How HARD Should You Hit A Tennis Ball? (Find Your Pace)

[@abujabi]

Andrey Rublev disliked this video

[@KaruesellHQ]

hahahah laughed out load with that one!

[@LiamApilado]

Bwweh

[@Rin_o7]

This comment is gold 😂

[@onimaxiis1]

This tips not for the pro players but for recreational level i think

[@TheDahsTube]

@@onimaxiis1 You think wrong. The pros hit it the smoothest and prioritize clean contact. Thing is, like Karue was saying, their 85% ball is a lot faster than the average player 85% ball. Also, because they are so used to staying loose, they are better at not stiffening up when they try to hit a 90% or higher ball because they have enough experience and muscle memory to not stiffen up as much when they hit harder than they normally would. 👍🏾

[@JeredCuenco]

I needed this. As a decent athlete in other sports I feel like I should be able to crush balls consistently. It never works out in match. Slowly increasing what my personal 75% is makes so much sense. Don’t overhit your put away shot nailed me.

[@Rorshacked]

Interesting nuance between “increase what your 75% looks like” vs getting comfortable hitting at 85 or 90%. I usually tell students hit the best shot you can control comfortably but I like the idea of improving your 75%

[@KaruesellHQ]

Yes absolutely agree with hitting your best shot. I say the same. At the end, it is all about skill development and getting them to all work cohesively together. Which is easier said than done hahah

[@cldavis33]

This is just so good of instruction.. I've been playing 25+ years, tried so many ways...this is just so sound and true. Karue is a real gift to rec players.

[@LiamApilado]

Wow the universe has once again provided me the lesson I needed at this time. Great video Karue!👍

[@KaruesellHQ]

Thank you! Happy you enjoyed it

[@germanslice]

@@KaruesellHQ This is a good question. I prefer to load the racquet up first before taking a swing at the ball and I do that by lining up the butt first with the incoming ball and that preparation I do with the butt allows me to generate the pace or the power whether its a forehand or doing a backhand topspin or doing the buggy whip forehand or doing the backhand slice drive. That is the way I prefer to drive the groudstrokes rather than just brushing the ball with the strings and muscling it around , instead I like to use the butt of the racquet to drive and that's because I find it alot more easier to drive the ball this way than trying to muscle it with just my arm which doesn't work out well as muscling with the arm puts too much tension down on the grip at the wrong time and you're not loose and relaxed in the arms when you muscle the ball then you are not going to get much accuracy or control or power.. for I was coached to brush the ball using the strings to start off with to drive the ball around, so I changed from being an arm driver to driving it with the butt of the racquet so I could keep the tension in the arms always nice and loose when driving. It is possible to slice the ball at 100 mph through the court like your normal flat groundstrokes when using the butt to drive it. It also allows the ball to skim with pace just over the netcord and always goes deep in the court.

[@ilips6588]

I think timing is key..hiting the ball before the rebound reaches it's peak to use the opponent's power..like a half-volley. Requires good placement and anticipation!

[@jonatanhenriquez2193]

I think this is amazing. I saw a video of Moratouglou that resonates with this lesson and I find it to be gold: (in practice) you need to find a rythm that you know you can't miss and by doing this you and your body understand how solid you are (you are prepared). You enter the court with confidence, relaxed, and play your rythm. Being an aggressive player, it is easy to get blinded, but not only you go for too much and become inconsistent, you stop playing with the geometry of the court. Lastly, if you play a good defensive player, you might win the first three games but then you might as well retire because you are breathing like jackass and your legs cant keep up the intensity. 'Solid' beats erratic and inconsistent power.

