Tennis Skills Part 2

Tennis Skills Part 2

TENNIS SKILLS DESIGN AND IMPLEMENTATION How to Grip a Tennis Racquet

• To get started in tennis, you first have to pick up a racquet, so here are some notes on choosing and using the right grip for your tennis game.

 

Eastern Grip

• Note that the eastern grip is popular with beginners and is widely used with forehands because of its comfort. The grip can also be used to hit backhands, serves, and volleys.
• Hold the racquet in front of you in your left hand (or right hand if you’re a left-handed player).
• Rotate the racquet so that the face (strings) of the racquet is perpendicular to the ground.
• Lay the palm of your free hand flat on the face of the racquet.
• Move your palm toward your body, down the shaft of the racquet, until it hits the end of
the handle.
• Wrap your fingers around the handle and space them slightly apart. Your thumb and forefinger should lie almost directly on top of the handle, forming a V that points toward your right shoulder (toward your left shoulder if you’re left-handed). Your thumb should lie across the top of the handle.

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Tips:

• An eastern grip is also called a “handshake grip” – it’s like shaking hands with your racquet.
Continental Grip
• Note that the continental grip is used by more advanced players in serving and volleying. Begin by forming an eastern grip.
• Ease your grip and turn the racquet with your left hand (or right hand if you’re a lefthanded player).
• Turn the racquet until it is perpendicular to the ground, or pointing to the “noon” position. Then, if you are right-handed, turn the racquet to about the “1 o’clock” position. If you are left-handed, turn the racquet to the “11 o’clock” position.
• Wrap your fingers around the handle and space them slightly apart. The V formed by the thumb and forefinger should point toward you, and the thumb should lie along the length of the handle. The bottom knuckle of your index finger should lie right on top of the racquet.

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Western Grip Steps:

• Note that the western grip is excellent in forehand play but feels awkward for beginners, especially when used for backhands, serves, and volleys. Advanced players often use it to enhance their forehand play.
• Start by holding the racquet with an eastern grip.
• Relax your grip and turn the racquet counterclockwise until the top of the racquet points toward the “11 o’clock” position. Left-handed players should turn the racquet clockwise to the “1 o’clock” position.

• Wrap your fingers around the handle and space them apart slightly. The V
  formation should point to your right (or left), and your thumb should lie
  across the top of the handle. Overall Tips:
  • Choke up, or slide your hand toward the racquet’s face, for more control. The amount of control depends on which stroke is used.
  • Don’t squeeze the handle too much and keep your arm relaxed while swinging.
  • Keep your wrist straight and your fist tight so that the racquet doesn’t spin out of your hands.
  • The best grip is the one that’s most comfortable for you. If you find grip variations that work particularly well, use them. Semi-Western Grip
  • Study the racquet handle. It is eight-sided: four sides are flat; four sides are beveled.
  • Place the racquet in your hand in the Continental grip.
  • Move your hand to the right from this grip, with the base knuckle of your index pointer finger on the bottom right bevel of the racquet.
  • Use only on a forehand. the Semi-Western grip is recommended by some schools as the number one forehand grip.
  • Hit shots with a quick, upward motion when using this grip.
  • Keep your fingers together, just as you would on the Western or Eastern
  grip. Tips:
  • Use this grip no matter what your playing level. It is the preference of clay court baseline players.
  • Be aware that when using this grip, it is more difficult to make the move to another grip for a backhand or a volley.

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Tennis Biomechanics: Backhand

2004 Sports Course

International Pacific College

Big John/Me

Versus Professional

What is it?

BMX (Biomechanics) is the study of human movement, what forces both internal and external cause the movement to happen, and the results of forces when exerted.

 

Why is it important?

1. Once you find the most effective way a body can move you can compare it with your actions and then improve your technique.
2. Improves your performance
3. It gives an understanding of why things happen and how you can change to improve.

1. Stability and Balance

What is the C.O.G? (Center of Gravity)

What is mass use weight?

What is gravity?

Center of Gravity = is the center point of an object’s mass, the point about which parts are equally balanced.

Mass = the amount of substance in a body/object

Weight = is the force of gravity (8 newtons) acting on the mass.

