How To Set Up Early For Tennis Groundstrokes And Overheads

[@prashantgupta7167]

This is a gem of a video. Everyone who has even an iota of interest in tennis should watch it. Thank you Tomaz.

[@Dan1elAndrade]

Perhaps the best video a beginner needs to watch! Thanks!

[@meinkapitan5349]

Hello Tomas, after this video i took time to watch the wizard Federer and all the atp players, I understood why they're able to hit that kind of forehand and backhand. I will now focus my training on beating the ball for months and I'll tell you how much it changed my game. Because taking the ball at an high bounce is easier with this concept of interception point (y). Thanks a lot!

[@feeltennis]

Wonderful, thanks for the feedback!

[@kenwilliams7302]

You always provide unique insights into and about tennis incorporating physics, poise and details I've never heard from anyone else. Thank you!!!!

[@DesmondWFS]

Best video I ever seen .period .

[@josecedeno5265]

I always like your classes, you make them easier to understand, Thank you, teacher.

[@MWHC96]

This lesson is extremely helpful for me. I gain a lot of confidence after getting this mental image for every shots Thanks Thomaz!

[@beeth1362]

You're the best thinker tennis coach!

[@ccw39]

This was so eye opening! Thank you!

[@bbdragon43]

Amazing lesson! An easy concept of being early but much harder to execute in actuality. Thanks Tomaz

[@feeltennis]

Yes, not easy but one needs to know the way and then keep progressing along it...

[@lionelz6959]

Very good explanation of why and how being late happens. Helps me realize that more mental power and energy is required to overcome this. Thank you as always!

[@feeltennis]

You're very welcome!

[@johnbalaga6870]

I absolutely love your approach to teaching tennis, especially for beginners. I don't think there's anyone out there that applies this type of approach. It's magic

[@feeltennis]

Very much appreciated!

We'r so lucky to have you Tomaz!

[@olafsrensen9578]

Reach the ball in time is the topic with these 3 steps great drills. Great Thomas. To do this , the first step is ofcourse the anticipation of the ball as quickly as you can.

[@feeltennis]

Well said!

[@ignacioechaide1978]

I cant help watching this video from time to time. Its simply great. Thanks Tomas dor your lessons.

[@neygercey7899]

I'm not a beginner but this video explains why I make several unforced errors when playing against more qualified players than me. Thanks for caaling my attention to this matter.

[@gregoiremt7816]

Thank you for your dedication and your amazing videos, Tomasz !

[@honkeyness9427]

This may be why I suck - I have good strokes but I do exactly what you show in matches. Time to focus on this instead of mechanics.

[@francoisboutet1183]

Another awesome lesson easy to learn easy to apply, congrats for your dedication to help players to correct their game !

[@feeltennis]

My pleasure, stay tuned for more videos in the future!

[@asianx7]

Really good lesson. I would add that for hitting a drop shot setting up early is even more important. Your margin of error significantly decreases if the foot is set when hitting a drop shot. Pretty hard to hit a drop shop while moving (unless you're RF then you do what you want).

[@nathanmiller6051]

Thanks again for a great lesson, always making me think 🤔🙏 excellent!

[@umenon1]

Great video. I like to think of this as beating the ball to the bounce. By that i mean having your outside for planted before the ball bounces on your side of the court. That gives you enough time to load the outside foot and drop the racket as the ball is coming up towards you

[@feeltennis]

Yes, very good points!

[@manojgeorge007]

Very important and overlooked factor. Thanks Tomas for this video

[@feeltennis]

My pleasure!

[@anitacastagna2208]

Thanks for taking the time to explain that. I will try it next time I am on the court.

[@HungLe-pk3oz]

Your strokes are so clean. I learn a lot from your videos espesially stable wrist concept. Thank you so much

[@feeltennis]

Great to hear!

[@ohmmurugans]

This is genius. I do this mistake all the time 😮

[@saraakkouch7942]

Very detailed and ver helpful for beginners. Thanks a lot

[@chungNguyen-jd2em]

Focus and relaxation of whole body create a quick reaction to the shot

[@claudem4733]

Thank you Tomaz for the informative and detailed video

[@feeltennis]

Glad it was helpful!

