Tomaz, You say in your How To Play Tennis videos that we learn very slowly.  I have learned much on the matter and I would like to clarify.

In playing the piano, David Sudnow PhD studied how we learn to play – he found the problem is that we learn VERY FAST, almost immediately, but the problem is we learn the movement INCORRECTLY and the long period of time it takes is really RE-LEARNING!

Also, a psychologist pointed out two parts of the brain, instinctive (limbic) and logical (neo-cortex).  When we learn something new, it actually feels “phony” for a while, until by repetition, it begins to feel natural and automatic.

I believe BOTH of these aspects are at play in tennis.  I can easily relate to the “phonyness” of a new motion in tennis, but my question is could there be a way can we learn tennis technique, slowly, deliberately, laserlike precision, so we don’t have to spend all that time UNlearning ineffective technique?

I would appreciate your thoughts on that.  This issue of learning fascinates me.

When I follow Dr. Sudnow’s method frankly it is painstakingly moving through each note or chord in a song, without error, only moving on when you can repeat it several times without error – this leads TO EXTREMELY RAPID learning, but it is NOT the most FUN either!

I would love to hear your thoughts.

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Roman R asks: In your article about tennis forehand and backhand technique you say: “at the point of contact the racquet is parallel to the ground and the arm is bent in the elbow.”

Please explain to me, how, this aspect of the stroke, which has been in the game for so long, and is still used by the majority of tennis players, except the best 2!, should be spread to new tennis players. Why not teach the way of federer and nadal.

They both his their forehands with almost no elbow bend. This gives them more fluidity, more acceleration, more reach, and less shoulder problems.

If you hit a forehand with a bent elbow, you end up hitting the ball using your rotary cuff as a substantial source of power – this is why many players have shoulder injuries. If you hit with your elbow straight, there is no stress on your rotary cuff – all the shoulder strain is on your bigger muscles, your pecs.

Golf, racquetball, baseball, all have you hit at full extention, and yet you are saying to hit with a bent elbow? Just cause many do it, doesn’t make it right. What makes it right is that the first people to do it are magically at the top of the game.

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Hi Roman,

I understand your point. I believe the reason why only 2 players (and what a coincidence, top 2 in the world) play like that, is because they are super talented and can control the ball despite letting go of their racquet almost completely. (more…)

Shot preparation is as important to making good shots as the actual execution itself. Without good preparation, your body isn’t as easily (if possible at all) able to get the power, balance, and control needed to hit an effective shot.

Good shot preparation is made up of two key elements- footwork and racquet preparation.

Footwork in shot preparation is basically getting to the ball. Most coaches will tell you that you should split-step, pivot the foot that is in the direction where the ball is heading, and get to the ball as soon as possible.

This article is about racquet preparation. Racquet preparation is the backswing taken before the point of contact.

It may not sound like much, but racquet preparation is a key to generating power because it is the source of your racquet head speed- an essential to a hard ball. Here are the keys of getting the most out of your racket preparation. (more…)

Hi Tomaz,

After watching your service video, I still can not completely understand it.

Here are my questions: In the video, first we should hit racket from low to high, left to right(parallel to net), to give the ball a top spin so ball can land on the other side’s court.

Then, when the racket reach the highest point, we do pronation to have racket hit ball at an angle to the net.

I followed your instruction and practiced pronation, but I always fell awkward and not natural. I feel that I first move racket parallel to net direction, then by doing pronation, I have to change the direction of my racket movement(at an angle to the net). Just like you are driving car on straight line, when you reach highest speed, you make left turn.

Not only you are slowing down, also you are not using your highest power. Is this right? Am I missing something? Can you draw a graph or explain more clearly about the correct racket movement? (more…)

Your “topspin serve” material interested me. But it left an unanswered question: does one pronate the wrist as part of this serve?

Your video suggests “yes”. But the easy way to brush up on the ball involves either no pronation or actual suplimation (turning your wrist out rather than in).

I would answer this in 2 ways.

First, if I was teaching someone, I wouldn’t mention pronation at any time (unless someone really wouldn’t “get it” after continuous practice).

Your goal is to brush up the ball as demonstrated and explained. And then do it better!

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Hi! I recently ordered your e-book on mental toughness and would like to ask a question about my tennis.

I have a wonderful forehand against the machine and my tennis coach.

However, during match play, every time I try to do things the “right way”, the ball goes long.

I’m pretty sure my issue is in my head and not one of technique. Any suggestions?

What “worries” me a little bit in your short description are the words “the right way”.

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Here are 3 questions and answers about tennis grips that I received recently.

1. What grip do you hold when you are returning a serve (backhand, forehand or in between)?

I generally don’t teach that. I leave it up to the player to find what is comfortable for them.

I personally hold a forehand grip since I find changing to backhand grip easier and faster than vice versa. And I play a one-handed backhand.

Most players with a two-handed backhand also use a forehand grip since it’s easy for them to switch to a continental grip with their dominant hand.

Some players with a one-handed backhand like to have their backhand grip ready since they receive more serves to the backhand than to the forehand side.

Another option is to use a continental grip which allows you to block fast serves on either side and you don’t have to change the grip much if you change to either a forehand or backhand grip.

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Reaction speed is one of the keys to playing great tennis at a higher level, where the balls fly much faster.

Quick reactions are also important at all levels of tennis doubles, where there are ball exchanges at the net when players volley at each other at shorter distances.

If your reactions are fast, you’ll have more time left to:

• get to the ball,
• make the right decision,
• balance yourself before the stroke
• perform your stroke

So how can you improve your reactions in tennis?

There are a number of steps this equation, and the first one is anticipation. (more…)

How do I avoid self-cluttering?

This happens occasionally when I get to the ball and freeze because my footwork stops.

After that I play a short ball which my opponent can easily attack.

Let’s try and figure out why you freeze. The most obvious reason at least in my experience is lack of decision.

You see a ball and then you start consciously thinking all the things you need to do “correctly” like:

• prepare early,
• get into the right distance,
• try and use the closed stance,
• keep your eyes on the ball and head still,
• etc.

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Tomaz,

A coach I know teaches a topspin groundstroke style that produces shots with a pronounced curved trajectory and land deep into the opponent’s court with an aggressive high bounce (above shoulder level on a hard-court).

This style seems to be very effective: it pins your opponent to the back court and often forces him to produce a weak or short reply.

However, I also see that most pros don’t play this way. They hit shots that have tremendous pace and spin, but don’t bounce up that high.

Is this because unlike us, the pros can actually produce a winner off of a high bounce, so feeding a high bouncing ball to them is actually giving them an opportunity?

Please write an article discussing the mechanics of hitting high bouncing balls. Thanks!

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