Set-up Points and The Rule of Two (Consecutive Points)
By Alex Bancila
In last year’s “Be the Closer” article, I claimed that the most important point in platform tennis is game point. I outline the reasons for that here.
In the paragraphs below, I will further explore the flow of points and importance of score dynamics. I will first address the “set-up point” – the second most important point in a given game (after game point). Set-up point is the point that PRECEDES game point, i.e. any point that you play once EITHER team reaches “30” on the scoreboard: 0-30, 30-0, 15-30, 30-15, 30-30.
Use Hips To Create Paddle Power!
If you want to develop power in your shots, strong and flexible hips are critical. Creating rotational forces from the legs allows the player to transfer power through his hips and into the shot, creating additional acceleration. Conversely, relying too much on shoulders, elbows and wrists to generate power often will result in an overuse injury. Nerves, muscles, bones and joints work in succession from the feet to the arms to form a swing. We call this the “kinetic chain” and one weak link can affect the whole sequence. Take some time to watch elite or professional players play. Observe how they pre-stretch and load their lower extremities by rotating away from the shot and then quickly snap through with their hips to generate power.
The Key To Winning Points At Net
By Johan du Randt
The dreaded question when I am teaching my students: how do we finish the point when we are controlling the net? Ok, not a bad question. Well, there is no miracle shot that is going to get you points but variation and shot selection are key. As you are in control of the net, lets divide the court with two parallel lines in between the net and the baseline. Lets call Area A (Green Light) the area from the net to halfway up the service boxes. Area B (Yellow Light) is the area from halfway up the service boxes all the way to a line that is half a yard deeper than service line. Area C (Red Light) is the area from last drawn line to the baseline.
The Three Stages of a Point
By Alex Bancila
Be Neutral (It Did Wonders for Switzerland!) There are three different general types of shots in platform tennis (no different than in tennis): a) Neutral b) Defensive c) Offensive
Incidentally, each point has three different stages: 1) Beginning (starting the point) 2) Middle (staying in the point) 3) End (finishing the point)
Let’s explore the dynamic between the different types of shots and the stages of a point: a) Neutral Shots >>> Staying in the Point, Starting the Point
Lake Forest Club Platform Boot Camp
By Mark Parsons
School is in session all across America and the same was true for 126 platform tennis players in Lake Forest, Illinois from September 20th and 23rd. Anyone who walked by the platform tennis courts at the Lake Forest Club (LFC) would have sworn they were overhearing a math class. Comments like “96% of all points end with the last person who touches the ball making a mistake”, “the net is divided into thirds” and “the game is based on percentages” echoed from all four courts. The professors were LFC’s Director of Racquet Sports and paddleplayer.com’s managing partner Alex Bancila, LFC’s Racquet Associates Will Colmar and Adam Morgan and yours truly. The four of us were teaching the game of platform tennis, the simplified and high percentage version.
How Do You See Yourself?
By Christian Buck
I recently worked with a client who could not break out of the 85% overall grade point average. He seemed to be putting a decent amount of effort into his studies, so I was a little surprised that his grades were not rising to the level that we had hoped. What was stopping him?
Be The Closer
By Alex Bancila
Not all points are equally important. In platform tennis, the single most important point is GAME POINT. The explanation is simple: if you lose the point at 15-all, the score becomes 15-30 – not that big a deal, you can certainly recover from that deficit. If you lose the point when your opponents have game point however, you lose the game, there is not much to recover from, that game is forever gone.
The Game Plan
By Alex Bancila
Every player needs a game plan once he/she steps on the court for a match. Because platform tennis requires such a tight partnership between two players, it is paramount to execute the game plan AS A TEAM – both players need to be on the same page.
Of course, there is no such thing as a universal game plan – there are too many variables through the course of a match let alone throughout an entire season in both league and tournament play: the specifics of your game, the specifics of your opponents’ game, the dynamics and flow of a given match, etc. Below you have my version of a game plan – a checklist of “dos and don’ts” before and throughout each match. It has been working for me for the most part so I encourage you to read through, it might work for you as well.
The Overhead
By Alex Bancila
The overhead is one of the most important shots in platform tennis. It is the counterpart of the lob: the shot most hit from the baseline is the lob while consequently the overhead is the shot most hit while at the net. The ultimate purpose of the overhead is to prevent the backcourt team from hitting drives at you WHEN YOU ARE OUT OF POSITION (OFF THE NET)!
Serve Tactics
By Johan du Randt
I highly discourage everyone to think of the serve separately from the first volley – in platform tennis it is all about serve and volley without separating the two. If we really have to approach the serve on its own however, we really need to look at the thought process behind this crucial shot.
Serve and Volley
By Alex Bancila
It is important for league and (inexperienced) tournament players alike to first realize that that in platform tennis, the relationship between the server and the receiver is the opposite from the one in tennis. While in tennis the server (or serving team in doubles) has a huge advantage over the receiver (or the receiving team), in platform tennis it is exactly the other way around. On TV, analysts keep stats of service breaks. If platform tennis ever makes it to the tube, analysts will undoubtedly keep track of service holds.
But He Never Misses
By Johan du Randt
There is nothing I hate more than when a junior or adult comes to me and says “But he/she (they) never miss”. My dear junior/friend: nobody will ever miss if you don’t make them!!
Playing With or Against Your Partner
By Christian Buck
Have you ever found that perfect partner that you seem to play so well with? Why is that? What makes him or her so perfect for your game?
Since platform tennis is usually played as doubles, a good relationship between you and your partner on the court becomes a major component for success. I think there are two areas that need more focus while you’re playing: What is your strategy as a team? and What is your partner’s strengths?
Paddle Serve
By Christian Buck
So, you’re on serve in the 3rd. You have not been serving too well so far, but it has been good enough to stay in it. You step to the line… Toss…. “Out.” Love-15. Second try: “Out.” Love-30….
What are you going to do? Buckle down or get the next serve in with the same authority and placement that you have all year.