How to Improve Your Tennis in 8 Weeks or Less: Step One The Topspin Forehand

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In this 2-week lesson block we will focus on the revisiting the fundamentals of our groundstrokes and developing court awareness and shot selection. Our grip of choice demands a particular racquet path, contact point and footwork pattern in order to maximise performance. The tennis slice can be seen as the opposite of the tennis topspin shot. The racquet path will vary as we will follow through the contact point. The tennis slice is a great tool to have in our tennis tool bag as it allows us to change the pace of play and approach the net effectively. Building on the above, we will learn the times when it is effective to use the slice and volleys.

The tennis serve is a complex stroke to learn and this is due to optimal sequence timing issues. An elite athlete has a very efficient service motion which has been practiced over many years, and consists of a smooth flow of energy from the legs to the ball. Novices need break down the tennis serve into individual and smaller parts in order to gain an understanding of the process. In this 2-week lesson block, we will aim to identify the common errors people make on their groundstrokes and their net game. Technical and tactical inefficiencies will be identified and refined in the aim to become a more complete tennis player.

Modern day grips, stances and footwork patterns will be taught and how these determine and affect the game style we wish to achieve. Rallying and point play will also be the emphasis towards the end of each lesson so applications of what is being taught is practiced immediately. In this 2-week lesson block, we will aim to identify the technical inefficiencies errors people make on their serve and return game. The tennis serve and the tennis return are mandatory in any competitive format and must be a key focus for all tennis players.

With some scientifically proven tips, we can improve our serve very quickly and gain a better understanding of what we should be doing on the return of serve. Moving to a more complete model of the serve, direction and spin will be a major component of our focus and how we can utilize this to set up the next shot. All Strokes Tactical Focus: Using our toolbox to compete. In this 2-week lesson block, we will utilize the technical, tactical, physical and mental learning we have been accustomed to and try to utilize this in a competitive environment.

Classic games such as risk vs. Tactics will be a big focus of this lesson block and emphasis on individual game styles will be encouraged. In this 2-week lesson block, we will aim to refine our techniques to become more consistent and solid tennis players. We will learn the fundamental skills and mindset needed to accomplish the task of becoming a more consistent tennis player. The plays will start with each a serve or a return.

Before the point is played we will have a 2 or 3 shot combination in mind to try to achieve. With this mindset, our tactics will be more structured and defined and we will have a clearer understanding of tactical tennis. A common misconception for intermediate players is to be too passive and we will learn some effective ways to become more aggressive and decisive tennis players. Adjusting stroke variability Tactical Focus: In this 2-week lesson block, we will be given variable restrictions and learn how to deal with pressure.

Time constraints, court constraints and shot restrictions will all be a part of the lesson plan where players will be taught and tested on their overall game style. Team work and problem solving will be a big part of this lesson block and players will be given the chance to use their creativity and wit to construct and win points.

The end goal of the semester is to become smarter, fitter, more efficient and more effective tennis players who are ready to compete under any conditions. In this 2-week lesson block, we will be focusing on building up our games and finding our sweet spot. Different levels of players have different thresholds when it comes to their movement, shot selection and force of shot.

We will all aim to find our sweet spot so we can sustain longer rallies and stay in the point for one more shot. Fill up your fuel tanks and get ready to battle! Racquet Head Speed Tactical Focus: In this 2-week lesson block, our focus will be on building an aggressive game style and forcing the play on our opponents. Using our fast twitch muscle fibres to fire us into a powerful footwork mentality, we will be challenged in how we take away time from our opponents and dictate points. A positive and clear mentality will be crucial for success and due to the powerful movements, the body will be trained for high stress and peak central nervous system CNS training.

Utilizing toolbox Tactical Focus: In this 2-week lesson block, our focus will be efficient and effective point construction. Using the toolbox that we have and aiming to maximise the learning we have encountered; players will be put in various problem solving and restricted situations and see how they manage to overcome adversity.

As you make contact, you want the racket to drop downwards. Then the racket should come back up again around shoulder height, so the racket should start around shoulder height, come down slightly to meet the ball, racket will continue to drop at least a little bit as contact is made. And then the racket should come back up again to around shoulder height. Now the deeper the U is, the more float your shot is going to have to it.

The second variable at play here is the angle of your racket face. By the way, these two variables play off of each other. And the more the racket is dropping down, the more open we need the face to be otherwise the ball is going to go into the net. If you change both of those main technique elements to your backhand slice, I guarantee you that you will start to see more of a penetrating shot. We could get more detailed and talk more about the use of the shoulder, the use of the core, your stance, the direction of the racket path from right to left as well as out towards your target.