[@DonYang73]

this is so true, clean smooth swing and contact is just about the most important thing in producing good shots. the feeling of smooth perfectly placed shots is more satisfying to me

[@divad23]

The point about going from 75% to 280% is exactly me…I see a short ball and my excitement goes through the roof - and ball goes into net 🤦🏻‍♂️

[@vitorwindberg4212]

Me too... but instead of the net, I actually threw the ball outside of the park entirely and lost it haha

[@farojaco]

Swing speed should be a tad bit more between 80 and 90 not much more than that when approaching a short ball

[@Kelvinjan]

Great video and this probably gets into many people’s ego, including myself. Recently I’ve been trying what you preaches this video and hit more in the 75-85% because I’ve noticed when I go for it, I have a higher chance of miss hitting or hitting too flat and going long. Just adding that extra 5-10% like you mentioned is all you need sometimes.

[@gkinghsmith9352]

Karue, I like you dude. And I agree with all you said here. But I'll make this point that most tennis players have no idea what 100% looks or feels like or how to create it. One of the biggest break throughs my team had were the 100% drills. The point of the drill was to hit the ball at 100% with clearance and maximum drive. Keep the ball in, hit it full speed, hit a target. For example cross court forehands. We'd rally like that (and it was ugly at the start) and then switch sides to backhand and then take a break. At 100 % the goal was to have 20 ball rallies. What we learned is how to get the body and the KC working so that your absolutely smashing the ball with just a little more effort than hitting rally balls. Then we come back on the court and hit at "85%" Results are that we're hitting the ball with 85% effort, but with more pace, consistency and spin. Now we're hitting 80 ball rallies. We would have never gotten there if the coach just said "Hit cross court 85%" You have to know exactly how to create 100% pace (as you demonstrate without knowing it) to know what 85% is and how to create and reproduce it.

[@anne-russellbradley5772]

Great piece of advice

[@JameSongMaker]

Pretty sure he demonstrated and talked about what 100% is.

[@KaruesellHQ]

Yes i did.. thank you

[@socrs]

Yes, this… My partner and I worked for a year where we went full 100% on every shot when we practiced (every shot a winner). Was spectacular fun… Results -> Our level went way up. Our fitness went way up by chasing all the wild and out balls :). Strength and KC up. Now our 85% is like nothing

[@kpwand]

You are a very good coach. Wish KZbin was around 25 years ago.

[@stupalmer3344]

Love this!!!Soo bored of seeing soo many so called coaches teaching incorrect click bait crap, trying to imitate what they think is a pros technique when they simply don’t understand body mechanics and confuse it with deliberate actions. Soo bad to push incorrect things under the guise of teaching. Karue always does a fantastic job of keeping things simple and teaching the fundamentals to take on board and then go to the court to improve on in practice/match play. Hats off sir 🎩 Did you get to measure the SW of that new sword coz that baby is slapping 🔥

[@KaruesellHQ]

My main goal is to never do that. I appreciate the kind words

[@wolleo4818]

Great advice - and your as so right. Sometimes my Ambition is higher than my level and I need to slow down not to overpace 👌

[@ranjanjha1044]

Wow - amazing video. My coach keeps telling me not to immediately blast and now I finally understand why! Best video !!

[@HelloColorClear]

Golf swing looking solid Karue!!

[@KaruesellHQ]

Thank you!!

[@timformusic]

Hi Karue! Thanks for the great tip. Saw Marcos at the US Open practice yesterday and mentioned your channel by name. Can't wait until you guys collab again, keep up the great content!

[@Issızkampçı]

tbh, imo this is one of your best videos that I've watched. Thanks

[@dabarons001]

Thanks Karue. Need to be reminded of that from time to time. As with many others, I struggle with that. The temptation to impress my coach during practice or an opponent during a match is awful. When just keeping the ball in play is what really matters.

[@robinhoodwink9345]

I like the ideas of getting a full stroke by having the back swing showing the hitting arm in line of shoulders and were you aim the ball. I can see you are there and have a big amount of racket speed.

[@wingchunmann]

Good Video and good advice for Players and Coaches also Many Coaches teach that "Go for the shot" and create a habit to "overpace with lack of consistancy" and a mindset in the players, that the shot is not "good", when it is not 100% every time.. It also creates a way of doubt in Matches, when that way of playing doesn't work under pressure. I've learned that way 30 years ago and i'm still struggling with getting that out of my head and change that habit! Thanks for that precious lesson!

