Top of the Bounce

In the High Performance setting, you will often hear coaches urging players to get to the "top of the bounce." Let's look at what that's all about.

Every ball that hits the court has an accompanying bounce. That bounce can be affected by spin, wind, surface, height, speed, etc. Advanced players will need to read the early flight of the ball and then determine their position and alignment in order to maximize their shot selection opportunities and execution. That almost always means, playing the ball as it rises through their hitting zone ,or as it peaks after bouncing. There is a moment when the ball is no longer rising but hasn't yet started to fall, which we refer to as "settling". Different shot selections are better suited to striking rising vs. settling balls, but playing balls that are falling is rarely preferable. As young players develop, their early experiences will include letting the ball fall, both for added time, and comfort in the hitting zone. Split step timing and better reaction time will help these players maximize their adjustment time, without the need for playing balls on the descent.

The "top of the bounce" offers the hitter several things: by playing the ball before it falls lower and out of their optimum hitting zone, they minimize the barrier of the net by playing the ball nearer to the height of the net. That means less lift is needed, and a flatter, more agressive shot is possible. The player also takes time away from his/her opponent, time that is usually needed for recovery. By playing the ball at the top of the bounce we are playing the ball earlier in time, and keeping pressure on the opponent, whose time to move and prepare is being shortened. Also, getting to the top of the bounce often means moving forward, or taking ground, which allows greater angle possibilities for the striking player. That's a higher point of contact, better angles for attack, and taking time from the opponent - all considerable plusses gained by playing the top of the bounce.

As levels of play go higher, most balls, if alowed to go to the "top" of their bounce, could be shoulder high, head high, or worse. This causes the hitting player to give more ground (retreat), even to the back fence. As this is not preferable for many reasons, these balls should be played as they rise through a player's favored strike zone, for all the same reasons already associated with the top of the bounce.There will be times when your opponent hits the ball so well and so far from you that you have no option but to play it after it has fallen lower than its peak. That's ok, as you really had no choice. The important thing is to play as many balls as possible at the top, or as it rises.

Watch the flights of balls as you pass the courts. Start to read all flights and understand what and where the top of the bounce is, and how it relates to your timing and your strike zone. Find ways to hit more balls as they rise vs. as they fall. You will enjoy how playing the top of the bounce helps you get to the top of your game.