The common problem I see at the club, as well as on television, is where the server flexes at the waist at the hit - more or less jackknifing to create a little more ball speed.

And this action creates both forward and downward forces - and is generally associated with netted serves.

The common problem I see at the club, as well as on television, is where the server flexes at the waist at the hit - more or less jackknifing to create a little more ball speed.

And this action creates both forward and downward forces - and is generally associated with netted serves.

The post ETI 047 | Will Staying Sideways help you hit up on the serve? appeared first on Jim McLennan's Essential Tennis Instruction.

ETI 046 Gravity MotionDownload this podcast – You may need to right-click and select Save Link As to download the file to your computer

Agility = moving quickly and easily.  We know when we are gliding, we know when we are moving heavily.

Equally, when can see on the adjacent court who moves well and who does not.

But often more than strength training or explosive movement, the secret can be in a subtle unweighting where the body leads and the feet follow.

Sometimes called a drop step, a floating pivot, or a gravity turn – join me for a look into a different world.

ETI 046 Gravity Motion

Download this podcast – You may need to right-click and select Save Link As to download the file to your computer

Agility = moving quickly and easily.  We know when we are gliding, we know when we are moving heavily.

Equally, when can see on the adjacent court who moves well and who does not.

But often more than strength training or explosive movement, the secret can be in a subtle unweighting where the body leads and the feet follow.

Sometimes called a drop step, a floating pivot, or a gravity turn – join me for a look into a different world.

The post ETI 046 | Gravity Motion appeared first on Jim McLennan's Essential Tennis Instruction.

The post ETI 046 | Gravity Motion appeared first on Jim McLennan's Essential Tennis Instruction.

Pete Sampras, "I won 7 Wimbledon titles because I had the best second serve in the game."

The second serve is about spin that will make the ball curve down as it crosses the net.  Yes it may corner the opponent and either swing them wide and out of court, or kick up into their backhand.

Pete Sampras, "I won 7 Wimbledon titles because I had the best second serve in the game."

The second serve is about spin that will make the ball curve down as it crosses the net.  Yes it may corner the opponent and either swing them wide and out of court, or kick up into their backhand.

The post ETI 045 | Sidespin Serve appeared first on Jim McLennan's Essential Tennis Instruction.

ETI 044 Topspin and the Racquet DropDownload this podcast – You may need to right-click and select Save Link As to download the file to your computer

Consider the critical 24 inch hitting zone when creating topspin on a forehand or on a serve – to create this spin the racquet must be swung up from beneath the ball (12 inches) but carry upward after impact (another 12 inches) to create the rolling spin that more and more of us want in our games.

But before you hit up on the ball you MUST accelerate from beneath it.  Therein the concept of the “racquet drop.”

ETI 044 Topspin and the Racquet Drop

Download this podcast – You may need to right-click and select Save Link As to download the file to your computer

Consider the critical 24 inch hitting zone when creating topspin on a forehand or on a serve – to create this spin the racquet must be swung up from beneath the ball (12 inches) but carry upward after impact (another 12 inches) to create the rolling spin that more and more of us want in our games.

But before you hit up on the ball you MUST accelerate from beneath it.  Therein the concept of the “racquet drop.”

The post ETI 044 l Topspin and the Racquet Drop appeared first on Jim McLennan's Essential Tennis Instruction.

The post ETI 044 l Topspin and the Racquet Drop appeared first on Jim McLennan's Essential Tennis Instruction.

ETI 043 Point of Contact Area of ContactDownload this podcast – You may need to right-click and select Save Link As to download the file to your computer

Ball control – ours is a game of accuracy, of consistency, but equally it is a game of timing for the opponent will send us shots of varying spin, speed, length and difficulty.

Timing describes the relation between the incoming ball and the swinging racquet – and certainly the entire game revolves around the moment of contact – but there is a way to lengthen, ever so slightly, that moment of contact such that the racquet moves through a 6 inch area without altering it’s face or path creating an area of contact.

ETI 043 Point of Contact Area of Contact

Download this podcast – You may need to right-click and select Save Link As to download the file to your computer

Ball control – ours is a game of accuracy, of consistency, but equally it is a game of timing for the opponent will send us shots of varying spin, speed, length and difficulty.

Timing describes the relation between the incoming ball and the swinging racquet – and certainly the entire game revolves around the moment of contact – but there is a way to lengthen, ever so slightly, that moment of contact such that the racquet moves through a 6 inch area without altering it’s face or path creating an area of contact.

The post ETI 043 | Point of Contact Area of Contact appeared first on Jim McLennan's Essential Tennis Instruction.

The post ETI 043 | Point of Contact Area of Contact appeared first on Jim McLennan's Essential Tennis Instruction.