Lesson 06: Tennis Overhead Lesson with Ryan Reidy

As I struggled with consistency and power in my overhead, Ryan Reidy from 2minutetennis evaluated my serve (via Zoom) and offered excellent pointers for improvement.

Overhead Technique Improvements

 

Questions

1.  Technique Improvements
   
• Even after weeks of practice, I still make the same mistakes in all my groundstrokes.
• How long does it take to re-learn a new technique so it becomes muscle memory?
• Answer: 3 weeks
  
2. Tennis Elbow:
• What are the proper treatments for tennis elbow?
• Answer: Play with less force on the ball machine (speed = 2, alternate strokes)
  
3. Overhead:
• How do I time the initiation of the swing?
• Answer: The ball should be falling vertically
4. Forehand:
• I am not getting enough spin on the ball
• Answer: Practice on the ball machine with a much slower speed setting. Focus on a steep low-to-high transition and catch the racket with the right hand. The right hand should travel upwards "as if waving to your opponent."
  
5. Return of Serve: 
• How do I return balls with a lot of pace? 
• Answer: Use less backswing
  
• What are the keys to adding spin to fast-moving balls?
•  It is hard to swing low-to-high due to insufficient time, and easy to miss-hit.
  
6. Two-handed Backhand: 
• I still lack spin and power. Where does power come from?
• Answer: Power comes from the separation of hand and body. The body turns while the hand drops,s and the whipping around of the hands creates power.
  
7. Slice-backhand:
• I am hitting with the racquet too open when using the Continental grip. Should I change to the backhand grip? If not, where is the point of contact?
8.  Serve
• I am having difficulty knocking on the birthday hat. 
• Answer: Try serving with the thumb sticking out on the right hand. The thumb should touch the right shoulder.