| SUN LAKES LIFESTYLES | AUGUST 2020 | 49
It's great to see so many Sun Lakers on the tennis courts and it's
no secret that many have some unique shots up their sleeves. The
following ideas may be helpful and are from Over The Net, by Brian
Walters. Try these ten tips to improve your game.
1. Get a good warm-up. If you prefer playing in the mornings,
allow plenty of time for a light breakfast and to get to the courts
early for a good warm-up.
2. Start inside the baseline. Sometimes your opponents will use
you as their target rather than the baseline and they will gauge
the depth of their shots based on where you are standing. You
can always move back if they don't go for it, but, try this at the
very start of the match to possibly get your opponents hitting
short. Try this on your return of serves at the start of your
match too.
3. Keep points short. Your serve and returns become even more
important as we get older. Attack any weak return with a short
angle to the open court for a two-shot winner.
4. Use the drop shot often. A deep shot followed by a drop
shot followed by a lob (if necessary) is a good three-shot
combination for the senior player.
5. Use the lob. You can use the lob any time to break the rhythm
or catch your breath. Your lobs must be just out of their reach
(height) and land deep in their back court to be most effective.
6. Keep the ball low. Use your slice backhand often to keep the
ball low. Bending down for those low, short mid-court balls is
not easy for any age.
7. Spend the money for comfortable shoes. You want lightweight,
low to the ground models. If your feet feel good, your whole
body feels good.
8. Stay well-hydrated. An informative book is Your Body's Many
Cries for Water, by Dr. Fereydoon Batmanghelidj.
9. Maintain a healthy diet. Helpful books include Eat to Win,
by Dr. Robert Haas and Eat Right 4 Your Type, by Dr. Peter J.
D'Adamo.
10. Stay loose and flexible. Pilates, yoga, and stretching are
beneficial and will add to your tennis longevity.
The Sun Lakes Tennis Club's event schedule continues to be on
hold. Keep your fingers crossed for changes in the upcoming months.
Let's get out there and play tennis!
Tennis
Just in case: Check with your club contact to confirm meeting place, date, and time.
