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Stroke development

Quick Tip! Developing Topspin

As players begin to develop more strength and hit the ball harder, they will need to also hit with more topspin. In this short video we show how you can help players develop topspin.

Why is topspin so important?

We explain that it can be difficult initially for young players to understand all of the advantages of topspin.

  1. Topspin works to make the ball drop faster and stay in the court. So players can hit the ball harder – and the ball stays in.
  2. Topspin allows players to increase the ball height over the net – so they will hit fewer shots into the net. It increases players margin for error.
  3. Last, but not least, topspin can make the ball bounce up higher when it lands. A harder ball, bouncing up higher, pushes your players opponent out of the court to give an advantage.

Different “amounts” of topspin depending on where the player is on the court

The key to this quick tip is to think about top spin in “levels” depending upon where you are on the court.

  • Baseline: From the baseline, we need only “1 amount” of topspin
  • At the back of the court between the service line and the baseline – “2 amounts” of topspin.
  • Service line: “3 amounts” at the service line.
  • At the net: As we approach the net the player turns the racket face to get the full “4 amounts” of topspin.

 

Other Coaching Quick Tips on Tennis(24/7)

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Originally published on: Apr 4, 2017

How to Help Players Keep the Racket on the Ball (Video)

How to Help Players Keep the Racket on the Ball

In this tip i2c Director, Richard Marklow shares the quick coaching tip that he estimates he’s used most in his coaching career! It’s about making sure that you keep the racket on the ball for as long as you can.

Richard says,

“When we’re coaching the forehand we talk about having a big back-swing and follow through for the stroke, but fundamentally the thing that all good forehands have in common is the strength of the contact zone as the racket passes the body. That’s the business end of the stoke.

As long as the racket is in a good position and comes through to make a good contact with the ball – and stays on the ball, then we’re going to get a good result down the other end. Too much on the back-swing, too much on the follow through and you’ll lose the quality around the contact zone.

It’s all about holding the racket on the line of the ball for as long as you can. Holding the ball on the racket. Even if you’ve got a bigger swing, the contact zone where you are keeping the racket on the ball, doesn’t change. Keep the racket on target for as long as you can and you’ll have good success with that technique.”

LEVEL 2: Other Drills we Recommend for Level 2 Coaches and Candidates

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LEVEL 3: Other Drills we Recommend for Level 3 Coaches and Candidates

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LEVEL 4: Other Drills we Recommend for Level 4 Coaches and Candidates

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See more of our Quick Coaching Tips:

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Note: Originally published Apr 13, 2016

The 5Rs of the stroke production cycle: PART 3, bringing it all together (filmed live in Qatar)

i2c is a proud partner of the Qatar Tennis Federation. We filmed this exclusive, on-court session with a group of tennis coaches in Qatar on the 5Rs in the stroke production cycle. In part 3, Richard systematically summarises the 5Rs.

Follow the full sequence of the 5Rs of the stroke production cycle

Richard demonstrates how each element of the 5Rs is linked together and the importance of teaching any stroke using a logical sequence. Richard and coaches break down the process into 5 sections:

  • Ready position/condition (Ready)
  • Receiving Skills (Read)
  • Set up (React)
  • Follow through (Racket)
  • Recovery (Recover)

Download the handout: [download id=”560″]

Ready for more? Finish the series by visiting and Part 1 and Part 2 .

Conclusion – READY

Conclusion – READ

Conclusion – REACT

Conclusion – RACKET

Conclusion – RECOVERY

Conclusion of the 5Rs

5Rs of the stroke production cycle; part 2 – step-by-step through the 5Rs (filmed live in Qatar)

2c is a proud partner of the Qatar Tennis Federation. We filmed this exclusive, on-court session with a group of tennis coaches in Qatar on the 5Rs in the stroke production cycle. In part 2, we demonstrate the foundation of the stroke production cycle as a series of linked elements –  and the importance of teaching any stroke using a logical sequence.

Download the handout: [download id=”560″]

Finish the series by visiting and Part 1 and Part 3 .

Follow the full sequence of the 5Rs of the stroke production cycle

Ready position/condition (Ready)

See how the ready position is based around technique and how the ready condition is the mental state of the player before receiving the ball from the other end of the court. Players need to be both physically (ready position) and mentally (ready condition) ready to react to the incoming ball.

Receiving Skills (Read)

Richard discusses with the coaches the importance of reading your opponents movement, the ball characteristics of the incoming ball, positioning and shot selection. They also discuss just how early to anticipate and make decisions.

Set up (React)

The importance of reacting to the incoming ball and the set up in relation to receiving the incoming ball.

Follow through (Racket)

Here Richard and the coaches discuss the different phases of the stroke, from the take back to the contact point, and finally the follow through.

Recovery (Recover)

The importance of the recovery to finish the stroke production cycle and to be ready for the next incoming ball.