If you enjoyed this lesson definitely pick up a copy of my book! It will help you get back on the road to improvement: www.amazon.com/Essential-Tennis-Improve-Smarter-Matches/dp/1250765234/
I love your book. It's one of the best I've read on tennis that has solid advice, techniques, and step-by-step instructions on how to improve your game quickly if you decide to put the time and effort into following the suggestions. The ability to watch videos throughout is also a great help for a more visual learner. It's worth every penny and I highly recommend it to anyone out there that is serious about improving.
Thanks for the video Ian, useful stuff as usual. And I am glad you are continuing with ET in spite of the many challenges you faced the last few years. I am always waiting for your content.
You and this other coach must be doing something wrong. So far today I've already learnt the "secret" to hitting all my shots like the pros and how to Federer, Djokovic & Alcaraz's shots if 4 simple steps 😂 I hope people recognize the quality of the information in this video. This is high level coaching methodology presented beautifully! One of the hardest things in tennis is finding ways to get enough repetitions at the right level of difficulty to develop the new habit. But it's the only way it works.
Good advice about the process for learning something new. About the specific issue, swinging low-to-high, I think it's more complicated than that. One-handed backhands actually tend to be steadier if you swing level like a baseball batter, opening the racket face just enough to lift the ball over the net, rather than swinging low-to-high. It's true that topspin gives you more margin for error in the elevation angle of your shot. However, a swing path that directly opposes the flight path of the ball at contact (rather than the two paths crossing as the racket brushes up) gives you more margin for timing error. (Otherwise, if you swing a bit early your racket will be too high at contact, and too low at contact if you swing a bit late.) As my eyesight declines with age I find I must rely on hitting flatter to make good contact, and try to get finer control of elevation with lead tape at 3 and 6 o'clock on the racket face.
Good point! It all depends on how hard you're trying to hit and what kind of shape you're trying to put on the ball. A true "low to high" motion gives more room for growth in the long run, whereas something more flat will be easier in the short run for somebody that has a hard time finding the ball. For this athletic 10 year old, personally, I think the former is more valuable.
@@EssentialTennis Agreed. You don't hit hard enough in today's pro game if you hit only as hard as Jimmy Connors did back in 1974. But I don't think I'll ever hit even that hard, even with today's oversize widebody rackets and high-tech strings! So for me, his amount of spin ought to suffice. (He used very little, and often even came under the ball a little when hitting early on his better, two-handed side.)
i applied the "fake feed" for my son's baseball swing. really helped a lot! he had a similar issue where his dry swing was very smooth but on live pitches, looked a bit hurky-jerky
Great video Ian. Im a new player (2- yrs) and I find all your videos has a great value of information. Maybe one day you come to Arizona and put some clinics together. If or when that happens 😊 , I would be the first to sign up for your teaching 👍come down and get off the cold weather 😊
I had a very similar thought. It reminded me of something that I read first in Malcolm Gladwell's book Blink, but I believe Ian also touches on it in his book. Gladwell talks about how Ted Williams, famous baseball player, would give seminars about hitting and he would tell people that he could "look the ball onto the bat." Turns out that there is good scientific evidence that our eye tracking isn't that good. Contact is milliseconds and our brains aren't that good. I'm not an expert on any of this, but my takeaway for tennis is that it is very important to keep your head down and steady so that you are isolating the swing motion, but you don't need to stress about seeing the ball hit the strings.
Because of extensive learning high level dancing where a lot of movements are counter intuitive are part of daily practice and where you have to learn new choreography on a monthly basis, i am lucky to be able to make the transition from conscious capable to unconscious fairly easy. That is also a skill you can train, it's not talent
@@EssentialTennis talent always helps indeed. Some people have a natural talent for correct kinetic chain with their body other people i am surprised to see that they actually walk up straight and not fall all the time.
@@EssentialTennis possible idea that you might have thought of already: interviewing other coaches. Yeah, learn how they got into it, talk about what they think is important, how they teach, etc. I'm sure with your profile you could arrange some pretty high profile interviewees. Ian, I also really liked seeing your personal growth stuff. You're very good at being vulnerable in front of camera, and I think the self growth thing is relatable and compelling.
If you enjoyed this lesson definitely pick up a copy of my book! It will help you get back on the road to improvement: www.amazon.com/Essential-Tennis-Improve-Smarter-Matches/dp/1250765234/
I love your book. It's one of the best I've read on tennis that has solid advice, techniques, and step-by-step instructions on how to improve your game quickly if you decide to put the time and effort into following the suggestions. The ability to watch videos throughout is also a great help for a more visual learner. It's worth every penny and I highly recommend it to anyone out there that is serious about improving.
So happy you found it valuable, Theophilus!
Thanks for the video Ian, useful stuff as usual. And I am glad you are continuing with ET in spite of the many challenges you faced the last few years. I am always waiting for your content.
Thanks so much 🙏
You and this other coach must be doing something wrong. So far today I've already learnt the "secret" to hitting all my shots like the pros and how to Federer, Djokovic & Alcaraz's shots if 4 simple steps 😂
I hope people recognize the quality of the information in this video. This is high level coaching methodology presented beautifully! One of the hardest things in tennis is finding ways to get enough repetitions at the right level of difficulty to develop the new habit. But it's the only way it works.
