How And Why To Nurture A Tennis Swing

One of the keys to effortless power on tennis groundstrokes is to swing the racket into the ball.
By "swing" I refer to the downward swing that feels like a pendulum and which will automatically swing upward if we let the racket swing all the way down.
And what I want to share in today's video is the importance of nurturing this swing.
It's very easy to lose the swing in free hitting sessions if you want to hit the ball too hard and especially easy to lose it in matches when stress of the match causes you to tense up and kills the swing.
So in today's video I am sharing my views on why it's important to nurture the swing, how I do it in my free hitting sessions and what you can do to keep the swing going even when you play matches.
This topic is related to two other videos I shared in the past so you can also check them out to refresh your memory or read them for the first time if you haven't seen them yet.
Here are links:
www.feeltennis.net/racket-swing/
Tennis Racket - A Tool Or A Swinging Weight?
www.feeltennis.net/fundamenta...
Fundamental Tennis Rally Conditions
0:00 Intro
1:29 What Kills The Swing
3:55 How I Nurture The Swing
8:03 How NOT To Play vs How To Play
8:53 Keep The Swing In Matches
10:33 Summary

[@johnf9094]

Excellent instruction. Finding rhythm is so important. Never to go straight on court and play points without taking time to find the 'feel' and flow of the stroke first .

[@K4R3N]

Those 2 "swing killers" are secretly destroying my backhand. Now they are no longer secrets. Thank you!

[@rohitrathi4552]

Can’t believe the amazing stuff you are putting it out here. We are very grateful.

[@krnfitz1]

I'd love to see you show us how to transfer this natural swinging motion to the higher ball. This was very good. Thank you.

[@thewhlchrguy]

I'm self taught and suffer from tennis elbow. I have now doubt that it's because of what you're saying, "forcing the ball and being late" I'm so glad you made this video. Well done and thank you for sharing.

[@cesarfernandezlopez2209]

Absolutely Thomas ,breathing , inhaling and exhaling is so important 👍🏻🎾

[@gabrielllanos919]

Great insight! This is feeling-learning

[@milanbogdanovic6120]

Excellent video and instruction. Very, very helpful. Thank you.

[@nathanmiller6051]

Excellent as always thanks

[@colinjohnston9000]

I'll pretend I'm holding and swinging a bucket of water in a very relaxed way. Need to make this more consistent. Excellent video.

[@sarkabendova7010]

Thanks very much, this is really a very good lesson. I have currently been dealing with this problem in my training, in particular.

[@marcelopuyol249]

Great lesson. Also very useful at any recreational level of tennis. A big hug.

[@tuolu2030]

Thank you. This is what I need.

[@gogogo96]

I am 49 years old fairly new to tennis, started learning 2 years ago. Your explanations coach are just crystal clear. thank u for sharing your knowledge.

[@AJ-eu1ug]

One of the many genius level teaching abilities, tools & gifts that separate Tomaz from other tennis coaches and thus "cause" sudden & significant improvement or "break throughs" in so many players game, strokes, shots, etc. ..........is his remarkable ability to choose, identify and carefully "use" VERY ACCURATE & PRECISE "WORDS/LANGUAGE. There is no doubt that he "knows" & intentionally utilizes words like "NURTURE" to communicate, describe and produce the desired outcome. What makes Tomaz' instruction special, unique and places him @ Genius Level........is that he does it naturally, effortlessly. He is a master Wordsmith! And it's one of him many methods, tricks of 'BREAKING THROUGH" the Mind/Body so that Players experience (FEEL) significant improvement rapidly!! If you want something to CHANGE, especially after years of ingrained Mind & Muscle repetition, then somehow, someway......something has got to be done DIFFERENT. And for it to be done different, the brain may have to also HEAR it said, told, described differently; otherwise it (mind/body) would have likely already changed! Thanks Tomaz! Ambrose

[@feeltennis]

Very much appreciated!

[@mu11ian]

This is a great insight

[@patriciourdinez2468]

This was very useful

[@lamsoougly81]

Thank you for using the word 'Sleepy' yes! Well explained.

[@thanhdovan6892]

I come from Vietnam. thank you. I have learned a lot.

