Tag Archives: broad vision

Anticipatory Speed

Posted on May 8, 2015 by in Maximizing Tennis Potential, The Tennis Parent's Bible

The following post is an excerpt from The Mental Emotional Work Book: Blunders and Cures.  Thanks for visiting, Frank Giampaolo

Blunders & Cures_final

BLUNDER: Assuming that Tennis Speed is Only Foot Speed

Tennis specific speed training requires a combination of foot speed and anticipatory speed.

And while you can’t improve your genetic predisposition, you can nurture both your foot speed and anticipatory speed. The initial path to better court coverage lies in avoiding hesitation and anticipating situations.

Anticipatory speed is greatly increased by understanding and rehearsing the art of vision control.  Here’s a myth, “Keep your eye on the ball.” Instead, shift your focus from narrow vision (watching an incoming ball) to broad vision. Broad vision is picking up visual clues as the ball travels toward the opponent. You don’t have to be the fastest runner on the court if you develop your anticipatory skills. Just ask one of my all- time favorites, former #1 Lindsey Davenport.

CURE: Broad vision clues are spotting the landing zone of your outgoing ball, noticing the opponent’s court position, incoming strike zone, monitoring the opponent’s swing speed and swing length will help you improve your court speed by increasing your anticipatory skills.

Ask Yourself:

If you can spot an opponent shifting into a defensive situation would it be wise to counter the attack and slip into your offensive mode? After offering up a short ball, do you systemically slide your grip and court position to anticipate an intelligent attack into your weakness? Have you ever simply sat and watched a match at your club while focusing on broad vision clues?

Write down your Personal Action Plan:

Contact: Frank Giampaolo
FGSA@earthlink.net
MaximizingTennisPotential.com
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Anticipatory Speed is Essential

Posted on February 11, 2015 by in Maximizing Tennis Potential, The Tennis Parent's Bible

The following post is an excerpt from The Tennis Parent’s Bible.  Thanks for visiting, Frank GiampaoloFrank Giampaolo

FOCUS CONTROL: Broad Vision Versus Narrow Vision

Have you ever watched a match, amateur or professional, and the player with flawless strokes loses to a player with less than perfect strokes? Winning tennis requires more than perfect stroke production.  The best player uses proper broad and narrow vision on the court.

Why: Employing both broad and narrow vision develops quicker anticipatory speed, court coverage, court awareness.

Narrow vision is used when the incoming ball is approaching your child. Their attention should be on watching the ball after the bounce in their strike zone.

FUN FACT: Avoid asking them to watch the ball hit their racket. Kids are smart. You’ll be embarrassed. No human can actually see a 2-3 millisecond event.

Broad vision is employed when the ball has left your child’s strings and is out bound towards the opponent’s side. Ask your child to shift their focus to the big picture. They’ll need to spot where their ball is about to land, their opponent’s court position, their swing speed and swing length and their probable strike zone.

If they sense the opponent is on defense, they should be moving to an offensive position. On the other side, if they spot the opponent moving forward preparing to cream the ball, your child should be preparing for defense.

Good players have fast reaction time. They possess quick hands and fast feet. Great players have those skills as well as anticipation. Average players focus on simply tracking the ball. Advanced players pick up visual clues milliseconds before the opponent strikes the ball. Top players position themselves based on the pre-strike observations of the opponent. Examples include:

  • Watching the knee, hip and shoulder rotation as well as the ball toss angle before the opponent serves. Can you spot the obvious ball toss of a kick serve?
  • Watching the shoulder position and racket face angle before an opponent volleys. Can you read a crosscourt versus down the line incoming volley?
  • Watching the flight pattern, swing speed and swing length of the opponent’s backswing on their ground strokes. Can you spot a slice backhand versus top spin backhand before the opponent strikes the ball?

FUN FACT: Top players aren’t always faster; they simply understand what they are seeing and adjust quicker than the average player.

Thank you for visiting, Frank

Contact: Frank Giampaolo
FGSA@earthlink.net
www.Maximizingtennispotential.com

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