Lesson 06: Tennis Overhead Lesson with Ryan Reidy

As I struggled with my consistency and power on my overhead, Ryan Reidy from 2minutetennis evaluated my serve (using Zoom) and offered excellent pointers for improvement.

Overhead Technique Improvements

 

Questions

1.  Technique Improvements
   
• Even after weeks of practice, I still make the same mistakes in all my groundstrokes.
• How long does it take to re-learn a new technique so it becomes muscle memory?
• Answer: 3 weeks
  
2. Tennis Elbow:
• What are the proper treatments for tennis elbow?
• Answer: Play with less force on the ball machine (speed = 2, alternate strokes)
  
3. Overhead:
• How do I time the initiation of the swing?
• Answer: The ball should be falling vertically
4. Forehand:
• I am not getting enough spin on the ball
• Answer: Practice on the ball machine with a much slower speed setting. Focus on a steep low-to-high transition and catch the racket with the right hand. The right hand should travel upwards "as if waving to your opponent."
  
5. Return of Serve: 
• How do I return balls with a lot of pace? 
• Answer: Use less backswing
  
• What are the keys to adding spin to fast-moving balls?
•  It is hard to swing low-to-high due to insufficient time and easy to miss-hit.
  
6. Two-handed Backhand: 
• I still lack spin and power. Where does power come from?
• Answer: Power comes from the separation of hand and body. The body turns while the hand drops and the whipping around of the hands creates power.
  
7. Slice-backhand:
• I am hitting with the racquet too open when using Continental grip. Should I change to the backhand grip? If not, where is the contact point?
8.  Serve
• I am having difficulty knocking on the birthday hat. 
• Answer: Try serving with the thumb sticking out on the right hand. The thumb should touch the right shoulder.