How to AIM Your Tennis Shots and Hit ANY Target!

[@CoachAdrian]

“Face sends it, path bends it” - I like it! I will steal this expression 👍

[@EssentialTennis]

It's HUGELY important, Adrian! My coaching has been helped so much because of it.

[@bournejason66]

Why pros racket face closed at contact, say about 45 degree, but the ball doesn’t dump to net?

[@CoachAdrian]

@@bournejason66 The ball is not dumped to the net because of the low-to-high swing path.

[@bournejason66]

@@CoachAdrian so the path does change the direction then? I thought Ian said the path “bends”, which means the swing path changes the shape from contact point to the destination, in this case, a 45 degree racket face the destination is toward net. What do you think?

[@CoachAdrian]

@@bournejason66 "Direction" in tennis is usually in reference to simply crosscourt or down-the-line (not height or length). So, when we talk about the racquet face, it is in reference to how the racquet is pointed on an "x axis" or whatever axis is represented by the net.

[@michaelroberts4435]

I really appreciate how you explain these lessons Ian. Easy to understand without oversimplifying. Thanks man.

[@EssentialTennis]

So glad to hear it was helpful, Michael!

[@Better_Call_Raul]

05:00 "If you are aiming cross-court, and it's going down the line, you've got to *initiate your forward swing EARLIER!* Great advice. I had never thought about *INITIATING* the forward swing earlier/later for cross-court/down the line. I always viewed it as *initiating* the forward swing at the exact same time and then making contact slightly earlier/later. Two slightly different approaches. A very subtle difference between the two approaches. Try both and see what clicks for you!🎾

[@teresabrady7943]

So simply explained! Strings send it; path bends it.

[@EssentialTennis]

That's it!

[@ReidVV]

This is a great lesson for groundstrokes. Of course, I realize you're covering one aspect of directional control on shots and not trying to pack everything in to one lesson because that'd be too much, but I also notice, in addition to the timing aspect you describe for angling the racquet face left/right for directional control, that many rec players also need to work on what I call "racquet face control" for vertical directional control, that is, keeping the racquet relatively neutral (not too open, facing up and not too closed, facing down) when striking the ball. Some of this is grip. Some is keeping the wrist neutral (not twisting the hand up or down prior to contact). Some is contact point (too far in front = open face = ball goes up, or too far behind = closed face = ball goes down).

[@EssentialTennis]

Completely agree, James! Hugely important! It all comes back to that same phrase: the face SENDS it.

[@ReidVV]

@@EssentialTennis Right On!

[@bournejason66]

@@EssentialTennis but I see pros often contact with a near 45 degree angle and the ball doesn’t dump to net. It seems contradictory to “the face sends it”. Can you help me understand it?

[@Grateful2Exist]

​@@bournejason66 My guess: The ball is in contact with the racquet for a very short period of time, so during that time of contact, the racquet is pulling the ball upward with it, so it's actually not going exactly where the face is pointing, it's going a bit more upward.

[@raakkhipohuja]

Thank you so much Ian! *Face Sends it, Path bends it* . Gonna keep this in my mind and practice! Easy explanation and quick ! Thanks a ton! 😇

[@beverlypatt7679]

Amazing concept - so simple yet so profound! Thank you!

[@TJ_104]

Exactly one of my current problems with the forehand. Thanks alot!

[@frankojudoka]

Very well explained. Very detailed and illustration.

[@paulhowsurridge2391]

Brilliant explanation/commentary. Thanks

[@vladimirkitov35]

Simply. Amazing, Ian. Thanks a match!

[@EssentialTennis]

Glad it was helpful, Vladimir!

[@crosscourtrabbitcompletetennis]

Nice explication of the elegant precision our greatest of all games demands.

[@guyrestivo]

u mean pickleball--right?...only kiddin...tennis is amazing with the best athletes in the world--no comparison

[@iaminbetweendays]

Thank you.

[@thomasc4777]

Great video, Ian. I'm looking for a good ball machine. It looks like you're using the "Spinshot." But what model? They have several. Thank you!

[@EssentialTennis]

It's a Playmate iGenie, Thomas! They make the best ball machines in the world, hands down. Expensive but very, very worth it.

[@thomasc4777]

@@EssentialTennis Thank you, Ian. Your advice is always trustworthy. Keep up the good work.

[@EssentialTennis]

Appreciate your support very much!

