The Key To Finishing Easy Balls

[@nolanreed7090]

I came here looking for tips on how to improve a very uncommon kill shot on the short sitter and, instead, got one huge tip on how to improve every shot in the game. This guy is awesome.

[@lmet6174]

Nolan Reed exactly!!!

[@carlosoliveira9708]

Agree

[@guineapig6582]

Ikr

[@rdchenweb]

A revelation. This explains quite a lot: why my tennis has plateaued; why my shots are not as strong as the effort I felt I've put in; not as consistent and not as sturdy in match play as I would like. Found the side-by-side comparison of you and your student particularly instructive. Best tennis instruction video I've ever seen!

[@ostojicnikola81]

Tomas, I wanted to share my experience with you. I was practicing this very shot tonight with a ball machine. After 40 disapointing minutes of mishits I was about to give up and go home. Then this video came to my mind and I started swinging earlier and gradually accelerating. All of a sudden I started hitting cleaner and putting the ball inside the lines. Amazing concept! I wish I had a coach like you.

[@feeltennis]

Great to hear, Nikola, thanks for the feedback. Tennis strokes and movement don't function on forcing, it's always something based on feel, something more gentle, with touch...

[@rtaghavi]

The sound effects really help conceptualize the point you’re making.

[@pedrokoury1352]

REz T indeed!

[@lokustic]

hands down you are the best tennis coach on youtube! :)

[@Ghethard]

agreed

[@mjaaouf481]

Very smooth coaching, and helpful, thanks

[@andreandrade8898]

Brazil agrees

[@ifeanyiikpegbu6465]

Yeah, he's the best.

[@TheVinylFactor]

No doubt. The way he explains and the examples he gives are always easy to understand for me

[@pedrokoury1352]

"Think FAST not HARD" That is one of those phrases that truly give us insights and a better understanding of what we want to do. Perfect! 👍

[@lucamolenhof3747]

This frase literally made my mind click. I started to think the difference between hitting hard and hitting fast and now I realize how hitting fast is the much better option for any shot. Great way of explaining how to hit the ball in such a simple and intuitive way.

[@dbcane]

Genius! For all you 3.5ers out there, pay attention to this lesson. It will be the best piece of knowledge to have for your acceleration of improvement. It's the lifeblood of all strokes explained perfectly by coach. Well done

[@CelticGunner1992]

By far the best tennis coach on youtube!

[@ccw39]

Best instructor on YT! Thanks for explaining the "why" for everything!

[@jayKayCH1]

What a great video. After 6 years, you are still influencing many people including myself. Thank you. I was a varsity player back in highschool. After almost 15 years of gap I got myself back in the game couple years ago. I still can make some deadly finishing blows, but at the same time, I have been struggling for a long time that my average shots are annoyingly inconsistent. Only relying on the past memories, I was missing the basics. Your video just made me realize what my biggest problem is. Thank you.

[@lindasoyer4663]

Tomaz, This video was priceless. You are a fantastic coach. I consider you an incredible gift to tennis players seeking to improve their game. Linda

[@joepini6988]

Brilliant! Really shows the difference between an intermediate and advance player.

[@fakhertoumi9691]

I don’t think I have ever seen a more intelligent and analytical coach ever… bravo ! M astonished

[@rickthompson9585]

Tomaz, this is such excellent advice. It’s exactly why I can hit so many good shots and then miss the easy kill shots. Without realizing it, my mindset shifted and caused me to tense up, resulting in a loss of smoothness. The entire concept of maintaining the mindset of gradual acceleration and trusting that you will have plenty of power is perfect.

[@carlobacca7840]

8 years ago and it's still the best video on youtube for attack short ball

[@andrewbarnett3752]

Every time I watch one of your videos, I'm amazed at how simply you put such a difficult concept to understand. You are a true tennis guru! Thank you.

[@freedomrace1]

I'm a 5.5+ player and I must say this is a very intelligent approach to hitting any ball. I just tried it and the results were impressive. Thanks coach, subscribed.

[@Widmer09]

Great tips! My serve broke down in a match today (4.0 single), and I was able to bring it back on the 3rd set and won the match. I didn't realize how tense I am when hitting serves under pressure. It's amazing what relaxation can do to the mind and body. I decided to just "let the swing take care of it", and my serves started to go in at much higher percentage with just enough pace that my opponent can't really attack. Thank you so much. You are the best coach on YT!