Gravity = Pull of Earth 9.8 newtons

 

Important Points

1. Size of the base of support
2. Height of C.O.G (the lower the better)
3. The line of gravity must remain in your base of support

To increase stability

1. Widen base of support
2. Lower center of gravity
3. Keep the line of gravity inside the base of the support

1. Motion

1. Linear Motion is when all parts of the object move the same way at the same speed.
2. Rotary Motion is motion around an Axis (Pivot point) e.g. a gymnast performing a giant circle on a high bar. The bar is the axis. The axis is external to the body.

e.g., A cricketer bowling a ball. The axis is the shape shoulder joint, from the ball’s point of view. External axis.

 

Momentum

Is the amount of motion a body has. It is related to speed and mass. I.e. the faster the object is moving the greater the momentum.

The faster the object is moving the greater the momentum.

Momentum is = to M X V

Transfer of Momentum

An object has mass and also velocity when it strikes another object it transfers momentum to the other object.

Friction

Rebound

Friction

This occurs when there is some movement between two surfaces.

Skin Friction – relation between air and the surface of the bowl.

Decrease – smoother surface ball

Increase – rough surface

Rolling Friction – a major influence on how far the ball will travel.

The surface of the ball – the surface of the ground, condition of the ground, footwear, type of footwear

Rebound – how high things bounce when one objects come into contact with another object. E.g. the ground or a racket.

The material ball is made of

It depends on the hardness of the ground.

Osmosis

Meiosis

Magnus Force

Top Spin

Side Spin

Subroutines

Stance

 

Stability and Balance

Big Johns’s’s eyes are watching, concentrating on the ball.  His knees are flexed and shoulder-width apart. He holds the racket in the center. I have my knees flexed and shoulder-width apart on both videos and am trying to hold it in the center.

Motion

No motion is involved apart from the balancing side of things.

Plane of swing

I & John both are adjusting our grip on the racket.

Force Summation

Momentum

Not much momentum is being used as the knees are bent and I & John are getting ready to move to grip the racket. A stable secure base is being built by bending the knees.

Transfer of Momentum

I and Big John have our knees bent to allow for the legs to be utilized in the swing,

Friction & Rebound

Friction between me and Big John bending our knees means that our shoes are pressing hard against the wooden floor of the gymnasium.

Spin

Projectile Motion

Grip

 

TENNIS SKILLS DESIGN AND IMPLEMENTATION Stability and Balance

Big John starts with the shake hands “(Eastern) forehand grip, changing his grip by feel. I am using the same technique that he has taught us in lessons where you have to place your middle finger along with the handle of the racket and grip. He balances forward turning on his left letting his weight move onto it as he takes back the racket. He keeps his head steady.

I am not as good at gripping the handle as Big John, as I am not as used to holding a tennis racket as he is. In the later video, I felt that I could hold the racket a lot more firmly and felt more comfortable holding the racket this way. Big John taught us to steady the racket and turn the playing hand inwards around the center of the handle.

 

Motion

This is mainly a steady motion. Big John Is mainly concentrating on a sound grip and getting ready to turn on his left foot. I am keeping steady and also preparing to turn and hit the ball.

 

Plane of swing

The handle of the racket is being gripped. And I and Big John are holding the racket sideways with the net facing toward the server. The racket is being held so it is pointing to the right side.

 

 

TENNIS SKILLS DESIGN AND IMPLEMENTATION Force Summation

Momentum

Transfer of Momentum

Big John balances forward, turns on his left foot, he lets the weight move on to it as he prepares to take back the racket.

On my first attempt, I do not turn out my left foot. On my second attempt, I am conscious of this error and I try to attempt to do this unsuccessfully, I am not coordinated with the movement yet.

Friction &

Rebound

Spin

Projectile Motion

Backswing

Stability and Balance

Big John bends his knees relaxed, bending his back knee more as he turns away. I don’t bend my knees so much. In my later video, I bend my knees equally but don’t overemphasize one particular knee.

Motion

Big John looks over while his hitting shoulder at the coming ball.