I want to talk to you in really simple terms. This is just the physics side of it. The more the racket goes down and the more the face is open, the more the ball is going to float. So somewhere along the line during your practice and competition Tenny, your racket started to drop down more. You started to have a more aggressive downward motion chop if you will.

Chop would be an exaggerated way of doing it, but your racket somewhere along the way started dropping more. We need a straighter swing path. We need a flatter racket face. And by the way, I have a video up at EssentialTennis. And I did a 9 or 10 minute video breaking down backhand slice technique.

Podcast #178: Finding a “Lost” Stroke

And if you have any further questions about this, definitely let me know either on the technique or on the losing a stroke part of it. Thank you very much for submitting your question. And thanks very much for being a listener in Sydney, Australia. Let me know if I can help you further. Just click on episode That is Tennis Express. Please check them out by going to EssentialTennis. When you go to EssentailTennis.

So big thank you to all of you that have been using that link to make your racket and string and shoes purchases. I really appreciate that a lot. First from Ed, one comment of his puzzled me though. I think you asked him about problems arising from amateurs trying to hit like pros, and he answered it in one word: I mean, I always have been taught that topspin is a good thing, and should be the foundation for all bread and butter rally strokes on both sides.

Slice is nice, but more as a change-up stroke.

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Also, hitting with plenty of topspin seems pretty important when it comes to actually keeping the ball in, especially when the game is being played at speed. Sure, Ed, and yes I understand your confusion. As Ed said, especially when you start playing at higher speeds you need to know how to use it so that you can keep the ball more in play consistently. So thanks for your question.

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And then one more comment I want to read from Gary. On the topic of proper spacing, it seems to me that this is really another word for good footwork. I see that high level players always and always spit-step before any ball is hit to them and then generate massive baby steps like a jack rabbit to get into proper swing position.

Yes, Gary, and Gary went on and talked also about the identification and being able to see the ball correctly and depth perception.

Thank you both for your comments. Thank you for listening, and we had several comments as well. Big thank you to everyone who listened and came back and gave feedback. Thank you very much for listening. Take care and good luck with your tennis. Just to add to my post. I just read Cathy B's experience.

Mine has happened towards end of my tennis days I'm Her experience echoed mine to some extent except her experience is long-time All I know is, I had it and just cos I've lost it for now doesn't mean there is not a solution. In the past, I've tried that getting my mind off each impending forehand shot helps — there are tricks I've practiced given by coaches. And if one is wondering if the racket is to blame usually not it's fault , then try using another racket. If your shot comes back it can be A yes your racket or strings are the problem B not this at all — it might be that you've just freed your mind of it being the racket and relaxed You'll have to sort that out from here!

Maybe get a restring. Maybe buy the person's racket if it was that good! Maybe it is just you and your mind. My basic best stroke — a topspin forehand has gone for last 4 weeks. I'm not paying less — it just happened. Of course I'm down about it which doesn't help at all I looked at my strings, but I don't think it'a anything to do with it Besides — I had one good game in the middle of this period — so it my be me — technique or psychology.

At a loss at this particular moment. I would like to add that dont worry about forgetting shots. Its a sign that we are capable of learning new and new shots. Every one is good enough to play a shot with out memory at 'will'. Try the following mantra which works for me. Every time you hit shots try to recollect only the basics.

Dont remember another shot u played a few days back and compare this with that. Pick a spot on the court and the type of shot u want to hit in mind. Then just play it as a new shot. Our brain will automatically take care of it.

Dont be afraid to fail. If u r not afraid den mostly u will succeed. So glad to find this. I thought I was the only one!

John Littleford (Author of Tennis Strokes and Tactics)

I lost my forehand when I was at the top of my game, playing on the tennis team in college my senior year. I had lost some weight and was playing better than ever. And then one afternoon, in the middle of a tennis practice, my forehand completely disappeared! It was like I had a stroke or something, except my backhand and serve were fine. I just flailed away at the ball like I was swatting a fly. My wrist and arm wobbled all over the place. To be honest, I had to resist the temptation to let the racket fly out of my hand, I felt that uncoordinated and confused.

