When you’re receiving a low fast ball off your opponent’s side and you’re late on the shot again, you may think that tennis is very challenging (true) and that there’s not much you can do about controlling such fast balls (not true!).
While I can’t claim you will never be late again on a fast ball after watching this video, I can show you the way to deal with fast balls in tennis and what you need to work on in the long term.
Why You’re Late On Fast Balls
1. Wanting to see the ball after the bounce: It’s best to study this and the article on handling deep balls in tandem because they both address the same cause for being late – which is our desire to see the ball before we initiate the swing toward it.
I’ve explained this in more detail in the deep shots article, so let’s just look at one additional reason you may be late on your shots, especially when the ball is coming toward you very fast.
2. Being tense in expectation of hitting a fast ball (panicking): When you see the ball is coming in fast, you may tense up in expectation of a hard collision and also because you’re waiting with the racquet back for the ball to bounce and knowing you’ll have to go really quickly against it.
You may tense up when a fast ball is approaching and that "locks" your body
But this very state prevents you from going fast against the ball as this tension locks you into a certain position and you need a lot of force to break out of it.
So, the key is to be comfortable in your preparation even though the ball is approaching fast. It’s easier said than done, but at least now you know what to work on.
How To Practice Handling Fast Balls – Hand/Basket Feeding Drill
Just coil and lower yourself and a short backswing already done
If you want to practice handling fast balls with a coach or a partner, follow this procedure:
Position yourself just behind the baseline while your partner stands near the net on the same side. Have him toss progressively faster balls toward you while you work on:
1. Making a short backswing – you can start with the racquet at around a 45-degree angle in relation to the baseline and with your legs bent and body coiled.
2. Trying to intercept the ball before it crosses the baseline – just focus on meeting the ball inside the court.
3. Playing the ball into the coach’s hands first – that task keeps you calm and controlled as you’re not thinking about power but a controlled swing toward the ball.
4. Using more of a “pushing” feel than a swinging feel/movement when you’re hitting the ball – the ball already brings a lot of energy with it, so you just need to redirect it and not add a lot of your energy. Make sure you don’t squeeze the grip tight but keep a light grip and still guide the ball with feel back to the other side.
In time, your partner can start throwing or feeding faster balls, and you’ll realize after a few repetitions that you can stay very calm and control the shots well if you follow the above instructions.
Fast vs Slow Live Ball Drill
Stay down with your eyes and legs when dealing with low fast balls
In this drill, one player plays fast balls, and the other one hits them back in a more controlled manner and in the process learns how to manage a fast incoming ball.
Both players can crowd the baseline or even move inside the court in order to make this game more challenging.
After a few minutes, change roles.
The key points are again the same as above with one additional tip to keep in mind: make sure to keep your head down where you think you’ll hit the ball even though you may not see it clearly.
A very common mistake is to rise up too quickly when the ball is coming in fast because you don’t see it well and you panic slightly. That usually causes the player to jerk up his head and legs and mishit the ball in the process.
So, keep your head and legs down, and sweep through the contact zone trusting you will meet the ball even if you don’t see it well.
In your mind’s eye, imagine rising up after you have made contact with the ball.
Your body will follow this image, but first you must see it very clearly in your mind – just remember how I demonstrated in the video.
Summary
To conclude, the key to handling fast and deep balls is learning to initiate early, so before you see the ball you must be able to initiate the stroke so that you can hit the ball well in front which is where your ideal contact point is.
If you do that, you will naturally transfer weight into the shot and it will be quite effortless to control the ball.
I want to point out, though, that this is not an easy process and you may not get instant results on the court tomorrow when you first try what you learned here.
The single most important thing to keep in mind when a fast or a deep ball is approaching you is that you want to meet it in your ideal contact point well in front, regardless of where it bounces.
Ask your brain and body to do that, and keep working on that for one whole summer. You’ll be a much better player in the autumn.
Good stuff Tomaz!
Exactly what I needed Tomaz.