[@dawng7270]

Your video is right up my alley. I’m not a beginner but I do what you are describing. It is one of my goals to prepare early but I work on all kinds of things and perfect none it feels. This beat the ball will be a great assist in preparing early I believe. Thank you once again 🤗 On another note Tomaz what would you give priority to: beat the ball, prepare early, contact point, eye on the ball, top spin swing path, swing slow to fast, use a universal swing path, use the kinetic chain, play without tension. See what I mean too many things to perfect. If you could just put these in order for me I will stay with just two perhaps and then move on🤔

[@feeltennis]

Hi Dawn, tennis is a complex game with many elements. You cannot work on all at the same time, you will overwhelm yourself. You work on each element for a couple of minutes and then you focus on the next one. I explain this approach in this video: kzbin.info/www/bejne/imGpmX2QqsaKZ6c

[@dawng7270]

I checked out the video and it was ideal. I feel very happy as I now have a better plan. Thank you Obi-Wan Kenobi🤗.

[@mericusta1988]

Hi I would work on being loose and one more thing in somewhat static position first. Then reaching easy balls, then medium far balls. Kinetic chain might be divided into parts as well.

[@dawng7270]

Hi Meric, Thank you for thinking about my question and responding. You’ve provided an interesting response which makes very good sense to me! I have been told that I look quite tense when I play probably because I try very hard to excel but it has caused me injuries like tennis elbow. I am definitely going to try out what you’ve recommended 👍

[@mericusta1988]

@@dawng7270 you are welcome. I go through similar growing pains, and for me currently priority is staying loose. This really fixes many things at once. I hope it won’t mislead you but I sometimes try to treat my dominant arm (right) as a sleepy appendage, where it needs a lift with my other arm until gravity takes over, where with the hip thrust, it is thrown into a “lag” slot then, with the help of a chest and shoulder and some bicep it is thrown at the ball. It becomes an effortless shot, and surprisingly not so out of control, because gravity is constant, and big muscles are consistent. Resulting follow through is better than all the stiff shots I have made.

[@StuckOnAlgebra]

Wow, this is a rare video that I could apply and benefit from on the first try, with a dramatically improved "feel". And if I forgot and got to the ball as usual "just in time", the contrast was profound enough that the lesson was reinforced. I used to be a serious softball outfielder and it was fine to get to the ball JIT and make the catch, tho TBH with a runner on third we would get there fast enough to set up for a strong throw home in case they tag up. Never thought to apply that to tennis, to better set up for a shot after getting to the ball. Thx for a great tip!

[@StuckOnAlgebra]

Forgot to mention that I am 73, and doing the minimum to conserve energy is another reason for reaching the ball JIT. But shortening the point saves energy, too. :)

[@feeltennis]

Wonderful to hear, thanks for the feedback!

[@ahartanto3387]

thanks tomasz! this is my current main problem

[@GrungePopRecords]

I needed this so badly. Thanks!!!

[@ploduralag]

i always like your topics in tennis.

[@K4R3N]

Great lesson Tomaz

[@rafael19701000]

Gracias ....saludos desde Colombia

[@kevingilhooley2064]

Great tips once again Tomasz...thanks a lot.

[@oweneoin]

Excellent video. Would you recommend the slinger ball machine as good value for money or is it better to spend more for a more functional machine? Thanks

[@thsigman]

Thanks!

[@meditationman415]

I would appreciate a video on how to deal with 'too much time'

[@meditationman415]

Although, if you take the serve as an example, some of the better returns of intermediate players is when there is no time to think , so from fast serves. When there is more time often the shot is worse than when there is less time

[@pej1007]

Brilliant.

[@LanceJordan]

Great as always! But why sand on the hard court?

[@paulczerner3286]

probably blown over from the clay court next to it.

[@mowghlee]

Thanks Tomaz

[@marlowe1969ify]

Thanks a lot.. Big lesson... Big coach

[@sunnychamp1]

Hi Tomas ! Greetings 🖖 Always great insights in your vids and I think before anyone goes into technical inputs one must improve timing and more I see your vids iam convinced that timing is critical and a very much overlooked factor while developing technique. Wish you could also provided more inputs on timing and how to be more automated while playing matches. Practice does help but for matches any timing tips will be really fruitful. Regards and wishing you the best always.

[@feeltennis]

Thanks for the feedback! I plan to share more videos on the timing in the future but I have added a few already to the KZbin Member's area. Consider Joining and getting early access to such videos not to mention being able to watch 130+ additional videos that are already inside the membership section.

[@sunnychamp1]

That’s great !