[@beckyf2024]

Thank you for this!!! You make it so easy to understand!! You're awesome Ian!!!

[@vinylrulesok8470]

Interesting that you used a golf analogy which relates to tennis. I use a few golf related tips for my game. Particularly 'routine' for a serve and also ball position. When you hit a golf ball you can have the most perfect swing but if the ball is in the wrong position in your set up you won't hit it well. This relates to the toss when serving. Also, having a pre shot routine in golf really helps when pressure is on, which relates again to the serve. Having a good pre shot routine for your serve and focusing on the toss will translate to fewer double faults especially when the pressure is on. Its definitely worked for me.

[@acelai8973]

The quote is true because we swing the club at static ball, but only the last half is correct for tennis. The effect of collision between tennis ball and the combined rigid body of our arm and racket makes a different story. Yet, basic physics still applies. That is the acceleration is paralleled to the total force acting on the ball while the path creates the spin(torque from friction generates the spin)

[@AtroXAir]

Great! Thank you!

[@tradingwithwill7214]

Yes I think it's better to delay the strike for down the line than try to adjust the racket angle etc.

[@EssentialTennis]

Absolutely. Using the same timing for swinging forward but trying to stop/twist/adjust the angle of your strings at the last second will lead to terrible technique.

[@yanli3738]

Can you post one about slices?

[@-Munditimum-]

Great lesson as always. Looking forward to seeing you later in the chat today. Cheers! MM

[@EssentialTennis]

Glad you enjoyed it, Munditimum!

[@billwall9886]

Are you doing that flip image thing now so us rightish aren't confused? Good video

[@EssentialTennis]

Yup, the whole thing is flipped.

[@chrisyoerges576]

Always fantastic Ian.

[@georgedewey6439]

I watch a lot of your videos and you do a great job! But doesn't the answer to this question also have to factor in the angle the ball is travelling before you hit it? I.e. Doesn't hitting a ball down the line change a bit depending on if the ball came to you from down the line or across court?

[@stephen4763]

Good stuff as usual

[@EssentialTennis]

Glad you enjoyed it, Stephen

[@dr.timothyp.charltonmd4500]

27 feet baseline plus 2 feet to get into the alley. Court length 78 feet. Arctangent of 29/78 is 35.5 degrees. Round it up to 36 degrees of racket face difference between down the line and alley when you are standing at the corner.

[@paddlepower888]

Correct me if I’m wrong. I get about 20°.

[@timothycharlton]

@@paddlepower888 you are absolutely correct. Arctan I got was in radians. I am a dummy. Jeff Wong is correct. Arctan of 29/78 is 20.39 degrees

[@marktace1]

Tennis is different from golf wrt the face sends and the path bends. For example if a ball hit from one corner was to hit a stationary racquet that was parallel to the baseline and located at the baseline tee then the ball would rebound toward the other corner. However, if you swing forward with the racquet aligned exactly the same then the ball will rebound somewhere between the center of the court and the opposite corner. The faster you swing relative to the speed of the incoming ball (which isn’t that fast after traveling 70 to 80 ft and bouncing) the closer the ball will end up to the middle of the court. Just pointing the racquet where you want it to go is not enough unless you are hitting a self feed. The direction the ball starts in is due to a sum of vectors which includes both speed and direction of the incoming ball and the racquet. That is one reason why hitting a cross court shot back cross court is safer, there are fewer variables involved in hitting the ball back where it came from. A golf ball is stationary so you have only the face angle and the path. The speed mostly just affects distance and amount of spin but not direction off the club face in golf.

[@geraldgrover1292]

Good instruction

[@stevescott9937]

Excellent

[@EssentialTennis]

Thanks for watching, Steve!

[@Inc.Co.]

Fantastic video

[@DanielS10291]

What about aiming to the right? I was watching federer videos and he directs his backhand left a lot and i cant fathom how you swing to direct the ball the opposite way to the natural direction of the shot you’re using

[@jamesm6377]

Very good but you also need to take the angle of incidence into consideration. That is why it is difficult to "change direction"..that is go from a cross court to down the line and hit the target. On a wide angle feed you cant aim exactly down the line or the ball will go out.

[@EssentialTennis]

You're exactly right, James!

