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TENNIS FALLACIES WATCH THE BALL Did you know there is a section in a player's swing when they shouldn't see the ball at all? We have all heard the phrase "watch the ball" myriad times when we first took tennis lessons. This is the most used yet meaningless decree in tennis! It clearly doesn't explain the actual process one must embrace in order to make good contact with the tennis ball every time. Check out the CONTACT POINT CONCEPT page for clarification. TURN STEP STROKE Most tennis pros will urge their students to "turn, step, and stroke." The problem with this is students learn something that is truly a bad habit. Turn Step Stroke does not happen at the professional level of tennis for good reason; it is inefficient, wastes energy, and doesn't help a player get into position. KEEP YOUR WRIST FIRM This is one of the worst instructions a tennis pro can give a student. It results in a rigid stroke where players dramatically increase the chance of injury to their wrists, elbows, and shoulders. I will always suggest to my students that they stay relaxed throughout the entire swing, especially their wrists! By relieving tension and promoting mechanically sound principles in a swing, I can help players enjoy tennis more, hit with less effort, and minimize injury. KEEP YOUR HEAD DOWN Many tennis pros use this meaningless phrase in encouraging students to not look up so quickly. The problem with this is most pros can't explain in detail why students should be keeping their heads down. It is far more accurate to tell a student to keep their eyes on the contact point. Where the eyes go the head follows; therefore, there is no real reason to implore a student to keep his or her head down!
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