Ah, summer’s here. This past Sunday (Father’s Day) was June 21st. And you know what that means? Sure, warm weather, barbecues, and cannonballs into your neighbor’s pool. But more importantly, Wimbledon is just around the corner. Bring your John Deere, because in order to mow through to the finals, you’ll need to know how to handle slippery, unforgiving, but classy grass surface.
If you fancied my post on how to mold the clay court to your liking, you’re going to enjoy this.
1. How low can you go?
The last time you were at a party, you did the limbo, right? Well, maybe I’m just going to weird parties. The point is that you’re going to have to put those Lil’ Jon Get Low skills to use on the grass. The ball skids on the lawn and unless your limbo ability is on point, you’re going to wake up the next morning with some seriously sore knees.
How you can master it
You can use the speed and silkiness of the court to your advantage by unleashing power serves that even John Isner would applaud. The other option is to get in ready position early, prepare the racket sooner, and be ready to take the ball earlier than normal. “Early bird gets the Wimbledon trophy,” I always say.
2. Put your Fruit Ninja skills to good use.
You’ve mastered the art of the ‘slice’ from your Fruit Ninja escapades. Time to use that technique on the court. The grass court skid (not a dance move) is even more pronounced with slice.
How you can master it
Throw in a slice serve to have your opponent dive and miss and lose and cry. Don’t be afraid to whip out that slice backhand you’ve been practicing. Even if it’s not Roger Feder’esque, a slice on grass will do more damage than the Caddyshack gopher. And although he may be watching in the stands on Centre Court, Bill Murray will not be there to save the day when you encounter a slice magician in the fourth round.
3. Just like Cosmo Kramer, it’s very unpredictable.
Divots, holes, wear, tear, and photosynthesis can make grass courts very tough to predict. Ever seen the Wimbledon grass one week after the tournament begins? It starts to look like your dog’s favorite pee spot. The worn grass can make for treacherous predictability. Or lack thereof.
How you can master it
Um, good luck. This is where your innate tennis player alertness and quick hand-eye coordination will serve you well. Be on your toes and ready for anything. Imagine how mentally drained Isner felt after his 70-68 fifth set victory over Nicolas Mahut at the 2010 Wimbledon Championships. Oy.
