Tip of the Week: Use Your Big Muscles

Many of today’s top tennis players seem to generate a tremendous amount of racquet head speed using their wrist. However, the best players use a combination of a lot of things to get speed, depth, and consistency.

Using your legs to push off or step in can make your shot more effective. In addition, hip and upper body rotation can also improve the result of your shot. Using the “big muscles” rather than just relying on your hands and wrist can be the difference in your ability to consistently hit a shot that gets your opponent in trouble or wins the point.

Keep reminding yourself to prepare early so you have the ability to use your legs and your upper body, together with your arm, wrist, and hands when hitting the ball. It is easier to repeat the same swing with your bigger muscles.

Using this idea also takes the pressure off of your hand, wrist, and arm so you do not have to make quick, last second adjustments as often. By getting your big muscles involved, your game will become more efficient and require less effort, resulting in better and more consistent shots with less chance of injuries on the court.