I teach at a local parks/recreation facility (many beginners and youngsters) and volunteer as coach for the local high school team. I use something very similar in my warm up routine:
1. Dribble up f/h & b/h w/o spin 2. Dribble down f/h 3. Pancakes (alternating f/h, b/h) 4 Talladega-we’re located just a few miles from the track-rolling the ball around the perimeter of the frame 5. Soft catch (player drops the ball from shoulder height then catches it on the racquet w/o a bounce 6. Then I add spin to Dribble up as you have done.
This usually takes a longer time to master than the previous drills, so I assign it as homework.
I have found that the players who practice at home progress much faster than those who don’t (unbelievable, isn’t it?)
As always, I thoroughly enjoyed this drill. Keep up the good work!!!
Great insight.
Skipping the ball on the racket with the continental grip – Are you moving the racket tightly with your grip/wrist or loosely such that the racket is wiggling horizontally in your palm. Old dogs and new tricks are almost incompatible!!!
As usual, this is excellent stuff. I especially like creating spin with the backhand/palm down motion because I had not thought of it. I think one of the keys to utilizing underspin on returns and groundstrokes is hitting with enough forward racket motion rather than downward because the the racket height is already considered to be above the height of the oncoming ball. Thank you very much!
I have like many coaches have had trouble teaching the continental grip with some students.
Looking forward to trying this idea.Thanks for the help,always great value.
I like the idea of chocking up the grip to make it easier. I have them doing the following progressions that works really well.
They hold the racquet like as if they are hammering a nail and they have to hit the cone dead on so it doesn’t fall. Once they get that. I introduce slowly that they have to toss a and then hit it square on and then catch the ball. If they don’t have the proper grip, the balls tend to go flying. After a few more progressions we play a game called chop sticks. You bounce around your ball like a hammer while trying to knock away other player’s balls while maintaining control of your ball. It’s a lot of fun. Tons of games depending on their skill level,
Another fun game ender we do is we have people in a line in the doubles line. Someone has to try to navigate a ball inside the doubles while avoiding the bouncing balls from the other players.
It could be several things, the one thing for sure is that at her point of contact, her racket face angle to pointing too low… One possible thing that might help is to have her aim much higher over the net.
Great drill for my high school girls’ team to introduce the continental grip concept. At the high school level do you recommend having the players choke up on their racquet handles as they begin to learn the movements or was that only for teaching this to children? Thanks so much.
I teach at a local parks/recreation facility (many beginners and youngsters) and volunteer as coach for the local high school team. I use something very similar in my warm up routine:
1. Dribble up f/h & b/h w/o spin 2. Dribble down f/h 3. Pancakes (alternating f/h, b/h) 4 Talladega-we’re located just a few miles from the track-rolling the ball around the perimeter of the frame 5. Soft catch (player drops the ball from shoulder height then catches it on the racquet w/o a bounce 6. Then I add spin to Dribble up as you have done.
This usually takes a longer time to master than the previous drills, so I assign it as homework.
I have found that the players who practice at home progress much faster than those who don’t (unbelievable, isn’t it?)
As always, I thoroughly enjoyed this drill. Keep up the good work!!!
Thanks Gene
Great insight.
Skipping the ball on the racket with the continental grip – Are you moving the racket tightly with your grip/wrist or loosely such that the racket is wiggling horizontally in your palm. Old dogs and new tricks are almost incompatible!!!
I do it and recommend to do it with a LOOSE grip.
Just finished my coaching season but will remember this for next year! Thank you!!
Love the progression! Thank you!
hello jorge
definitely wonderful exercise.
will implement for daughter
thakns
It always the simple ideas that can have a big impact with the students. Thank you Jorge
I like it. It ‘s always good to have another tool.
Jorge,
As usual, this is excellent stuff. I especially like creating spin with the backhand/palm down motion because I had not thought of it. I think one of the keys to utilizing underspin on returns and groundstrokes is hitting with enough forward racket motion rather than downward because the the racket height is already considered to be above the height of the oncoming ball. Thank you very much!
You are welcome Frank.
GREAT primer for learning the continental!!
Perfect!!!!
Great exercise. Thank you.
I have like many coaches have had trouble teaching the continental grip with some students.
Looking forward to trying this idea.Thanks for the help,always great value.
I like the idea of chocking up the grip to make it easier. I have them doing the following progressions that works really well.
They hold the racquet like as if they are hammering a nail and they have to hit the cone dead on so it doesn’t fall. Once they get that. I introduce slowly that they have to toss a and then hit it square on and then catch the ball. If they don’t have the proper grip, the balls tend to go flying. After a few more progressions we play a game called chop sticks. You bounce around your ball like a hammer while trying to knock away other player’s balls while maintaining control of your ball. It’s a lot of fun. Tons of games depending on their skill level,
Another fun game ender we do is we have people in a line in the doubles line. Someone has to try to navigate a ball inside the doubles while avoiding the bouncing balls from the other players.
Keep up the good work!
Thanks coach Sean
Hi Jorge will try it with my students tomorrow will let you know how it went.Thanks again .
Regards Darren Willmot
awesome, I hope it works well
Great stuff Later on we’ll use the chop motion for starting the spin serve. It’s the “skipping stones” drill.
Thanks Mark
my daughter keeps hitting the ball in the net,is she not following through on her groundies ?
It could be several things, the one thing for sure is that at her point of contact, her racket face angle to pointing too low… One possible thing that might help is to have her aim much higher over the net.
Great drill for my high school girls’ team to introduce the continental grip concept. At the high school level do you recommend having the players choke up on their racquet handles as they begin to learn the movements or was that only for teaching this to children? Thanks so much.
Yes, it helps a lot to choke up especially when they first try the drill.
Always great!!
Thanks!!
Great little teaching method for the grip especially showing them the spin on the ball
Always good stuff, Jorge
Thanks Bill