The best tennis players in the world move around the court with ease, hitting seemingly effortless shots that are executed with power and grace. If your tennis stroke is fluid and clean, chances are your shot will land where you intend it to, because a fluid stroke is an accurate and controlled stroke.
Step 1
Practice the footwork you would take for a given shot by having someone toss a medicine ball to you at the time you would be making contact with the ball. The goal is to be able to catch and quickly release the medicine ball without stumbling.
Step 2
Transfer your weight smoothly on your stroke. Whether you are turning your shoulders and hips one way on a forehand or the opposite way on a backhand, make sure your motion does not have any hesitations or hitches in it.
Step 3
Connect with the ball with your forearm parallel to the ground. This should help ensure that your racket is level, which should help you make clean contact with the ball.
Step 4
Roll your wrists over and bring your arm across your body in a smooth manner after connecting with the ball.
Step 5
Rotate your upper body as you finish your follow through, which will help slow your motion down and keep your shot fluid and controlled.
Tips and Warnings
- Controlled footwork is essential to remaining balanced on the court, and balance is one of the most important factors in hitting a fluid, clean shot. Your shoulders and hips control the rest of your body's movement, so control in those locations is important to a fluid stroke.
Things You'll Need
- Medicine ball
References
- Zone Training; And Now Hitting…Roger Federer; Steven Yellin and Buddy Biancalana
- ACE International Coach to Coach: Fluid Movement in Tennis
- UNC: The Physics of Ball Spin in Tennis, Topspin and Backspin
- Fuzzy Yellow Balls: Follow Through
- Expert Tennis Tips: Forehand
- Guide to Coaching Sports: How to Teach the Fundamental Strokes to Young Tennis Players
Member Comments