| It doesn't matter who your tennis coach is, or what | | | | How much further can you swing? Need I say more? |
| country we find the tennis coach in, they don't have | | | | Listen! That is one of the main reasons the game is |
| the right to give you false information!! | | | | much more powerful these days. The open stance |
| The problem is that so many of them do! | | | | allows you to make a much bigger swing at the ball |
| Perhaps it's not always on purpose, but the fact | | | | which generates so much more racket head speed |
| remains that you as the tennis player is the one not | | | | which for you means more pace and spin on your |
| getting the best information. | | | | shots! |
| You as the tennis player wants to improve their game | | | | Yes please! |
| and in fact you are paying someone to help you | | | | Next! |
| improve your game, so you hook up with someone | | | | What about recovery? |
| that can help you do it! | | | | There's no point being able to hit a shot no matter how |
| In an ideal world you find yourself with someone that | | | | good it is if you are in such a poor position to hit |
| not only knows the game well, but is able to transfer | | | | another one. |
| and translate the information to you! | | | | So let's look at this simplified scenario - try hitting a |
| That does NOT mean that they are a fantastic tennis | | | | closed stance forehand. |
| player (as many people fall into the trap of thinking), | | | | Your leg comes across your body and you hit your |
| they just have to be a fantastic communicator of the | | | | shot! |
| things you need to know to move your game on! | | | | To get back to your ready position you have to bring |
| Having said that, there are things that I see that I | | | | that leg back to where it started to be in the best |
| believe are a SACKABLE offence when it come to | | | | position (ready position) for the next ball (which just |
| tennis coaching! | | | | happens to be the open stance by the way!!). |
| This may seem a bit extreme, but don't worry all I am | | | | Now try hitting the forehand with the open stance. |
| really saying is that if you think that any of these apply | | | | You step out sideways, hit the shot and bring your leg |
| to you, you should seriously think about finding | | | | back towards the centre - that's it! |
| someone who is "better" equipped to deliver this stuff | | | | Now I know that's a simple example but it illustrates |
| which I feel will make you a beter player in the long run. | | | | the point. In fact once we get more movement going |
| So here goes..... | | | | the differences just become even greater. |
| Here are the Top 10 Reasons to sack your tennis | | | | Conclusion? |
| coach. | | | | Even if you just took one of these reasons to play |
| If you think any of them apply to you then you know | | | | your forehand with more of an open stance you |
| what to do! | | | | would be better off. But if you factor in all of them |
| 1. You still think the forehand is a closed stance shot | | | | (and there are more), you really should see that it's a |
| I see so many club players playing with a closed | | | | no-brainer. |
| stance on the forehand and worse still I see so many | | | | I have to say that 100% of the people that I have |
| coaches telling/showing their pupils to hit the forehand | | | | shown this change to have said that they found it |
| with a closed stance. This just makes no sense at all | | | | easier and more natural and have all wondered why |
| for several reasons. | | | | their coach had not told them to play that way. |
| The Pro's don't do it - just switch on the TV and | | | | Many of them have even said to me that they |
| watch the next tennis tournament and make a quick | | | | wondered about that as they had seen the Pro's on |
| calculation as to how many times they hit open stance | | | | the TV and even the good players at the club etc. |
| on the forehand as opposed to closed stance. | | | | hitting with an open stance. |
| This is for several reasons and don't let anyone tell | | | | That's not for me to say, as I would never "put down" |
| you that "the Pro game is the Pro game". | | | | or single out another tennis coach to their pupil BUT |
| The Pro's play the shot with an open stance for a | | | | what I find most amazing with this is that I see so |
| reason, actually several reasons, the number 1 reason | | | | many of the coaches who are coaching their pupils to |
| being it's just easier! | | | | hit with a closed stance on the forehand actually hitting |
| When you stand up, ready to play a shot how do you | | | | with an open stance themselves!! |
| stand? | | | | How does that work?? |
| With an open stance of course - it's natural! | | | | Surely either the pupil would notice the difference or |
| You can use "stereo vision" - both eyes on the ball | | | | the coach would coach them the same style as they |
| and therefore get the best "read" on the play! | | | | use - after all, they know it's better - after all why do |
| When you turn to get into a closed stance you tend to | | | | they do it?? |
| lead with one eye over the other. | | | | Sometimes people just coach in the exact same way |
| Next! | | | | that they were taught or they see others coaching, |
| You get so much more rotation in the open stance! | | | | even if they know it's wrong. |
| Try it for yourself - get into a closed stance position | | | | Bottom line? |
| and make a full swing. You can't! Basically you "lock | | | | If you are still playing your forehands with a closed |
| out" at the hips before you can get the racket all the | | | | stance there is only one thing to do - SACK YOUR |
| way round. | | | | COACH! |
| Now get into the open stance and make a swing. | | | | |