Powerful Groundstrokes: Freedom, Timing & Breathing

Key Points

• Work on using small and fast adjustment steps before you hit the ball
• Whether you’re slowing down to hit a ball or pushing off to chase a ball, you need fast adjustment steps
• If you can use fast “stutter” steps and still have the ability to stay balanced and hit the ball, you’re on your way to becoming a professional tennis player
• To help coordinate your breathing with the timing of hitting the ball, make an audible and extended sound when you make contact - ‘1’ ‘2’ etc.
• Fix “hitches” in swings immediately before trying to teach range of motion and power
• Place 2 cones 1 meter apart and have the player run a figure 8 through the cones and then run and hit a wide forehand while focusing on breathing out and making an audible sound on contact
• The game requires you to move your feet as fast as possible, while still creating the freedom, range of motion and timing to help generate power
• Not breathing correctly and tightening up your muscles will limit your range of motion and power
• Coco Gauff’s concept of hitting hard as a junior was to “muscle up”, rather than being relaxed and hitting through the shot
• Freedom + range of motion = timing
• If young players can learn freedom and range of motion on their shots at a young age, they can develop into great players