February 2000
Play tennis with fast feet and a slow racquet.
Write that down on a piece of adhesive tape and put it on the side of your racquet. During matches occasionally glance down and read what it says. Make sure you read it carefully. Do not get it backwards; that’s fast feet and a slow racquet - not slow feet and fast racquet.
Many beginning and intermediate level players play a unique version of tennis that should be called jungle ball. In this game there are no long rallies, no footwork, no balance, no suspense, and no thinking. The only strategy is to wait until the ball comes, lay back and beat the heck out of it. Hopefully it’ll go in the court.
Even though jungle ball is sometimes fun, you can increase your enjoyment of tennis by increasing the length of your points. This entails slowing the pace of your shots and improving your mobility so you get to more balls.
A slow racquet means you are hitting through the ball, rather than at it. The ball stays on the strings momentarily so you can influence its direction, speed and spin. If you slug, punch or slap at the ball, it will not linger on the strings long enough for you to maintain control. Where it goes after leaving the racquet is always a surprise.
Swinging a tennis racquet is analogous to swinging a baseball bat. In order to hit the baseball hard you have to swing easy. All the power in baseball and tennis come directly from the sweet spot. To find it, you’ll need a smooth, steady, flowing swing - a slow racquet.
You’ll also need a fast pair of feet. Maybe they don’t have to be fast, just moving. Since most opponents try to hit the ball where you’re not, you have to get where it is. Then, when you get there, you have to be on balance so you can use your smooth, steady, flowing sweet-spot swing. Take small steps. Stay on your toes. Spread your feet wide as you move. Bounce rhythmically when your opponent strikes the ball. Hit the ball with one foot flat on the court. Keep your front knee bent until the ball is gone. Slide immediately back into position. Be loose. Remember - that’s fast feet and a slow racquet.