[@kiesbett]

great advice! I have a coach who once a while wants me to hit at 120%, what feels like absolute overhitting, but when i return then to my "85 %" i feel like i have a new level of 85%, i mean, more power AND control at the same time.

[@KaruesellHQ]

Yes. That is what rafa does. Hits the crap out of it for like 15 min then brings it back down to 85

[@cuttingthroughthenoise3086]

Wow, the sound quality is excellent! And the coaching is good, too.

[@SAMOLIVES]

My favorite video so far! Very well said and demonstrated

[@poisson12376]

I once heard a tennis dad told me that the secret of handling the high pace is to go all in in every shots when playing junior tour. A lot of teenagers just play too defensively to win matches and they gradually lost the competitive edges as they get older.

[@MinisterMindset369]

One of the best instructors on the internet hands down. Karue is elite.

[@baseballthumbguard3194]

Thank you so much for the content! Really helpful. I have only recently started to dial back my swing effort and concentrating on correct swing path and staying loose (I think I saw it in one of your other videos). One of the things I've noticed is that I can now more clearly see how the racquet itself is doing a lot of the work for me if I just have a good swing (low to high, good contact point and follow through). Modern racquets are engineering marvels, and if you do your part, the racquet will help do the rest. Technique > muscling through

[@SpeechNerd]

Great vid. Great mindset. Ive been coming back from injury and youve explained the process ive been subconsciously going through. Just building up my 75-85% back to where it was.

[@HartmannTennis]

Major key, definitely need to choose your shots and decide how much power to add based on what kind of ball you’re given

[@coffeedude2024]

This is awesome advice! You're the only coach online who's talked about rally ball speed and how hard to hit the ball whilst maintaining consistency👍

[@samwilliamson8248]

Loved the golf analogy. Superb tip!!!

[@june8960]

I almost always score better when I start hitting slow and gradually increase the swing speed. If I start with 85% at the warm up stage from the get go, I usually end up losing badly. Thank you for the tips!

[@JK-vc7ie]

this dude is the best i've been playing a very long time

[@benchia]

Just what I needed. What's better than hitting winners? Not hitting errors!

[@marcelogarcia1]

So true. I´ve been some time out of courts but now im back again playing and that feeling of wanting to crush the ball everytime it is at the proper height makes me want to die because I miss almost every single one of them. Thanks for the piece of advice!!

[@user-fg6be8gr1e]

7:54 you hit it so hard your student had to go to to the other court to fetch the ball lol

[@Dankmemecatfoundation]

Greatest tennis content in KZbin. Thanks for these!

[@KaruesellHQ]

thank you for the kind words

[@hyungpak5181]

Esta observação é fundamental pra ser um bom jogador! Obrigado!

[@steinanderson]

this is a quality video / instruction and really hit home for me!

[@fernandoquijano2520]

So you switched to the Technifibre racket finally, ah? How interesting! Better than the V-Core 95? I demand a new video about this (LOL). All the best, Karue.

[@joaomariasilva5183]

Great video. I often feel like I’m hitting around 60% as I don’t want to make errors, especially in matches. Would love to feel loose (mentally and physically) enough to consistently hit 80%

[@johndonneshow6212]

Try rally at 10 ball at 60% then move to 62% etc, until you find your max speed you can control. Cheers!

[@Tang.Nguyen]

You’ve addressed one of the most concerning questions for everyone. It’s easy to say linearly 80%. But is hard with feels. How would you address the concept of counter-intuitive?

[@lelelu223]

Perfect advice thank you so much - very implementable and relatable. Great coaching!

[@cassonjonquil4792]

Thank you for this video! I've been struggling with the consistency to hit the ball with steady and consistent pace...always have the urge to go for winners

[@KaruesellHQ]

go for them. Just go for it at the right time

[@eg0198cm]

Great video Karue! Definitely will help my game. Keep it up!

