TopCourt: Gilbert’s Modern Methods

A true legend of the game, Brad Gilbert knows a thing or two about adapting to new trends.

The American has been at the forefront of tennis for decades, picking up 20 ATP Tour titles as a player before coaching stars such as Andre Agassi, Andy Roddick and Andy Murray. With a long and diverse tennis journey, Gilbert has become a master at acknowledging the constant changes happening within the game.

Now having joined TopCourt, Gilbert shows fans his latest tips and drills, suitable for club players as well as aspiring pros, with the help of WTA star and fellow TopCourt coach Eugenie Bouchard. He also reveals how a split-second decision from his father shaped his tennis career, shares unheard stories from his time guiding ATP legend Agassi, and reveals how he boosted Roddick’s confidence playing on grass.

Technique: Gilbert encourages you to stay aggressive when moving forward to play the so-called ‘dunk volley.’ A short but intense move forward ending with a hard and short swing, it enables you to finish points with authority after executing a big play.

Drills: “Most pros hit anything between 60-70 per cent forehands,” says Gilbert. This is reflected in the American’s TopCourt class, in which he places an emphasis on efficiency of movement. With his six-ball “Find the Forehand” drill, Gilbert shows you how to raise your intensity as you run around your backhand to take control of the point with your forehand.

Follow Gilbert’s Tutorials at TopCourt.com.