Let's Just Hit!!!

"Hitting" is an exercise that most players do to get their groundstroke game together. It consists of two people standing from baseline to baseline hitting the ball back and forth.



However hitting can ruin your game if overused.

Hitting for Practice

Hitting is a warm up. It is designed to teach you how to use a proper stroke, control the ball and have patience. You want to hit the ball in such a way that the other person can return the ball within two or three comfortable steps. When hitting with a partner, you should keep those things in mind and your game will elevate.

You also want to make sure that the person you are partnered with understands this as well. You really only need 6 balls. 3 for you, 3 for your partner. If your partner steps on the court with a bag, a ball basket, or loaded with 9 or 10 balls, please stop him/her. The less balls you use, the more you will encourage longer rallies (its also cheaper).

Too many times a partner misuses the drill to showcase their awesome inside out forehand or any other shot they want practice on. If that is the case, understand that, unless you are working on defense that day, you are not going to get any practice. If it happens too many times for me, I normally say "You obviously want to play out points. Lets play a set."

Hitting for a Match Warm Up

When you are warming up for a match, you cannot pick your hitting partner. All the same rules apply though. If the partner does not open a can of new balls for the warm up, you must insist they do. It is a very different experience having new balls. If you play that first game with newly opened balls after you warmed up with old ones. You might lose your serve right off the bat. Also this confirms that they actually DO have a fresh can of balls.

Just in case you are getting tired of reading. Here is a break:


Some people use the warmup to probe for weaknesses. If this is the case, fake a weakness. Hit a few good rally shots so you are sure. Then just miss the rest.

If the other person is just slapping balls to get a particular great shot together, do not chase the balls. Understand that you are not going to get to warm up and say politely "I'm ready for serves when you are." Try to jog in place a little to make sure you do warm up though.