[@kenziehill9376]

Great advice! Tensing up is my biggest problem. My second biggest problem is over-thinking the shot.

[@1114gabby]

Great tip to provide much more consistent strokes!

[@eunsiloh9826]

I love your videos and am a huge fan. Please help us with hitting overheads as well!

[@pedroseixasvale1972]

Very smart. Great tip! 🔝

[@drbonesshow1]

The more spin you interject the harder you can hit the ball as rotational energy is created from the translational impact energy (at the right angle). This is true for both top-spin and back-spin.

[@johnthurston7783]

PERFECT SENSE

[@Mr.Puppet_23]

Awesome video, Karue! Muito bom!

[@xandrunull]

This is very good advice which I will take to heart. I always go 110 even though I can construct points and win them at 85. But it's just that thrill of hitting that winner that your opponent can't even sniff that's the killer. Ppl always tell me I should be winning more with my tennis but I squander too many opportunities. Thank you for this!!! Love your stuff btw. Very high lvl advice!

[@KaruesellHQ]

What is even more thrilling than hitting those winners is winning a lot of matches hahaha

[@propgee]

This is me right here

[@IIIRAYDENIII]

Great video! 👍🏼

[@TheYoudhruv]

Lol I do this a lot. Smacking the ball so hard to look cool. Thanks for suggestions.

[@hermanodejesus7264]

GREAT.... as usual!!!!

[@GazzaDazzle]

That is a great explanation and well produced video thanks Krause. I wish u coach me.

[@fxanimator1]

285% Ahahahaaha! You're hilarious Karue! This is the best channel on KZbin.

[@tennistudyT]

Thanks for your video

[@andrewchannel458]

Exactly what I needed. I struggle when playing playings that get everything. I just try to hit harder and end up making too many mistakes.

[@gustafonciu]

Excelente video Karue. Conteudo premium. Estou voltando a jogar dps de quase uma decada e tenho sofrido muito com isso mas muito relacionado à falta de pernas. Durante o jogo as pernas vao morrendo e a velocidade da bola vai diminuindo. Final do jogo estou apenas empurrando a bola. Entao tenho comecado a gerenciar melhor a energia nao batendo tao forte e me fazendo durar mais no jogo. Consequentemente, erro menos, perco menos pontos e acabo jogando melhor durante uma parte maior do jogo. Enquanto isso tento ir melhorando o preparo fisico 😁. Abs de atibaia sp e parabens pelo canal.

[@RK-ft9rn]

Karue...great lesson...what do you do if your 80% is getting dominated?...thanks

[@artorias223]

Great video ! I just started to wat h your video and really like all the tips and tricks that you give ! I wanted to know which kind of camera are you using to film your matches ? Are you using a gopro ?

[@propgee]

Thanks coach

[@TproTennis]

Thanks for sharing 💚💚💚

[@zabaftis]

switched to Tfight ISO? I am currently Demoing.. All around perfect racket. I think Better than my Blade v8 305 - 16x19. Ready to make the switch too.. 🙂

[@Javi_C]

Thank you Karue

[@perryloh695]

As usual, high quality content

[@KaruesellHQ]

thank you!

[@powncho]

what a great video!

[@ThanhDangTrinh]

Which Extreme racquet is he using?

[@jasonlafond325]

he’s using the new tecnifibre tfight 305 iso

[@gaunaturalstore2698]

Hi I m from India. Love to play tennis and improve. Can you please tell me a normal fitness routine Like what should i do per day in week to improve my fitness

[@ben1147]

Thx, you're the best!