I tried everything, hours and hours of practice, with my coach helping me. But it was like the longer it went on, the worse the pressure got, the more the feeling of freaking out grew, and I just kept flailing at the ball in a very spastic manner. My coach decided it was a mini mental breakdown, a fear of success. And it freaked you out and then you lost your forehand. Okay, that made sense at the time. I was 20 years old then. I am 59 years old now and losing my forehand 39 years ago feels like one of the biggest failures of my life, and one that I will never understand. I feel like there is some piece of knowledge we are missing about this bizarre phenomenon.

I notice that all of us report losing our forehand, not our backhand. Starting at warmup in the service box focusing on a solid movement and follow through without a full circular takeback. Great to hear that you found it again! I feel confident that if I make those checkpoints I have identified I can keep things straight—or notice pretty quick that something specific has slipped. After trying to modernize my game while playing with guys who were mostly at a higher level, I moved to a new area and spent nearly a year without playing.

When I played again I was a model of INconsistency. My first focus was footwork and position, but still I was spraying balls from what once had been a strong forehand all over the yard, and I had no confidence in my serve beyond the half swing with pronation that is used to teach the contact point. After thinking about your topic, I went to an empty court by myself. I focused on position, rotation, and follow-through, and staying relaxed. At a certain point it occurred to me that once upon a time I had been taught to extend my grip a little longer in the continental grip when using and hitting overheads, and realized that that practice had snuck into my ground strokes with the results I was swinging the racket around like an old gate instead of rotating into the contact zone and following through.

That adjustment made all the difference. Next I wondered how the same adjustment would affect my serving action, so i shortened up the grip so that my there was a minimal gap between my first and middle fingers, which made my hand feel more perpendicular across the handle. And I felt more free flowing through the contact zone, good pronation, and very good action on the ball. Ian, I am a new listener to your podcasts and have not watched any of your videos yet. What are your thoughts about adapting techniques to compensate for physical changes or limitations.

Keeping your arm and shoulder as loose and relaxed as possible so that you can generate as much range of motion and racket head speed from the shoulder down. Trying to incorporate rotating your upper body as a whole. If your feet get stuck on the court, your hips stay in the same position, and you rotate your core and upper body towards your target then your back will definitely start to feel some strain. You are so right about the importance of recognising that a stroke is going AWOL at an early stage, and catching the problem before it becomes serious.

Until recently — I am quite new to this sport — I used to deal with this in completely the wrong way, by becoming frustrated and taking out my anger on the ball, and trying to hit even harder than I can or should. Needless to say this just made things worse, and my game would rapidly degenerate into a shank-fest.

A coach noticed this unfortunate tendency and encouraged me to change my approach to the problem. These days, when a stroke begins to break down I do three things: Concentrate like mad on the contact point kind of like Natalie. I then keep hitting slow and relaxed for a few minutes until I get the feel for the shot again, and if all is well I gradually begin to crank it up again. Works for me, at least most of the time.

Yes, definitely be careful about now slowing down too much, you want to keep the racket head speed up enough that you continue to feel confident. Since in the past you made the opposite mistake, however, I understand why forcing yourself to slow down is really helpful for you. Started playing a flex league after about 15 years away from the sport, maybe a couple months of playing here and there, and to be exact! Well, I was playing a match — won the 1st set easy feeling confident, cracking winners left and right…BUT then 1st point of 2nd set a high floater came to my FH and it was like a switch was flipped and I completely forgot how to hit a topspin FH!

I tried to just hit through it but it never came back and I lost the next 2 sets , ! Weird thing was I hit against the wall immediately after the match…and I had no problems hitting FHs! Played a few more matches and again my FH left me but after each match I would go hit against the wall.

I eventually figured out what the difference was in the feel of what I needed to do. Also, in addition to wall practice I did a lot of self feeding. Just toss the ball high and straight up, let it bounce once and hit out on it — helps for those no pace shots you get! That 1st time I tried hitting through it but no luck.

Yup, that sounds exactly like what happened to me. One minute my forehand was solid and confident and the next it was completely gone.

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Honestly, when something like that happens in the middle of a competitive match that counts for a team outcome, etc, you should really just go with what you can put in play slice, etc. It can be extremely hard, but we have to be realists out there about what we have at our disposal. Then after the match head to the practice court or set up a practice match to work out the kinks! This podcast is very appropriate to my game at the moment!

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I used to have a decent forehand and a lousy backhand, but I had some coaching and my backhand became quite good. However, I think I got it into my head that my forehand is now not as good as my backhand , and it just got worse and worse. This is not a problem I have on my backhand, so it is not a lack of hand-eye coordination.

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