Primary and Secondary Stroke Evaluations

The following post is a excerpt from Championship Tennis and The Tennis Parent’s Bible. Thanks, Frank

Let’s say that we are sitting in my hometown of Laguna Beach, California. “Meet me at Tennis West Sports and Racquet Club in El Paso, Texas,” I say as I toss you the keys to my car. You have no maps and no instructions—just a car and a full tank of gas. The ride would take longer than it should, and the process would at times be maddening, but eventually you would probably still find the club. Now if the car has a navigation system with the address already plugged in, the trip would certainly be easier. And if the navigation system also reroutes for traffic jams and construction delays, the trip would be even faster, less stressful, and a more pleasurable experience. Well, think of this book’s evaluation chapters as a customized navigation system that maximizes potential at the quickest rate. Whatever the goal, having a detailed road map is the most efficient and effective way for a player to achieve it. The evaluations that follow will uncover each player’s confidence and ability levels in performing strokes as well as in executing tactics. These components are the foundations of competitive tennis.

To make these evaluations meaningful and effective, the components should be evaluated based on how they hold up under match conditions. In other words, hitting second serves from a hopper of balls on a relaxed practice court is not a good indicator of the dependability of the player’s second serve. The true barometer is whether the player’s second serve is reliable when the score is 5-6 in a tiebreaker.

The player may also want to consult a coach, parent, or playing partner to gain another perspective on his game. This second opinion can often be eye opening. Many players aren’t completely honest with themselves or don’t recognize their shortcomings. For instance, consider the three versions of a forehand: offensive, neutral, and defensive. A player may have a terrific offensive forehand, capable of crushing any ball bouncing short in the court. He may consider this his money shot. Yet a coach may reveal that the neutral and defensive characteristics of the player’s stroke are underdeveloped and unreliable under stress. In the player’s opinion, the forehand doesn’t need improvement, but in reality, it could use a lot of work.

Let’s review The Painter’s Analogy

To this day, we can all run to the store and pick up an intermediate paint set. These pre-packaged sets come with canvas or paper, a few brushes and a strip of colored paint. These “strips” are made up of the primary colors. As we dabble and enjoy the art of painting one thing becomes evident, if only primary colors (black, brown, red, green, yellow…etc.) are used, the paintings will continue to look “amateur.”

Advanced artists and surely professionals have learned that to make a painting jump off the canvas, to become “life like” they need to use secondary colors as well. Now, instead of applying one shade of green, they have 12 versions of green! Advanced painters use both primary and secondary colors.

As parents, we have to encourage, educate and develop secondary stroke principles. The following are the primary and secondary strokes in a Champion tennis player’s tool belt:

The Four Different Types of Forehands and Backhands:

1. Primary Drive
2. High, Topspin Arch
3. Short Angle or Side Door
4. Slice or Drop Shot

The Three Types of Serves:

1. Flat
2. Kick
3. Slice

The Four Types of Volleys:

1. Traditional Punch Volley
2. Drop Volley
3. Swing Volley
4. Half Volley

The Three Types of Lobs are:

1. Topspin Lobs
2. Slice Lob
3. Re-Lob (lobbing and over-head smash)

The Two Types of Overheads to Develop are:

1. The stationary “freeze” overhead
2. The turn & run/scissor overhead

The 6 Types of Approach Shots are:

1. Serve and Volley
2. Chip and Charge
3. Drive Approach
4. Slice Approach
5. Drop Shot Approach
6. Moonball Approach

A goal is just a dream without a plan.  Build your full tool belt of primary and secondary strokes and you’ll have a room full of trophies!

Thanks for visiting, Frank

Contact: Frank Giampaolo
FGSA@earthlink.net
MaximizingTennisPotential.com
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