I know it sounds strange, but this - keeping your head still throughout the shot - works like MAGIC! Once you get the hang of it, you start striking the ball much, much cleaner and amazing things start happening! Power, spin, feel, confidence...the feeling is INCREDIBLE! Even stranger, though: once you discover this, you will want to "go back to sleep", i.e., you will want to STOP watching the ball correctly and _go back to how you were (mis)hitting before!_ Weird, hun? The pull of curiosity, the urge to lift your head and see what the ball is doing, is IRRESISTIBLE!!! Why on Earth, when you've discovered the Holy Grail of Tennis, would you want to essentially BLIND yourself again and go back to "living in darkness", i.e. back to your subpar way of doing things? Fear of success? Of winning? Because you hate yourself, because you don't deserve it? It's like lighting up again after 10 years of not smoking - it just doesn't make any sense! Anybody? P.S.- Your use of a target is intriguing. I guess it INCREASES the pull of the ball on your attention, yes? Because your in a, albeit minor, competitive situation, it makes you even more curious about what that little sphere is doing, RIGHT NOW. I will give it a try, anything that can help me find that "state of grace" again is worth a try. I want that glorious feeling again, it's no wonder people LOVE tennis! Thanks again - JD, Montréal
I don’t have a problem with keeping my head still through the shot. I have a problem with keeping my eyes focused on the ball. That is after awhile my eyes tends to lose focus and get lazy because my previous shots has been successfully hit. This results in a framed shot and I am reminded of focusing on the ball.
Olaf from Copenhagen Denmark here. I had a student that strugling making topspin with his forhand and framed the ball a lott also playing to short.After keepin his head down after contakt his forhand worked much better and he was spinning the ball much more with no framing. Good drill to watch a spot evry time (also serv and volleying.Thans a lot. Olaf Copenhagen
Ken L the real key is to make sure you’re watching the ball at contact. This drill will help you improve this difficult task. Once the ball leaves your racket keeping your head down will help you with balance and with having a full complete swing. When the head lifts up early the swing usually shortens and pulls up more than through the shot.
I know it sounds strange, but this - keeping your head still throughout the shot - works like MAGIC! Once you get the hang of it, you start striking the ball much, much cleaner and amazing things start happening! Power, spin, feel, confidence...the feeling is INCREDIBLE! Even stranger, though: once you discover this, you will want to "go back to sleep", i.e., you will want to STOP watching the ball correctly and _go back to how you were (mis)hitting before!_ Weird, hun? The pull of curiosity, the urge to lift your head and see what the ball is doing, is IRRESISTIBLE!!!
Why on Earth, when you've discovered the Holy Grail of Tennis, would you want to essentially BLIND yourself again and go back to "living in darkness", i.e. back to your subpar way of doing things? Fear of success? Of winning? Because you hate yourself, because you don't deserve it? It's like lighting up again after 10 years of not smoking - it just doesn't make any sense! Anybody?
P.S.- Your use of a target is intriguing. I guess it INCREASES the pull of the ball on your attention, yes? Because your in a, albeit minor, competitive situation, it makes you even more curious about what that little sphere is doing, RIGHT NOW. I will give it a try, anything that can help me find that "state of grace" again is worth a try. I want that glorious feeling again, it's no wonder people LOVE tennis! Thanks again - JD, Montréal
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I can't help but think that uttering to yourself the verbal command "down" each time you make contact also helps you to keep it there.
Ya I don’t see why it wouldn’t.
It definitely will! it helps to program your brain to get you doing the right thing.
good
Sensible advice. Same thing for golfers - “keep your head down!” Thanks for the tip. I’ll try it out tonight on the court.
Indeed the same idea
I don’t have a problem with keeping my head still through the shot. I have a problem with keeping my eyes focused on the ball. That is after awhile my eyes tends to lose focus and get lazy because my previous shots has been successfully hit. This results in a framed shot and I am reminded of focusing on the ball.
Just what i needed!
Cool my No. 1 thing I’m working on right now! Love the split screens. Thanks Mate!
Thanks Dion!
Dion Hutchings thanks for your comment Mate! Try looking for a spot it takes seeing the ball to another level.
I'm glad I found this video again! It helped me the first time I watched it and this was a good refresher! Thank you for this video!
Olaf from Copenhagen Denmark here. I had a student that strugling making topspin with his forhand and framed the ball a lott also playing to short.After keepin his head down after contakt his forhand worked much better and he was spinning the ball much more with no framing. Good drill to watch a spot evry time (also serv and volleying.Thans a lot. Olaf Copenhagen
Olaf thanks for your feedback.
Olaf sørensen thanks Olaf.
What is the advantage to keep the head down?
To see the ball at contact probably the most important thing. As well as to keep the head still maintaining good balance and posture
Ken L the real key is to make sure you’re watching the ball at contact. This drill will help you improve this difficult task. Once the ball leaves your racket keeping your head down will help you with balance and with having a full complete swing. When the head lifts up early the swing usually shortens and pulls up more than through the shot.