How To Hit A Clean Tennis Shot

www.feeltennis.net/why-your-st...
If we hit the ball cleanly, meaning in the sweet spot, we'll also give the ball maximum power with the least amount of effort.
But there's a very common mistake in tennis that prevents us from doing that - and that's facing the target at contact and not facing the ball.
The best to way to correct this mistake is to exaggerate the correction and actually keep moving in the direction of the ball at contact.
That way we'll start hitting the ball more cleanly and feel much better how it is to hit the ball well.
Once we feel that, we can shorten the exaggeration back to normal movement but still use that feel of going into the ball.
This drill can be applied to all tennis strokes: forehand, two-handed backhand, volley, serve and overhead.
Only when you hit a one-handed backhand you face to the side instead of facing the ball.

[@MakitoMai]

Tried it today and everything became crystal clear . I think you are the best teacher because you explain things so differently that they become obvious . I am so happy to follow the last years

[@tube5903]

This is an amazingly good explanation. I guess it explains why all the photos of the pros show their eyes glued to the ball at the moment of contact. They haven't over rotated!

[@fodaseodinheiro]

Man!! This happens to me all the time!! 🤯 Thomas you are the best!

[@royaladjemian5801]

As a Newbie Tennis player at age 67 I have gained much from this video. I am realizing on my serve that I need to trust my swing and keep the ball toss in a comfortable hitting location. When I concentrate on the ball and relax my body my serve results are positive. It's when I get tense and turn to see where I want the ball to go ; my results are not very positive. My challenge now is to transfer the relaxed approach from practice to match play. I am looking forward to the challenge.. I will work hard on moving towards the ball and not the target.

[@sunnychamp1]

Dear Tomaz, Iam an ITF 35 + category player and have been playing tennis regularly for last 12 years and you have been my teacher for last few years and I wish to thank you for all the instructions/vids which I keep watching when in self doubts about something related to feel or technique. And I really admire you for your passion and walk the talk model on all your instructions which is absolutely fantastic to watch in repetition. Whatever little success story I have till date I owe it to you and thank you once again for letting me enjoy my passion. That is to get up early morning and play the sport of tennis and than again get ready to go to judicial courts as I also work as a lawyer. Thanks a ton !

[@feeltennis]

And thank you for taking the time for sharing your feedback! It gives me extra energy to keep doing what I love and share my experiences with all of you.

[@kenpowell2128]

Just checking in to thank Tomaz; his instruction is always so insightful that I cannot keep up with the kudos, now over the years; from mini-tennis to cracking the ball 'cleanly', he just makes tennis fun... If you ever get to NYC I'd love to tell you in person, you are a great teacher - the real deal. Thank you.

[@derpyhooves7243]

Once you understand the difference between "orienting towards the ball" and "orienting towards the target," it becomes clear what the video is trying to say. Great video

[@yuliavasilyeva3012]

A genius of 🎾teaching !!

[@ErikvanderVeen1972]

He really is. Never seen better before.

[@riccardoatwork5291]

wow... you are the most original , insightful and intelligent tennis coach I have ever seen or heard :) I really wish I had the chance of a few lessons with you, and I am surprised you are not on the tour teaching some pro..

[@ibrahimalomair2982]

It is no brainer to say that your lessons here are top quality! I really like every single one of them! You layout clearly the challenge and give the proper way be an efficient ball hitter! I wish i would be able to have lessons in person with you. You would fix my game that's for sure! Thank you very much!👍 ✌️

[@kennyg9149]

You are an awesome teacher. This is a perfect technique for forehand, backhand, slice and serve. I've been inconsistent with my tennis until I watch this video. Now, I can hit a clean forehand, backhand etc.... You have shown us the right way and I am thankful for it. Cheer!!!

[@KingdomLaz]

One of the best videos I've ever seen for tennis strokes. I've seen a lot of your other videos and they are great too. Very well explained and easy to understand. I highly recommend your videos and your channel. :)

[@tenniscoach]

a very good illustration of why one should not aim at a target spot before ball contact. When we do that, we take the eye off the ball at contact and we also will fail to hit the ball cleanly and optimally (otherwise known as the maximum racket head acceleration point of the swing, Force=Mass x Acceleration)

[@ChanquetePT_IA]

Great, great, great. You're one of the best coaches online, for sure. Thank you !!!