[@suwadiyunior4821]

H Tomaz, how do we find that meeting point ? Do I need to get behind the ball on my groundstrokes? Or do I need to get slightly to the left of the ball on my forehand and get slightly to the right of the ball on my backhand? You are a great teacher and you have helped me a lot. Thank you

[@feeltennis]

I would say trial and error based on how the stroke feels depending on how far / close you positioned to the ball. So lots of repetition and awareness of how it felt when you hit the ball at certain distance from you.

[@samaashik7821]

Getting behind the ball is a metaphor. It means you need to properly load your body and drive it through the ball. Whereas, spacing to the ball is as rightly Tomas said, you to work on feed drills to get how much space is comfortable for you to play your best stroke.

[@paulczerner3286]

@@samaashik7821 not just a metaphor, a kinetic sensation. Feel like the ball is hitting you in the stomach or chest, and you will kinetically feel like you are behind the ball.

[@jfitness432]

What ball machine do you recommend?

[@arnabganguly4962]

Beautiful explanation. What's the ball machine make you are using ?

[@feeltennis]

It's the Slingerbag: kzbin.info/www/bejne/hH3Se5yjaJqjic0

[@meditationman415]

Same with overhead, overheads are difficult because there is so much time from the ball being high and coming down, and its that too much time that creates the bad shot....for a beginner/intermediate

[@NamesAreRandom]

I always think get behind the ball - finishing by stepping across with back leg, then stepping forwards with the front leg and swing. That way my brain does the right thing for normal ground strokes and I get there just fast enough to do a relaxed swing but not so fast I am hanging around and lose momentum. Unfortunately that doesn't work with the overhead as you end up setup a bit too far back and will therefore smash it into the net...

[@feeltennis]

Just keep in mind that every forehand starts as an open stance: kzbin.info/www/bejne/d6bInmRjbdlmqKc

[@rucas10]

Excellent video and very well illustrated Tomaz ! I have a question that has nothing to do with this content exactly, but it is the following: assuming that we should try to hit whenever possible the ideal contact area for each of us, what is your option to achieve this? Hit the ball on the rise ? What would be the best option ? Thank you so much Tomaz

[@feeltennis]

Hi Rui, I would say you'll hit the ball maybe 50% of the time in ideal strike zone and the rest you have to adjust. I definitely would not advise recreational tennis players to hit on the rise, only in emergency, it's just too risky. So better to hit a bit off your ideal contact point (usually higher) and control the ball well or go a bit back if you have the time to read the ball. Here's a video I did on this topic some time ago: kzbin.info/www/bejne/o5Pak6OqlpZ1rtk

[@rucas10]

@@feeltennis Thank you so much Tomaz

[@mikecapp110]

"Conservation of energy" Feel tennis fans know what Tomaz really means, the ;) is a dead giveaway.

[@feeltennis]

Glad someone noticed it. :)

[@dawng7270]

Hi Mike, I love feel tennis but I haven’t paid extra money yet. Maybe that’s why I don’t understand what ;) and “conservation of energy” really means? Could you tell me what you r referring to?

[@mowghlee]

How to get right feel during ball impact, How to reduce vibration How should be flexion if wrist How to reduce wrist injury How to ensure ball comes at right spot in racket Please provide drill.

[@feeltennis]

I would start with these drills: kzbin.info/www/bejne/fZaonXuOoKh6bck. For good contact watch the ball, stay calm, breathe properly: kzbin.info/www/bejne/aZ_GdWlnrJtspck. Also understand that tennis is the most difficult sport for recreation and if you have not acquired good hand eye, ball judgement and movement skills in childhood then tennis will always be a struggle no matter how hard you try. Such skills do not develop fast nor well in adulthood.

[@mowghlee]

Thanks Tomaz

[@fimble2]

Thanks Tomaz, 👍🙏

[@feeltennis]

Very much appreciated!

[@fimble2]

@@feeltennis you’re very welcome, I have learnt a great deal from your excellent videos; full of common sense and insight, particularly because you give us ‘the why’ in your teachings. I took this ‘setting up early’ one, to my practice hit with my doubles partner just today! Thanks a mill! 👍🙏

[@Tech_Publica]

super insightful video as usual... was the machine sending bad balls for the smash? Your smash looked really in bad form...

[@lilabner9131]

Yes another great lesson! An aspect of tennis that is so essential yet usually completely overlooked!!! Nothing glamorous like "do you want to hit like Federer", not me, I just want to get the ball over the net and in the lines more often than not!! I think beating the ball will help me achieve that end. Thanks

[@feeltennis]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@meditationman415]

As well as too much time, another reason why easy short balls are difficult is because there are seemingly so many options where to hit the ball, more choice, more problems!

