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”.

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 of the boxing jab was.  I believe the cross-court is the tennis “Jab”.  The cross-court is used to set up the point.  Whenever the cross-court is strong enough, it creates the first step in attacking.  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 shot on either side will often force their opponent to change direction down the line, which is a low-percentage option. The cross-court is also used as the best form of defence, frequently neutralising 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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