I have watch your instructions in great detail and they are so precise and very practical.
Recently, I started to play in a rather high division and playing on grass (which I do not like) i was struggling with the fast balls. Although I am very fit, I kept missing the balls exactly as you explained in this video and this makes a lot of sense. When hitting with the ball machine, using one of your previous videos (movement of racket head, a truly “aha” moment) I would not miss a ball but you have a little bit more time, time for the backswing, moving the racket head forward and just hit the ball with no effort.
Playing some of the state league players I always felt I had no time and tried to tell myself, “look at the ball” but maybe as you said there is no time for that and that is why I am missing the balls. Will try the short backswing with pushing feeling.
Thanks again,
Bart
Thanks, Bart. Remember that the key to hitting the ball on time is NOT a short backswing (it just helps) but it is to initiate the swing before the ball bounces and knowing exactly at what contact point you want to hit it.
Thanks Tomaz,
Yes indeed it is the EARLY initiation of the swing that makes all the difference. Thanks again,
Bart, Australia
Great concepts and explanation, as usual. I’d really love to get some live teaching from you. Will you be in Slovenia some time next year( I’m Italian, that would be the nearest location for me to catch up with you) ?
Claudio
Grazie, Claudio. Yes, will be in Slovenia in the spring and summer, just message me when you’re planning the trip.
very helpful to deal with coming fast balls.plesse provide other tips to imorove the game as well. .Thanks. Santi. bangkok. Thailand
Thanks for the tips. I’m training with my coach and starting to rally with fast balls and I noticed that I was hitting too late. Now I know why. I’ll incorparate these tips in my upcoming lessons.
You’re welcome, Ken. It really helps in the long term if you have someone who can keep a good pace of shots and constantly challenge your timing.
I appreciate all your help!!!!
My serve for example, is better since I see your server course… And every explanation is so good that I improved my tennis game!!!
Thanks Tomaz!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
From Mexico
Very simple and logical. Excellent Tomaz!
Thanks for the tips..
All you stuff is A-1 My job is to learn it.
(Easier said than done)..
Keep up the Good Work….
fantastic – clear and simple advice. You are an excellent coach.
Great stuff again Tomaz. I know I mentioned this to you before, but I feel even more so that watching Bernard Tomic play, he seems to be a pro example of what you are teaching here. I referenced him once before in your mms playing relaxex lesson. Tomic has such a short backswing. He looks to be not working hard at all, just warming up, on the forehand. As you told me before though, he is probably too relaxed much of the time, which I agree with.
Yes, Tomic hits with such simple technique that it’s a great example of how to hit different types of balls and complicate the strokes in the process.
very enlightening, thanks
It really tickles my fancy how these articles seem to parallel whatever issue I’m currently facing in tennis.
Having trouble dealing with my rival’s deep forehand shots that land just above the baseline – gonna study up on the concepts outlined here.
Hi Tomaz
As usual, very enlightening, fantastic stuff! I always hardly can wait for your new blog/videos. They are very helpful. Thank you so much.
I usually can implement your tips when having balls played perfectly towards me. However, if I rally, and I have to run to catch a ball (and this happens mostly when they are played angled and fast) I struggle to hit them as I should. I would love to hear/read/see some tips how to play better under pressure and with balls, that don’t come perfectly towards myself. Usually, when I have to run, I either run into the ball, or I stop too far away or I am too late to react because I realize too late, that I need to run a few steps in order to hit the ball at the correct point.
Thanks again, Tomaz. If you happen to be in Switzerland at some time let me know! 🙂 I would love to have some lessons with you (alternatively I could think about travelling to Slovenia for a short vacation and including some lessons with you :-).
Thanks and best regards
TK
You’re very welcome, Tatjana.
As for tougher shots on the run, look for proper spacing to the ball as early as possible and stay cool in your head even though the body is very engaged and in action.
Watch the ball well and know exactly the trajectory you want to send it into – then calmly do it.
