Manipulating time on the tennis court isn't strictly limited to sci-fi, though. The main advantage in hitting harder, for example, is to give your opponent less time to get to the ball and prepare her swing. This is also one of the best reasons to get to the net (along with being able to hit sharper angles and shorter drops).
To become a master thief of your opponent's time, you need one more tool in your kit. The earlier you hit your shots, the less time your opponent has to get ready for hers, and hitting early usually means hitting the ball on the rise - hitting the ball as it's coming up off the bounce instead of after its bounce has begun to fall from its peak, which is how most of us first learn to play.
Hitting on the rise gives you a number of advantages:
- Your opponent has less time to react.
- You cut off your opponent's angles earlier so that you have less court to cover.
- Being closer to the net, you can hit sharper angles.
- You prevent your opponent from kicking the ball above your comfort zone.
- The ball has slightly more incoming speed when it hits your strings and thus slightly more rebound speed.
