Improving Anticipation in Tennis
Max Edelsack graduated from Marist College with a degree in sports communication. While he is experienced in announcing basketball, lacrosse, and soccer, Max Edelsack enjoys playing sports in his own right, especially tennis. In tennis, when you learn to anticipate your opponent's shots, you effectively reduce your reaction time and give yourself more time to prepare for the return. To do so requires experience and a working knowledge of how a ball travels when hit in a certain way, as well as the ability to read an opponent's body language. One of the key indicators of a player's intention is the position of his or her hips and shoulders. Your opponent is most likely to hit the ball at a comfortable angle, so watching the direction in which his or her hips point can tell you whether the next hit will be down or across the court. Watching the court can also give you information about direction, as players tend to hit toward the most open spaces on the court. You will a