Tennis Stroke Progression 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 recommends an order of teaching for the progressive parts of a tennis stroke or hit.
Footwork
I always introduce a lesson with a brief discussion of footwork variations for positioning the shoulders to achieve various ball flight angles.
Proper footwork includes adequate preparation, execution, and recovery steps so that every step taken during a point or rally is taken for the purpose of continually repositioning the shoulders so that the hands and arms are able to adequately manipulate the tennis racquet throughout the entire forward moving portion of each stroke or hit, including the string-to-ball contact point and a follow through or stroke completion.
The size, direction, and speed of individual footwork steps must vary as necessary for accurate shoulder positioning at all times.
Three Types of Footwork
1. Preparation Footwork) Use the feet to position the shoulders to allow the tennis racquet to move to a good place from which to start the forward movement of any type of stroke or hit.
2. Execution Footwork) Use the feet to position the shoulders as necessary during the presentation of the tennis racquet strings to the tennis ball (string-to-ball contact point) and on into the follow through or finish portion of a stroke or hit in a manner which will allow a desired action to be imparted to the ball for the purpose of sending the ball to a primary target (net clearance) and on to a secondary target (landing area).
3. Recovery Footwork) After completing the execution of any type of stroke or hit, a player must use his or her feet to move the shoulders into a neutral court position from which to react to an incoming tennis ball.
Three parts of a stroke or hit - (After an initial discussion of footwork has occurred)
The teacher demonstrates an entire stroke for the student(s); then, the teacher demonstrates the entire forward moving part of a stroke or hit in slow motion with pauses to show the three basic parts: the beginning, the string-to-ball point-of-contact, and the follow through or end of the stroke.
1) Tennis racquet beginning position for the forward movement
Students need to understand that the tennis racquet can be moved backward or forward to find a beginning position for the forward moving portion of a stroke or hit, but start the demonstration by explaining the possible variations for positioning the tennis racquet to initiate a forward movement.The intended ball flight and action to be imparted to the tennis ball are huge factors to consider when deciding where and how to position the tennis racquet prior to beginning the forward movement.
Students need to understand that the tennis racquet can be moved backward or forward to find a beginning position for the forward moving portion of a stroke or hit, but start the demonstration by explaining the possible variations for positioning the tennis racquet to initiate a forward movement.The intended ball flight and action to be imparted to the tennis ball are huge factors to consider when deciding where and how to position the tennis racquet prior to beginning the forward movement.
2) The string-to-ball contact
The student needs to have an idea of approximately how much of the stroke will be involved with string-to-ball contact. Show the approximate positions of the racquet tip, butt, and edges throughout the contact portion of the stroke or hit; show possible variations with explanations of the approximate or possible results.
The student needs to have an idea of approximately how much of the stroke will be involved with string-to-ball contact. Show the approximate positions of the racquet tip, butt, and edges throughout the contact portion of the stroke or hit; show possible variations with explanations of the approximate or possible results.
3) Follow through or finish
The needed follow through is described to the student(s) according to the intended action the student is going to impart to the tennis ball. Net clearance, intended court depth, desired angle of ball flight, racquet face bevel, and racquet speed are among the variables which can be discussed.
The needed follow through is described to the student(s) according to the intended action the student is going to impart to the tennis ball. Net clearance, intended court depth, desired angle of ball flight, racquet face bevel, and racquet speed are among the variables which can be discussed.