String-to-Ball Timing Fixes
First published on 9-09-2009. Bookmark & share
by Randy Lynn Rutledge - a previously certified USPTA Tennis Teaching Professional
( Note: retired in good standing, but stopped making USPTA dues payments )
( Note: retired in good standing, but stopped making USPTA dues payments )
This article discusses ways to enhance the timing of the tennis racket string-to-ball contact.
A tennis player's good timing allows everything to work well on the tennis court. Good timing allows a tennis player to accurately stroke a tennis ball to a desired primary target (height of net clearance) and then on to a desired secondary target (target angle and distance). A tennis player learns to combine a proper amount of shoulder turn (a variable for angular control) with a proper contact point (not early or late in the stroke) and choose a proper racquet face bevel (a tennis variable for height control) combined with a proper speed (a tennis variable for distance control) to learn good timing.
Draw an Imaginary Line through the Tennis Ball
Find an on-time string-to-ball contact point within any tennis stroke by drawing an imaginary flight path line through the approaching tennis ball which will send it on an accurately angled path with net clearance (primary target) at a predetermined height and on to an approximate depth in the opponent's court (secondary target).
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Use your feet, shoulders, and arms as necessary to position your tennis racquet to begin the forward portion of a chosen stroke. Bring your tennis racquet onto the imaginary flight path line by using a proper combination of speed (to control distance) and racquet face bevel (to control height of net clearance) and keep your tennis racquet on the imaginary line until the tennis ball has left the strings of your racquet.
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NOTE: After you get used to drawing an imaginary flight path line through the tennis ball, then learn to shift your visual focus from the string-to-ball contact side of the imaginary line to the follow through side of the line as you manipulate your tennis racquet to stay on the imaginary line; learning to accomplish this small task will increase the accuracy of your ball flight.
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String-to-ball Contact Point
During tennis play, nothing contributes more to a good outcome of your strokes than an ability to focus all of your attention on the task of timing and coordinating the exact racquet string-to-ball contact point. Enhanced visual participation increases your probability of properly timing a tennis stroke or hit.
Put a Dot (flat shot) or Draw a Line (spin shot) on the Tennis Ball
Imagine that there is a piece of chalk at the center of the sweet-spot of your tennis racquet. Putting a dot on the ball results in a flat stroke. Drawing a line on the ball causes the ball to spin.
Vision
I believe your vision needs to be focused on the desired string-to-ball contact point; thereby allowing you to see both the tennis racquet strings and the tennis ball as they enter your immediate frontal vision from opposite directionson their way to the contact point. This doe not require that you take your eyes off of the tennis ball. You see the tennis ball as clearly as ever.
The exact initial contact spot on the tennis ball is a variable which changes vertically for height control and horizontally for angular control, according to an intended ball flight path.
Use an exact combination of vertical and horizontal variation to locate an initial contact spot on the tennis ball which will send it on a flight path with appropriate amounts of height (net clearance) and angle (shoulder turn) to match the speed of the stroke and the distance to the intended landing area.
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Use your entire body to manipulate the center of your racquet strings onto the imaginary flight path line you have drawn through the tennis ball. Make necessary racquet bevel changes and shoulder positioning changes (footwork) to allow the ball flight path to happen as planned.
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Upon contact, shift the focus of your vision to the follow-through side of the imaginary flight path line to make sure your tennis racquet bevel remains relatively constant until the tennis ball leaves the strings of the racquet.
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A Tennis Player's State of Well-being
Mental and physical well-being are only two of the many variable factors which can contribute to or take away from a tennis player's ability to experience optimal timing on any given day, or at different times during the same day.
Mental and physical well-being are only two of the many variable factors which can contribute to or take away from a tennis player's ability to experience optimal timing on any given day, or at different times during the same day.
Timing - Accurate ball placement depends on the ability of a player to use his or her entire body to manipulate a tennis racquet against an approaching ball precisely within a stroke or hit so as to cause the necessary force against a tennis ball at an intended vertical and horizontal contact spot to cause the ball to rebound off the racquet strings and onto an intended flight path which results in precise net clearance, angle, and depth in the opponent's court. A tennis player who performs this task well is said to have "good timing".
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