Lessons to Learn

Last few weeks I've been taking lessons from Frank and Cheché.  Each one teaches something different.  Frank talks a lot more and gives me tips on tactics.  Especially I have taken to heart the message about 'hunting'.  Frank's drills also emphasizes creating a put away shot situation.  Another message I have to put into practice is the change in pace.  Frank introduced a drill where practice hitting three drives each with a second bounce at the bottom of the back glass.  The first one comes off the front wall at the service line, the second one below the service line, and the third one just above the tin.  Each one is hit with increasing pace to drive the ball deep.  Most importantly, Frank has been helping me with balance and control.  The most significant change is making more space between me and the ball.  To do that I've had to change two things about my foot-work.  One is to take a final lunging step.  Two, I have to use smaller skip steps to make space between me and the ball.  In the drills, Frank reminds me to always step back towards the center line in order to keep from drifting towards the walls.  I am very aware now how close I have been drifting to the walls in my return of serves and when I rally.  Frank shows me the 6 cone drill where I move from cone to cone, but always staying on the center line.  These drills have helped me a great deal to improve my balance.

1. always on the hunt in the front court
2. stay low and take skip steps
3. hit with an open stance for a drive, boast, or cross
4. use the working boast as an attacking shot

Cheché and Erick's lesson are much more physical.  The lessons are mainly drills to work on moving from one part of the court to the other and drive the ball with pace or to hit drop shots cleanly.  Cheché introduced a drill where I hit a drive to myself, stepping back and then stepping forward again to hit a boast.  The other drill is to drive from a drop followed by a volley and then move to the back court for a drive.  All the drills work on foot-work, control, and balance.