Adding power to your tennis shot often requires that you relax more, rather than get more intense. Trying to hit the ball "hard" can cause you to tense your grip and try to swing with just your arm. This actually decreases your power by causing muscle tension that doesn't let your racket accelerate. It also minimizes the role of your legs and torso, which provide most of the power for tennis strokes. To hit tennis balls harder, relax your grip and lead with your hips.
Step 1
Stand on the baseline and face the fence behind you. Bounce balls in front of you and practice hitting balls into the fence. Finish your swing with the racket ending above your opposite shoulder. Finish a forehand with the bicep of your hitting arm near your chin. Finish a two-handed backhand with the bicep of your trailing arm near your chin. Finish a one-handed, topspin backhand with your hitting hand above your hitting shoulder.
Step 2
Practice bending your knees as you take the racket back and then pushing upward, off the ground, as you swing forward.
Step 3
Practice opening your hips slightly before you open your torso as you push upward and swing forward. This is a key difference in the power generation between professional male and female players, notes Dr. W. Ben Kibler of the U.S. Tennis Association sports science advisory committee in his article, The 4,000 Watt Tennis Player.
Step 4
Hit several balls with your pinky away from the handle to practice using a relaxed grip.
Step 5
Stand on the service line facing the net and practice bouncing and hitting balls over the net with these stroke corrections. Have a partner feed balls to you from the opposite service line.
Step 6
Stand halfway between the service line and baseline, and have your partner feed you balls from the opposite baseline. Practice swinging the racket with your new techniques, paying particular attention to your finish over your shoulder.
Step 7
Stand at the baseline and practice your strokes. Note your racket finish and if your weight is moving forward as you hit shots. Exaggerate your early hip rotation if your weight is not shifting onto your front foot before you begin your forward swing.
Things You'll Need
- Partner or ball machine
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