[@ostojicnikola81]

Best coach on youtube. Unique and genuine! No nonsense about clicking this and that or daily pointless videos.

[@brodieboy3]

Tomaz - I thought I'd seen all your video tips, but somehow I missed this one. This is a great tip and explanation. I'm one who has pretty decent strokes but I often don't find myself 'in the zone' because I'm hitting high in the hoop and therefore giving up lots of power and feel and also feeling lots of vibration through the racket that I wouldn't be feeling if I was hitting the ball in my racket's sweetspot. I've often theorized that I'm 'pulling off the ball' or being lazy with my footwork and not quite 'getting there' - which is - of course - sometimes the case, but your video provides a better explanation and quicker fix. I now realize that I'm too often thinking about orienting towards the target rather than the ball - which is often coming cross court and therefore moving away which magnifies the problem. . This is a tip that I need to remember whenever I start feeling that I'm hitting near the tip of the racket. That's much for posting this.

[@user-vq9kh4tx8y]

Very good as usual. There are many important details for playing in best way, but during the game most of them are out of mind. You play as you play. Thanks a lot. I improved my serve and topspin forehand using you drills.

[@joselasala6574]

Thank you very much! Each of your video lessons teachs really new and good stuff!

[@illidanstormage]

I've just started playing tennis for almost 1 year. Initially I always had a strange feeling when I do the hit and serving and you have helped me to clear my doubt. Undoubtedly you are the best online tennis so far :) Really appreciate your effort that you have put into every content on this channel

[@terrynicol4548]

Tomaz, you truly are "the coaches coach", your videos and explanations are just brilliant, thank you.

[@kadironsel1913]

This is what i am looking for.I was changing my technique for power or good hitting ball sound but after that video i will focus to move through the ball.Thanks Tomas.

[@mcdamike]

you are tennis instruction god. i still have to come back to your videos often to teach myself and students.

[@raecook6066]

This was so helpful. It explains so much. Great job, and thanks for being so generous.

[@coldtusker647]

Thank you very much. Your instruction is very helpful, as in your other videos as well. I feel that your tennis content is really the best on youtube, also because you say just enough needed to say, without repeating much, which makes us follow the video well.

[@greeni01]

Very helpful. I really like this approach. Intuitive to learn. Easy to see from the different camera angles. Thanks.

[@EL-em3mn]

Personally this was one of your best videos for improving/correcting my game. Thank you for your tutelage.

[@Ben-ml8ke]

Thanks Tomaz this really helped me understand the game of tennis after 20 years of continued trying and coaching which still left me bewildered bout the actual biomechanics of the game. Thank you!! I now understand how to platy the various strokes and can also understand how the pros play when I watch them. This is truly the best tennis teaching video ever made

[@philtretata]

Great improvements can be seen. Great insight!

[@AetherLemmie]

Good explanation. Thank you for all your help!

[@TNToncourt]

Always an interesting video from Tomaz.Thank you.

[@robertmartian]

excellent instruction! very clear and thoughtful. thank you!

[@chestertham]

Really helpful video. Thanks again Tomaz.

[@gracehasell1202]

Thank you for sharing your instructions. This video took my tennis game to the next level. You really know how to dissect any tennis stroke and make good technique simple and easy to understand. Thank you for fixing my stroke without seeing me.

[@ipswichfan87]

I agree, very insightful. I watched this as I've been out of the game for a while and seem to be shanking a lot of forehands which is incredibly frustrating. I haven't applied these tips yet but it all makes sense and after analysis I'd be surprised if I wasn't hitting the ball too close to the end of my racket the same as your student in the video.

[@writer684]

I was hitting towards the target always wich messed up my game, will try this, thanks for great explination

[@PauloWang]

Just saw the video! I"ll try this instruction at my next game!! Thank you!

[@chrisparkhouse6426]

An invaluable tutorial....many thanks!