Switzerland would be great, have never been there. You’re very welcome to Slovenia, I’ve had quite a few visitors over the years coming from UK, France, Turkey, Italy, Cyprus and Germany so far…
Luckily am able to do most of this naturally. I have more issues w slices.
But want to point out how u r keeping the head down here… That is one thing… I miss out on many shots. And when I manage to do it feels great.
I will have to commit to doing that and not worry about outcome. Returning these shots while moving head lead in a high slow return ball which a solid player can crush – 4.5 and up
Good point, Siby. Keeping the head down is not purely a physical thing, it’s also mental.
I am actually playing the ball in my mind’s eye aiming it deep with a certain trajectory. In most cases when we have little time, we fail to programme the trajectory of the shot. It has no intention.
We just hit the ball with the racquet and then wonder how come it’s a poor shot. So I often ask the player: “Well, did you try to play a good shot or did you just try to hit the ball with the racquet?” 😉
Then they realize the challenge of tennis…
wanted to try it out then reply.
Again thanks for the key tip “ball in my mind’s eye”
I was imagining a mini court and where i will place it on slow balls and on faster same but just a side of court deep.
That seems to automatically help keep neck/head down a bit longer and then look up and see the result 🙂
Great. There must always be clear intention in your mind what you want to do with the ball. I find it way more important than any technical instruction.
Very important and apply your tips.
Obviously , they are all important. Perhaps the most important of all, keep your legs and head in a low position.
This is a common error ( quickly lift the head and legs ) in low balls. I usually make that mistake in fairly frequent in backhand slice.
Thanks for the tips.
Marcelo.
On getting to the ball early. I think I understand why you natural get there just on time. It’s because if you are on a collusion course with another object you need to keep that object in the same place in your vision. This is what pilots in aviation look out for no relative motion equals a collision. In-order to get there early you need to get the ball to move backwards in your vision you need to get ahead of it and learn not to go past. You need to feel like your out running it.
Late to the party here – but this, along with the previous post about deep balls, is a great set of instruction. It’s really helped me out a lot! I tend to be late on my backhand side even with normal-speed rally balls, and it’s helped me out a bit there – helping me to start my swing a bit earlier. And, it has helped me to start working on taking the ball earlier too, which is very effective and fun to do.
Another side benefit is that paying attention to the trajectory more before the ball bounces helps you to see the ball/keep your eye on it more effectively. I still struggle with consistently visualizing the trajectory of where I want the ball to go, but I’m getting there.
Tomas. You are really on to something. I would say revolutionary. Like Gallways book of the 70s , “Inner game of tennis” have you read it?
From the kind of responses you get on line, I think I’m right. Club hacks like me are tired of paying $80 to hear a lot of bullshit which keeps the pro one step ahead of his students. That’s just an old para-dime. Not bad, just old. Egalitarianism!
That the new model.
Look forward to more .
Glenn
Thank you very much, Glenn. More common sense tennis will come soon…
Hi
You have a special gift in explaining tennis in a way that creates an “ah ha” moment. Greatly appreciated !
There is one thing that I am having problems with and that is the role of the wrist in the backhand. Should it be locked, should it roll as you are hitting the ball and as you finish your swing. I have found that nearly all sites seem to say nothing about this but it is really important to get this straight, I think, to get some consistency
Any help would be greatly appreciated and keep up the great work!
James
Thanks James.
Don’t do anything with your wrist at contact on the backhand, especially don’t roll it. That’s the foundation. You might roll it on a very easy ball that you want to hit short cross court but on most balls you simply hold the racquet and hit more from your shoulder and full arm.
Tomaz: Great lesson on how to deal with incoming deep fastball. Would you please extend it to how to [not just deal with incoming fast ball] but how to play it back: how high, how hard and how deep to send the ball back to opponent who was already in the position of hurting you (by already send you a incoming deep fast ball)?
What would you advice playing incoming fastball on short bounce vs. on long/deep bounce?
