This is a *difficult* drill. That's the point of it. As such, unless you're already a strong athlete, start slow: only 5 reps the first time you do it, 10 if you feel fine, and that's it. It requires strength throughout the entire leg - foot, ankle, calf, knee, hamstring, quad, hip - and many players will find weaknesses along that chain exposed when they do this drill. There is also a technical element required - you need to be able to land effectively. This article addresses the skill of landing with regards to tennis: faulttoleranttennis.com/the-split-step-why-when-and-how/ I should have addressed the physically demanding aspect of this drill directly in the video. I've seen comments from a few players who have jumped in a little too fast and hurt themselves. I'm very, very sorry! I still very strongly believe in this drill, so I'm pinning this comment in an effort to avoid that in the future.
In your defense the balls coming to you were way lower compared to hers, so you needed to bring the ball up with an upwards swing and you had less time to adjust for them too.
On the one hand, doing drills like this exposes those with muscular weaknesses/poor movement patterns to injury. On the other hand, not being able to hit one-legged groundstrokes is procluding to playing at a 4.5 level or beyond. I've done this drill with a coach in the past and found the reasoning behind it to be sound. Specifically getting the back foot in line with the ball - if you can't get there you know right away.
Overall it's a "dumb drill" if your coaching clientele is USTA 3.5 or under/40 and over. But I wouldn't dismiss it if your objective is to hit the ball like a high-level player.
This is a good point. I should have addressed who should and shouldn't do this drill in the video. I've updated the description to address that. 4.5 is probably a good proxy for adults, but it's really about athleticism and balance, not tennis skill. Many lower level tennis players, especially athletic kids, can perform this drill very well, despite not being very good at tennis.
This is a superb drill. BTW, I loved your book on the forehand (and how you described the modern forehand as a "biomechanical masterpiece," I think you called it?) Any chance you might do a similar book on the one-handed backhand?
Probably not any time soon. The forehand advice applies to almost everyone, which is why I spend most of my time on it (and the serve/overhead). Here's our article on the one-hander: faulttoleranttennis.com/a-primer-on-the-one-handed-backhand/
@@HoiWaiKwan Absolutely! Next wave of footage we're taking will have serve and overhead content. I think there are a few critical concepts that demand a video explanation.
This is a *difficult* drill. That's the point of it.
As such, unless you're already a strong athlete, start slow: only 5 reps the first time you do it, 10 if you feel fine, and that's it. It requires strength throughout the entire leg - foot, ankle, calf, knee, hamstring, quad, hip - and many players will find weaknesses along that chain exposed when they do this drill.
There is also a technical element required - you need to be able to land effectively. This article addresses the skill of landing with regards to tennis: faulttoleranttennis.com/the-split-step-why-when-and-how/
I should have addressed the physically demanding aspect of this drill directly in the video. I've seen comments from a few players who have jumped in a little too fast and hurt themselves. I'm very, very sorry! I still very strongly believe in this drill, so I'm pinning this comment in an effort to avoid that in the future.
In your defense the balls coming to you were way lower compared to hers, so you needed to bring the ball up with an upwards swing and you had less time to adjust for them too.
Haha thanks for the defense!
haha, exactly what I was thinking.
I was thinking the same. He tossed the balls better
On the one hand, doing drills like this exposes those with muscular weaknesses/poor movement patterns to injury. On the other hand, not being able to hit one-legged groundstrokes is procluding to playing at a 4.5 level or beyond. I've done this drill with a coach in the past and found the reasoning behind it to be sound. Specifically getting the back foot in line with the ball - if you can't get there you know right away.
Overall it's a "dumb drill" if your coaching clientele is USTA 3.5 or under/40 and over. But I wouldn't dismiss it if your objective is to hit the ball like a high-level player.
This is a good point. I should have addressed who should and shouldn't do this drill in the video. I've updated the description to address that.
4.5 is probably a good proxy for adults, but it's really about athleticism and balance, not tennis skill. Many lower level tennis players, especially athletic kids, can perform this drill very well, despite not being very good at tennis.
This is how Nick Kyrgios plays most of the time. Single leg slap city 👌
Very true! Casper Ruud also plays off one foot much of the time, often totally deloading his off foot as he prepares.
😲
This is a superb drill. BTW, I loved your book on the forehand (and how you described the modern forehand as a "biomechanical masterpiece," I think you called it?) Any chance you might do a similar book on the one-handed backhand?
Probably not any time soon. The forehand advice applies to almost everyone, which is why I spend most of my time on it (and the serve/overhead). Here's our article on the one-hander: faulttoleranttennis.com/a-primer-on-the-one-handed-backhand/
Can you share more about serve or overhead in the coming videos?
@@HoiWaiKwan Absolutely! Next wave of footage we're taking will have serve and overhead content. I think there are a few critical concepts that demand a video explanation.
@@FaultTolerantTennis can’t wait to watch it!