Hitting out in front
This past Friday, I probably had the best hitting session I’ve had in all of 2006. It was interesting because I was playing at the level I normally play on any good day, and then my friend makes a comment:
“I still don’t feel like you hit the way you did 3 years ago….back then, every single ball you hit was hard in a corner without mistakes.”
Well that got me riled up so I started focusing on punishing the ball back at him, and then I discovered something I always forget about, but realize it’s so essential. I started to focus on two things:
1. Hit the ball out in front of me
2. Hold my wrist firm (I can hear some of you saying “what?!”)
I tell you, the difference is phenomenal. I was hitting every ball with so much pace and spin, it always went in. I was astounded.
So here’s what you can take away from this: The next time you get out there and hit, first, just try hitting the ball more in front of you. There will be a natural effect in which you swing earlier, and I think this is where my second point comes in. You will, most likely, hold your wrist firm through the shot. If not, try it. There is a big difference between whipping a forehand and almost locking your wrist while you drive your whole arm through the stroke.
Hope everyone enjoyed watching Federer finally make it a real rivalry today!!
July 16th, 2006 at 5:41 pm
I completely agree about hitting out in front. I just had a lesson last week where that concept finally clicked. My instructor kept hitting short balls (on clay) so that I was forced to hit in front. Every short ball i hit had so much on hit because it was out in front. You just have to train yourself to get in the right position to hit the ball in that strike zone.
July 17th, 2006 at 10:38 pm
You almost have to hit the ball early if you want to advance to a higher level in your tennis. It helps produce pace since you naturally will be hitting “in” to the ball as opposed to hitting the ball off your back foot if you hit it late. Also, you can generate additional pace or spin with some wrist action as you become accustomed to hitting the ball early. The last added benefit I can think of is that you can hit the ball earlier off the bounce so you’re not pinned well behind the baseline a la Andre Agassi. Though he definitely takes it to the next level. It’s amazing how he can control the ball and time hits as the ball is moving upwards right after the ball bounces as opposed to waiting for the ball to come back down after it reaches its apex !
August 31st, 2006 at 2:03 pm
I have been playing for forty years. Keeping your wrist taut and hitting the ball out in front early was always the way. But I also wrestled for a major school and the dynamics of maximization of power and control are very similar. The shorter the movement and the more balance the better the power and control. The hips are the bodies gyroscopes. It allows the body to maximize power by its movement. Simply put, as you turn into the ball the hips allow you generate the most power that and the locking of the shoulder and the arm and wrist. At the end if you have the coordination you can release your wrist to generate a whipping action that will give you more topspin.