Getting Started with Coboli Tennis Practice
So, I watched that young Italian player, Cobolli, a few times recently. Something about his game, maybe the heavy spin on his forehand or just how he digs in, got me thinking. I figured, why not try and bring some of that energy into my own practice? Just for kicks, you know? So, I called this little experiment my ‘Coboli tennis’ session.
Hitting the Court
Alright, first thing I did was head down to the local courts. Got there early, nobody around, perfect. Warmed up like usual, nothing fancy. Then, I decided to focus purely on hitting heavy forehands, trying to mimic that loop and topspin Cobolli gets. Man, it was tougher than it looks.
My plan was simple:
- Feed myself balls to the forehand side.
- Really focus on brushing up the back of the ball.
- Try to get height over the net but have it dip down hard.
Spent a good hour just doing that. My arm started feeling it pretty quickly. Getting that consistent heavy ball takes a lot more work than just hitting flat. Some shots felt great, really kicking up off the court. Others… well, they sailed long or flopped into the net. It’s a real balancing act.
The Grind Part
After the forehand drilling, I wanted to capture some of that fighting spirit. Cobolli seems to chase everything down. So, I set up some cones for footwork drills. Side to side, quick sprints to the net, backpedaling. This part really gassed me. It’s one thing to watch someone scramble on TV, it’s another thing entirely to do it yourself after hitting a ton of heavy balls.
I wasn’t really keeping score or anything, just trying to push myself on every ball during the drills, imagining I was in a tough rally like he often is. Kept telling myself, ‘one more ball, one more ball’.
What I Noticed
Doing this ‘Coboli tennis’ thing, I realized a few things. First, generating that kind of heavy topspin consistently is physically demanding. Requires good technique, sure, but also strong legs and core. Second, the mental side, that willingness to chase down every shot, that’s a skill in itself. It’s draining but probably wins you points you have no business winning.
It wasn’t about suddenly playing like Cobolli, obviously. But it was a good way to shake up my usual routine. Focused on specific things I admire in his game and tried to push my limits a bit.
Ended the session totally spent, but felt pretty good about the effort. Definitely gave me more appreciation for what the pros do day in, day out. Might try focusing on another player’s style next week, just to keep things interesting.