[@samsbookbook3425]

perfect video insane

[@farid1406]

Karue, are you capable of hitting a ball in a rough, ugly way? Even when you demonstrate errors or "laggy" stroke paths your swing looks like butter

[@vinay4886]

Great video! Thanks, Karue Is that the new Tecnifibre ISO 305 racquet you’re using there? Would love to hear your thoughts on that frame.. 😀

[@benjaminskovbo3936]

He’s made a review in an earlier video a week or so ago I think 💪

[@vinay4886]

@@benjaminskovbo3936 Yes, of course he has; I found it now. Thank you 😊

[@vanodne]

Yes, Karue, did you end up adding a leather grip? Add any lead?

[@artilna9894]

Quick question how much topspin and how hard do you have to hit a tennis ball to have it catch on fire cause i once hit a ball with so much topspin and hit it so hard that my tennis ball turned from yellow to ball and left a black imprint on the ground but at the same time my racket exploded cause I see no videos on anyone doing what i did when I was like 16 years old mostly wondering

[@brienhomminga3993]

Karue, what tension do you string your racket at?

[@tam1234hk]

8:00 the junior is not happy with your 100% hahahaha

[@geepeeone]

Better to just pick up the ball earlier or going for a flatter shot instead of hitting it harder or faster Both have the desired effect but the former allows for more variation and creativity.

[@djepp]

Hitting the put away ball at 285% made me crack up. Not gonna like I've done that too many times

[@solyomandras]

Hi Mate! Thanks for the video! Where is your Yonex Vcore 95? 🙂

[@franksauerwald]

I think I have a better idea... 😇--- try 40 %. First - how will you try to control your pace? Meaning the speed of the ball - which I would call the outcome or output of your stroke? This "OUTPUT" does not depend on your INPUT - which for me means your effort. Neither your racket head speed nor your muscle work ALONE creates pace. It also depends on your intended and executed stroke type. A 100% swing speed on a slice will normally result in less pace than a topspin stroke and this will be slower than a drive shot. And the largest amount by far on the output will be created by a clean contact üopnt and a perfect weight shift. Even the pace of the incoming ball plays a role on the pace of your shot. What at last keeps evidence to my point: You can control your INPUT but not the OUTPUT. Second - how much input depending on what your muscles feel should you apply - as long as you are free to decide? If you are hunted around and stretch to the ball to keep it in play is a situation where you will not have much of a choice. But how much for the other balls. Try 40% of body effort ☝. Why? Yesterday I had a practice session with my coach. he showed me a new more flat forehand shot as a "PACECHANGER" out of a topspin groundstroke rally. After I mastered that technique we started to implement it into that rally game. I first had to play very smooth and loose and should try to stay in this mood as long as possible. Even if I had to do something weird where I must muscle or stretch I should come back to looseness (40 & body effort ) as soon as possible. The idea was to stay safe in a rally and to move with quick and light feet but not to work hard with body or arm. Next we introduced the new flattened out "killer-shot". BUT I was not allowed to spend more effort! Only the change of the stroke mechanics was allowed. Therefore I did not stiffen or became crazy but stood still very controlled and smooth to execute the stroke. What was the result? Topspin and flat shots where perfectly timed and by finding a constant clean contact the OUTPUT or pace of my shots were constantly about 110 - to 130 % of my normal pace. WOW. Tried it with my friend today again - he is a strong guy and a really hard hitter. Was on indoors carpet - very fast. Since I allowed myself not more than that 40% of muscle work it helped me to avoid panicking on his incoming rockets. Still found a precise clean contact. Fastest shots ever I produced since 20 years. Then I was forty and a bit stronger 😅... Why is it? I think this idea solves a TIMING PROBLEM many recreational players have: Normal shot comes in - you prepare and initiate your stroke - fine. Next shot comes in with more pace. What is the solution? Preparation and initiating your own stroke BUT in your mind you know you will be late! And therefore you must accelerate your swing to get quicker to your contact point "just in time". And then your stroke mechanics break down because it gets wilder the faster the incoming ball is. It should be the OTHER WAY. You should have initiate your stroke EARLIER but don't change the swing speed.or your racket head acceleration. I don't really know why I didn't thought about this topic before. Now I am playing 50 years and it took me so long.... If You try out this 40 % Body Effort Rule it is not allowed to change your swing speed. You adjust quickly to this "problem" and then start to adjust the moment of stroke initiation. What will happen I promise is phenomenal. You then start playing tennis at last and you will notice it after 10 minutes. The pace of the ball is not your intention or target. It is your 40 % body input. The pace of the ball even by this small effort will be astonishing. Timing then will come by itself. Panic disappears. Fun the whole session. Cheers Frank (about NTRP 4.5 as I understand the US rankings)

