Nick Bollettieri: Do not copy their strokes but learn how they play the game

TENNIS – Exclusively for Ubitennis, Nick Bollettieri explains how to learn from the best players (Federer, Nadal, Djokovic, Serena Williams and Sharapova) without copying their strokes, but by developing your own game.

Not a day goes by, especially when I’m at tournaments, giving clinics, and even when I’m at IMG Academy’s Bollettieri Tennis Program, when I hear students, adults, or spectators say I want to:

Serve
Hit a forehand
Hit a backhand
Return serve

Just like Federer, Nadal, Serena, Sharapova, Djokovic, etc.

WOW, are you kidding me?? Players are all different!!

The facts are that players’ groundstrokes are different. They all have different grips, different swing patterns, and different recovery steps. On their serves they all have different swing patterns, different grips, and different serve motions, including with their feet. For example Federer keeps his feet separated and his back foot stays back. Monfils keeps both of his feet together. They have different starting positions in comparison to the baseline. For example Djokovic, Sharapova, Serena Williams, and Kei Nishikori all play very close to the baseline. Murray, Hewitt, Wawrinka, and Gasguet all stay 3-4 feet behind the baseline. The mentality of each player is different. They each have their own personality, strengths, weaknesses, and fears. They all react differently after each point. Sharapova, for example, has a ritual after each point where she focuses on and plans for the next point. Murray will do all sorts of things including holding a conversation with himself. Federer never changes his outward appearance (he’d be a great poker player).

What should you copy?

Where they return serve on first serves. Most will choose to return crosscourt going over the lowest part of the net and working with the greatest distance and largest area of the court.
How they take advantage when returning a defensive second serve or a short defensive groundstroke.
When they hit a drop shot, especially when their opponent stands several feet behind the baseline.
How quickly they recover when hitting any of their shots.
Their athletic foundation in everything they do.
Their footwork.
How they buy time when they are out of position.
Where do they hit their aggressive shots and how close do they hit to the lines.
How they go to the net after hitting an offensive shot several feet from the baseline.

And don’t forget:

How they slow things down when they are falling behind.
Most importantly, their early backswing, especially Serena Williams and Novak Djokovic. As soon as they see the ball coming to them and before the ball crosses the net they start their backswing!

We have 225 full time school year tennis students in our IMG Academy Bollettieri Tennis program. They are all different. Our staff directed by Rohan Goetzke, our Tennis Director, do not make them copy the style of one or two other players. We develop their own individual swing patterns and styles. You can be a dreamer but dream about your style of play and be sure to visit our IMG Academy Bollettieri Tennis Program. Visit us at www.imgacademy.com.

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For Information on the Bollettieri Academy in Italy Contact Fiorella Bonfanti