Timing is everything in tennis. Each shot is a direct result of the manner in which the strings contact the ball, and timing plays a key role in this process. Hitting "early" and hitting "late" are terms that are used to describe the contact point, but they also are used to describe the general level of aggressiveness that a player employs. The term "taking the ball early" applies not only to timing but also to a mindset, so there are several ways to think about early and late timing and how they influence tennis on all levels.
Taking the Ball Early
"By hitting the ball on the rise you don't have to be as exacting with your placement as you are when you take it later because you are robbing your opponent of time," says Paul Annacone, who has coached Pete Sampras and currently is working with Roger Federer. In this case, timing becomes a mindset more than a technical tool. What Annacone is saying is that it can be very advantageous to attack the ball while it is rising rather than after it has risen and is dropping. In doing so, the attacking player doesn't allow his opponent time to prepare for the next shot.
Technical Timing
In modern tennis, timing -- when you make contact with the ball in your swing -- is a function of grip, shot selection and many other things. Players use Western or semi-Western grips on the forehand side, and this necessitates hitting the ball "early." "Early" means that the racket makes contact with the ball before it has reached the body. This allow the ball striker to apply the preferred amount of topspin while still ensuring that the shot lands inside the court. It is best to experiment with this timing, because the results of your shots will be a clear indicator of your timing. If your timing is good, your shots will have the desired effect. If not, experiment more.
Timing and Footwork
"You can get away with not having technically perfect shots, but even if you do have technically perfect shots, you will get nowhere without footwork, timing and feel," says Will Hamilton of the educational tennis website Fuzzy Yellow Balls. Think about it: Every shot you hit demands that you are in position to hit it first. Therefore, footwork remains the critical ingredient whenever timing is in question. The better a player moves to the ball, and the better balance that player has when he is preparing to strike the ball, the better his timing will be. It is this footwork that gives the player control over his timing, so that he may choose which way to strike the ball.
Hitting Late
Hitting "late" in tennis is similar to what happens when a baseball player can't catch up with a high-velocity fastball. Instead of making contact at the moment of maximum acceleration of his swing, the batter makes contact before getting the chance to get the swing uncorked. It's the same thing in tennis. When a player is forced to react to a rapidly traveling ball, it is imperative that the player recognizes the pace of the ball and speeds up his preparation, footwork and swing so that he is able to make contact with the ball when it is at its maximum velocity. Otherwise, errors will result and accuracy and proper spin will become an huge issue.
In Conclusion
Early and late timing can mean different things for a tennis player, but the general rule to operate by is that it's better to be early than late. Good footwork, anticipation of your opponent's shots and a developed sense of what timing works for your swing and grip is essential for a player who wants to control the ball and shape the trajectory, spin and pace of her shots.
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