Set aside half an hour in Rome for two practice themes: The controlled forehand and The dependable backhand. Start without scoring, then test the same decisions in a short doubles game.
Set aside half an hour in Rome for two practice themes: The controlled forehand and The dependable backhand. Start without scoring, then test the same decisions in a short doubles game.
The first five minutes
One venue for this session is Aspresso Roma. When booking, make sure your group has a court together. Start with short, gentle rallies and decide who will feed the first ball before you begin scoring.
05–13 · The controlled forehand
Turn shoulders and torso slightly sideways. Keep the backswing short and find contact a little in front of your body. Follow through calmly towards your target. Pace comes from fluid movement, not a frantic wrist action.
Start with a broad zone in the middle of the court. Leave space from the glass, fence and sideline. Once several balls land safely, vary length and direction. Consistency is a technical skill, not a lack of ambition.
Practice · Use two existing lines to frame a generous cross-court target. Hit six forehands and narrow the target only once four land inside.
13–21 · The dependable backhand
Turn sideways early, using your free hand to help bring the racket into position. Leave enough room for your arm rather than trapping it against your body. One-handed or two-handed, your chosen version should feel stable and pain-free.
Meet the ball in front of your body and guide the movement calmly towards the target. Avoid a late wrist flick. Small adjustment steps help more than trying to compensate for poor body position with your arm.
Practice · Have a partner feed five slow balls to your backhand. Play deep down the middle, then cross-court. Notice which direction requires earlier preparation.
21–30 · Nine minutes with a score
Play the last few minutes as doubles. Choose one of the two themes and remember a point where it worked. After the last ball, describe the moment before the shot: where were the opponents, where was the space and which decision would you repeat?
A question players ask
How can we practise with mixed abilities?
Ask the more consistent player to feed a controlled ball. Count good decisions together at first. Move on to open play once both pairs can repeat the pattern.
