Sunday, April 24, 2011

Doc's Tip of the Evening -- Serve

Always have a starting point on your service motion. There are two distinct start styles in regards to the tossing arm when serving.
The two start styles are the upwards and then the downwards then upwards.
The upwards refers to the tossing arm/hand starting low (should be on your front leg) then ascending straight up to toss and then the downwards then upwards where you start at approximately waist level then the tossing arm drops to your front leg then ascends straight up.
Please know which style you use. I often see hybrid styles, which can greatly affect the timing and rhythm of one's service motion. hvs

Sunday, April 10, 2011

Doc's Tip of the Day -- BH

Whether you have a one handed or two handed backhand, the key to a deep shot is the follow through! Always extend your arm and feel the shoulder stretch through after you hit the ball.
If you have a one handed backhand, your racket arm should extend completely straight out on the follow through until you feel the shoulder stretch.
If you have a two handed backhand, the non dominant arm would do the straight arm extension on the follow through and then the non dominant shoulder would stretch. ay

Friday, April 1, 2011

Doc's Tip of the Night -- Serve (toss)

If you are having difficulty maintaining proper balance with your body on your serve it might well be initially addressed by letting your tossing arm extend straight up after releasing the ball. Most of the time I see the arm stop too soon after releasing the ball toss. By continuing to let the tossing arm extend straight upward it will keep your front shoulder high. Also, it will help keep too much weight shifting forward onto the front foot prior to loading. ho

Doc's Tip of the Night -- Return of Serve

When establishing your stance on the return of serve, you want to angle your stance where the outside foot is higher than the inside foot. This is true for both sides of the court when returning. The angle of stance should be approximately 12 degrees +/- 5 to the baseline in the duece court to approximately 168 degrees +/- 5 to the baseline in the ad court.
The purpose of this angled stance is so you will move at an angle to the ball on the wide serves. Also, since your stance turns your shoulders to the inside of the service box you will have an advantage in turning early if the serve is hit down the center or 'T'. hd