https://www.onlinetennisschool.com/categories/techniques/Recent content in Techniques on Online Tennis SchoolHugo -- gohugo.ioWed, 17 Sep 2014 16:59:03 -0700https://www.onlinetennisschool.com/articles/changing-direction/Wed, 17 Sep 2014 16:59:03 -0700https://www.onlinetennisschool.com/articles/changing-direction/Five laws for changing direction and going down the line. It is important to realize that going down the line off a cross-court ball is a risky proposition. There are two main reasons: Contact geometry. Changing the angle of the ball off the strings means you can catch it a little late and miss your target.https://www.onlinetennisschool.com/articles/4-main-areas-of-development-top-level-player/Thu, 04 Sep 2014 16:51:59 -0700https://www.onlinetennisschool.com/articles/4-main-areas-of-development-top-level-player/Players and parents need a map of the modern development path: technical work, physical work, emotional conditioning, and match knowledge - plus the environment that makes all four grow. The four pillars 1. Technique Excellent technique allows simplicity, accuracy, and reliability. It is a never-ending journey of refinement. Technique alone cannot win matches.https://www.onlinetennisschool.com/articles/excellent-technique/Wed, 04 Jun 2014 00:00:00 +0000https://www.onlinetennisschool.com/articles/excellent-technique/I get asked about the process of building excellent technique quite often, and I wanted to give a couple of thoughts that matter more than grip charts and YouTube frame-by-frame debates. Technique is a garden, not a project Think of your swings like your garden. When will you get to stop mowing it?https://www.onlinetennisschool.com/articles/tough-positions/Fri, 30 May 2014 00:00:00 +0000https://www.onlinetennisschool.com/articles/tough-positions/Learning to hit from tough positions was a chapter I lived in - my movement was never top-shelf. These are the rules that kept me in points. Six basic rules Watch your depth. The deeper you hit, the fewer chances the opponent gets to attack - and the fewer tough positions you face next.https://www.onlinetennisschool.com/articles/backhand/Tue, 27 May 2014 16:59:03 -0700https://www.onlinetennisschool.com/articles/backhand/A solid two-handed backhand is one of the great equalizers in modern tennis. It does not have to be a weapon on day one - but it does have to be reliable under pace, so you can stay in the point long enough to use your patterns. Here are the keys to building that backhand, with Novak Djokovic as the clearest high-level model.https://www.onlinetennisschool.com/articles/backhand-technique/Tue, 27 May 2014 16:59:03 -0700https://www.onlinetennisschool.com/articles/backhand-technique/For all my students: we are still building the technique for a variety of shots, and I love to use the top pros as role models. You do not need a private coach on court every day to improve shape. You need a clear picture, honest feedback, and enough quality reps that the picture becomes automatic under a moving ball.https://www.onlinetennisschool.com/articles/backhand-slice/Tue, 27 May 2014 16:57:51 -0700https://www.onlinetennisschool.com/articles/backhand-slice/One of my absolute favorite shots: the backhand slice. In a topspin-heavy modern game, the slice is still a high-value tool. It changes height and pace, buys time on defense, keeps the ball out of an opponent’s strike zone, and sets up the next ball when you chip short then go deep behind them.https://www.onlinetennisschool.com/articles/lesson-from-roger/Tue, 27 May 2014 00:00:00 +0000https://www.onlinetennisschool.com/articles/lesson-from-roger/Roger Federer in super slow motion. Get the pen and paper out - there is a lot to steal in a few minutes. Study checklist Start with two simple questions: does he miss a split step? Does he use a small base? Then watch for: Load on the right leg when hitting the forehand inside-out Early preparation - shoulder turn while the ball is still roughly at the net; how long the ball takes to enter the frame after he is already turned Still head, and how low he stays on the approach shot Split step for the first volley - following the ball in, timing the split for the pass Concentration through the finish - it looks like he wants to watch the ball bounce a seventh time before he looks away One cue week: pick a single item (e.https://www.onlinetennisschool.com/articles/lesson-from-roger-2/Tue, 27 May 2014 00:00:00 +0000https://www.onlinetennisschool.com/articles/lesson-from-roger-2/Another Federer slow-motion study - this time with special attention to the serve and the forehand inside-out. Serve: what to watch Palm-down position on the backswing Non-stop motion - the racket never dies at the trophy; rhythm stays continuous (something I believe in more than almost anything on the serve) Pronation at contact - can you spot the forearm/wrist roll that turns the hit into a real serve?https://www.onlinetennisschool.com/articles/serve-repair-tips/Mon, 19 May 2014 00:00:00 +0000https://www.onlinetennisschool.com/articles/serve-repair-tips/I have worked with a lot of people recently who are having trouble with their serves. This shot can be as complicated as you want it to be - biomechanics, grip debates, platform vs. pinpoint - but most serve problems collapse into a few simple failures. Here are the four golden rules I used to build my service motion.