THE TENNIS EQUIVALENT TO THE BOXING JAB


Many years ago I was watching a boxing bout on TV. During the fight the commentator  made the statement “In boxing the jab is everything, from the jab comes everything”.

It seems that in boxing the jab does many things and the fighter who can dominate with the jab has an enormous advantage.  The jab establishes distance, allowing one fighter to control the space between himself and his opponent.  The boxing jab is also used as a first step from which other punches follow.  A jab can be followed by a hook, an upper-cut or another jab. What the commentator also said that day was that the fighter who dominates with the jab will control the fight.

The boxing jab is a "stepping stone" to other combinations

I began to wonder what the tennis equivalent was to the boxing jab.  I believe the cross-court is the tennis “Jab”.  The cross-court is used as a way to set up the point.  Whenever the cross-court is strong enough it will create the first step to attack.  A wide cross-court can force a short half court return from the opponent which can be attacked.  A player dominating with the cross-court on either side will often force their opponent to change down the line, which is a low percentage option. The cross-court is also used as the best form of defense, often neutralizing the point almost immediately.

"Dominate the Jab and you dominate the fight"


One of the main problems both Nadal and Federer have with the Djokovic game is the strength of his cross-court forehand and backhand.  Until they can both find an answer to the Djokovic cross-court dominance they will both struggle to gain any advantage in the ground-stroke exchanges.

The tennis cross-court is the tennis equivalent of the boxing jab


Work to develop your tennis “Jab” and you will see an immediate improvement in your results.  

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