Smash!!!
I'm going to False Creek Community Centre to attend what is essentially Tennis For Dummies. I've taken a lot of group tennis lessons in the past, but I thought they all royally sucked. I never learned how to play tennis properly and mainly blamed myself for it. After my first lesson at False Creek today, I realize the past lessons sucked because ... they actually sucked. And caused me to suck at well. My past instructors were training me like I was a professional, so a lot of stuff just didn't make any sense (since I'm not exactly aiming to go pro).
I like my current instructor. He's a people person - everybody's buddy - and a good advocate of positive reinforcement and silly (but useful) analogies. For today's (first) lesson, he advised us to actually write down what we learned. I shall follow his instruction.
What I learned today:
Grip
Hold base of racket face with left hand, lead right hand down until pinky almost/maybe touches bottom of racket.
Loose grip, always.
Use 3rd, 4th, 5th fingers to support racket in hand.
Forward swing
Don't bend wrist back, keep straight.
"Pushing" motion, not badminton-like.
If hitting straight up, contact should have face be parallel to ground, at around chest height.
When preparing to hit, left shoulder faces net, step-in with left foot (?).
Back swing
Either use left-hand as support or guide, not both.
Left-hand as support, have hand touch each other and use left-hand to help guide swing.
Left-hand as guide, hold base of racket face to prevent racket from drooping.
If hitting straight up, contact should have face be parallel to ground, at around shoulder height.
When preparing to hit, right shoulder faces net, step-in with right foot (?).
Other
ALWAYS stretch.
Use ready position: racket perpendicular to ground, cocked up, held around bellybutton area.
Practice motion to let body remember.
USE HIPS!
I like my current instructor. He's a people person - everybody's buddy - and a good advocate of positive reinforcement and silly (but useful) analogies. For today's (first) lesson, he advised us to actually write down what we learned. I shall follow his instruction.
What I learned today:
Grip
Hold base of racket face with left hand, lead right hand down until pinky almost/maybe touches bottom of racket.
Loose grip, always.
Use 3rd, 4th, 5th fingers to support racket in hand.
Forward swing
Don't bend wrist back, keep straight.
"Pushing" motion, not badminton-like.
If hitting straight up, contact should have face be parallel to ground, at around chest height.
When preparing to hit, left shoulder faces net, step-in with left foot (?).
Back swing
Either use left-hand as support or guide, not both.
Left-hand as support, have hand touch each other and use left-hand to help guide swing.
Left-hand as guide, hold base of racket face to prevent racket from drooping.
If hitting straight up, contact should have face be parallel to ground, at around shoulder height.
When preparing to hit, right shoulder faces net, step-in with right foot (?).
Other
ALWAYS stretch.
Use ready position: racket perpendicular to ground, cocked up, held around bellybutton area.
Practice motion to let body remember.
USE HIPS!