Learning from a Game of Errors: Tennis
Exaggerating Your Mistakes or Learning by Doing the Opposite
Tennis is a game of errors. We can have fun and learn by exaggerating our mistakes. Insanity is doing the same thing expecting different results so if you get tired of banging hitting the ball in net all the time then hit it into the back fence.
The ABC’s of Learning the Ground strokes
A) Back swing - Why low to high instead of high to low (e.g. put the student close to the net forcing them to hit up). Low to high!
B) Contact point - Try to look where your point of contact is instead of where you wish to land the ball. Eye on Ball or Ball on Eye!
C) Follow-through – See what happens when you do not finish at the target. Have the racket point to where you want the ball to go!
The Importance of Exaggerating in the Groundstrokes in Play
This can be done on a backboard or with a practice partner.
Game 1 – Strengthen the Weakness- Drop and Hit a Backhand instead of the Forehand (or vice versa if backhand is stronger). Begin every point starting the backhand game.
Game 2 - Live, Lob and Laugh – How high, and deep can you hit the ball in the court. Try to keep the ball past the service box game.
Game 3 – Finesse with Tennis – How soft, slow and short can you hit the ball over the net. Practice the drop shot, getting it to bounce three times in the service box game
When you exaggerate your efforts you change you hard wiring or conditioning, Use this skill to better focus on becoming mindful of your errors. Try to make more tactical errors like hitting the ball too deep unless your trying to drop shot. Also your create an enjoyable atmosphere where there is fun and laughter. Since tennis is a game for life you focus on strengthening you errors. Many happy returns and exaggerateeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!
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