Tip of the week: Hit with margin for error

Often times in practice, when drilling or just hitting with a partner, a player can hit piercing shots that skim over the net and land within inches of the line. Apart from the fact that there are probably a lot of errors in between, it’s not a smart way to try to play in a match.

In a match you need more margin for error because, as good as it feels to hit screaming winners, if each one is matched by several errors, it’s plain to see you’re going to lose the match! And your error rate will rise compared to practice anyway, perhaps due to nerves, or maybe because you’re playing an unfamiliar player and are trying to get used to their tactics or hitting style.

To compensate for these added pressures, aim a little higher over the net and a little further inside the lines than you would in practice. How far depends on what you’re comfortable with - it might be one foot, might be four feet. Don’t let a winnable match slip away by letting avoidable errors spiral out of control. See you on the court!