Hey everyone,

After four years of college tennis, I've come to realize that some of the most important lessons aren't the complex technical adjustments coaches spend hours dissecting. Sometimes, the breakthrough comes from revisiting fundamentals with fresh eyes. My dad and I recently had one of those "aha" moments about hitting with better depth—something I thought I had mastered years ago but clearly hadn't.

The Depth Reality Check

During a recent practice session, Dad pulled out his measuring tape (yes, he's that kind of coach) and reminded me of something we'd worked on when I was younger:

• The court has specific zones: From service line to baseline is 18 feet total

• Back 9 feet = "Excellent zone": Your opponent can't attack you, and you'll get mistakes or short balls

• Middle 9 feet = "Good depth": Safe from attack but won't create opportunities

• Before the service line = “Danger zone”: You're getting attacked

After four years of college tennis, I was embarrassed to realize how many of my shots were landing in that middle zone when I thought I was hitting deep.

The Formula That Changed Everything

Dad reminded me of something he taught me years ago that I'd somehow forgotten: Height + Speed = Depth, and the numbers should equal 10.

• 1 height + 9 speed = same landing spot as 9 height + 1 speed

• Which is more consistent? Obviously 9 height with 1 speed

• Sweet spot combinations: 5-5, 6-4, or 4-6 for best results

• My college mistake: Playing 2-8 or 3-7 (low and fast) felt powerful but made the game harder

A 5 height with 5 speed gives me consistency at reasonable pace while the extra height naturally creates more depth.

The Practice Session That Opened My Eyes

Dad set up a visual drill at our club using the windows metaphor above the net:

• Target: Hit every ball through the top of window 2 or window 3

• Goal: Land between two lines he'd placed in the back section of the court

• No technical changes: No grip adjustments, footwork fixes, or swing modifications

• Simple instruction: "Just aim higher and hit deeper"

The results:

• First attempts: Humbling—kept hitting short because I was used to driving low

• Within 10 minutes: Consistently hitting balls in the excellent depth zone

• Dad's key point: "Did we change your technique? No—I just asked you to aim higher"

The transformation was immediate and obvious.

Four Years of College Tennis Wisdom

Looking back on my college experience, I realize I'd overcomplicated this fundamental:

• The trap: Focused on power, spin variations, and complex shot patterns

• The oversight: Forgot that consistent depth is the foundation for everything else

• The reality check: Struggling with 10 consecutive deep balls after four years of high-level tennis

• The lesson: Sometimes advanced tactics make you lose sight of basics

What I'm Still Working On

Current challenges and focus areas:

• Pressure situations: Still revert to low, fast balls when stressed

• Default response: Try to overpower instead of using height and placement

• Making it instinctive: Working with Dad to make height adjustment automatic, not just a practice reminder

• Visual cues: Using windows and court landmarks on every court we play

• Mental reminder: 5-5 combination beats trying to be a hero with 2-8 shots

The Lesson for Other Players

Key takeaways regardless of your experience level:

• Don't assume mastery: Even after years of playing, fundamentals need revisiting

• Check your depth patterns: Map out where your balls actually land vs. where you think they land

• Try the challenge: Hit 10 consecutive balls in the back 9-foot zone using height + speed = 10

• Use visual targets: Find windows, scoreboards, or other landmarks to aim through

• Embrace simplicity: Sometimes profound improvements come from basic adjustments

What this approach requires:

• No equipment changes

• No major technical overhauls

• No complex strategy memorization

• Just understanding court geometry and using height as your friend

The bottom line: Four years of college tennis taught me a lot, but this reminder from Dad might be the most valuable lesson yet—sometimes the most profound improvements come from perfecting the fundamentals you thought you already knew.

Let us know how it goes.

See you on the court,
Cade & Chris

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