[@damirgreis2930]

Great video and explanation! I think that this "gradual acceleration" thing deserves separate video and title because I think it is one of the key parts for basic (topspin forehand and backhand, serve) strokes. Long ago I incorporate in my strokes things like proper grip, prepare early, have good follow through and so on, but many times (especially on short, slow balls where I have "too much" time) there was just something missing and I wandered why my shots sometimes were kind of erratic. When I saw this video I said ok, this is something good and something that "is understand" but ok, I will try to incorporate consciously. And, what can I say, suddenly my forehand gets more consistent, but also having good depth, speed and spin! I assumed that before I often had too much "waiting" on some points of the backswing and/or the stroke itself and it was resulting with arm contraction when trying to resume the stroke. Now, after I correct this, I am so thankful! Overall, great job for "Feel tennis"!

[@geoffhess2267]

Tomaz, Your advice here has really helped me handle these easy balls. I've been playing doubles with "paddy-cake" servers and often need to return soft, short serves and dinked ground strokes. I was hitting way too many of these long, which of course was incredibly frustrating. This morning I employed your technique to accelerate through the stroke instead of focusing on hitting hard. This made a tremendous difference not only in control and consistency, but in power as well. Personally, I found that saying a verbal cue (such as what you emphasized) to myself during the stroke to be very helpful. (I'm also using a semi-western grip which is giving me more topspin on these shots.) THANK YOU!

[@ITOWords]

I've recently got back into tennis, but it's been many years since I've had any coaching and there are lots of technical errors in my game. I find your videos, and this one in particular, very help as I realised before I watched it I wasn't giving myself enough time to hit the ball and, as a result, my technique disintegrated through my rushed shots. Last week, before having a coaching lesson and watching your videos, I got thrashed by a player at the club I joined. After a tennis lesson, watching your videos, and three practice sessions in between, I managed to beat the same player who completely annihilated me only one week beforehand. Thank you Tomaz for producing the best tennis coaching sessions on KZbin, they're a great aid!

[@meditationman415]

Another great tip, that I finally gave up my ego to practice. You are the Alcaraz (and Federer) of the coaching world.

[@flandino]

A lot of wisdom in this lesson. It seems simple and it is, but it is easy to forget. How many times this can be the reason for having a "bad day"...

[@pedrokoury1352]

Fernando Landino Exactly! Oh, the bad days...

[@the-backgroundnoise]

One of the most useful 15 minutes of my life. Thanks for the tips and lessons.

[@JSJChannel]

Hi Thomás. In the last couple months I have been study your movies, and they were very important to increase my tennis. Thanks a lot for your enforce and please don't stop!

[@davidpare6440]

You are an excellent teacher and this is a good point. What is missing is how often this is an issue when we play players of "lower" level. It is much easier to maintain rhythm wth someone who hits it about the same pace, but when we play against players who balloon the ball , it's vey easy to have crazy numbers of unforced errors. Your tips here are very helpful for dealing wth that.

[@jlgroovetek]

I like these videos as Thomas shows how to visualize each shot, and then manages to physically demonstrate his examples. In this sense I find these videos more useful than that from Essential Tennis.

[@booJay]

You have so many great videos, Feel Tennis Instruction Tomaz Mencinger, but I would have to say this is definitely one of my favorites as it's something you can apply to all strokes. I've always liked that you try to steer people clear from the idea of "hitting hard". You even refrain from using the word _hit_ and instead say _sweep_ which I completely agree with. Lately I've been thinking of "hitting" the ball as creating an optimal surface for the ball to bounce off of, and "hitting fast" as creating an _accelerated_ surface. It allows me to swing fast with control and I don't think of it as hitting hard, but more like creating the ideal conditions for the ball to make clean contact with the string bed so that it trampolines or bounces as fast as it can off of it. It takes less effort and gives me more time to think because there's so much you have to do beforehand in order to produce those conditions before the ball even comes to you, so that promotes early preparation and planning.

[@Rrrremguy]

All good points. We really should strive to have smooth swings and make clean contact, learn to lean into the shot and basically HARNESS the power that's already there instead of flailing away at the ball like we're engaged in a battle to one of our deaths. We so want to groan and sweat like the pros, but we REFUSE to put in the time mastering the intermediate stages they did. Hit slowly WELL. Wanna drip sweat and grunt like the pros? Try running around the court and bending your knees more! Leave smashing the ball with all your might to people who know what they're doing.

[@akufan]

. But

[@pedrokoury1352]

Rrrremguy Extremely well said! I agree

[@speedmishra13]

Love the way your brush over the ball. Effortlessly the racket head closes

[@MrWhitianga]

This tip really helped my game. I've been guilty of hitting to hard and making lots of errors. The gradual swing really helped my serve and backhand to, hitting less errors and using less energy.

[@harishreddy4034]

Another ridiculously good video by you. Can't thank you enough. Hope you realize you are the virtual coach for a lot of people across the world.