[@evolveriddle2605]

Lets say hi to all the people that will get this in their recommended in a couple years

[@koreanpizza17]

Just picked up tennis 🎾. Wife plays casually but Im still trying to get the hang of it. 🥺🥺

[@anjupandey8324]

Hi

[@MrTootsieAsain]

well hello friend

[@corgisaan]

Hi 👋

[@progressivedemagogue8480]

Hi

[@rickthompson9585]

Brilliant. I’ve been wrestling with just this issue. I hit very good and consistent forehands down the line and to the middle. But I’ve been mishitting and framing too many cross court forehands as well as pulling them wide. I’ve been thinking I’m over-rotating too soon, but wasn’t sure. Your video explains perfectly this exact situation and confirms that I need to “stay in the shot” (my words, not yours) longer, or maintain my orientation to the ball longer, and not orient to the cross court target too soon.

[@raecook6066]

This was so helpful. Thanks!

[@RUTLANDSTUDIOS]

Such a simple and great lesson 🙌🏼

[@joelhammrac]

fantastic instruction. I am becoming a very big fan.

[@PanosFortounas]

Super as always! Krystal clear coaching! I wonder how can someone dislike such a useful advice? Perhaps they can't figure what you are talking about Forgive them coach.

[@Rois300]

best video yet. thanks for your help.

[@chaplain72]

great tennis tips. keep on posting

[@joshuaman01]

This is a very nice topic Sir Thomaz, Last week I was beaten by a young woman in three sets just because I always hit the ball towards her, the reason is that I cannot take my eyes off of her because she's beautiful. I don't know how to deal with that but now I have the idea after watching this.

[@JamesDavisakaRemguy]

+Joshua Villasanta Just learn to lose gracefully and keep admiring her form, I say. Gotta get your priorities straight. And if anyone says this was a sexist comment... You're right! GUILTY AS CHARGED (...now cuff me, baby)

[@hxvideo]

Jealous, all the female players I met are either too big or old:(

[@joshuapasion3143]

Joshua Villasanta I was laughing so hard

[@rahimlope]

Lmao

[@adlib8096]

I find it to be pretty awkward to play tennis when aroused

[@2gd4yoon00bz]

how will i hit my lucky unintentional drop shots if i cant hit the edge of the racket :s

[@NeuralEngin33r]

Frames and dropshots for the win. The real question: is there a pefect racket with no sweet spot?

[@josephyfho]

Thanks for making these insightful videos

[@marcelocoip7275]

Another valuable lesson, thank you so much Tomaz!

[@rubenkwd]

Very good tutorial! Thank you

[@DavidGracaURL]

Maybe the best video I've seen about this subject ☺️

[@cks2020693]

this was very helpful, never thought it like that, orienting towards the ball vs orienting towards the court. I have a tendency to move my eyes away from the ball before contact actually lands, hopefully this will help with that too

[@shantanumathur1059]

Love your stuff my game have improved a lot

[@Saheb0877]

awesome stuff...been working on finding what i am doing wrong because lately lot of my shots are hitting the frame and not the center...somehow practicing the forehand and other shots and focusing on body transfer and all had given me all this errors...will definitely keep in mind the transferring weight towards the ball first and then towards the target...i do know that i have been turning my head too quickly....

[@shoaq1457]

i'm learning so much, I actually play your videos when I train.

[@Jecsen93]

great tips again! now i understand why my cross court forehand is always missing the sweetspot and power

[@Harvey1758]

Same

[@carterfang95]

Really clean explanation. Found yourself a new subscriber.

[@chewkenghong]

great explanation! i have also realised that to hit forward i need to hit outward but dunno why. and i compensated the outward angle with a more pronounced wiper swipe to steer the ball instead. And also during practice i can hit hard by hitting outward cos i don care about angle. but when playing games, i started focusing on aiming the racket to the spot and lose the outward swing power. this video explains it all. thanks

[@tungleduy6711]

great video, thank you so much!

[@kartiksood2704]

Great demonstration.

[@pvmilk]

very good trick. this also forces you to look at the ball longer also.

[@m3toz4]

great video, works for all level.

[@SportSkillWonder]

brilliant video !!

[@ProjektLament]

Love your videos.

