NYTA

Tennis Tips For All Level Of Play

During the junior program we focus on the following items to help our junior reach their goals.

Forehand Progression
Backhand Progression
Backhand Slice
Volley
Serve
Return of First Serve
Return of Second Serve
Specialty Shots

Forehand Progression

**** 1 hopper single hand feed drills, consistency drills, partnership drills, or king of the court, ladder drills or team events ****

Check the grips- slide hand down the racquet so your hands are in the eastern forehand grip.
(Drills: Have the students stroke the ball with their bare hand when hitting forehands.)
Racquet pathway- low to high
(Drills - Tots, Beginners, Intermediates & Advanced: With racquet below the wrist touch the ground with the racquet before hitting the ball, three balls at the service line or consistent rally�s.)
Contact point- start with the racquet at the contact point, gives students the understanding were the ball should be contacted, also makes the students follow through more, generates racquet speed, variations � waist height, ankle height and shoulder height.
(Drills - Tots & Beginners: During jailbreak can work on this skill
Intermediates & Advanced: Try to maintain a consistent rally and then graduate to king of the court.)
Backswing- be sure not to have the backswing too far back because it pulls you off the ball.I am not a fan of a huge backswing because it causes the student too hit the ball late. ANY BALL HIT LATE IS A DISASTER. The butt or bottom of the grip of the racquet should be pointed towards the target.
(Drills - Tots & Beginners: Students stand at the fence or blue screen while facing their partner and hit 20 forehands. Students not allowed to make contact with the screen, partners switch roles and repeat drill
Intermediates & Advanced: Pro have the students stand inside the baseline, try to matain a consistent rally aiming cross court in the doubles alley, have students take the ball on the rise during king of the court and both parties play the point out inside the baseline.)
Follow through- use your left hand to catch the racquet. Key word is �catch�. Throw your arms over your shoulders when hitting two-handed backhands. Feel the stretch in your shoulders when hitting one-hand backhands. When you swing do not think about slowing your follow through, the racquet will stop at the top of the follow through by itself.
Weight transfer- transfer of weight from the right leg to the left, even if you are hitting an open stance forehand same rules apply. (Have the students hop form the right leg to the left leg) take note of the distance between the students legs, if legs are too close together student will experience a week center of gravity, open up your stance for a lower center of gravity.
Rhyme- backswing slow and then fast as possible at the point of contact. Have the students use the key words during this drill �slow and fast�.
Rotation- have the students line up in 3�s across the service line with partners shadowing in the student, spin around when hitting the ball. (Just like figure skating) rotation of the waist - point at the ball with your left shoulder, throw left arm to start the rotation for the forehand.
(Drills: Have all levels spin while hitting forehands, medicine ball rotational work out)
Open stance- both feet pointed towards the net student swing as fast as possible. Plant your right leg when setting up to hit the forehand. Point with the shoulder and rotate with the stomach.
No head movement- every other part of the body is moving with the exception of the head. Think that your body when hitting groundstrokes like a spinning top, everything moving but your head.
Height- for height brush up on the back of the ball, aim 4 feet over the net, drop your wrist below the height of the ball, bend your knees and racquet pathway is low to high.
Direction - Where you hit the ball- changing your wrist position, contact point rotation of the waist and keeping in mind the direction of the ball that is sent to student. Pick a spot over the net and choose the necessary height to execute desired shot. (Do not try to hit impossible shots if the angle does not present itself)
Movement- adds difficulty with movement; make sure that there is still a foreword weight transfer. Lean into the court does not fall backwards. Step towards the intended target so weight transfers foreword.
4forehands- counter attack, rally ball, attack ball and lights out. The pathway of the racquet changes from a brush motion to a driving threw motion.

