June 2000
The secret to successful novice tennis is the same for championship power tennis. Hit the ball in front.
The first fundamental of stroke production, while not guaranteeing a winner on every shot, insures authoritative volleys, makes the forehand an enjoyable shot to hit, and helps prevent tennis elbow on the backhand. To move your point of contact forward a few inches, or a few feet, check your backswing; it’s here where things go awry, making you late for the ball.
On the forehand the common problem is exaggerating the backswing; the racquet is either taken too high or too far back. As a result, timing becomes difficult on all shots coming faster than slow-motion. To correct the over-size forehand backswing, hold onto your racquet longer with your free hand. As you pivot your shoulders, keep your hand on the throat of the racquet until the ball bounces in front of you. Hold the racquet down below the level of your shoulders. Practice this drill a few hundred times and abbreviated backswing will allow you to catch the ball in front.
On the backhand everybody shares the problem of preparing too late. The racquet doesn’t go back until the ball bounces in front of the player; by then it’s too late. The corrective suggestion is to get your shoulders turned sideways, and the racquet pulled back, before the ball reaches the net. By preparing early you’ll notice a dramatic improvement in your backhand.
The key to an aggressive volley is catching the ball in front, racquet head high in a firm grip. To check your volley technique, hold your follow-through position and see what you’re doing. You should be able to tell whether you made contact in front, alongside, or behind your body. To practice these corrective changes, spend some time playing shortcourt. This is a practice drill played inside the service lines. The objective is to slow down your strokes, and the ball, so you can actually see the ball and racquet meet. This way can help your self move your point of contact further in front.