Federer Practice Drill

Here’s a couple of great drills I picked up in Dubai a couple of years ago whilst watching Roger Federer practice.

It’s dead simple yet so effective…..but isn’t that the trick??

Leave a comment below to tell me what you think.

To see the FREE Tennis Turnaround Toolkit videos and/or to get notice of when it’s available just go HERE

Tennis Video – Turnaround Toolkit Overview

Check out this video that outlines the 24 day Tennis Turnaround Toolkit.

Hope that helps.

The Tennis Forehand YouTube Debate Keeps Going

Just got this reply about the video I produced…….oh about a year ago.

Watch the video to get the vibe (it’s only a minute long).

Ok, here is the comment in question.

“Anyone who mimics the pros will be a generation behind. Teach the kids the basics ( closed/neutral stance) and their games will be adaptable to changes in techniques & playing styles.”

Now….

How does that work exactly?? This is exactly the kind of thinking that KEEPS players a generation behind!! How do you think players progress over the years?? They grow up following the icons of day and take on and then move on.

Surely this is obvious??

So, you have 2 things to do now.

1. Give me your take on it.

2. I am pretty much ready with a series of videos etc aimed at helping people with their forehands but I want to know what people feel they need help with/want to see so I don’t leave anything out…….so add this on as well.

Thanks!!

The Tennis Serve – How To Slice It Out Wide With Ease

One of the most effective tennis serves you can hit is what is sometimes known as the “can opener”.

You see Federer and Nadal hit this serve a lot of the time.

This is when you slice the serve out wide and drag your opponent out of the tennis court.

It can often result in an ace or error but can also leave your opponent so far out of court that even if they do return the ball you have the whole court at your mercy to take advantage of.

But, so many people still struggle to hit it well.

Well, try this.

If you are a right hander hitting it from the deuce (right) court then just move your right foot to the right a touch (towards the right tramline) when you are setting up (I am obviously assuming your right foot is normally further from the right tramline than your left foot in your normal service stance).

This will line your body up more towards your target and make hitting that area by the opposite tramline sooooo much easier.

Note for all you leftys, just reverse the above instruction i.e. serve from the left etc.

For those of you worried about telegraphing the serve to the opponent – don’t worry.

If you are unable to hit the wide serve from the “normal” stance, you AND your opponent are unlikely to be at the level where reading and taking advantage of serves are a natural part of the game.

PLUS!!!

If you hit it well enough, it is still a difficult serve to deal with.

I saw Pete Sampras (who Federer copied) serve every ad serve (from the left) at the French Open, Roland Garros from wide out towards the tramline with kick.

Everybody knew where most of the serves were going but like I said earlier if you hit these wide serves well the worst that can happen is that you end up with an empty court to play into on the next shot.

I also saw him serve nearly every serve in the Australian Open final against Thomas Muster (a lefty) as a can opener from the right (deuce) court.

Listen, it’s really important for right handers to have this serve against a lefty.

I say this because it seems that all leftys have this serve when they play us right handers……dammned leftys

Start working on it today!!

P.S. if you are a lefty and don’t have it as part of your service arsenal…………get it going

Check out this cool tool to help you with your service motion – Click HERE

Is This One Of The Best Tennis Technique Tips Ever?

Did you know that you can improve your tennis technique by simply watching TV and observing your favorite players in action?

“Through imitation, we’re able to learn tasks–such as swinging a bat–much better than was previously thought,” explains Yigal Agam, a neuroscience expert at Brandeis University.

Agam discovered that it only takes a single viewing of a movement for people to replicate it effectively. He adds: “The more people viewed it, the more exact their imitation became. Moreover, intermittently pausing an action will make it easier to learn.”

I have to admit I did this a lot when forming my game (watching lots of Pete Sampras) and have had great results when coaching by getting them to “model” stuff on tape or even my demos.

We often just have baskets of me performing an action (e.g. tennis serve) followed by my pupil just attempting to copy me!!

Better get the recording equipment ready to go then!!

A word of caution though, a study published in the Journal of Sports Sciences reveals that “you can subconsciously pick up bad habits by watching mediocre athletes.”

So, don’t spend too much time studying your average club player!

So, if you have to learn, you have to learn from the best.

Makes sense, right?

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