The Strategy Zone: Rally Control

Flat drives, short angles, loops and drop shots: the building blocks. In the introductory article to the Strategy Zone (Click Here), we explained how the great players win because they understand not only how to hit the ball, but where to hit the ball, and when. Our program is designed to teach you how to develop the same shots and shot combinations the pros use to win matches. As the first article explains, winning strategic tennis can be broken down into 3 parts or phases: Control, Hurt, and Finish. In this article, let's look more closely at Control, which is the first phase or building block in our system. "Control" means taking charge of the point. Control is about stretching out the court. Control is your ability to stretch your opponent and knock them off balance. Your goal is to exert a dominating influence over your opponent, setting the stage to execute the next two phases, Hurt and Finish. Maria Sharapova dominates with flat drives creating easy winners. Players can establish Control of the point with the serve, with the return or in the course of a rally. In this article we'll look first at control in the rally and...