So Is Basket Feeding Useless? — SS #4

If you've been following along for the past few weeks, you might think that coaches who do basket feeding (blocked and variable practice) are just out-of-touch luddites who have not stayed up to date with the literature on what makes an effective practice session.

While I can't speak for specific coaches and the information that they're working off, I'm here to tell you that basket feeding (and blocked practice in particular) is an essential component of learning to play this game well.

Skip it at your own peril.

Avoid it at your own doom.

Tennis is such a unique sport in that technique is a strong pillar. If you have severe issues with your technique, you're going to place a really hard ceiling on yourself for how well you could play this game.

The most common kind of player that I see on the tennis courts is the one who learned to get the ball into the court in all sorts of crappy ways and then started playing matches—and that's all they do. Just play matches. This player sets a pretty strong ceiling on their overall potential because they cannot hit the ball well.

The Role of Basket Feeding in Skill Development

Basket feeding isn't just about repetition; it's about creating a controlled environment where you can focus on refining specific technical aspects without the unpredictability of a match scenario. Here's why it remains a staple in tennis coaching:

Foundation Building: For beginners and intermediate players, basket feeding offers a way to isolate and improve fundamental strokes—think of it as laying the groundwork.

Technique Correction: It's much easier to make and solidify technical adjustments when the variables are limited. Us coaches can provide immediate feedback and players can repetitively practice the corrected form until it becomes automatic.

Increased Repetitions: The volume of balls hit in a basket feeding session is invaluable for ingraining strokes. This kind of repetition is crucial for developing a reliable and effective stroke.

Integrating Basket Feeding Into Your Practices

While it’s critical for skill development, basket feeding should not be the sole method of practice. It's most effective when used in conjunction with more dynamic drills that simulate match conditions. Here’s how you can integrate the two for a comprehensive practice session.

For these scenarios, we're going to pretend that you have an excessive backswing on your forehand volley that you're trying to correct.

Start with Basket Feeding: Begin your practice with basket feeding to focus on specific technical improvements and to warm up with consistent strokes. This is where you can really focus in on keeping your takeback compact and precise. Because you know where the ball is going you can really focus in on the technical change.

Progress to More Realistic Scenarios: Gradually introduce more variability and unpredictability with live-ball drills. Now the challenge becomes more "realistic." Have a coach or hitting partner hit off the baseline into your forehand volley. Your goal is to recreate the new technique with the new, tougher incoming ball.

Scenario Play: Finish with point play that mimics actual match situations. Start the feed out into your forehand volley and then open it up where you have to pull out that "new" volley on the fly. You're going to struggle for quite some time. Weeks. Even months depending on how long you're working on it until the new becomes automatic.

So Here's My Actionable Tip

This week, dedicate the first 15 minutes of every practice session to basket feeding. Focus specifically on one stroke or technical element you've been struggling with. Use this time to refine your technique under the watchful eye of your coach or a training partner who can give you immediate feedback. This concentrated effort will help you solidify improvements before you transition into more dynamic, match-like scenarios.

Basket feeding is far from outdated; it's an essential technique that, when used wisely, can significantly help your skills. By combining structured, repetitive practice with variable, match-like experiences, you ensure a well-rounded development that translates effectively onto the match court.

2 Ways I Can Help You

When you're ready, I believe there are two concrete ways:

1. Private Coaching Package: We'll use the best information we have on how to change your strokes and deliberate practice to create lasting changes in your game. It's 30 days of consistent feedback and a personalized practice plan. For players who a) want to make a lasting technical change or b) want to improve their standard of play in matches and in tournaments.

2. Video Analysis: Have a stroke you've always struggled with? Want to know how it could be better? With Video Analysis you'll receive pinpoint, personalized feedback to that will set the path towards your improvement.

We're Almost at 100!

This week, 98 of you tuned in to The Fast 4. If you're enjoying this and finding the coaching and information in here valuable, please consider sharing it with a tennis partner or teammate. They can sign up here.

My best,
Malhar