In order to hit great strokes you have to realize that you need to lift the ball up and over the net.  As a coach, this is by far the most important thing to realize for almost every player I work with.

What do I mean by lifting the ball? It means a movement with the entire arm from low to high.  It doesn’t matter if you are hitting a forehand, one-handed backhand or a two-handed backhand; the physics involved are the same.  Almost all recreational players swing too horizontal on a rather straight line and not enough low to high. This results in many balls hit land in the net and it is probably the #1 mistake I see made on a tennis court.

The reason most players practice a swing which is too horizontal, is that they see their target through the net. Looking through the net you are actually in-line with your target on a downward sloping line, and people swing just that way.  I am certain that people would miss a lot less if you couldn`t look through the net.  Sometimes on television or in a drawing you can see these great animations where they show the flight path of the ball. Those lines always have a nice arc on it. In order to get that kind of flight path you need to lift the ball.

So next time you go out on the court, try lifting the ball more and feel free to exaggerate that movement in the beginning.

A Tip From Kyle McGee: The Second Serve

The second serve is one the most underrated shots in tennis and one that is often called upon in key situations.  Too many players attempt using the first serve as a weapon without having a reliable backup plan besides “dink” the second serve in to merely begin the point.  This immediately puts the server at a disadvantage when serving is supposed to be an advantage.  After all, it is called “holding serve.”  Developing a strong, consistent second serve can immediately strengthen your game by keeping the advantage on your side of the court.  Not only will it put you in a better position to win points on your second serve, you’ll feel less pressure to make your first serve knowing you have a strong second serve to fall back on.

The overhead is an important shot even though it is often overlooked.  It is considered one of the easier shots in tennis, however there are still many players who have difficulty hitting the overhead.  The overhead is often hit when you are at the net, and your opponent attempts to lob the ball over your head.

The preparation of the shot is extremely vital to hitting a successful overhead.  You should use a continental grip when hitting the overhead shot.  You want to turn your body immediately, and point at the ball with your non-dominant hand.  At the same time, you should be placing your racquet behind your back as if you are scratching your back.  The final part of the preparation stage is adjusting your position on the court so that you can successfully hit the overhead.  It is important to get your body under the ball as early as possible.

When making contact with the ball, make sure your arm and racquet are extended in the air at their highest point.  Your contact point should be slightly out in front of your body as well.  Keep your head up, and make sure to freeze your eyes on the contact point throughout the entire shot.  Keeping your eyes on the contact point with all of your shots, will help you make clean contact with the tennis ball.  Instead of attempting to hit the ball as hard as you can, you will be more successful if you work on the placement of your overhead.  It is important to focus on hitting out into the court, and not strictly down into the court.  Lastly, your racquet should finish on the side of your opposite hip (right handed-left hip).

Moving Your Opponent

Todays technology allows players to hit the ball with more pace than ever and as a result of this technology the power game has found itself at the forefront of the modern game.  Racquets are made of more durable power ensuring technology that are less flexible than older versions thus allowing players to swing faster through the ball.

The problem with swinging through the ball faster with more power than you need  is that you need more control.  As a result, tennis is experiencing quicker points with more errors and players are not learning tactics and strategy as they once did.

The lost art of moving your opponent around while getting them off balance is a concept that doesn’t get enough attention these days.  Imagine with all that technology of power from racquets and strings that makes it harder to control the ball while “not” moving is applied to a person that is “moving while hitting.”  Your opponent will have less control and more likely be forced into a error when you move them, and all you did was make them take a few steps to the left of the right.

Moving your opponent has the effect of losing balance.  It’s hard to strike a ball with accuracy when you do not have balance, let alone be in control of the point.  But thats not all, moving your opponent is also a great way to anticipate your opponent’s next shot.

For example, if you move your opponent backwards, there will be a tendency for them to hit up on the ball and you will be able to read when a lob is coming.  Moving your opponent to the corner can force an error, but it can also be a sign that they will most likely hit the ball short.  You can anticipate the short ball and move up to it more efficiently and remain in control of the point.

So next time you feel like hitting hard and powerful, try to experiment more with getting your opponent off balance by moving them around.  You may just  cut your own unforced errors down in the process.

The Aggressive Baseliner

If you are an aggressive baseliner, your physical characteristics are defined by quickness, muscular strength, and endurance.  You are a risk taker and a player that is willing to take chances throughout your matches.  An aggressive baseliner works to develop a shot that is used and relied upon as a weapon.  This shot is usually a forehand but some players have developed a backhand as a weapon.  This shot can be used aggressively in most situations causing forced errors from your opponents. An aggressive baseliner will also need to develop penetrating baseline ground strokes that land deep in the court and that apply pressure on their opponent.  Other characteristics of an aggressive baseliner are precise footwork and steady balance to execute shots.  Current aggressive baseliners on the professional tour include:  Rafa Nadel, David Ferrer, Andy Roddick, Serena Williams, and Maria Sharapova.