Practicing alone

Jack Ober Asked 13 years ago

When I get tired of side shuffling in front of the mirror and practicing strokes while staring myself in the eye, I have started practicing with a new method, and I want to know if it is actually helping me, doing nothing, or if it's in fact detrimental to my skill.

I am fairly new to the game, so my consistency is not great, especially with harder strokes like the chop.

I have been tossing the ball at a wall in my house in such a way that it will hit the wall at about 6-10 feet off the ground and bounce back to me so that I can either chop or topspin smash back at the wall. With the topspin hits, it sometimes bounces in such a way that I can get a bit of a rally with myself against the wall.  I do this with both my forehand and my backhand.

My main question I suppose is, since the ball is coming down at me with an angle that doesn't really simulate real play, is it even helping? 

Alois Rosario Answered 13 years ago

Hi Jack,

This is a good start with your skills.  It will develop your touch and control of the ball.  Keep going with it.

We also have a lesson on our Free Lessons page on some more ideas.  Take a look at the lesson on Practicing Alone.  It will give you some more ideas.