[@conar8]

Good material, thanks :)

[@johnsmith-ls4rc]

A brilliant explanation of what I have been doing wrong for years; I wish I had discovered this information when I first started playing. Your average club coach wont tell you this, probably because he is not aware himself. Thank you for this instruction.

[@Chadwikj]

Very, very, well phrased to help me understand a tough problem

[@akibtravelling]

great video !!!

[@swkim131]

excellent!!! thank you

[@greattobeadub]

You should come to Ireland and do some clinics. Absolute gold.

[@robertasinger5951]

Can’t wait to practice this! How can I take lessons in person!!?

[@MohanrajPeriasamy]

Hi Tomaz ...can you please make a video on Inside in forehand? since your a very good tennis teacher...

[@JamesDavisakaRemguy]

Your assessment and explanation of the problem is excellent (!) and has to do with the circular nature of a tennis swing vs. the straight path of the ball. What you are teaching the player to do is not to open their head and torso too early and "pull off the ball" (shift their racquet head at contact). I am a wheelchair tennis player, I have a powerful wrist lag and routinely break strings by hitting too high on the racquet face, i.e. towards the tip. In WC tennis, we substitute rotating the hips by turning the wheelchair (braking one wheel) and returning to baseline from our 45° approach to the ball. I am probably turning too early and/or lifting my head prior to contact. Any suggestions for drills or mental stratagems I can take into practice to correct this? I'm having trouble with this despite knowing what to do and strings are starting to get EXPENSIVE... And finally, thank you for this excellent site and for these invaluable tennis lessons! They are truly a gift, you are a fabulous tennis instructor and wonderful human being for doing this. Thanks for your time, your hard work and for sharing your knowledge with us. I've taken these lessons to heart and they've helped me enormously! THANK YOU, TOMAZ!!!

[@matsnotfat]

Excellent video as always. I suppose this is about changing a player's intent not their movement around the court? Too often players will focus on the outcome before completing the stroke, having a detrimental effect. Federer is the opposite. In Slow Mo he doesn't just keep his eyes and head focussed towards the ball, his intent is on the space the ball occupies. And he doesn't look away from that space until sometime after the ball has left his racket. Few of us have his easy discipline, and need to go to the other extreme (stepping to the ball) before finding the approach that works.

[@theyoutuber273]

This is great sir

[@umutkara739]

Perfect video.

[@miljanmilenkovic8184]

Bravo Tomaz!

[@morriemukoda45]

I think I have found my missing puzzle from my strokes!!! Thanks!!

[@lainasol4063]

I needed to hear this!

[@markmurray7043]

Where are you Laina Sol.

[@davidbartilson4457]

Great video that covers some of the missed minutiae of the strokes. However, the gal in the video is hitting backhands and your initial demo is hitting fore hands. Plus the arm isn't extended, legs not bent, and no focus on keeping the head/eyes focused on the hitting area. Your videos are very helpful. I've learned a lot from them & hope this critique is helpful. Keep up the good work!

[@SpiritofPluto]

Very nice!

[@rohanbirajdar6516]

thank you very much

[@QQQonigiri]

Thank you!!!

[@dkangan]

She is a very accomplished player, but the difference in her BH strokes, once she orients to the ball and lets the racket square up to the target, is like night and day. Wow!

[@gcg8187]

Tooth has no way she is a very accomplished player if she can't even hit a clean backhand stroke

[@MakitoMai]

Hi , I tried your tip which helped me very much with my forehand . I Play single handed backhand so as you pointed out there makes no difference. The only thing that remains a problem is that with this hint I am hitting down the line or inside out only . Cross court and inside in seem really hard to achieve . If you are able to give a reply it will be much appreciated.

[@rohit2512ddun]

Hi Tomaz, In one video for cross court and down the line you mentioned that down the line are hit with a distance between ball and body more than cross court. So does that technique is basic step. Thanks & Regards Rohit Sharma

[@jaychon8418]

great tip to face the ball and not the target. thanks

[@adlib8096]

Thomas is it then that the law of effortless power means that to train this one should first learn to hit the ball cleanly and when youve mastered that in the scond stage learn to place the ball?

[@anandbala1]

Great video, Is she a semi-professional player?