[@ianmacdonald5278]

I'm just one of the many pickleball players who have learned how to properly hit a pickleball by watching your excellent videos!!

[@feeltennis]

Wonderful!

[@JamesDavisakaRemguy]

Just to give you an idea of how f__ked up wheelchair (WC) tennis is, we are taught to HIT WHILE MOVING through the ball, i.e. rolling through the shot and PAST the point of contact. We do this to a. add power to the shot (as we are usually moving forward towards the ball), and b. to CONSERVE MOMENTUM, as it's much easier to move a moving wheelchair, as opposed to starting from a dead stop. We then TURN OUR BACK to the opponent and push back to FAR behind the baseline (we get two bounces) to prepare for the next shot, another extremely counterintuitive, but basic, tenet of WC tennis. You can imagine what this does to a player's mindset, especially someone who has played the stand up game, what we call "able-bodied tennis"! I'm no Raphael Federer, tennis genius; I never competed or even played many matches, but I rallied for hours and hours as a teenager with my oncourt friends, deeply ingraining the movement patterns you so expertly describe on your channel. Now, as a WC player, I continually hurry to the spot where the ball will arrive, stop (!) and hit the ball, then TRY to move laterally (vs. backwards) back to roughly the middle of the baseline, never turning completely away from the action. Wrong, wrong, wrong! If you're still with me, there's more: We are taught to move forwards towards the ball at a 45° angle, making a V-shape towards balls to either backhand or forehand, execute the stroke while rolling, then make a 180° U-turn and come back along the V and back to a point WELL behind the baseline, which we call "the Hub". Only...I don't do the either! Instead, I try to move exactly SIDEWAYS, at a 90° angle, stop and hit, and then try like hell to get back to a "normal" spot just behind the baseline. I rarely succeed at this, but it's all so burned into my tennis psyche that I just don't seem to be able to unlearn and replace these movement patterns with the newer, more effective ones. Also, at 60 years of age, replacing old habits with new ones is not, as they say, "in my wheelhouse". That's a pun, I guess. Any advice for helping this old dog learn new tricks? Or must I learn to accept the fact that normal tennis has RUINED me for the wheelchair game? Oh, and also I can't watch the ball to save my life! Is it just my aging eyes failing me, as with every other organ I own?! I tell you it's tough to watch every facet of your normal human existence fade into the inevitable and increasingly overcast sunset that awaits us all at the "end of the shift". If this sounds morose, like it's coming from a deeply depressed, former tennis adept and enthusiast, well... Any response, from anyone, is greatly and sincerely appreciated. Thank you for reading this - JD, Montreal

[@feeltennis]

Hey JD, yes, I can see how the wheelchair tennis approach is different from the regular tennis. Your mind is in a battle between old and new patterns and your goal is to reprogamme it. Since likely you cannot a lot of time actually practicing on the court, I would suggest you practice in your mind. Watch wheelchair tennis on TV or KZbin and pay attention to how the players move around the court. Then spend visualizing that as often as you can for a few minutes here and there. You can visualize with your eyes closed and even before you sleep. Keep running the new patterns of movements that you are now aware of in your mind and try to feel how would it feel when you did the new pattern. And yes, our bodies and minds deteriorate over time but we've got to fight as long as we can... Fight not to survive but to live good quality life as long as we can.

[@meditationman415]

ok i am persuaded 😅

[@wongjefx980]

yep.. my mistake, I rush and tense up, don't hit the ball in front with an extended arm...

[@meditationman415]

short balls definitely fall into this category of 'too much time as the cause of a bad shot'

[@Lenamo23]

The effortless stroke looks so easy, as if anyone can do it 😀

[@feeltennis]

Yes, tennis is very deceptive in that way, it seems easy when a skilled player hits a shot but it is in my view the most difficult recreational sport there is.

[@michaelaxelrad3415]

If I want to beat the ball how do I know where it is going?

[@feeltennis]

You don't know in advance. You read its flight and once you know where it's going you try to calculate the meeting point the best you can and get there before the ball.

[@paulczerner3286]

better to get to the approximate area quickly and you'll have more time to make adjustment steps if necessary.

[@meditationman415]

I play people who play much better if i hit hard to them than if i hit easy high short , medium balls to them.

[@ariesrachman4167]

Im from indonesia 👍

[@FairwayJack]

like

[@paulczerner3286]

Is that a hardcourt with clay on it? lol