[@whitewolfdojo8259]

Thank you for this illuminating insight Coach! Being ‘relaxed’ but not ‘sleepy’ sounds easy but I can see I need to work on this and your video is so clear. 🙏🎾

[@feeltennis]

You can do it!

[@vectorthurm]

Who disliked this video?!?! What the heck? Excellent video Tomaz! I always start with relaxed mini tennis, 3/4 then I go 5’ behind baseline. Footwork and relaxed smooth strokes.

[@ampecsu]

Yup

[@pieterbeckertenniscoaching5808]

Love this. Feel the ball on the strings. 🔥🔥👇

[@marcom4220]

Great ideas for finding your rhythm and accurate hitting with your groundstrokes, always learning good technique with Maestro Tomaz!!

[@Lenamo23]

Thanks!

[@K4R3N]

Best coach, Slovenia visit 2022

[@TomMoose]

Thank you,

[@twinwankel]

Thanks for the video. When I start a session, I play up on the baseline so that I can get my timing right. Since my game is very difficult to get in tune, I don't want to waste time with shots that I won't see much during the match. Also we always play rally balls first so that pace is about 75%. After about 10 balls, then we go full speed. My goal during warm up is to see and hit the ball in my sweet spot consistently. This is different from your philosophy but it works for me. I do like the Lendl approach for amateurs but nowadays pros will warm up a half hour before the match if they know precisely when they will play. Typically in the middle rounds, the schedule is pretty tight and they will hit with a local junior champ or another pro still in town. Some even bring their own hitting partner. So they will be pretty warmed up even when the match starts and will take no time to start wailing away.

[@feeltennis]

If you can play close to the baseline during the match you are not playing good players. There is no way you would hit sweet spot consistently standing close to the baseline and playing someone my level or better. You would have to stand further back and get more time and see the ball better to hit it clean. So you are not wasting time playing further from baseline at the beginning but making sure you are not rushed, that you get into the rhythm, and that you practice what you will play at least 50% of the match.

[@KTennisNerd]

good swing

[@asarahma7314]

Tq coach

[@mikeritz4547]

Hi Tomaz, how do you apply this technique of hitting at a low contact point in a match with a player who puts a lot of topspin on the ball, his shots bounce high and I'd be pushed far behind the baseline to hit at a low contact point? Doing this would give the opponent a lot of time and give him an advantage, wouldnt it? Cheers, Michal

[@FLAVILOM1962]

fine thanks

[@jassay6435]

Thank you Tomaz, you're always a great coach we can learn more than in the mindset part! I love that coz we can hardly study this from others. I totally agree with the nurturing at the beginning stage when we start the match. But I have another problem I feel if I cannot release my power at the beginning match(I mean I need be little more than aggressive rather than 75%), I can hardly release my power throughout the match. So basically my first set need not so good (more UE or double fault) but my second can be better. In other words if I hold back at the beginning, it looks I cannot feel myself the whole match and stick in the mud .... Can you give some advice? tks a lot

[@feeltennis]

Hi, almost every one is stressed at the start of the match and stress results as tension in the body. So that's why you can't release power, you are feeling tight. Stepping back well behind the baseline gives you the freedom to swing more and release the stroke as the baseline on the other side and possible "long" and losing the point is now "very far". So you should not have a fear of missing anymore. Work on your breathing, exhale at every stroke and actively try to get rid of tension. Also mentally check whether you are playing and hitting the balls with the intention of winning or with the intention of not losing. If you're playing "not to lose" you will always hold back and never become a really good player - so don't do it.

[@jassay6435]

@@feeltennis you're right, I will be centered around "not to lose" feeling along the match is going, rather I shall focus on my status or my stream. I note this is quite a common thing but we have to experience it before we become really good player. Really thank you again !

[@sunnychamp1]

Hi Tomaz, great way of demonstrating how to get the feel back via this video and many other vids that you have published. Great teaching in a very simple manner you put your point across. And you make tennis look like a dance which for sure it’s like a tennis dance. I have a question on doubles play during matches. Iam a pretty consistent doubles player and a solid singles player too and I wish to know that why is it that the swing gets lost during doubles match more than Singles? Is it because you start directing the balls and you start watching the volley guys not pouncing and blocking all the good shots ? Is there a remedy for this as I believe timing is crucial in doubles as well because it’s pretty fast paced depending on the level of play ! I have watched your timing drill video and I wanted to know how you can combine the feel and rhythm while playing competitive doubles.

