the angle towards the player and behind the racket, made by the line of the elevation of the ball, and the racket moving down across it, is more than 45 degrees and sometimes even 90 degrees. The face of the racket glides slightly outside the ball and below the side, chopping it, like a man chops wood. The spin and curve moves from right to left direction. The shot is made with a strongly positioned wrist.  

While playing the slice shot, the angle is merely reduced from 45 degrees to a smaller one. The face of the racket passes either the inside or the outside the ball, according to the desired direction, while the stroke is mainly characterized by a wrist twist or slap. This slap induces a skidding break to the ball, while a chop lifts the ball off the ground without a break.  

The rules of footwork for both these shots would be similar to that while playing the drive, but because both are delivered with a short swing and enhanced wrist play without introducing much weight, the rules of footwork may be more safely undermined and body position doesn't have to be staunchly considered. Both these shots can be regarded as basically defensive and are labor-saving shots while your opponent is on the baseline. A chop or slice is is almost impossible to defend.

The Half Volley
       
The half volley demands a more perfect timing, eyesight, and flair of the racket than any other shot, since its safety margin is the slimmest and the chances of going wrong with it are manifold.
The shot is basically a pick-up shot. The ball meets the ground and racket face at almost the same instant, the ball bumping off the ground onto the strings of the racket. This shot is made with a stiff-wrist and short swing and seems like a volley sans a follow through. The racket face glides alongside the ground slightly tilted over the ball and moves towards the net. Keeping the ball low, the half volley shot, like all other shots in tennis, must travel across the racket face, in line with the short strings. The racket face must be kept slightly outside the ball.

The half volley is primarily regarded to be a defensive stroke and it should only be played as a last resort when you are caught out of position by your opponent's shot. It is a desperate attempt to escape a dangerous position without making a retreat. This shot must never be made deliberately.

The Court Position

The length of a tennis court if measured from the baseline to the net, is 39 ft long.  There are essentially two regulationary positions in a tennis court that a tennis player should be in while facing the opponent's serve. These are:

  • About 3 ft away from the baseline towards the center of the court, or
  • About 6 - 8 ft away from the net and positioned almost opposite the ball.

The first position is basically the place for all baseline players. The second position is regarded more like the net position. If you are forced to move out of these positions by a shot which you must pick and return, do not position yourself permanently at the point where you struck the ball. Try and attain one of the two positions mentioned as swiftly and quickly as possible.  

The gap from the baseline to approximately 10 ft from the net may be considered to be 'no-man's-land'.  It is advisable to not linger there, since a deep shot struck at you will catch you at your feet. After striking your shot from the no- man's-land position, try and retreat behind the baseline and await the return, so that you can have the opportunity to again come forward to meet the ball.

You must always try to position yourself in a way such that you can cover the maximum possible area of court without compromising your safety, as the straight shot is by far the most dangerous and should be covered. Comprehensive knowledge of court position will not only save you points, but, also your breath to keep you going through the game.

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