Non-dominant Hand and Arm Fixes
(Tennis article by Randy Lynn Rutledge - a former USPTA tennis teaching professional)
This article discusses ways to use the non-dominant hand to enhance body balance and regulate stroke execution.
The non-dominant hand and arm of a highly skilled tennis player seamlessly performs a variety of duties and functional variations of movements by working together as one unit with the shoulders of the human body during execution of each progressive part of every stroke or hit.
If the tennis ball is in play, then there is never a moment when the non-dominant hand and arm does not have a specific job to do.
Think of both arms (upper and lower), both hands (dominant and non-dominant), and both shoulders (left and right) working together as one unit capable of performing unlimited functional variation of movement.
The non-dominant hand and arm of a tennis player can function to initiate shoulder turn, accelerate shoulder turn, suppress shoulder turn, accommodate shoulder positioning (tilt and rotation), and aid in balance. Everything the entire shoulder unit does is for the purpose of presenting the tennis racquet to the tennis ball at a certain height and distance away from the body, according to needs of the present moment and to accommodate the requirements of each intended type of stroke or hit.
Functional movement variation by the shoulder unit is necessary for accurate guidance of the tennis ball toward an intended angular ball flight.
NOTE:
The accurate placement and working of the shoulder unit depends on solid footwork habits.
If the feet are not working properly, then the shoulders cannot be positioned as desired.
The accurate placement and working of the shoulder unit depends on solid footwork habits.
If the feet are not working properly, then the shoulders cannot be positioned as desired.
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