[@christophejousse5394]

And the golf ball just sit down there

[@juliapollock7733]

Righty!!! Nice

[@EssentialTennis]

😊

[@thetennisproject1811]

Right forehand? you are incredibly good at this too

[@EssentialTennis]

🔥

[@andtsg6815]

right hander Ian ⚽

[@EssentialTennis]

💪

[@walterbrightman8844]

You missed one point Tennis the approaching ball has spin, and trajectory that effects the final result of the return vs golf the starting ball is at rest. Bye the way I love your lessons.

[@tomsd8656]

Understood the face angle, but I don't understand why you would say to hit a little earlier or later to alter the path. That would telegraph to the opponent where you try to go, not to mention it would be a bit awkward if you have to hit that way. I would always try to make contact with the ball at the same optimal point and just alter the angle of the racquet face to change direction of the ball. That worked well for me. In fact, in double, I would position myself as if I would hit an inside out forehand, and at the last minute , at contact point, my racquet face would change angle and the ball would go down the alley. That had won me quite a few points due to the net guy positioning himself to poke and was caught off guard.

[@absolutelynothingtoseehere]

"That would telegraph to the opponent where you try to go" It's only a few miliseconds before your opponent sees which way the ball is moving, so it's not an issue.

[@rajeshshori]

Is this at nasua

[@Grateful2Exist]

Would love your thoughts on this: I believe the ball doesn't go exactly where the racquet is pointing. The ball is in contact with the racquet for a very short period of time, so during that time of contact, the racquet is pulling the ball upward with it, so it's actually not going exactly where the face is pointing, it's going a bit more upward. Is this correct? The racquet is often pointing down into the net at contact on a good shot that goes over the net, so if the ball starts exactly where the racquet is pointing at contact, the balls would go into the net. Thoughts anyone?

[@stevehan8157]

That’s the key concept in hitting a draw or a fade in golf

[@hxcuber]

cool animations :D

[@EssentialTennis]

Thanks for watching, Hoang!

[@michaelboyko5024]

Aiming with the body position must die in the tennis tutorial books of 1968. Since those times the rackets changed, now you use your wrist. And try and regard the racket not as solid piece of wood, but sooner a sack to catch butterflies... And it releases the accumulated power in the direction you follow through! A ball machine makes wonders if used Every day

[@scottstockman4465]

When you got to the part about the frames being the difference between the right and wrong angle, it totally clicked for me.

[@nihsumi]

how to change from down the line to cross court "start earlier... like 1/60th of a second is the timing difference..."? Are humans capable of a discerning a 1/60 of a second adjustment in arm swinging motion intercepting another moving target? Another idea could be for a DTL shot look to make contact in the center of the ball (quarter size target area) and continue like you are hitting 3 consecutive balls and continue the follow thru to your small target area (1-2 feet inside the sideline and 3-4 inside the baseline) before letting your arm relax up and over your opposite shoulder.

[@sportscastercanada]

🥳 Ever play squash?

[@xfluxify1]

The building looked so familiar.. I have been there before lol or maybe I am just hallucinating 😂

[@bournejason66]

One thing I can’t quite get my head around is how some pros, like Rafa and Federer, their racket face at contact is quite closed (~45 degree ), the ball doesn’t dump to ground. I understand they swing a low to high path but the ball should still dump to ground, after all, the racket face determines the direction, right? Can you help me understand it? Thanks 🙏

[@mikthe2004]

As you say they are swinging from low to high, brushing the back of the ball to give it top spin. If they were swinging parallel to the ground, yes, the ball would go down.

[@bournejason66]

@@mikthe2004 swing low to high is the swing path, which should only “bends it” ( the shape of the flying path), but not changing the ball direction.

[@mikthe2004]

@@bournejason66 OK, well obviously the racket face angle is not the only factor determining direction. The path is a factor too. "Face sends it. Path bends it" is not entirely true is it?

[@bournejason66]

@@mikthe2004 I’m not certain. I hope Ian or more people can comment on this. I wish I studied harder in physics back then 😂

[@mikthe2004]

@@bournejason66 I think if you were swinging a piece of wood the ball would dump to the ground. But racket strings grab the ball somewhat - even if they are tight. So there is friction and trampolining. Watch this : kzbin.info/www/bejne/aKfCl4Roqc-hqZY and you can see how much the ball deforms and sinks into the racket. You an also see the angle of the racket face is not down as much as you thought??

