If you have been playing tennis for quite a while, do not believe you cannot change to modernize your game. Just Ask! Please ask your tennis pro to teach you how to:

• Hit an open-stance forehand with a semi-western grip. This will be the biggest and best change you will ever make in your game. Hit it like the pros.


• Hit the volleys with a continental grip. Do not change back and forth. Remember, hit your backhand volley with your forehand volley grip, this will force you to "pull," not "push" the volleys. This will really increase your reaction time and quickness.


• Maintain the same racket speed on both your first and second serve. This will stop you from babying your second serve. This will also force you to learn to add spin for control.


• Move forward to hit the volleys. "Good things happen when I move forward."


• Hit your backhand volley with one hand. In the short term, the two-handed backhand volley will be easier to learn and to handle hard shots. However, in the long run the loss of reach and adaptability will be overwhelming. Really, how many pros hit a two-handed backhand volley?


• Hit a one handed backhand chip/slice, even though you have a two-handed backhand drive. Use this as a change-up and to bring a baseliner in or when you are out of position to hit a two-handed backhand.