Want to hit the ball further? Sure. And there are plenty of cyber coaches out there to help you.
A common piece of advice given to get that extra distance is to ‘transfer your weight to your left foot as you hit the ball’.
Now all this makes good sense. Transferring your weight on the downswing has the effect of speeding up hip and shoulder rotation.
But is this really good advice?
Let’s take the example of teaching a beginner to do a long serve.
Traditionally, the coach tells the beginner about the biomechanics of the stroke. They tell them to focus on the relevant body and arm movements – where to face, how to turn, how to coordinate their shoulder, arm, wrist and racquet.
The aim of this detailed instruction is to ensure the player develops good technique – the foundation on which progress is built.
But even though this is the standard way of doing things, just how effective is it?
Whatever the sport or physical activity coaches always want their young charges to go faster, further or higher. But how?
Let’s take swimming for example. Say we’ve got two swimming coaches teaching freestyle. One tells their future champions they should focus on ‘pulling their hands back’. The other says they should focus on “pushing the water back”.
So does it matter? After all, they’re both saying pretty much the same thing.
Like to sink more putts? Sure. But how?
Well, let’s get some advice from the touring professionals. After all, their living depends on it so they should know.
Jordan Spieth (winner US PGA, US Open, British Open) tells us to keep staring at the hole when we putt. Padraig Harrington (winner US Open 2007, 2008, US PGA) tells us to track the ball on its way to the hole. Dave Stockton (winner US PGA 1970, 1976) tells us to keep our focus on a spot in front of the ball.
You’re standing on the tee, staring down the fairway. It’s possible you’re only thinking about one thing. Perhaps two. How do you launch your ball into orbit? And how do you outdrive your golfing companions?
Luckily, research tells us the secret to getting those extra yards. It’s the X-factor stretch. It’s when you further increase the rotational difference between your hips and shoulders on the early downswing.
But there’s just one problem.
Is it possible to learn to serve without swinging a racquet? Sounds ridiculous. But is it?
Let’s look a study that explored at this very question. Some researchers recruited undergraduate students with no previous tennis experience.[1] First up, the students were given traditional instruction where the coach described and demonstrated how to serve. The students were told about such things as the correct grip, stance, biomechanics of the swing and the transfer of weight.
You battle your regular tennis rival every week. The problem is they’ve always got the upper hand. Wouldn’t it be good if you could get an edge? Something like know where your opponent’s shot is going – all before they hit it.
Is it possible? And if so, how?
Well, a good starting point would be to see what the professionals say.
A combination of the Covid19 virus, ensuing lockdowns and the Netflix hit series, The Queen’s Gambit[1] has led to an upsurge of interest in chess. Would-be grandmasters have been glued to their computers playing opponents half a world away.
But why am I telling you this? It’s because chess has a lot to tell us about playing tennis.
In Part 1, we learnt about Samantha doing the seemingly impossible by learning two skills at once. Somehow, after practising a topspin backhand, she could then hit a more difficult topspin forehand which she couldn’t previously do. And all without further instruction or practice.
Can you really learn two skills at once? It might sound impossible but the answer is yes. And to show you, we’ll look at someone learning to play table tennis. We’ll then move on to how you too can learn two skills at once in all sorts of endeavours, not just sport.