[@Better_Call_Raul]

So the setup and stance is essentially identical. Only difference is very very slightly out in front for cross court. Impossible to distinguish in real time match play. But my opponent often anticipates my direction. This must mean I am giving something away with stance or whatever 😞and I need to work on keeping everything the same. There is no reason that opponent should be able to tell!

[@EssentialTennis]

Well....important to keep in mind that for the purposes of this demo I was TRYING to make everything look the same. In real life, especially under the pressure of movement, players often have very distinct differences in their set up or what stance they use to go in different directions. Just because you can hit both ways with the same setup doesn't mean you actually do, Raul! You must have something that gives it away.

[@DanielS10291]

Maybe your eyes

[@CaocaoX]

Ya, it’s contact point and timings I think

[@EssentialTennis]

💯

[@georgebasham2279]

Any matches coming up? Mike, Scott, Will, Mark, Ian, Ira ... any of them against the other ... give us somethin' !

[@christobt]

Mirrored view Ian is confusing alright.

[@EssentialTennis]

😆

[@brettneuberger6466]

Let me make it easier on you. Only….and I mean ONLY…allow yourself to focus on the ball. From the moment you pick it up, hold it in your hand, see it bounce off the ground, see it come off your strings….your opponent’s strings. Focus on this and it will land exactly where you intend for it to land - without you having to time your swing or think about a thing. Try it.

[@guyrestivo]

sounds very Zen-ny--but i like it..good mechanics and fundamentals are important for everyone--especially for non-pros

[@AlejandroBecerra1]

👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻

[@EssentialTennis]

Thanks for watching, Alejandro!

[@yougood809]

I am liking the beard.

[@EssentialTennis]

Still very early....could be worse, haha

[@yougood809]

@@EssentialTennis I swear I want a beard like the Dwarves of Tokien but God knows he didn't bless me the genetics.

[@lanal3996]

👏👏👏❤️❤️❤️

[@PhysEdDad]

Enjoyed it, but the title is wrong. You didn't tell me how to AIM your tennis shots and hit any target

[@EssentialTennis]

You can't deduce the rest?

[@mengjiang5217]

Sounds like something Tolkien wrote

[@jimmy_image]

Wow, some commercial about super beets has totally hijacked your video for 2:50 minutes! Your video didn't even play!

[@tamiltennisdiary]

Wow…. Face sends… path bends.. one big takeaway from this video. 😄👍

[@gregchamberlain7554]

Soooooooooooooo you got them to give you a machine?

[@Matt-jb4yv]

Sorry but this is wrong. The swing sends, bends, aims and determines the racket face angle. Your arm is supposed to be loose so you can't adjust the racket face with anything other than the swing. This is why pro's point the racket face down in their takeback for topspin. Because if your wrist is loose, a loose wrist will end up with a "windshield wiper" finish (which changes racket face angle to be more closed so you get topspin). You have to make the adjustment before starting the swing because the racket face has to be out of your control during the swing. To aim, you simply swing in the direction you want the ball to go. You position your body to swing the racket in a different direction. Differ swings and grips have different stances but you don't think about your stance, because positioning your body is intuitive. Also "the face sends it.." is relevant in golf because you have 12 clubs you select based on the face's loft to hit a ball that is stationary and at your feet.

[@shortcut351]

aren't you lefty

[@EssentialTennis]

Yup!

[@shortcut351]

Could you make a video of you explaining how to do volleys because I want to improve my net game

[@EssentialTennis]

Yup, we have lots of them: kzbin.info?search_query=essential+tennis+volley

[@aleluia01]

Brilliant explanation, thanks! But, please, stop using ND in your videos, we all know why. (I was born in the Balkans and I know how you can get the documents you need there)

[@EssentialTennis]

"ND"? I don't know what you're talking about. Glad you enjoyed the video!

[@patb3845]

This is not make sense at all. Tennis players do not have a problem pointing the racket face in the direction they want to hit. It has nothing to do with timings as fine as 1/60th of a second. If that was true nobody would be able to play. Yet a 10 year old can hit down the line or cross court without thinking about it.

[@ldeue4837]

You underestimate the capabilities of our brain. At the high level that’s all tennis is: timing.

[@EssentialTennis]

It doesn't need to make sense to you to be true, Pat 😊

[@patb3845]

Thats what my religion teachers used to say. :)

[@weisong9303]

Too much useless talking, real video is 3:15 to 3:40