Carlos Goffi was one of John McEnroe’s coaches in the early days. He wrote a very good book entitled Tournament Tough. In the book, he used a word this young cowboy had never heard before…Penultimate. About the only time you’ll hear it now is on golf telecasts. The commentator might say that Jordan Spieth is in the Penultimate group. It means next to the last.
So, how can the word penultimate be applied to help grow your tennis game?
It’s 4 games all in the first set and your opponents hit a high defensive lob and your partner says, ‘ bounce it.’ You are taken back to within four feet of your baseline.
The point is critical.
Heart rate elevated.
Decision time.
Put the hurt on it…or penultimate? That’s right, play it as the next to the last shot.
Hit an overhead after the bounce and play it deep down the middle with some spin. Maybe your partner is well coached and will be at the net ready to poach like Mike Bryan.
A lesser player might have unloaded on this shot and, in the heat of the moment, forgotten to put some spin on it to increase the margin of error. Remember, going down the center takes advantage of the lower net, could confuse opponents, and takes away their angles.
I’ll cover some other situations in future morsels but this is a very important word that can immediately take your game to a wiser…and better level.
Btw…Remember, when you play a bouncing overhead, the off hand should not stay above the head. The racquet gets prepared immediately but the off hand stays at rib height and then the player simulates a toss like serving as the ball ascends from the court. Why do all pros use this method…it gives them the timing to be successful.
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