A very common mistake in tennis is to change the direction of the ball from the wrong place on the court or at the wrong time. Here are some examples of when not to change direction of the ball:

• When you are on the defense.
• When your opponent has hit a hard penetrating shot to your baseline.
• When you are deep behind the baseline.
• When you are at the net and your opponent hits a hard, low passing shot.
• When you are in a position on the court where you do not feel comfortable.

Here are some examples on when to change the direction of the ball:

• When you are on the offense.
• When the shot invites you in toward the net.
• Any soft high balls or overheads that you receive near the net.
• When you are in a position on the court where you feel comfortable. Example: Being at the baseline might be comfortable for one player but not for another.

Remember, one of the most common errors in tennis is changing the direction of the ball from the wrong place or at the wrong time. At first, think about this when you are not on the court. Get a mental picture of when to change or not change the direction of the ball.

Good luck on the courts!