Just like a car comes equipped with an easy to read speedometer, advancing players also need a gauge by which to measure all sorts of things including swing speed, ball arc, footwork intensity, to grease a spin and even their self-confidence. The concept of self rating can be applied easily to tennis and again, the variations are practically endless. The purpose is to give the player a reference point, by which they can learn to make their own adjustments and better adapt to any number of variables they will face in real match play. Let's watch Colindy(ph) demonstrate just a few quick examples, each using a one to ten scale.
In this sequence she calls out loud. The number one for a slow swing speed and the number ten for one that is super fast. It gives her a reference point for what's swing speed she can control and establish as a starting point to build upon. Here she works on various amounts of arc over the net. Number one would be very low and number ten would be very high arching with topspin.
Again, she gains reference for the extremes and we can also ask her to practice hitting a number eight as a pattern for an effective topspin looper. In this context, her interest and ability to make adjustments from one shot to the next will be much higher than if we just have her hit one shot after another without reference points.
Finally, for footwork she calls out number one, when she wants to feel what it's like to be super lazy and not move at all and number ten is like a national champion. Great job, Colindy. Thank you for joining us for this addition of Fast Lane Tennis where we worked on developing a stronger and more effective forehand ground stroke for advancing players. Have fun.
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