The Secret to Great Returns

Tennis has gone through 2 extreme stages. Years ago, players were told to turn sideways then step forward with the left foot. Of course, the instructor was hoping that the student would be stepping towards the net, but because the player had turned totally sideways the forward step was then taken parallel to the baseline.

Modern tennis is the other extreme. The instructor says "don't turn sideways, just get your racquet back" and assumes the player will at least pivot and have a shoulder turn while taking their racquet back.

Good players do just that, but the club player does not. When he or she hears the word "racquet back", they move the racquet without a shoulder turn. The result is that the stroke is then played only with the arm instead of also having the windup of the trunk.

To overcome this problem, while in the waiting position, hold close together a racquet in the right hand and another racquet in the left hand. Now take the racquet back.

Without a shoulder turn, the racquet in the right hand will separate from the racquet in the left hand (photo right). It will be clearly obvious that there can now be no power in the stroke because there has been no initial pivot.

To overcome this flaw, take your racquet back, but do not separate the 2 racquets. At this point, the shoulders turn sideways. You now have a power base for an aggressive forehand return. Try this a few times then lower the 2nd racquet. You should be in the ready position.

Now that you understand the concept of a "unit turn", your stroke will become a "great return".