How to Anticipate Where the Opponent Will Hit the Ball (the 4 anticipatory skills and drills)

[@mattgraves3534]

This is the most thoughtful approach to anticipation that I have seen. It is useful for multiple levels of players. It follows educational principles in structure. It is very well designed and executed. Thank you.

[@kadivikram]

this lesson has such depth and thoroughness, great work!

[@johnwright2460]

Again a great explanation. These are the things I have been working on. Your session helped a lot. Thanks

[@santiparisuthiman5393]

Great instruction and explanation. It helps me to improve my games both in double and single . Please provide more videos on how to cope with the strong serving and fast returning balls in double tennis… thanks in advance!

[@anhvu3780]

Oh man... I've been looking for this instruction for a long long time. This is gold. Thank you so much!!! As a net player, I am pretty good at recognizing opponent patterns against weak players. But I couldn't anticipate against good players and got burned a lot. You could elaborate on the Technical anticipation a bit more b/c my most of my opponents don't have correct techniques or very little if at all. For example, their short swing, open head racket hits could be either a drop or a lob. In open stance, they could hit down the line because they didn't have any preparation and hit the ball late. These "unintentional" balls were often deadly if not outright winners, very frustrating. Many times, I smashed the short ball (my opponent scrambled/stretched), I approached on the right side, only to see the ball was lobbed over my head for a winner. I am short 5'5", weak, not very fast, must anticipate to have a chance. Thanks. Subscribed.

[@kimberlykessing4551]

Awesome! The exercise of calling out ball positions is my next practice!

[@TobyMarshallLeads]

Wish had seen this 10 years ago. Simple yet powerful ideas well presented.

[@amauryribeiromartuscelli1607]

Enjoyng so much from Brazil!!!! I'm 58 years old and still learning.

[@santhiyag1650]

I was looking for this topic for a long time. You made this very simple. Thanks sooomuch

[@joyceharris3040]

Valuable information that I wish I had a long time ago. The concentration of what to look for is key to having better technique because you are in the best position and better prepared for the shot.

[@harishreddy4034]

This is a great video, and pretty much answers all the questions I ever had around tracking the ball. I'm going to watch this a few times. Thanks for sharing.

[@loumyasitcomes700]

Great video and well explained, thank you!

[@OTolaBe]

This was fabulous. Thank you so much!

[@santhiyag1650]

This is an invaluable lesson that every passionate player should watch. I have never watched anything like this excellent presentation. You are a tennis guru.

[@Mikey.Mike1971]

This is precious! Thanks a lot!

[@artsgonzales]

I love it !!! After so many years playing, I am getting to know how to "think tennis" !! Great !

[@kissmyab]

Very good tips, thanks👍👍👍

[@dramit4635]

What an excellent video. Respect!

[@francisremedios2530]

Excellent video!

[@isaacchew7399]

Fantastic job

[@FundamentalTennis]

Isaac Chew thanks Isaac!

[@drrandhawa]

Thanks. Will add to my anticipatory skills. This is an underemphasized part of tennis.

[@henrypham9814]

This is an excellent lesson. Thanks so much!

[@HerbertNaive]

Thanks 👍👍👍👍👍

[@dinuvulpescu433]

Thank you!Great video!

[@richardadam68]

Another great, informative video.. Thank You

[@constable144]

Great video, as usual. Keep them coming!

[@FundamentalTennis]

Chris Constable thanks, will do 👍 Spread the word!

[@monicagoldstein5413]

This was an AWESOME Video! Jeremy, you are an awesome instructor! Thank you so much. Can you teach about foot work. How can i improve getting to short balls. Im a fairly good baseliner, i run well laterally, but i need to improve going in on short balls. Love your channel!

[@FundamentalTennis]

Monica Goldstein thank you Monica! I’m sure I will do a video on short balls. Hopefully sooner then later 🤞🏻

[@eduardomarinho414]

Fundamental Tennis d

[@steveboom9175]

Your very good!!! Thanks

[@FundamentalTennis]

Steve Boom my pleasure Steve

[@monicagoldstein5413]

Excellent! Thank you Jeremy!

