If you have followed my video tips and blog posts you already know that missing in the net is the most common error for recreational tennis players and it is also the worst error you can make on the tennis court!
If you miss in the net that means you were not even close to hitting the ball deep towards the baseline since that depends a lot on the height of your shots. Extremely fast low balls are an exception but you have to be at a very high level to hit balls low over the net at a very fast speed and still get good depth on your shot!
The physics on the tennis court dictate that you have to lift the ball from low to high and your balls have to travel with an arc in order to get good depth.
Have a look at this image that should help you realize how high you need to hit over the net on most shots in order to get them deep!
So What Can You Do To Get Your Shots To Fly Like This ?
One way to go about it is to consciously work on your technique and getting the racket moving from low to high. That is definitely a very effective method but some people struggle with it and for those of you that still need help with this I want to give you another possiblity.
A great way to make sure that you get the right height over the net and hit your shots with a nice arc like in the image above is to work with air targets!
Using Air Targets
There are many different options with air targets. Basically an air target is a target located above the net that you try to hit into. The target can vary depending on what shot you are trying to hit.
If you are hitting groundstrokes then your average air target should be a good amount above the net. If you are hitting serves then your air target should be only slightly above the net
There are different training aids that you can use for air targets. I oftentimes use the following pop-up air targets for serving practice but they can also be adjusted slightly higher for groundstrokes practice.
Pop-Up Air Targets
As you can see these pop up air targets give you a good visual idea of where you want to hit into. They can be adjusted in height and are excellent for practicing your serve accuracy. Another option I use them for is when players practice hitting a rather flat down the line shot.
If you are interested in purchasing these air targets click this link: Pop Up Air Targets
Airzone Net System
Since most players hit too low over the net and miss too much into the net, it can be extremely effective to have a simple air target that makes the net higher!
I personally use this Airzone Net System and oftentimes I find that players that previously struggle with getting the racket low enough tend to automatically get the racket low enough after they practice with this net system for a while!
If you are interested in purchasing the airzone net system click this link: Airzone Net System
Imaginary Air Targets
Having a visual target is a great way to practice and I highly recommend that you consider purchasing one or instead you could be creative and handcraft one for yourself.
If you don’t want to purchase it and you are not good at handcrafting something of this nature then you still have the option of using an imaginary air target.
Whenever you go on the court the next time you simply visualize exactly where you want to hit the ball and pick your target above the net. Do not pick your target at the other side of the net. The idea is to get the ball to that point above the net and then the rest will happen automatically.
I have found that focusing on these imaginary air targets can be extremely effective and the advantage with this is that you could even focus on these targets during your matches!
Allright. So much on air targets. They can be extremely effective and I highly recommend you give it a try!
Good luck on the court and let me know your thoughts in the comments below!
