[tennisbiz] Re: Backboard tennis

Something I promote with backboard tennis is to use a Speedball (the large
sized foam balls by Dunlop and others, I think Spinners at oncourt offcourt
are the same).

These balls make hitting against a backboard much more manageable for
beginner players.

I always suggest that the player allow the ball to bounce twice before it
gets to them with this type of ball. It doesn't come off the board as far
as a regular ball and letting it bounce twice gives the player time to set
up well for the next stroke. If you let it bounce only once you have to
stand pretty close to the wall and then the player is just "reacting" rather
than getting prepared and using a good stroke.

It is great to work on form/mechanics with a Speedball on a backboard
because you have extra time because of the slower bounce and players are not
chasing balls all over the place or hitting them over the wall (well, less
commonly than when using a standard tennis ball).

Even for intermediate players it can be quite useful to use a Speedball
against a wall.

I never use a regular ball on a wall myself anymore.

Peter U.






Received on Mon Jun 26 2006 - 11:42:14 CDT