[@hasanp0301]

what tension do you usually use Mr Sell?

[@silviolporto]

is it easier to hit with speed on forehand when the elbow is bent? I hit forehand with elbow straight, and I'm trying to change to a bent elbow

[@KaruesellHQ]

No. Neither one will make it easier/harder. Most players don’t think about bent vs straight arm, it is just something that somehow became a thing in online instruction and it is the last thing you should be worrying about

[@markadmiraal6169]

Practice, practice, practice, and it s all about footwork

[@emilichannel]

I thought I use to hit the ball loosely as recommended, until I hurt my hand during a game. Then I was forced to hold the racket really loosely and my strikes became way cleaner.

[@JonnyW.]

Cool vid. What sneakers are you wearing?

[@leemo731]

How do I get it to happen everytime though Dad? Do you have any tips for consistency on your groundstrokes?

[@dannywins]

hey Karue, would love to see a match between you and Nick from Intuitive Tennis. His last video about Beat the Pro was kinda cocky. He needs some humble pie.

[@leemo731]

Why do you say "go ahead" a few times? does it help with stroke production?

[@user-oj7co5wm8g]

Um, he’s telling his partner to go ahead and feed the ball.

[@Simplenamelol]

Karue with another banger

[@987mikka]

Hi Karue, do you move to tecnifibre definitely?

[@tberry79]

Karue, at 3:54 - you might want to rephrase that line 😆

[@tennisteuton]

Thanks for the video! That is close to what I am doing in my own practice: after overhitting one too many balls from half-field, I am actually having the machine now bounce balls into the serve box, and I have to focus on clean hitting and keeping the ball in. Once I have 80% consistency for seven days in a row, I will move three feet back and try again, and so forth, until I miss less than 20% when I play balls from the ground line. I trust that my body will layer force on top of my strokes more or less automatically the further I stand from the net. I also discovered that in some cases, a "normal" speed down the line shot is more than adequate to put pressure on my opponent, especially at the beginner level.

[@rafapazos06]

My coach gets genuinely pissed off at me because I hit the ball too hard when training. He says he feels like a punching bag and that I try to hit winners all the time. I actually don’t. I try to put the ball back but if it’s difficult for me to reach the ball then I will stretch somewhere and the ball might be out or in, not that I do it on purpose. I find it difficult to find my pace and I find myself hitting too hard for my level. I’ve been playing 1 hour/week for the past 8 months. I think it is normal that I don’t find my pace and that I hit too hard for my level. Anyhow I don’t understand why he gets so pissed off about it and makes don’t want to train. I told him already that I don’t do it on purpose and I think it is noticeable that I try to improve and all my teachings, but training just once a week, I get there and I kinda let go too much, I suppose it helps my stress levels when I hit the ball a bit harder. Anyways, I don’t have much power, I hit hard for my level only. Any advise? Is it understandable to get pissed off? How do you as a coach deal with such situations?

[@rzfed25]

is this sbtc? virtually lived there during high school

[@fosho8214]

lol they showed you on tv in Giron's players box against tiafoe giving hand signals and talked about how coaching was allowed this year. Too bad about Osaka and Giron, both had tough draw.

[@JinHwang]

thanks.

[@Andythink]

where do you teach?

[@Nytro423]

this was rlly helpful but look at the guy in the back at 4:06, the way he looked after he missed the ball was kinda funny