What is coming?

by Thomas Johnston
Director of Tennis, Wintergreen Resort

One of the easiest ways to improve your technique is to utilize your non-dominant arm correctly. The non-dominant arm is a crucial, but little taught component of most amateur tennis player's strokes. All strokes can be improved with a little assistance from the "other" side. It is also a good way of improving technique without being so "technical." One example of the usefulness of the non-dominant arm is with a right-hander's forehand groundstroke.

1. By extending the left arm slightly across the body, the shoulders turn by themselves. Now you don't have to turn your shoulders consciously. The left arm does it for you.

2. The second benefit of extending the left arm is for better balance. In sports, opposite limbs will synchronize for balance.

3. Another use of extending the left arm is that it helps you find your contact point. This is similar to an overhead when an individual puts their arm up to track the ball.

4. A fourth use of the left arm is to catch the follow through. By catching the racquet handle over the opposite shoulder and by the left ear, the follow through is "given" to you.

5. Finally, you are in balance again. Although your hands are now together, your arms are opposite. You have now come full circle: starting balanced and ending balanced.

Although the example above is that of the forehand groundstroke, it does not take much imagination to see that the non-dominant arm is a crucial component from volleys to groundstrokes to serves and overheads. If you want to break through to another level, "break on through with the other side."

"Topspin"

by Howie Fendley
Director of Tennis, ACAC (1999)

Developing the ability to hit topspin ground strokes will drastically improve your consistency, depth, and pace from the baseline. Topspin will cause a tennis ball to "dip" into the court at a faster rate than a ball with slice or no spin at all. This means that you can hit your shots higher over the net with the confidence that the topspin will bring the ball down onto the court! Just as important, topspin causes the ball to "explode" off the bounce. This means your opponents will have a harder time returning topspin shots!

To hit topspin, there are three keys. First, your racquet must start below the ball with the face of the racquet "closed". Closed means that your strings will be facing directly down toward the ground when the racquet is back. Be sure that the palm is also facing down during the backswing to ensure that your grip is correct.

Second, swing from low to high through the ball as your weight transfers to your front foot.

Third, finish the swing with your racquet over the opposite shoulder (i.e. left shoulder for a right-handed forehand).

This is only a guide on hitting topspin. Consult your tennis professional for more information on how to crush your opponents with topspin.