Dan's Papers - May 16, 2008 - It Don't Mean a Thing if You Ain't Got that Swing

Tennis is about hitting a round yellow ball over a net into a big rectangle with some sort of club. It should be easy, but as many players will attest, it isn't necessarily so. In fact, for many of us, just hitting the ball is a major challenge. Hitting the ball with the right combination of power and control is an even bigger challenge, and rallying (hitting the ball back and forth over the net) is what dreams are made of. However, the good news is there are some common techniques to every stroke, so let's review the basics.

Always assume the ready position. Face your opponent, feet at shoulder width, knees slightly bent, racket held in front of you with both hands, racket head pointed up.

Watch the ball as it leaves your opponent's racket. Stare at it intently. How fast is it coming? How high over the net is it? Is there any spin? Your observations will help you predict where the ball will bounce and how high it will bounce.

Get your racket back as quickly as you can. Early racket preparation can shorten your reaction time and help you prepare for your next shot.

Watch the ball hit your strings, preferably on the sweet spot, and then relax your eyes. Remember to follow though, which often means finishing your swing with the racket over your shoulder. Recover quickly and return to the ready position.

On all strokes, try to hit the ball a little bit in front and a little to the side, generally with a parallel racket face. This makes the ball go straight.

Step forward and lean into your shots. This puts your body weight behind the ball for more power. Remember, kinetic power starts at the feet and legs and works up through the body's core (abs and back).

Okay, now you're ready to hit a groundstroke. Forehand and backhand groundies are the most common shots in tennis. You're waiting in the ready position; you're staring at the ball as it leaves your opponent's racket and crosses the net. You quickly compute where the ball is going to bounce and decide if you're going to hit a forehand or a backhand. You get your racket back and move to intercept. You get set to hit the ball. Your knees are slightly bent; you transfer your weight from your back foot to the front foot (kinetics). The racket moves from low to about hip height, the racket head is parallel and the ball is just a bit in front and to your side. You tighten your grip and the racket makes contact with the ball. The ball goes straight and the racket continues to follow its arc and finishes over your shoulder. A perfect low to high swing! Don't stop to admire your shot, quickly return to ready position.