[@MECEstrategist]

Hi Tomas, how could I deal with a partner or one of opponent team (double) who constantly tries to give feedback or some coaching(?) during a match? I don’t think he is not necessarily a better player than the one who is receiving his feedback, but his kibitzing discourages the other and kind of stalls the match. Do you have any insight on this? Thank you!

[@jaskeda]

Love it

[@ifeanyiikpegbu6465]

Hello Thomas. Which racket do you recommend for an intermediate player who's getting more advanced? A racket between 300-310g? Thanks

[@lizardspiral]

Hey Thomas, greetings.! What state are you in? Those are beautiful backgrounds you showcase.

[@feeltennis]

Slovenia

[@user-ts1hc2cd8t]

Hi, Tomaz. Amazing video as always. Transfering weight into the ball looks very natural when you play crosscourt, but it feels like I won't have enough space to hit down the line or inside out while transfering the weight into the ball (like the direction of weight transfer will be the same as the direction of the shot, or at least there won't be as much difference between two directions, as on the crosscourt shot). So can you tell: will there be any difference beetwen direction of weight transfer depending on the direction of the shot, and what about lack (less amount) of space for racket, and lack of (less) difference beetwen direction of weight transfer and direction of shot, on down the line shots, and espessially on inside out shots.

[@lethedan]

Hi Karol: You would not have the issue with lacking space if you recognize that you should only focus on the hitting angle at the contact point (not the target where the "original" angle at the contact point opens up much bigger) which is only approximately 18 degree. Therefore the SAME body approach toward the ball for both cross court and down the line except a very small hitting angle by the racket head (as mentioned in this great video lesson). Your intention before the hit will take care of everything - with only critical body momentum toward the ball - not the target as explained by Tomaz. Hope this helps.

[@MakitoMai]

Thanks

[@NatsFan18]

Great video! What's her name?

[@krakou2]

Very good. I'm still a bit skeptical about not transfering towards the target on groundstrokes. That sounds more like what you do when hitting on the run shots or playing an exclusive counter-attack game. But you couldn't hit a short cc from a lifeless ball this way, could you? Also on the short slice serve you have to jump inwards and not outwards. Is it different for a regular "big" slice serve?

[@feeltennis]

+krakou2 I think you misunderstood. Surely you can see Thea transferring weight towards the target on groundstrokes but AFTER she first transferred weight in the direction of the ball. The difference between incorrect weight transfer and correct weight transfer is probably a few hundredths of a second.

[@krakou2]

+Feel Tennis Instruction how can you transfer twice in two different directions? I totally get the swing outwards concept though.

[@feeltennis]

+krakou2 It happens almost automatically because you can't keep swinging outwards any more. Your racquet swings like a slingshot - you just need to feel that momentum and amplify it.

[@JamesDavisakaRemguy]

+Feel Tennis Instruction: FYI krakou2 but for any American : I think Tomaz means here a "biblical style" slingshot (David and Goliath) where you circle a stone over your head and release one of the two straps to let the stone fly. In the US, of course, we think of a slingshot as a Y-shaped stick with an elastic band attached to the tips of the Y where you pull the stone back and release it in a straight line. Only the biblical style makes his point of aiming something in a straight line using a circular motion. (con't below) Re: hitting CC vs DTL: The exact position of the racquet face at contact, as well as the subtle shift in direction of weight transfer, is probably too difficult to think about consciously. It only comes with practice, and becomes an unconscious motion, muscle memory, "grooved", etc. I mean, who can consciously think about the difference between a couple of degrees? I sure as hell can't! :)

[@krakou2]

+Feel Tennis Instruction Would "anchoring with weight shift towards the ball + leg push towards the target" be correct? A bit of head scratching on that one...absolutly love your channel btw. Really improved my forehand because technique was alright but had no feel for this stroke. Especially the "3 drills to improve timing in tennis" video helped a lot.

[@alyssac7251]

how do i swing, like it ethier goes straight down or to hight i can’t aim, what am i doing wrong?

[@VicDamoneJr82]

so what about those one handed backhands like wawrinka and thiem who puts their weight on the ground strokes ...u dont think the weight will transfer

[@amnguyen5283]

THANK