Many players think that the most important thing in tennis is having the right stroke. Having the right stroke is important, but what's even more important is your recovery position.
If your stroke is on a pro level, but your recovery position isn't in place, then you’re probably not able to hit the right shot. Your recovery position changes in different situations. It's important to practice the right recovery position. Practicing the recovery position is underestimated, there's often more attention for the right technics of the different strokes.
In this picture my former player Christian Chin, number 1 player from Malaysia. With him, I've practiced the different recovery positions a lot.
Many players think that the recovery position after every shot must always be in the middle of the court, at the position inside the blue circle. Both for baseline and net play.
There’s a huge difference between recovering to the middle of the court, like the blue circle, and recovering to the middle of the playing field.
1. Recovery position at the baseline when hitting the ball through the middle of the court.
This is a position exactly in the middle of the angle of possible shot directions of your opponent. When hitting the ball through the middle of the court, your recovery position is also in the middle of the court. You are exactly in the middle of the angle of possible shot directions of your opponent.
2. Recovery position when hitting the ball to the left side of the court.
When hitting the ball to the left side of the court, your recovery position at the baseline is more to the right side of the court. Your recovery position at the net is always at the same side as your own shot. You are exactly in the middle of the angle of possible shot directions of your opponent.
Many players think that with this recovery position at the baseline, the gap down the line is too big, but that's not true.
3. When hitting the ball to the right side of the court.
When hitting the ball to the right side of the court, your recovery position is more to the left side of the court. Your recovery position at the net is always at the same side as your own shot. You are exactly in the middle of the angle of possible shot directions of your opponent.
As you can see, both positions at the net and at the baseline are on the same line.
4. Recovery position forward when hitting a difficult shot.
When hitting a difficult shot, e.g. to the open side on the left of the court, your recovery position is more forward. This is because after your difficult shot, you can expect an easy shot from your opponent.
Normally it's not wise to be in "no-man's-land" after your shot, but when your opponent is really under pressure, you can count on it that the ball is coming back easy.
5. Recovery position backwards when hitting the ball too easy for your opponent.
When hitting the ball too easy for your opponent, you can expect a tough shot back. Even before your opponent is going to hit the ball, you must recover backwards.
It's important to evaluate your own shot in a split second, in order to go to the right recovery position.
When you keep in mind these simple tactical rules, you are in a better position to reach for the next shot and your achievements will go up. You’re one step closer to be a champion!