Course on Fundamentals

Without attention, you don’t see what the ball is doing.

Without movement, you don’t get into position to strike the ball.

Your body in motion transfers weight to generate force.

If you don’t connect with the ball, well, you know.

Every shot will feel natural if you find the space and time the weight transfer without losing balance or feeling constricted.

Tension is a limiter. Relaxation lets you feel, gives you speed and power, and allows you to express yourself and hit the kinds of shots you like.

Your attention to what is taking place moment to moment is how you receive the flow of information in real time. Any thoughts or intentions in your mind divide your attention from the moving ball and from being aware of what you’re doing with your body.

Your improvement on the tennis court is highly correlated with how much attention you give to your footwork. Movement helps you get in position, you can only adjust to what you see through movement.

Pro tip to help you remember to keep moving your legs: write “Move” on your grip :)

You’ll get it once you understand what weight transfer means and where the motion for it begins (hint: your legs).

Rotation before striking the ball is essential for transferring the power you generate from the ground.

It also plays an important role in accelerating your swing and body motion, adding force to the ball.

Where the motion of your body begins will impact how much mass is transferred. Understand that the back leg is key to ensuring stability and power as you strike the ball. Connecting with the back leg on every shot is one of those habits that will amplify your game.

The contact point is fundamental. That’s where your transfer takes place and you tell the ball what to do.

A complete follow-through gives you the space to swing fast and commit to your shot.

When the body loses balance or unexpectedly shifts during a swing, it often alters the swing path we originally intended. This can be minimized by keeping your body balanced and your mind present with the act of striking the ball, rather than the outcome to come.

Progressions are a way of life. We learn to crawl before walking, then we run. Develop your skills naturally by playing at speeds and spaces where it’s manageably out of your comfort zone.

Lead your setup and recovery with your legs. When you lead with your legs, your entire body moves as a single unit, which is far more efficient than letting your arm lead while the rest of your body follows.

After you hit your shot and before the other player hits theirs, you don’t know where the ball will go next. You must take up a form that is optimal for being ready to set up for the next shot. That’s the ready form (or position). It’s simple to understand, and there’s no reason you can’t master it like a pro player. All that’s required is to connect with deliberate feeling.

The split step helps you time your change of direction efficiently. The cue is when the other player begins their swing to hit the ball. By the time they make contact, you’ll have reset your inertia and be ready to move toward your next shot.