Thursday, July 10
The common advice "accelerate the racquet head" is not incorrect, but often leads players to focus on the wrong aspects of power generation. While a relaxed wrist can indeed contribute to greater racquet speed, most players do not lack speed; they lack efficiency.
Swinging harder without a solid foundation often results in more errors and less control. At a certain level, racquet head speed is already sufficient. The next evolution in a player’s game is learning to harness body weight and ground force to produce heavier, more penetrating shots.
This is where professionals distinguish themselves from advanced amateurs. Elite players generate rotational force from the ground up, transferring energy through the kinetic chain—legs, hips, torso, and arm—into the ball. This use of ground-up rotation, rather than upper body effort, creates controlled power.
As courts and balls slow down globally, this ability becomes even more vital. Pros continue to hit through the court not by swinging harder, but by using their bodies more efficiently.
Learning to rotate at the right time, and with the correct mechanics, is a subtle but essential skill. Developing rotational strength and timing early is key. A targeted combination of lower-body strength training and rotational drills lays the foundation for effortless, consistent power.
written by Nils Michel