[@feeltennis]

I played a friendly doubles match a few years ago where all of us were very good doubles players, meaning most points started with a serve & volley. After the match I thought about it a bit and realized that I hit only ONE forehand from the baseline to the other baseline. I hit one normal forehand in the whole match. The rest of the forehands were returns, passing shots or lobs. The point is the story is that there is no rhythm in doubles and lots of quick adjustments need to be made. When your technique is not stable, it will start falling apart and you'll tend to play just with the arm as you have to constantly improvise. The solution is to spend enough time in free hitting sessions and also in faster exchanges (like someone volleying back to you consistently) and you focusing on maintaining good technique and whole body involved. That will stabilize technique more so that it doesn't break down in doubles. Playing doubles is the worst situation for developing tennis technique. In fact it ruins it...

[@laurikasti26]

I would not wait the ball to drop so much if I have time. I think it would be better start activating your legs and always trying to hit from the apex even if not trying to hit hard. Of course I don’t know for what level this is ment for and I totally agree that you should not try to hit too hard when you are starting a session or a match.

[@rayrozema5960]

Great info What about when playing doubles ( when less desirable to play further back from baseline)

[@feeltennis]

This video is not where you should stand when you play points, it's about nurturing the feel of the swing in free hitting sessions and when warming up for matches. In doubles you position depending on the situation. If you're stuck in a baseline cross court rally you can easily stand more than a meter behind the baseline in order to get a clean hit a deep trajectory. If your opponents can volley well they will place the first and many other volleys deep and it will do you no good to half volley them from the baseline (if you're on it) as they will easily get your shots. So there is no default "close to the baseline" position in doubles, at least not in my view.

[@rayrozema5960]

@@feeltennis Thanks very much for replying

[@kevinoshea2289]

Big fan. One of my first courses was from Feel Tennis. Thks for this. Yet, after 4 years, hate to admit I still do not have a comfortable, smooth, rhythmic, consistent stroke. Yeah, I have improved a lot but frankly videos of my strokes are horror shows. I guess I have followed too many online video sources. I have wandered away from your relatively classic stroke with racket on edge in the backstroke, inside-out racket path and a pendulum swing forward. I have tried to a "modern ATP forehand"- greater coil on unit turn, a shortened backswing (dropping racket at three o'clock and face down), driving hips so racket flips back and lags, then pulling racket butt forward, letting racket face drag behind, then slight wrist flip before contact). Everything feels so complicated, so tight, and often inconsistent. Any suggestions? Go back to basics?

[@feeltennis]

Hi Kevin, use the Universal swing drills to get you in the right rhythm, smooth and connected movements: kzbin.info/www/bejne/fZaonXuOoKh6bck

[@kevinoshea2289]

@@feeltennis Ohh...this is a great insight. Now I get it. It makes so much sense. (Confession: I watched this video years ago, but then thought "ehh...what is he talking about? Tracing a backswing based on racket on the ground? ???). I have a lesson tomorrow and a couple of upcoming hitting sessions with partners. Will let you know how it goes. Confirms what a friend and I have been saying for years: "We need to go to Slovenia and work with Tomas!"

[@paddlepower888]

@@kevinoshea2289 How’s your swing now and how did your hitting dates go? FYI, I have a Google doc with my most useful videos linked -it includes the universal swing video which I’ve seen three times in the last six months

[@rkram3118]

Great idea, I start with the same intention, then my partner starts hitting hard, now I'm forced to do the same rightaway! How long would you recommend doing that?

[@feeltennis]

Around 10-15 minutes.

[@masteryoda9259]

Were You caoched by Mili? I see many similarities in groundstrokes technique.

[@bensonnyborja2008]

completely lost the sensation of swing hey Thomas, are you talking about me? :D

[@vladimirgorosko]

That's why low balls are so easy to hit! The swing happens naturally.

[@smokinjoe4684]

Bru is that a horse outside the fence? Cool.