Backhand Progression

**** 1 hopper single hand feed drills, consistency drills, partnership drills, or king of the court or team events ****

Check the grips- hand on top of the grip, racquet face is pointed slightly towards the ground.
Two handed or One-handed backhand- almost all beginners to intermediates should use 2 handed backhands. Once players become stronger they can switch one hander later. Emphasis: right hand is on the bottom of the racquet and left hand is on top.
Contact point- one-handed backhand contact point is further out in front compared to the two handed backhand. (Reason is that with two hands on the racquet the body is more restricted, less reach). With the students holding the racquet in the contact area and starting the swing there helps create a full follow through and generates racquet speed Emphasis: waist height, ankle height and shoulder height.
Backswing- be sure not to have the backswing too far back because it pulls you off the ball .I am not a fan of a huge backswing because it causes the student too hit the ball late. ANY BALL HIT LATE IS A DISASTER.
Racquet pathway- low to high. On short balls extreme low to high to generate spin to have the ball drop in the court (lots of spin closed racquet face). To hit deep ball lengthen the follow through towards the target with a more liner swing (less spin more open racquet face).
Follow through- Throw your arms over your shoulders when hitting two-handed backhands. Feel the stretch in your shoulders when hitting one-hand backhands. When you swing do not think about slowing your follow through, the racquet will stop at the top of the follow through by itself.
Weight transfer- transfer of weight from the left leg to the right.(Have the students hop form the left leg to the right leg) take note of the distance between the students legs, if legs are too close together student will experience a week center of gravity, open up your stance for a lower center of gravity. As the racquet comes foreword this is when the weight transfer occurs.
Rhyme- backswing slow and then fast as possible at the point of contact. The two handed backhand swing is slower due to the two hands on the racquet, power is generated form the weight transfer and the legs. The one handed backhand is different in that power is generated in a whip lashing motion. Have the students use the key words during this drill �slow and fast�.
Rotation- point with your right shoulder and rotate your hips.
No head movement- every other part of the body is moving with the exception of the head. Think that your body when hitting groundstrokes like a spinning top, everything moving but your head.
Height- for height brush up on the back of the ball, aim 4 feet over the net, drop your wrist below the height of the ball, bend your knees and racquet pathway is low to high.
Direction - Where you hit the ball- changing your wrist position, contact point rotation of the waist and keeping in mind the direction of the ball that is sent to student. Pick a spot over the net and choose the necessary height to execute desired shot. (Do not try to hit impossible shots if the angle does not present itself.)
Movement- adds difficulty with movement; make sure that there is still a foreword weight transfer. Lean into the court does not fall backwards. Step towards the intended target so weight transfers forward.
4forehands- counter attack, rally ball, attack ball and lights out. The pathway of the racquet changes from a brush motion to a driving threw motion.

Backhand Slice

Grip- shake hands grip or hammer grip. The back of your hand is facing target. The wrist stays about 85% locked trough the contact zone.
Weight transfer- the weight transfers from the left leg and 90% of the weight is on the right leg at the point of contact.
Racquet pathway- high to low to high.
Contact point- get the ball away from your body, if the ball is too close you end up jamming yourself.
Shoulder- lean in with your right shoulder.
Approach shots- follow the ball into the net in a straight line do not fall off the approach shot.
Racquet face contact- ball hits the bottom face of the racquet face during contact.

Volley

Grip- hammer grip, turn wrist out with the palm of your hand facing the target, turn wrist in with the back of your hand facing the target. The racquet is above the wrist at all times. (Your wrist and racquet should create a "V").
Cutting off the ball- moving foreword, after moving forward studier step and get ready for the next ball stutter step just before the opponent hits the ball.
Racquet face- pointed in direction of the target. Do not swing; punch the ball towards the target. Racquet face is slightly open to encourage the use of under spin when volleying.
Knees bent- absorbs the ball that is sent.

Drills

Dribble and send

Volley and then overhand

Shuffle and then drop shot aiming for the hop

Catch the ball with bare hand cutting off the angle

Volley from � court and forward

Put the rope down, must return back to ready position

Ball in the arm pit

Choke up on the racquet

Serve

Legs- bend and extend, (1st serve � push out into the court, 2nd serve push up land just inside the court.)
Grip- backhand grip.
Slice- toss to the right and slightly lower, contact the ball on the right portion of the ball.
Flat- toss above your forehead and out into the court, snap wrist straight threw the ball, contact ball right in the middle.
Second Serve - American Twist- toss is to the left and behind your head, toss is slightly lower, snap wrist up and make contact the ball on the bottom left portion.
Waist- uncoiling the abs, point the left shoulder towards the target after contact.
Head- keep your head up to get extra lift, hit up and do not slouch.
Rotation- as the waist comes to the end of its rotation it allows the racquet to rocket forward.
Looseness- breath and bounce the ball, try to keep the body as loose as possible.

Drills

Knock down pillions

Try to get your serve to bounce once and then hit the back fence

How far are you in the court after serving

Does the returnee take 2 steps or more when returning serve

Can you direct your second serve with direction

Serve over a volleyball net to get more net clearance (develops a great topspin serve)

Kneel down and snap your wrist forward and in a upwards direction towards the roof

Standing at the net, try to pronate your wrist and have the ball hit the roof (creates good wrist snap and helps keep your body loose)

Return of First Serve

Shorten up your backswing, keep the racquet in front of your body.
Stutter step just before the server makes contact with the ball.
Look for trends in the server and try to read the toss.
Try blocking the serve back with under spin (volley like stroke).
Return down the middle or cross court too get more serves back in play.

Return of Second Serve

If the ball sits up you can go down the line, aim 3 feet inside the line to reduce the risk of missing.
Take a bigger back swing and attack with spin.
Stutter step and move into the court to create the weight transfer needed.
On second serves with kick take the ball on the rise and take it early (keep the ball between your waist and shoulders).
Chip and charge, use your slice.

Specialty Shots

Lobs with top spin and lobs with underpin.
Backhand overheads.
Half volleys.
Swinging forehand and backhand volleys.
Drop shots.
Counter attack, short angle, pushing. (moon balls).
Taking the ball on the rise and fall.

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