I just finished a four hour workout with David Pate and Scott Davis. It ended up as a 2 on 2 session with myself and one other player. I received some amazing tips that I will try to note here:
- Scott on top spin. For older players that grew up playing flat wooden racket tennis, there is no point mimicking the younger players, racket head drop backswing. It makes more sense to loosen the grip on your racket and pull the racket back straight and allow the head of the racket to drop with a loose wrist rather than dropping your arm. Flick the racket up on the follow through and let it follow its own trajectory.
- Scott on ball contact. Get your racket forward, in EVERYTHING. Striking a ground stroke, approach shot, volley. KEEP YOUR HEAD LEVEL at all times. Federer’s head never moves.
- Scott on body movement. Always keep your feet moving. Stepping into the ball reduces the need for hitting hard. Step into the shot. Step into the shot. Step into the shot.
- Scott on readiness. Racket head is always up.
- David on backhand return. Rotate the grip forward so that the racket is already rotated forward. Arm should always be at more or less a forty five degree angle (holding a tray). Rotate your shoulder first before your racket head is brought back to ready. Racket comes straight back, not too far. Get it back early. Follow through forward SIMPLY, no extra rotation movement since your racket head is already forward. Make contact in front of you, stepping into the ball.
- David on Topspin versus slice backhand return. The grip stays the same, it is just the wrist that rotates. The slice is like a slice return.
- Scott and David on doubles net approach. if your partner hits a successful aggressive volley, they should commit to moving forward, but their partners should be slightly behind them to be prepared to cover the lob. There is essentially a jockeying back and forth between two partners at the net depending on which player is in an aggressive move, never really side by side at the net.
- Scott on serving. The most important part of the server is first server. Serve placement is way more important than power in doubles.
- Scott and David on shot placement. It seems to be the key to doubles. Every shot should be hit and placed for a reason. The center is where almost all balls should go with down the line only used to keep your opponent honest. If you see a poach as your hitting, an ideal target is the T. You will likely hit the poaching net player in the butt cheek (it worked on Scott, I tried it).
