Related Resources • Playing in the Wind • Win With Consistency • Singles Maze

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Taking advantage of the cold essentially boils down to taking advantage of low bounces. Just practice the following tips, and you'll be ready for Wimbledon's grass:

• Remember to get your racquet lower, especially in preparation for hitting topspin. Without this adjustment, you'll hit into the net much more than usual, both because you don't get enough lift on the ball and because its rebound off your racquet is reduced. Not only is the ball less lively--so are your strings.

• Hit harder and aim deeper, again because of the less lively ball and strings.

• Slice like crazy, both serves and groundstrokes. A good slice will practically roll on your opponent's side.

• Use your drop shot. Any conditions that reduce bounce (e.g. grass) favor drop shots.

• Attack the net. A low bounce on your opponent's side will make it much harder for him to hit a topspin passing shot. Without the dipping effect of topspin on his shots, your opponent will give you more high volleys, and volleys are generally easier to hit from above the net than from below.

• Topspin applied to groundstrokes and serves will still help the ball drop into the court and accelerate forward on its bounce, but if you're used to kicking the ball above your opponent's comfort zone, you might be disappointed. A kick serve that would, on a 75-degree day, jump above your opponent's head, will, on a 35-degree day, sit right in his "wheelhouse" (power zone). Don't abandon your topspin, but use it for purposes other than creating a high bounce. At the very least, mix it in with your slices just to keep your opponent from getting used to what you're doing.

• Here's a tennis tip you don't hear too often: Watch out for ice! Even small patches of slight wetness can become major hazards as the temperature drops. A damp spot that's pretty harmless at 3:00 can send you to the hospital at 4:45 when the evening temperatures have turned it to ice. (I suppose it's possible that a few of you might decide it's too cold by then.)