[@SomeOne-rh5so]

Nice - that what I looked for (I am double). Keep in same direction - thanks!

[@jimstuddert5218]

Love your videos. You are the best and I subscribe to several.

[@antoniovivaldi2270]

Great work! Thank you!

[@lanier50]

excellent. thank you

[@earlhaywood4372]

Incredibly powerful, yet simple.

[@alastairtheduke]

So good!

[@chansuri608]

Really good. Thanks.

[@FundamentalTennis]

Chan Suri glad to help!

[@agustindebuque7394]

Good vìdeo. I got a lot of info. Tnx

[@d-ranastasanastasov8705]

Great! Go ahead like that. You are very good! Thank you!

[@FundamentalTennis]

d-r Anastas Anastasov thank you!!

[@bulentalkan4686]

Thanks from Turkey

[@FundamentalTennis]

bülent alkan my pleasure!

[@JamesDavisakaRemguy]

How do you recommend we use anticipation at the club/rec level? I see the pros moving before their opponent's shot when they have LESS chance of covering a LARGER area, i.e. overheads, swing volleys or "sitters" in the forecourt (thus wider angle of potential replies), and other times getting "wrong-footed" by simply _leaning_ in the wrong direction when they misjudge a groundstroke from the backcourt (especially when playing Daniil Medvedev or Hsieh Su-Wei!). Is the idea then: LESS chance/LARGE area = MOVE EARLY MORE chance/SMALL area = PREPARE & WAIT P.S. Did you ever get a wireless mike?

[@the1tfactor]

Hi there! This is really good information, thank you. As someone who watches a LOT of tennis videos, I would recommend you break this into 4 5-minute videos. It’s a bit of work to assimilate this much info at once, IMHO. Keep up the good work!

[@FundamentalTennis]

Tanya Robinson thanks and I completely agree!

[@dstephe5935]

Thank you. I've only had one instructor that helped us practice geometric strategy. It was an epiphany. But he left for a better job😭. So I now have a ball machine. Could you advise me on how one attempts to time a split step with a ball machine. Any ball machine advice would be great

[@FundamentalTennis]

Deb stephe hi Deb, interesting question. After observing the time between each ball that comes out, try to time your split step so that your off the ground when the ball comes out of the machine. Hope this helps.

[@TheEyeCoach]

Thank you!

[@FundamentalTennis]

Billie Jean King's Eye Coach of course 👍

[@letsgobiajero4290]

great video... thank you for this free tutorial..

[@FundamentalTennis]

Larry Romantico my pleasure Larry

[@kdoublec973]

Great videos. You’re becoming one of my fav online coaches. Do you have a solution for my youth's elbow being too tucked and close to the body on his trophy position on his serve? It’s persistent. Thanks!

[@FundamentalTennis]

Kevin Chung glad to hear it! A great way to get a low elbow higher during the trophy position is to simply use something like a sweat towel and wrap it around the bicep. If the players elbow is too low during trophy then the towel will hit their side giving them kinesthetic feedback on when they have dropped it too low. Depending on how low the elbow is you can get a bigger or smaller towel. You can also use a floaty. I would also try serving with the eyes closed and serve with an unstrung racquet.

[@kdoublec973]

@@FundamentalTennis thanks

[@TheDrakulie]

These are kind of tips on reading your opponents that top pro coaches teach at USTA national high performance center. and they charge $200 per hour.

[@Mikey.Mike1971]

Thats why we see 17 dislikes...

[@jennypan1354]

Thank you so much! This really makes sense. I have a question: is there a way to tell if the opponent will hit down the line or across the court?

[@FundamentalTennis]

Jenny Pan hi Jenny. Is this question in regards to singles or doubles?

[@jennypan1354]

Fundamental Tennis doubles?

[@FundamentalTennis]

Jenny Pan this link should answer your question. Lemme know if I have any other questions.

[@LeoWong-ds6sq]

Very good information. I would recommend wearing a microphone when you’re further away from the camera or speaking louder. Otherwise, thank you!

