This is an article ‘Improve Your Grass Court Tennis Performance With These Easy Tips’ by Marc Pulisci
Tennis on grass presents quite a unique challenge compared to playing on clay or hard courts. Its surface comes with limited traction, can be slippery, and delivers a poor grip that becomes a challenge for those who want to move fast in every game. Even the most skilled and experienced tennis players will find playing on grass courts challenging because what usually works on other surfaces doesn't on the lawn.
Grass is very different from standard tennis court surfaces, which may somehow turn the tennis coaching rulebook upside down. The Wimbledon Championships, held annually in London, England, in the final week of June and the first few days of July, is one of the pinnacle tournaments of professional tennis. Ask any pro or coach, and you're sure to find the many challenges this grand slam tournament poses even for the most prolific players of both the ATP and the WTA.
Here are some helpful tips if you plan to play and master your game on a grass court:
Master your slice
The slice might be the only shot that can give you a definite advantage when playing on grass courts. A successful slice will impact low across the net and skid on the grass, making it very challenging to defend against and prevent longer rallies. It is particularly challenging for taller players who repeatedly stoop down low to try and lift the ball over the net.
Spanish legend Rafael Nadal struggled to defend slice shots on the grass in his early years. He had difficulty getting down on the grass to catch every ball, considering his knees were in poor condition several years ago due to injury.
When playing on grass courts, it's best to focus on your slice while pushing aggressively to cut into the ball. Try to change the depth and direction of your slice but not into the forehand.
Mind your footwork
Coaches prefer softer and lighter footwork on grass courts. In every tennis calendar year, the clay court season comes first, where we see players needing to slide and reach the balls for successful returns.
Once the grass season comes in, most players need to adjust their footwork strategies so that they do not have to slide for the ball and cause an injury while playing on grass courts. Instead, coaches advise players to maintain balance while taking small, light steps for return shots. This method takes a lot of practice, especially for quick stops and changing directions. During training, try to gauge your sprint level and balanced stops while attempting to hit the ball to the other side of the court.
Know when to unleash a big serve
Players more aggressive during the match often have a higher chance of winning sets played on grass. Attacking players frequently prevails during hard-fought rallies, with big serves being the determining shots that win points. A good serve gives the offensive player the chance to gain a slight competitive edge to gain the upper hand early in the rally.
Tennis on grass courts is more challenging as surfaces can be bumpy, and when forceful serves strike those irregularities and slide across the court, the better chances you can get an ace. And even if you don't accomplish an ace, one big serve can be challenging for your opponent to return or, if he can, can render it less effective.
Work on your serve and volley
Playing tennis on a grass court with a serve and volley can sometimes feel like a flashback to the classic days of the sport. It's easy to be reminded of such greats as McEnroe, Borg, Sampras, and Rafter when playing the green, as these players were all avid net rushers, and they all enjoyed charging the net to win rallies quickly against their opponents.
The serve and volley may be a particularly effective strategy on grass if you have already mastered your volley skills. The ball almost always moves faster than your opponent, and the rally can be over instantly if you can close the net and apply some court misdirection. The only problem with this technique is that it can quickly develop a pattern that your opponent can predict and easily defend in later sets. Remember, when playing on grass, it is always a good idea to come to the court with a variety of footwork, shot techniques, and strategy and know when a serve and volley can win you a point.
Focus on shorter points
Most points in matches played on grass courts are shorter. The player who gets to an advantageous and established position to hit shots is likely to win the point. Try getting your serve plus one shot out of your arsenal to dictate the pace of the game and be more dominant early in the point.
Forehands are typically a player's favorite shot for attacking after serving. On the other hand, when returning shots on grass surfaces, it would be better to get more aggressive on second serves and control huge serves so you can prevent the other player from performing a serve plus one on you.
Wear the proper shoes
As mentioned above, grass courts are usually slippery, making traction very difficult. The Wimbledon Championships courts are usually slippier in the early days of the tournament. Regardless of how slippery the grass can get, wearing the right tennis shoes for grass courts is the best solution to problematic footwork and traction.
Most grass court tennis shoes have pimples instead of the typical herringbone pattern for a better grip and step on the grass surface. Any player can have better control and confidence on grass courts by wearing these pimpled rubber shoes.
Enjoy the surface and know the difference
Playing matches on grass surfaces can be enjoyable, mainly if you can perform incredible shots. Strong shots can be more challenging to recover from on the part of your opponent.
Still, players like Roger Federer, Serena Williams, Pete Sampras, and Martina Navratilova, who have all mastered their grass strategies, can quickly turn serves into aces and difficult returns to winners.
If you are serious about tennis, you should know that your performance on clay differs significantly when you play on grass. These tips will show you the difference and help you adjust your styles with tremendous advantages.
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