[@golias12345]

One thing, coach. I'm a Linguistic student, most foccused on Phonetics and I couldn't help noticing the phonemes you used. As you said, "vvvvum!" sounds longer than "bum!" and that's because /v/ is a fricative phonem, articulated between the lips and the teeth, which cause a kind of "acceleration" or "momentum". /b/, instead, is an occlusive one, also called as an explosive phonem. Both are voiced (need sound to be pronunciated). Just adding this information. You are a good teacher because of the resources of your explanation! Thank you.

[@smokinjoe4684]

This video really helped me put A LOT of my mechanics together into 1. Helped with natural racket lag too. Wow. Thank you Tomaz. I watch them all.

[@williamhan3371]

Thomas is Always the Best Tennis Coach to explain Tennis Technical Skills.

[@joh2744]

I've never thought about this point of hitting (gradual acceleration) and now I feel it will improve my shots a lot.

[@timw22020]

This is actually a really helpful video because I struggle the exact problem in my game. As I am getting strong in the past three years, the tennis ball that I hit hasn't been consistent. Thank you for putting this video on KZbin.

[@sharuraudio]

i am a 13 year old tennis player. Advanced. I play national tournaments and have trouble with these shots. This will help a lot. Thanks!

[@ritchiedrew]

I tried this method of smooth acceleration And it worked wonders. It’s the best advice I received in 20 years of instruction. Thank you very much!

[@muyu69]

This makes perfect sense! And I thought that the same applies to not only easy balls, but also any ground strokes and possibly even serves. Later in the video, you actually covered that point as well!

[@EXDRA100]

Most beginning recreational players are slow in their footwork and in getting their racquet back quickly so seem to be rushed in their stroke production---this is a good video to reaffirm that good footwork and early racquet preparation are both necessary for smooth and consistent strokes.

[@brightandsunny]

That is THE BEST explanation- simple, clear, and it works!! Difficult concept to convey. Thank you for all your videos!!!. I have learned so much from all your videos.

[@RossCallen2028]

Man, I absolutely love your analysis every time!! You can take a simple subject like gradual acceleration and describe it better than anybody on the internet, GREAT JOB Tomaz! :)

[@ubitsa1985]

thank you the instructions. i tried to play under your advices and i already saw some difference. thank you

[@siddharthb2633]

Best Tennis channel on KZbin

[@hermanodejesus7264]

Tomaz, you are THE GURU of training 👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽

[@jeremiebau]

Just did it. Awsome tips, I used to miss those balls a lot, I only missed one today, and it was because of my placement, not because I muscled the ball like I used to. Thanks a lot, continue your vids!!!

[@olafsrensen9578]

This video is so importen for all levels off players. Deep respect.Olaf coach .Copenhagen Denmark

[@paulg9644]

This has shown all my problems playing this shot and the solution. Great video!

[@v3v]

Thomas, You knack of explanation and applying logic to it is pretty darn good!

[@黃柏豪-m9g]

Your videos are all so great ! I have seen lots of professional tennis player's practice videos on youtube, but it doesn't very helpful for me to progress in tennis.You always point out the key point in tennis,and it's very very helpful. Thank you a lot ~ and I hope that you can keep making new videos !

[@smallworld707]

Criminally under-subscribed you are... Brilliant, natural coach!!!...

[@yuyifu]

Very true. Every time I am thinking I need to "kill" the ball, I lose control of the shot (the same in golf).

[@Princesstennis1964]

I like the demonstrations and the side by side differences. Thanks. Cant wait to try it

[@RickBeacham]

I've done this for my serve as well and its worked wonders. Actually I apply this to my footy game as well. Now i'm striking the ball with more power. This can be applied to other sports as well.

[@ge6384]

Fantastic coaching! Unlike anything I have seen before, really enjoy your take on gradual acceleration. Will put it into practice right away. Thank you.

[@skavist]

thank you so much coach! my 9 year old son and i watch your videos, and our tennis is much much better! thanks again !.

[@kks3186]

I Love the way u make sounds and make it realistic. So practical. Best Coach.

[@possong6307]

Wonderful tips! Here in Korea, I always learn from your video. This lesson is precious! Thanks a lot!!!

[@mikalkocwa]

Very very very good idea of accelerating gradually. Thank you very much for sharing.

[@DennisPing]

Very good video. My friends and I back in high school used to do the "sudden acceleration" smash hit during practice. No wonder we were so inconsistent in real matches.

[@tepeassydac]

Thanks Thomas, you are a great coach!

[@jeanc9868]

You are the best coach ever!! None of my coaches ever told me this stuff growing up!

[@josetv1202]

I've been watching all your videos practically and i must say that is a pleasure do it.

[@sanjivshah123]

Great stuff!! It is almost like he knows exactly what my mistakes are and talking directly to me and showing me exactly how to correct them. GENIUS!!!

[@wangtao5380]

This is great! Now I understand why I had the problem of missing a lot of easy balls. Thank you.

