by: Daniel A. Young, Sr. nttcacemaker.com, @nttctennis 919 6510-5255
Understanding, and applying suggestions, and tips provided
by well-meaning tennis coaches, and instructors often lack the necessary hook
to make the message stick.
That problem has been solved in the instant use
tennis techniques used by NTTC Instructors. For example,
“Get your racquet back," intones the coach, who demonstrates by holding a tennis ball head high, and tells the
student to watch the ball. When they see the ball leave the instructor's hand, they are required to throw their racquet back with the other hand, point the butt of the racquet at
the ball, while the non-racquet hand points to the oncoming ball.
“Wayward ball toss.”
You know by now that the
Serve is 50% of the game of tennis, and the Toss is 50% of the Serve.
When you can’t control your ball toss: “Start with both
your hands together: As you cradle the
ball, in the “Praying Mantis Position.”
Then drop both hands. Let the back
of the ball tossing hand hit the players’ inner thigh on ball tossing side.
This stops the ball's downward movement and permits the ball tossing hand to
change direction. Now, both the Racquet hand,
and the ball tossing hand are raised simultaneously to shoulder height in opposite
directions. This is repeated until it
becomes fluid, and natural. It should look natural as well.
As the last set of arm movements are stopped shoulder height, Stop!
Now, brush the back of your head with what would be your racquet hand—think in terms of making a muscle--with
the racquet-hand, while looking up towards the upward facing palm of the ball tossing
hand.
When this can be done in a smooth, rhythmic motion, let the
ball tossing hand continue upward and extend as high up as you can reach. The palm of the ball tossing hand should be
facing towards you. This may feel
awkward for a while.
Now unwind. Doing the
same movements, just doing them in reverse very slowly.
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