I turn my head and it isn’t and I look over my back instead of my shoulder in the first video. I am balancing on my feet but I am not turning on my left foot as I come back.  In the later video, I am looking over my shoulder.

Plane of swing

Big John brings the Racket back with the elbow locked at 90 degrees, the racket head points downwards. In the first video, I have my elbow locked at 90 degrees but my racket head is not pointing downwards. In my second video, I have my racket head pointing downwards and my elbow is locked at 90 degrees.

Force Summation

Momentum

Transfer of Momentum

As John pivots, he takes his racket back below his intended hitting height. I am unable to concentrate on this in both videos.

Friction & Rebound

Spin

Projectile

 

Forward swing

Stability and Balance

After releasing his support hand from the racket Big John extends it for balance.

On my first attempt, I lunged for the ball and was not very balanced. On my second attempt, I succeeded in extending my hand and the racket to hit the ball and remaining balanced.

Motion

John’s front legs come across as he contacts the ball. I also do the same.

Plane of swing

Big John’s racket head lifts through the ball in the direction he is aiming. I just try and hit the ball hard on my first attempt in any direction. On my second attempt, I hit the ball and look in the direction I want to hit it.

Johns’s racket arm is straight and diagonally upwards. His fist is just above his head. In the first video, my arm goes straight up over my head. In the second video, my arm with the racket is not quite so high.

Force Summation

Momentum

John lets his racket sweep out and up through the ball. I also do the same.

Transfer of Momentum

John turns his shoulders more and shifts his weight onto his left foot and leading hip. Keeping his support hand at the racket as he brings it behind the left hip. I do the same on both videos except I don’t look as balanced.

Friction & Rebound

Spin

Projectile

Followthrough

Stability and Balance

Big John stays down on the shot by keeping his weight forwards bent over his front knee.

His support arm and back foot act as stabilizers. He holds his racket arm straight and keeps him down until the stroke is complete. He keeps sideways-on through the stroke.

On my first attempt, I hop up in the air. On my second attempt, I stay on the ground but have not assumed the right position and my head is not staying down.

Motion

Big John’s Upper Body rotates and he stays down on the shot. I manage to rotate my upper body but am unable to stay down on the shot in the videos.

Plane of swing

John points the racket head up when after making contact with the ball for a topspin effect. I am also easily able to do this in both videos.

Force Summation

Momentum

John’s body uncoils as he drives through the ball. I do the same in both videos.

Transfer of Momentum

John rotates his upper body has a high finish with extra topspin and can gain increased control. He stays down on the shot to maintain the pace. I manage to rotate my body but am unable to emulate the topspin.

John transfers his weight fully onto his bent front knee. I do not do this in the first video and remembered to do this in the second video. His back foot stabilizes his finish. I am unable to remember this in both videos.

Friction & Rebound

Spin

John uses high elbows to produce brushed topspin for greater control. I am not able to bring my elbows up high in the first video. In the second video, I can bring my elbows up.

Tennis Skills Training

1. http://www.teachingtennis.com/site/body1.htm
2. http://www.teachingtennis.com/site/body1.htm

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Bibliography

InternetCooper, J. (2004). Slice Tennis Backhand Analysis. Your Guide to Tennis. Retrieved
October 2, 2004. from http://www.teachingtennis.com/site/body1.htm

Mackenzie, B. Skill Development. Sports Coach. October 2, 2004, from
http://www.brianmac.demon.co.uk/tech.htm

We Make it Look Easy. Teachingtennis.com Retrieved October 2, 2004,
http://www.teachingtennis.com/site/body1.htm

(September 1997) Vol 3(1) The Nature in Skill Learning. Learning in Sports. Retrieved
October 2, 2004. from http://www-rohan.sdsu.edu/dept/coachsci/csa/vol31/table.htm

(March 2004). Tony Lee’s Professional Tennis School. Retrieved October 3, 2004. from
http://www.hostultra.com/~greenlees/Tips.htm

Books

Douglas, P. (1991). Learn Tennis in a Weekend. London. Dorling Kindersley Ltd.

Weinberg, R.S. (1988). The Mental Advantage. Canada. Human Kinetics Publishers.

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