Appreciate the kind words, Richard. Two more videos coming on this topic! Am I gonna see you at The Nest next month?
The book is amazing and the improvement circle was very helpful! you put it really nice Ian
So glad you enjoyed the book!
Love this video, I am making all my assistant coaches study it. Thank you Ian
Don't miss the next two uploads!! So glad you found it valuable.
Great video. Loved the book as well. I recommend it to everyone, no matter what your level of play.
Thank you Ian and Essential Tennis team.
Cheers,
M
Thanks so much, Mundi!
Good advice about the process for learning something new.
About the specific issue, swinging low-to-high, I think it's more complicated than that. One-handed backhands actually tend to be steadier if you swing level like a baseball batter, opening the racket face just enough to lift the ball over the net, rather than swinging low-to-high.
It's true that topspin gives you more margin for error in the elevation angle of your shot. However, a swing path that directly opposes the flight path of the ball at contact (rather than the two paths crossing as the racket brushes up) gives you more margin for timing error. (Otherwise, if you swing a bit early your racket will be too high at contact, and too low at contact if you swing a bit late.)
As my eyesight declines with age I find I must rely on hitting flatter to make good contact, and try to get finer control of elevation with lead tape at 3 and 6 o'clock on the racket face.
Good point! It all depends on how hard you're trying to hit and what kind of shape you're trying to put on the ball. A true "low to high" motion gives more room for growth in the long run, whereas something more flat will be easier in the short run for somebody that has a hard time finding the ball. For this athletic 10 year old, personally, I think the former is more valuable.
@@EssentialTennis Agreed. You don't hit hard enough in today's pro game if you hit only as hard as Jimmy Connors did back in 1974. But I don't think I'll ever hit even that hard, even with today's oversize widebody rackets and high-tech strings! So for me, his amount of spin ought to suffice. (He used very little, and often even came under the ball a little when hitting early on his better, two-handed side.)
i applied the "fake feed" for my son's baseball swing. really helped a lot! he had a similar issue where his dry swing was very smooth but on live pitches, looked a bit hurky-jerky
YES, that's awesome!
It was so motivating and I can think now that I'm a normal person) Thanks a lot) Your students got a great teacher!
You're so normal! Nobody escapes this!
Yes! Noticed that too. I have your book and highly recommend it!
So glad you're enjoying the book!
power tip.....that cycle is applicable to most everything you might try in life.
💯 I mentioned that at 2:35. Super powerful concept!
Just got back from a coaching conference, and this is a great message to pair with all the ideas for new exercises and strategies.
Awesome!
This one is very good, keep coming
Glad you enjoyed, much more on the way.
nice work. this is good stuff. Thank you.
Excellent! 🙏 thanks Ian always
Great video Ian. Im a new player (2- yrs) and I find all your videos has a great value of information. Maybe one day you come to Arizona and put some clinics together. If or when that happens 😊 , I would be the first to sign up for your teaching 👍come down and get off the cold weather 😊
Thanks for the support, Benjamin!
Have you notice about how Serena seem NOT looking at the ball? :)
Yup, many of the pros watch the ball much less intently than we're told we should...
I had a very similar thought. It reminded me of something that I read first in Malcolm Gladwell's book Blink, but I believe Ian also touches on it in his book. Gladwell talks about how Ted Williams, famous baseball player, would give seminars about hitting and he would tell people that he could "look the ball onto the bat." Turns out that there is good scientific evidence that our eye tracking isn't that good. Contact is milliseconds and our brains aren't that good. I'm not an expert on any of this, but my takeaway for tennis is that it is very important to keep your head down and steady so that you are isolating the swing motion, but you don't need to stress about seeing the ball hit the strings.
And Serena still hits the ball at the center of her racquet 🎾 as she looks away from the ball.
Exactly, Remy. It's all about stability, body control and repeatability. The point is NOT to actually "see the ball" hit the racquet.
As a teacher of something else, very interesting video.
Hope it was helpful!
Because of extensive learning high level dancing where a lot of movements are counter intuitive are part of daily practice and where you have to learn new choreography on a monthly basis, i am lucky to be able to make the transition from conscious capable to unconscious fairly easy. That is also a skill you can train, it's not talent
It's definitely a skill you can train. Talent always makes it easier 😊
@@EssentialTennis talent always helps indeed. Some people have a natural talent for correct kinetic chain with their body other people i am surprised to see that they actually walk up straight and not fall all the time.
Fire content Ian, Keep it up 🙋♂
Out of curiosity, is there any chance to collaborate with you as video editors to build up your personal brand?
Thanks for watching. Shoot me an email: ian@essentialtennis.com
More important than the circle is I am the first to comment.
🔥🔥
Personally I find the constant zooming in and out annoying. The video has the vibe of an ad on daytime tv
Thanks for the feedback.
@@EssentialTennis possible idea that you might have thought of already: interviewing other coaches. Yeah, learn how they got into it, talk about what they think is important, how they teach, etc. I'm sure with your profile you could arrange some pretty high profile interviewees. Ian, I also really liked seeing your personal growth stuff. You're very good at being vulnerable in front of camera, and I think the self growth thing is relatable and compelling.
Pro tip, don’t get injured 😂
Always helpful.
yes. work on mobility, particularly strengthen end range motion