Getting Started with the John Roddick Idea
So, today I wanted to switch things up on the court. Got this idea stuck in my head about John Roddick’s coaching style. You know, Andy’s brother. Heard he’s all about discipline and hard work, getting the fundamentals right. Figured I’d try and channel some of that into my own practice session. Not that I’m gonna suddenly turn pro, but hey, focusing on something specific helps.
Warming Up and Getting Loose
Started off like usual. Did some jogging around the court, maybe five minutes. Then some dynamic stretches – leg swings, arm circles, torso twists. Didn’t want to pull anything. Got the racquet out, did some easy mini-tennis volleys just to get a feel for the ball. Standard stuff, really, just getting the body ready for more intense hitting.
The Grind: Focusing on Reps
Alright, this is where I tried to bring in that ‘John Roddick’ mindset. Less about fancy shots, more about just hitting a ton of balls with purpose. Decided to focus on baseline consistency.
- Forehands Crosscourt: Just stood there and hammered forehands crosscourt. Tried to hit maybe 20-30 in a row without missing. Focused on getting good depth and just grooving the stroke. My arm started feeling it after a while.
- Backhands Crosscourt: Did the same thing on the backhand side. This is usually weaker for me, so it felt more like work. Really had to concentrate on technique and not getting lazy with my feet. Hit a lot of net balls initially.
- Down the Line: Switched it up to hitting both forehands and backhands down the line. Man, this was tougher. Keeping it in the court consistently down the line requires more control. Felt like this really tested my focus, trying to replicate that disciplined approach.
Serve Practice: Placement over Power
Moved onto serves. Instead of just bashing them like I sometimes do, I thought about coaching. Placement. Picked spots in the service box and just tried to hit them consistently. Did a bucket focusing on the T, then another bucket out wide. It wasn’t about speed, just about control and repetition. Felt more productive than just blasting away, honestly.
Feeling the Effort
It was tiring. Not gonna lie. Just the sheer volume of balls, trying to maintain focus on every shot, it drains you. My legs felt heavy by the end. Realized how much mental effort goes into that kind of disciplined practice. It’s easy to just whack balls around, but trying to hit every one with intent? Different story. Reminded me that guys like Andy Roddick didn’t get good by accident; there was serious graft involved, likely drilled in by coaches like John.
Cool Down and Thoughts
Finished up with a light jog and some static stretching. Felt good, felt like I’d actually worked on something specific rather than just hitting aimlessly. Thinking about that coaching perspective – the discipline, the reps – definitely changed the feel of the practice. Not sure if I hit the ball any better technically today, but the focus was different. Worth trying again, maybe focusing on another aspect next time. For now, time for a break.
