The Pro:
Bill Mecca is a USPTA certified professional from Garden City, Long Island. He is currently developing a tennis program for the Boomer and Beyond. He also is a Tennis Service Representative for USTA Eastern's Long Island region. He can be reached at mecca@eastern.usta.com.
The Tip: Super Seniors need to shorten the court
Many of us who have been playing tennis for a while always remember being admonished for standing in no-man’s land, the court geography between the service line and the baseline. And quite often when we did wind up there, our opponent would hit a hard, deep passing shot just to remind us that this was the wrong place to be.
Seniors however need to unlearn this lesson. Let’s be frank, seniors don’t hit the ball as hard or as deep as they used to so they have to modify their game to stay in the point. Many of your opponents can not hit the ball much beyond the service line and others have seen their reaction time slowed and can not run in to hit the short ball.
It is all normal and natural, and the key to more fun and longer rallies is shortening the court. If you are receiving serve stand a few feet in from the baseline, return the serve and stroll in to the service line. If you are serving, hit the serve and don’t charge in, but stroll in. I have seen many seniors lose points because they hit a high serve and stand on the baseline to admire their handiwork. Then try to run in to hit a short return to no avail. No one expects a super senior to serve and volley, but how about surprising your opponents with a serve and stroll.