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TENNIS WALL TRAINING – HOW DOES IT DIFFER FROM COURT TENNIS?
2022-07-29
You don’t need a partner to train tennis. A partner can be effectively replaced by… a wall. Moreover, a tennis wall training is a great complement to sparring games. How does it differ from court tennis? What skills does it help to develop? How to train tennis at a wall? We will explain.
TENNIS WALL TRAINING – WHY IS IT WORTH TRYING?
Against all appearances, wall training is not only for people who are having problems finding a suitable court partner. It should be a permanent element of training activity. The wall allows for improving technique and learn to adequately react to the situation on the court. At the beginning, one can have huge problems with controlling the ball while training at a wall, but it is a great way of improving precision. Playing at a wall is also dynamic, thereby enabling reflexes and fitness exercises.
Tennis wall training is also done by the best players in the world. It allows working on your physical and mental abilities. It requires independent thinking and observation, therefore being a great choice for people who only rely on the coach’s advice and have issues with independent judgement.
TWALL TRAINING VS COURT TRAINING – SIMILARITIES AND DIFFERENCES
Wall training shouldn’t really be that different than training with a partner. Some people recommend hitting the same point many times, but this surely doesn’t enable the full utilisation of the wall’s possibilities. It is definitely more advantageous to approach solo play as if playing with a partner, utilising varied swing force and hit rotation. Wall training should induce movement and intuitive planning of subsequent steps. Only then it is adequately effective.
No opponent eliminates the element of surprise related to his or her moves. The ball bounces off the wall according to the laws of physics. Wall training can therefore be demanding and slightly more predictable at the same time. It enables practicing specific swings and any swing combinations. When practicing at a wall, the player has full control, thereby enabling him or her to work on the most difficult elements. At the same time, the ball bounces off very quickly, making wall training much more dynamic. It is therefore suitable for cardio exercises and competitive play. If developing these skills is not the player’s objective, he or she must take breaks often.
HOW TO TRAIN AT A TENNIS WALL?
Tennis wall training must be started gradually. The first step is obviously a solid warm up. Then, it is possible to take single gentle swings – lighter and made from smaller distances at first, then taking some steps backward – more or less at half court length.
It is a good idea to start with several or a dozen controlled forehand swings. Then, you can make a dozen backhands. The next step should include taking forehands and backhands alternately. The higher the player’s proficiency, the wider he or she can swing at the ball. In order to increase the difficulty level, you can mix regular and reverse forehand as well as topspin with slice. Increase the swing force along with increasing precision. Then, switch to practicing volleys slowly and then by mixing various types of swings. You can add half-volleys later. The wall is perfect for practicing running volleys. Start by putting the ball into play making sure that it hits the ground before hitting the wall. Its flight after it bounces off the wall should simulate a medium-height ball that can be hit with a running forehand or backhand.
The wall is perfect for practicing service – hit various points above the net line. This will allow you to consolidate motions and improve service precision by catching the ball after each service. In the next step, it is worth expanding service exercises with open play. It is recommended to change exercises often, even if the previous exercise wasn’t done to your complete satisfaction. This will prevent you from consolidating bad habits.
TENNIS WALL TRAINING – WHAT DO YOU NEED?
The advantage of tennis wall training is that you can train at any time without specialist equipment. You only need a racket and ball. The tennis wall can be stationary or mobile, one- or double-sided. This equipment is not expensive. It is surely worth investing in it at courts or training centres to enable players to train on their own. It is best when the wall has a special arch design. Thanks to this, ball bounces allow for more realistic play. Simply place it on suitable ground so it can serve many tennis players in improving technique and dynamics!
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