Detailing Your Practice
I like to think about practice sessions in categories. Random hitting is fine for a warm-up. Real improvement needs a named job for the next block of time.
Consistency
Set aside 30 minutes or more where the goal is simply not to miss. Choose lower-risk shapes, more net clearance, and ready these skills:
- Absorbing power
- Heavy ball
- Slice and continental-grip skills
- Defensive lob if attacked
Split-step timing
Train reaction speed the way a sprinter trains the gun. Split-step balance and timing are the base from which you move. Make a point of working this every day - even five focused minutes.
Transition
Here the job is to move forward, take the ball earlier, and get to the net. Skills in the set:
- On-the-rise drive
- Drive volley
- Abbreviated flat shot
- Half volley
- Sneaking in after a better-than-expected groundstroke
- Volleys, overhead, drop shots
Important: the point of transition practice is finishing - which means real volley work and reading the opponent’s preparation.
I see players hit winners or hit too big on the approach, miss, or create the simplest volleys. Then they never practice the full volley skill set. Hit accurate but not spectacular approaches so you receive quality passes and have to work harder at net. That is ideal.
Approach rule: if your approach always produces a putaway volley, you are not training volleys - you are training approach winners. Dial pace back until the pass is real.
Defense
Players ask how to improve defense the way you would ask how to survive in the Amazon.
You will not get better defensively if you attack all the time. You need to know how to lose in order to win here.
Put yourself in harm’s way. You will probably lose, especially against a good player. Give them chances to attack and put you awkward - then fight out.
Many players get upset when they give up a short ball: they quit the point, throw a racket, chastise themselves. The smart player cherishes the chance to improve defense. See also Tough Positions.
Freestyling
Work through the full skill set - while taking care of your partner. Two mentalities: shoot the same target ten times, or shoot ten different targets. You can still hit with variety to your partner at medium speed and work:
- Heavy ball, drive, short angle, buggy whip
- On the rise, absorbing power, high balls
- Defensive skills, abbreviated swings
- Out of the air
- Side spin, underspin, very heavy topspin
…rather than spraying corners until nobody wants to hit with you again.
Sample week map
| Day | Category focus |
|---|---|
| Mon | Consistency + split step |
| Tue | Transition / finish |
| Wed | Defense + tough positions |
| Thu | Patterns / freestyle with care |
| Fri | Match play + one process goal |
| Weekend | Tournament or practice sets |
Key takeaway: Name the category before the first ball. Consistency, timing, transition, defense, freestyle - each asks for different courage and different success metrics.
Have fun reshaping your training week. Pair with A Game Within a Game when partners vary in level.
