Tennis Tips

After watching a few tennis instructional videos on Youtube (2 minutes tennis), I have listed tips to improve my tennis skills.

Here is a GoPro Hero4 video of my recent service practice.

Tennis Serve Issues to work on:

1. Being still before starting the serve motion
   
2. Tossing the ball in front
3. More coiling, separating arms later 
4. Keeping the racquet arm horizontal (at shoulder level)
   
5. Engaging legs when tennis racquet passes overhead 
6. Being much looser (increases power)
   
7. After pronation, bringing the body to a stop using the left arm (to generate more power)
8. Make the head go up
   

And here's another GoPro Hero4 video of my ball machine training session.

 Forehand Drive Issues to work on:

1. Keep the head still, looking through the racquet's strings to see the incoming ball
   
2. Keep the right-hand shoulder high when taking the racquet back
   
3. Left-arm should be moving upwards (not downwards) during the forehand drive and synchronized with the hitting arm
   
4. Keeping both arms on the racquet (with more coil) before initiating the swing
5. Bending knees more during the forehand swing 
   
6. Split-step when the opponent hits the ball and moves to intercept the ball
   
7. Transfer weight from right foot to left foot  during the swing
   
8. Accelerate the racquet through the swing (not constant velocity) 
9. Keep the arm swing motion longer for additional power
   
10. Wherever the arm goes, the ball goes 
11. During contact, the right elbow should be straight
12. The wrist should be loose but can be used for extra spin
    
13. When the ball bounces, stroke preparation should be complete. Attack the ball - don't wait for it to get to you.
    
14. Do not move when hitting the ball. You cannot aim when moving. The body should be quiet.
    
15. On Fastballs, use shortened backswing (serve returns)
    
16. On Slow balls, use full backswing (more power)
    
17. Controlling the racquet face:
• Long drive, more open
• A short drive, more closed

 

Contact Point

• The contact ball is correct when one can see the ball through the strings of the racquet.
  

Strategy

• Singles
1. Get 1st serve in! Keep the first-serve percentage high
• Serve to opponent's backhand (usually, the weakest stroke)
  
2. Return a serve in the center (to keep the ball in play)
3. When rallying, hit the ball high over the net to keep the opponent away from the net
4. At the net, don't hit hard; instead, hit short and angle shots
5. When opponents come into the net, hit low in the center
6. Hit higher than your opponent. It's hard to hit high-bouncing balls (especially for backhand) and avoid net errors. 
   

1. Return serve back down the middle 
2. Close off the net when approaching to cut off more angle 
3. Aim cross-court passing shots near the side "t."
• Doubles 
• Baseliner hits to baseliner
• Net player hits to Net player 
  

Forehand

• Open vs Closed Stance
  
• Use neutral and closed-stance for low balls
  
• Use an open stance for high balls
• Forehand Technique
• Elbows up and high in starting position, ready to split-step (when the opponent hits the ball)
  
• Unit turn and keep elbows high with both hands on the racquet  (strings facing off to my right), chin on the right shoulder.
  
• Release left hand and sit down, with the racquet strings pointing down 
• Contact the ball (head is still and looking at the ball), the left hand is above the right hand
  
• Swing upwards and with chin on the left shoulder
• Catch the racquet with the left-hand
• Forehand Power 
• Use more shoulder coiling, using both hands on the racquet to pre-coil
  
• In Open Stance, press down with your legs to transfer power
• You should be done popping up, before hitting the ball
• The non-hitting hand should be rising, before hitting the ball
  

Serve

• Hit a Perfect Serve 
1. Ready Position
2. Palm down
3. Knock off the birthday hat
4. On Edge
5. Contact
6. Pronated
7. Finish
   
• Kick Serve 
• Toss the ball overhead (12 o'clock); it's a shorter throw than for a topspin or slice serve.
  
• Hit the ball before the racquet reaches full extension (unlike slice or topspin serve)
  
• Stay sideways during the entire serve
  
• On a proper kick serve, the ball should bounce right
• How to Serve 100mph
• Have a  very loose arm (very light grip)
  
• When the racquet crosses the head, the legs need to kick out
• Tuck in the left arm to stop the body (for increased power)
  

Return of Serve

•  Basics of Return of Serve
• The body must face the server (not just the head) and bisect the two corners where the ball could land. 
• As the server tosses the ball, I should pre-move forward and split-step
• Turn, avoiding a long backswing (shoulder turn is all the backswing you need)
• Hit the ball
  
• Step forward