[@williamforward7524]

This approach is immediately useful and rarely taught!

[@Rrrremguy]

Question: what is necessary to hit a faster ball, greater racquet head SPEED or ACCELERATION? (I'm starting to believe the latter.) No doubt you are right about not trusting your own perception of effort. Sometimes I am amazed at the speed of a well-struck ball. I'm like "Did I do that?!" It seems to have its own power! God, I wish I could do that more often. That's the great thing about your coaching, you're so calmly rational about the whole thing, I believe that I really COULD do it! Thanks, if for nothing else, for that terrific feeling Tomaz. Thank you.

[@ruggierojerolli]

Que capo es este Tomaz!. Never heard this approach to tennis before.

[@biaoyang6207]

This is very helpful. Changed my mindset

[@javiersolera6039]

By far you are the best tennis coach on youtube. Thank you :)

[@AsadKhan-lm6yr]

Fantastic video mister. Guys on the adjacent court are wondering why I'm making this 'VrrrrrrRRRRM!!!" noise when I'm playing!! ; ) Works a treat and my forehand topspin control has come on as a result of the new 'gradual acceleration' action!! Thanks again.

[@tombrown1377]

just starting to learn and I am getting more out of these videos than the lessons!

[@alexandergeorgiev2631]

The most helpful tennis video.

[@Nonchalantnerd]

thanks... I was really confused on how I was to correct my stroke!

[@dkangan]

The most accomplished in my regular group of players has always struck me as using a beat more than the other guys when playing a shot, and he very much starts slower and v-a-a-a-a-roooom! And he gets more ball speed than anyone, while playing to targets the rest of us just shake our heads at. You know, we can find a lot of people to teach us how to hit the various shots. But you focus us on "the one thing needful" to make the technique work.

[@ibnfpv]

Best tennis instructor in YB by far

[@TJ_104]

This is such a great video! Im afraid a single like cannot even begin to reflect my appreciation for these priceless tips.

[@meafordmichael]

Great observation, as usual, of what is ACTUALLY occurring - with a practical approach to correcting the error. Thanks, Tomaz - I always look forward to your insightful and helpful videos.

[@nixonv1]

You did it again! Thanks again for the videos. You are truly the best for online instructions.

[@rv2450]

Amazing coach..your videos helped me improve my game so much.. especially pronation on my serve. Will watch all your videos. It's a pleasure, and can't thank you enough.

[@MA-dw2yl]

Great lesson!

[@mariohanzek5085]

Odličan si, "udari brže" umjesto "udari jače" malo koji trener bi rekao, a u svjesti igrača radi enormnu razliku.....o-dli-čan!!!

[@feeltennis]

Hvala!

[@phanminhlong7177]

Excellent explanation. You’re best coach

[@mick0880]

Your "zoom" sound effect is the perfect way to explain what you're supposed to feel when swinging the racquet. #genuis

[@coma5laeki]

the lesson I needed the most! thanks a million coach!

[@andreacazzaniga8488]

Best tennis instructions (at least for an absolute beginner like me), thanks!

[@piotrswiecicki9239]

VERY SIMPLE AND PRECISE EXPLANATION, VERY GOOD TEACHING THANK YOU SIR.

[@クリームイカ]

You are one of the tennis gods undoubtedly

[@harrissiahamis5999]

Great informations coach! I'll try this for sure as I make these mistakes with easy balls

[@earlhaywood4372]

You are good. ( Which is actually bad grammar , but colloquially , it's straight to the point ). What I should really say is... Your explaination and demonstrative icumen , are both exponentially way above your fellow pars in this endeavor . Thank you.

[@davehinde]

Thanks Tomaz - another great video. One of these days we'll have to arrange some lessons in Slovenia - me and my friends in London would love to meet you in person. Right - off to the courts to practice the "Vroooom!"

[@daniel.t3024]

Thank you this helped me a lot in Tennis matches😀.

[@madhurarora8270]

That's really a fabulous video. This is 100% correct. I knew about this earlier too. But, I didn't knew how to put it in practice. I'm sure this will help me to take my game to the next level.

[@СергейГерасимов-я9е]

Thank you so much! I just found in the English version is a clear explanation of the main moments of strike.Thank you so much! I just found in the English version is a clear explanation of the main moments of strike.

[@oozonyt]

As always, superb instructions coach!

[@kbalasa]

Your training videos have immensely improved my game. Thanks for all of your videos. Do you have any videos on how to play volley?

[@christianfloresmontoya2937]

Wow great concept, gradual acceleration, thanks!!!

[@linazudiene5765]

Such great lessons and brill advices !! Please continue and thank you

[@mauriziovacca872]

Hi Thomas! Really great video, on the spot as always. Congrats!

[@jesuslyman5335]

Awesome Video, Best tennis channel out here, thank you.