[@dnomdelopez1921]

Tnx v much

[@FundamentalTennis]

Dnomde Lopez welcome!

[@MrMarzo49]

Jeremy, thx....great video with tip top info....I do all these things and have helped me win lots of games...salud

[@FundamentalTennis]

Erny Sanchez Happy to hear it! Thanks.

[@r.forrestblount9222]

Jeremy, I watch my ball and don't see my opponent until he enters my visual framework. You are saying to actually look away from the ball to find my opponent where-ever he may be, correct? Also, I especially watch my ball if it is an approach shot so I can follow THE BALL to the net. I use the ball as a positional cue for me. In that situation I should also look away from the ball to find my opponent, correct? I fear that I will lose my geometric position at the net as it relates to where I put the ball.

[@FundamentalTennis]

R. Forrest Blount hello, I’m happy to help but I’m not sure what situation your talking about. Are you asking what to look at as the ball travels to the opponents?

[@r.forrestblount9222]

@@FundamentalTennis , yes, especially when following an approach shot to the net.

[@FundamentalTennis]

R. Forrest Blount after you have hit the ball and by the time the ball has crossed onto the opponents side of the net your visual priority should be the opponent receiving the ball. Although you should be able to easily see the ball near your central vision as the player will be moving to hit that ball. I have found that teaching players to move with the player whom is receiving the ball is easier for them. Make sense?

[@r.forrestblount9222]

@@FundamentalTennis, yes, the opponent will take your eyes to the ball you hit. Plus, you still know where you hit the ball without having to see it. That should take you to the part of the net you need to cover. I got it. It's going to feel weird but it makes sense - just a matter of getting used to it. Thanks! Good points.

[@FundamentalTennis]

R. Forrest Blount yes, get comfortable as your gonna be feeling uncomfortable. Typical when making a change.

[@twinwankel]

The doubles court position at the net when the ball is hit to the center appears to be too close to center. Because you leave too much open at the sideline. Also if your partner is also positioned close to the center then both of you are covering just the center and might clash rackets. I would space a step away from your position away from the center.

[@FundamentalTennis]

Wally Friend hi Wally, The position is correct. Again, this is for a one up one back formation.

[@twinwankel]

Okay you’re right that makes sense now.

[@JamesDavisakaRemguy]

Please get a wireless mike. Your videos are EXCEPTIONAL...except for the audio. Also, you might consider using graphics, especially when you summarize the lesson or show court/player positions, strategy, etc. If you're not handy, you might find a good computer person? I say this in the hope that it is somehow useful feedback for you, I love your channel and think you do a GREAT job!! I also wonder how you learned so much about tennis for such a young person! Keep up the good work, and thank you! P.S. One more thing: At the end of your videos, you might say 'goodbye and thanks for watching" or "make sure to check back for my next video on [if you know the topic in advance]". Again, just some suggestions to make your videos get more 'likes' and win new subscribers. I hope you appreciate my intentions, which are only good. Note: I was a professional presenter in a former life (I am on permanent disability now, but I do play wheelchair tennis!) Wishing you all the best, see you next time (heh-heh). - JD

[@FundamentalTennis]

James Davis James thank you for the feedback. These are good points.

[@solomonpossible]

Watch the ball the coaches yell but instead watch the player too you say. Good logic but I think you must focus on his bat and position

[@FundamentalTennis]

ratnakumar solomon Hi. His bat? As said in the video the opponent is the primary focus when the ball is traveling towards them

[@adityahpatel]

There is nothing wrong with the video but title should be changed. I went through full 23 mins. Anticipation means firstly figuring out where the opponent will hit cross court or down the line or down the middle. Where is this covered? Whether the next shot is going to be offensive or defensive is meaningless. Esp. if you've played with someone before, you already have an idea about their level of aggressiveness. Most imp is figuring out where they will hit which i don't see covered in clear terms or in any terms in this video.

[@matyverona9407]

Too long this video for me...

[@kwok1411]

Really helpful. Thanks for your hard work.