Tennis!
FITNESS
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MATCHMAKERS Backhands, slices and top spins! DB-based tennis coach Richard Gordon shares his top tips with Rachel Sadler PHOTOS BY Richard Gordon & Stephane Fasbender
TO GET A SERVE LIKE FEDERER, you need to master the ball toss. This, paired with good timing, will promote consistency and allow you to determine the ball’s ‘flight path’ – the ball toss is a skill in itself. The arm movement should be relaxed and loose, and the power actually originates from the feet and moves up through the body – it’s all about ‘biomechanics.’ For a top spin, slice or flat ser ve, you need to adjust your arm movement.
RICHARD GORDON
SPEED, SUPPLENESS AND STAMINA are all impor tant skills in
tennis. The ball can move ver y fast, par ticularly now with the new racket technology. You need good ball-eye coordination – the ability to track a fast-moving ball and react quickly to it is key. Stretching out for a wide backhand requires players to be supple. In long matches, the player with the most stamina is of ten the winner.
TO IMPROVE YOUR BACKHAND, practice, practice, practice! Backhands, whether single or double handed, star t slightly below the ball – you should hit and then follow through af ter the ball, with the racket head finishing above shoulder height. Hitting the ball out in front of the body and having good timing are all key skills to master. Once the basic are in place you then can add spin and slice. CORE STRENGTH IS ESSENTIAL because the core is used to stabilise, increase momentum and provide power. This can be seen in an explosive forehand – the shot starts with the feet, the power travels up through the body to the core where torque is added, and then the power is released out through the shoulders and arms and into to the racket swing. You can strengthen core muscles in the gym and incorporate lunge exercises to make sure you are quick on your feet. AROUND DB / AUGUST 2021
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