First decide the stroke you want to improve and commit to master it before working on any other part of your game. Then book a pro for a half-hour lesson. Tell him exactly what you want to focus on. He’ll show you the mechanics of the stroke and, once you get the swing of it, hit you some balls .
     If the new stroke involves a radical change, you will probably be spraying tennis balls everywhere. Resist the impulse to smash your racquet on the nearest heavy object, it's going to take a lot of practice.
     And the very best practice partner is the pro. He can give you instant feedback. But, unless you have money to burn, this is good way to break the bank. Ouch, these guys are expensive.
     For my money, get the pro's advice and head for the backboard to work on the mechanics. After you achieve some consistency, find a hitting partner to practice with.
     After a week or so of practice, go back to the pro for another half-hour to work out the kinks. Then it’s back to the backboard, followed by the hitting partner. Repeat this cycle until you get it right.
     When you have mastered the stroke you will find yourself hitting with more power, depth, control, and consistency. Then you can work on another part of your game.      You still may get your butt kicked, but you should be more competitive. And if you keep improving, it will only be a matter of time before you start kicking a little booty of your own.
     The main thing to remember is to focus on mechanics with the pro in short doses and find another hacker for practice.


(If you have any comments, Jim Swetnam, the Netman, can be reached at editor@AmericaToday.com or directly at jswetnam1@msn.com)