Dan Le – Orange County – California
Hi Dan,
Receiving a fast ball and having to hit on the rise for me automatically means I am neutralized and that the situation is fairly risky.
So my target is at least aiming over the service line but with better opponents I aim in the last quarter.
The article on playing deep balls shows you better how high you can actually play and still make the ball land in court.
In my experience – if you’re playing someone at 5.0 or higher – you will need to have some speed on that ball and it needs to land in the last quarter of the court.
If it lands deep but it’s very passive, they will have time to set up well for the shot and keep attacking.
Again, just take a look at the few examples I showed in the above mentioned article.
A fast ball on a short bounce is perfect for using the opponent’s speed and simply redirect it and make him move.
The swing doesn’t have to be fast and what I look for is really getting a clean hit – so really paying attention to the ball since now there is enough time to see it clearly.
No matter how much I try to not pull my head away from the contact point, it always happens. My biggest fault with this is return of serve. I watch the ball off my opponents racket, then lose it from bounce to racket as I take my racket back. Invariably I look ahead and don’t keep my head still, miss hitting the return. I watch slow motion Federer and see his head behind the racket, and then with the racket after the ball comes off the strings. What can I do to get close to this technique? Please help. Thanks
Hi Steven,
I suggest you start with a drop hit exercise and keep your head still there. That’s usually not the problem. Then progress to free hitting with a partner and work on seeing the ball well.
I’ve shared most of my ideas on seeing the ball well in a previous article, just follow the link…
Tomaz, I have been at this game a long time, and I thought that watching the pros and being analytical about bio-mechanics I would be a 5.0 plus player. You are showing me why I fail so often, and what I need to do to change. For example, my mantra for all baseline strokes has been just develop faster racket head speed-a wag in the backswing for every shot!
One problem: I notice that you and others do not use full western grips, not even Federer semi-western. Using a western grip means more brushing and less rolling the ball. Also, it means the contact is in closer. More open stance, etc. I like your ideas on “compressing” the ball, but the western and “black string” polys create more topspin and minimal compression.
Thanks for sharing, Fred. Western grip does create more topspin but the shots are typically less penetrating so some of use prefer speed over heavy topspin…
This is my first time viewing your videos. I just want to compliment you on your very clear and succinct explanations. You are an excellent instructor and I am very impressed by the clarity of your messaging. I am a student of the game, Women’s 4.0 player, but also was a nationally ranked racquetball player in my 30’s. I like to improve and your website is one that I will come to often. Thank you.
Thanks for this kind feedback, A. Silva!
How do we handle extreme topspin with a fast ball? I find I get jammed because the ball accelerates after the bounce. Also I seem to be too close to the ball.
Hi Diana,
In the same way but it’s just more challenging for our mind to calculate the exact timing. You just to practice that a lot… And I mean really practice, like having someone feed you 100 such balls per session and you trying to time them correctly.
You may see some results only perhaps after 5 sessions so you need to be patient with this.
Hitting on the rise is one of the most demanding things in tennis.
Hi Tomaz,
Thx for the great tips.
The most common tip we get from the coaches is to go back well behind the baseline when returning the fast incoming balls.
In fact, I think this gives me more time to prepare the racket and for the proper unit turn.
But as far as I can see on this video, you are mostly returning on the baseline, sometime as soon as the ball bounces indeed.
Is this a more effective technique then going back you think?
Thanks,
Fulya
Hi Fulya,
Sure, you can go further back behind the baseline if you have time but then the ball is not really fast. It’s just high and deep and you have time to go back.
When the ball is lower and faster you will not have enough time to move back, balance yourself and execute the shot. You’ll have to do it where you are at that moment.
Thank you. I really like your tips. My main problem though was getting to super fast and low balls despite recovering to a neutral position on the court. Today my opponent just blasted balls so far away from and so fast and so low that I rarely had the opportunity to try your suggestions. Now what? Please help!:)
We cannot save every ball, opponent’s shot can be too good. Hopefully you realize that for about 50% of good shots from your opponent there is no solution.