An optimal contact point gives you the most power and control of your shots. That’s because this point is biomechanically ideal for transferring energy from your body to the ball.
If you hit the ball at a point lower, higher, more to the left or more to the right, you lose energy and control.
A common mistake is to adapt to the incoming ball by moving your arm (and racquet) lower, higher, left or right.
The key to finding this optimal contact point is your feet.
Check this drill to teach your feet to move, instead of your arms.
32 Comments
iain
March 22, 2013Excellent!
So simple! Why have I never seen such a simple effective tip before! Well done!
Nick
March 22, 2013Great Tip! Thanks.
john
March 23, 2013Great tip Tomaz..the simpler tips always the best…
David
March 26, 2013There are certain situations where you need to hit the ball above the optimal contact point, but this is still a good tip as we normally do NOT move our feet effectively.
Tomaz
March 27, 2013You’re right, David, we do need to learn to hit balls outside of the correct contact point. But when beginners learn tennis, they will mostly adjust to the height of the ball with their arm and they will forget about the footwork.
So they will be creating a bad habit that will be difficult to correct.
So I prefer to “force” 😉 them to move with their feet to most balls (with this drill) and eventually they will figure out on which incoming balls they can adjust with their feet and on which there is no time to move and will have to adjust with their arm.
Aaron Liu
April 9, 2013Tomaz,
I just wanted to let you know I received this first tip in my inbox. I loved it. I will try to make as many helpful comments as I can, so I can learn and interact with the other people who are in these discussions.
Tomaz
April 9, 2013Great, Aaaron! Just share your thoughts and experiences of how it works for you…
Aaron Liu
April 10, 2013I infer from your exercise that hitting at hip height maximizes the transfer of energy from the powerful leg extensor muscles (gluteal and quadriceps) into rotation of the pelvis. I can’t wait to try this on the court. I will tell you what I experience.
Yuval
April 13, 2013Its probably the smartest thing in tennis, however, at the second part of the practice explanation you say meet the ball at the correct contact point, but you dont show were it is, you should have had a side picture of contact point so we are sure to know where it is, for example I think my contact point is usually too far back. Also I would like a tip concerning relationships betwin the ball and the racket head another words where is the racket at the moment that the ball leaves the opponent’s racket’s, where is it when the ball is over the net, where is it while the ball hits the ground etc. same questions about the legs, (feet) which foot (left and right) is where in those three ball locations. (that off course will affect the division of weight distribution betwin the two legs0 I appreciate very much your articles a good pro is one who has the knowledge and knows how to pass it to the students being able to approach each student with his own personal problems of execution and understanding the teacher. Keep up the good work.
longle
April 20, 2013Thank you very much.
I hope you keep going to help me for the first time in tennis.
Thank aigain !
Rissa
June 9, 2013So inspiring tip! Thank you very much Tomaz.
dempsey willard
October 11, 2013very good i like the idea alot
Fritz Earle
October 11, 2013This is a great tip. I am retired and trying to teach some high school girls, who have never had any instruction, to position themselves for the ball. They take the ball as it comes without moving their feet any way. I am anxious to see how this will help. Thanks
LOUSINDI R SABOURIN
January 3, 2014I love this idea, and it reminds me a bit of something I already do with my beginners. I have them play elbows-in catch, where they have to get to the ball with their feet instead of with their arms, but this one is better because it does the same thing with a tennis ball and racket, what they will actually be using on the court, and it gives a good progression.
John
January 9, 2014Good suggestion to leave the racket at the hip to educate the feet. Never seen this anywhere else.
thierry-albert
February 1, 2014As a beginner i used to think tennis was a ‘friendly’ exchange of shot. no, your opponent will not always hit the ball where you are!
Actually, your feet allow your body to position itself so that your arm can hit the ball.
thanks Tom for the tip
Peace Prachuab Kurdnir
March 6, 2014Good Advices
Bsm Mhr
March 26, 2014Great!
Thank you.
mark jeffery
July 2, 2014simplicity is genius.
outstanding Tomaz
senay
July 25, 2014Great tip thanx
Yasutaka Hirasawa
November 18, 2014simple, common sense, but I miss this many times in the court. great tip!
Tim
May 17, 2015Thank you, it makes a lot of sense. My question is, when should you go forward to take the ball early and when to move back to take it late? I tend to move back and am probably not balanced as a result but it does give me more time.
Tomaz
May 17, 2015Hi Tim,
Since this is a website for beginners, then in most cases you would want to move back if you have time to play the ball on the way down.
If you’re not balanced, try to be. 😉 If you put your awareness to balance and try to be balanced as you move backwards, you will find it in time.
Mr T P Beddoes
May 18, 2015Thanks, I will.
I saw one of your videos routines on improving balance by momentarily lifting the trailing leg after the shot which should help too.
Your instruction is really useful to me because it shows what the common problems are and how they can be corrected in a natural way which is intuitive and unambiguously expressed…Great stuff!!
Tomaz
May 18, 2015Much appreciated!
gonzalo
July 9, 2015-It is very important what is shown in the video, and ideally one should do the best to get to the right point using the legs.
Thanks por give us this interesting tip..
Gonzalo
Darlene
July 18, 2015I totally agree with Tim. Your advice is great
thanks dar
Mahshid
July 22, 2015very useful thanks.
HW
August 25, 2015I really like your simple and easy to follow training approach. Thank you.
Bisi
September 7, 2015Thanks this is adding value to my knowledge of the game.
Tommy
July 19, 2016Thanks Tomaz, good tip for me who try to start tennis again after 38 years.
With 30 kilo overweight.
Tomaz
October 29, 2016Go for it, Tommy, it’s never too late!
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