Best way to get more power

[mwitiiram]

I've got fluid, consistent strokes on botw wings, but they lack alot of pace. Whenever I try to swing more, I lose control. I also realize that power isn't just swinging hard, its legs etc, but when I think of that I start to think of too many things. I'm looking to become more aggressive in my match play, but without controllable pace, thats difficult. Tips?

[lilminihorse]

this old guy (bout mid 60s) came and sat with me at the club the other day and just started rambling and being pissed at life.. he said "people are always wondering how to get more power, I just say swing harder!!"

so from the words of a delusional old man..

Swing harder

[Vermillion]

if you have fluid, consistent strokes and no power, that may be the problem. you might have what is commonly known as.... (forgive me), "Pushers' strokes"

That, or just some problems with the timing. good luck

[vndesu]

you need the proper usage of your body movement.

[quicken]

Increase your racquet head speed to increase your power. Increase the accuracy of your shots by putting more topspin in. Bend the legs to increase the impact of the kinetic chain. Lead in with your buttcaps leading the stroke to increase racquet head speed. Make sure you coil up by making sure that your left shoulder is touching your chin when you unit turn.

[JayxTheKoolest]

footwork, use your legs more.

[rosewall4ever]

loosen up in your shots to generate racquet speed...May sound weird but my martial arts master says that 'power begins from the ground up' - this can equally be applied in tennis IMHO

[boojay]

if you have fluid, consistent strokes and no power, that may be the problem. you might have what is commonly known as.... (forgive me), "Pushers' strokes"

That, or just some problems with the timing. good luck

You know, I've never met a pusher with fluid strokes. I would think the idea of fluidity is analogous to fast and effortless racquet head speeds.

The most important concept to grasp in order to gain more power is not to swing harder, but to swing faster, contrary to what another poster above had mentioned.

[Seifersquall1]

I've got fluid, consistent strokes on botw wings, but they lack alot of pace. Whenever I try to swing more, I lose control. I also realize that power isn't just swinging hard, its legs etc, but when I think of that I start to think of too many things. I'm looking to become more aggressive in my match play, but without controllable pace, thats difficult. Tips?
Lower your string tension. Gain more racquet head speed. Try to add lead tape to your racquet.

[Vermillion]

You know, I've never met a pusher with fluid strokes. I would think the idea of fluidity is analogous to fast and effortless racquet head speeds.

The most important concept to grasp in order to gain more power is not to swing harder, but to swing faster, contrary to what another poster above had mentioned.

ah, did you get my subtle "hint"?

[Ash_Smith]

More racquet speed = More power

More racquet speed comre from recruiting more body parts (in the correct order). Build from the ground up - legs, hips, torso, shoulders and finally arm. Most players try to 'arm' the ball more when they try to hit harder and therefore lose technique and control. Remember the muscles in your arm are tiny compared to those in the legs, abs/back and shoulders - don't use small muscles to do big work!

[WildVolley]

The best advice I can give is to reassess your technique. Get a video camera or someone to film you. The modern forehand with the full unit turn, pull at the start of the forward swing, laid-back wrist and double-bend at impact will help you generate racquet head speed and power.

One of my brothers has smooth old-school strokes that move like a swinging gate. Meaning, no racquet head speed and no power. I'm guessing your game has the same problem. Good luck.

[Off The Wall]

Simply move through your shot by stepping into your shot and then pulling your lagging leg up even with the lead foot.

Just adding racket head speed requires more racket control. Stepping does not. As your skills increase, you will be able to control an increase in racket head speed.

[1012007]

Keep your head steady and generally smack the **** out of the ball and the power will come. As long as you keep looking at the ball you'll be fine

[cadfael_tex]

Don't worry about power, worry about your stroke. There are a lot of truisms here - racquet speed = power, topspin to make it more controllable, and the body/legs are where power comes from. The one thing you don't want to do it just use your arm and swing harder. The caveat with all this is that none of us have seen your strokes and can give you specific, technical advice.

[iamtennisking]

dont muscle the ball, swing through very fast, its all about racquet head speed, just wip through the ball..it hardly takes any energy and you still get a great pace but with more power and you can keep up the pace because its not as demanding physically on your arm as muscling the ball.

[tbini87]

I've got fluid, consistent strokes on botw wings, but they lack alot of pace. Whenever I try to swing more, I lose control. I also realize that power isn't just swinging hard, its legs etc, but when I think of that I start to think of too many things. I'm looking to become more aggressive in my match play, but without controllable pace, thats difficult. Tips?

how long have you been playing? how much topspin do you use with your forehand? i wouldn't dwell on power if you are relatively knew to the game. i would say learn to hit with proper strokes, a good amount of topspin, and a lot or margin for error. as you advance your tennis skills, you will be able to swing faster AND be able to control it.

also, don't go for winners from the baseline. from the baseline you want to focus on solid, deep strokes. once your opponent leaves a short ball (something that really sits up or something around the service line) you can come in and really try to punish it.

[moxio]

You might be accelerating your racket at the wrong time, which would result in a less-than-expected shot.

[GeorgeLucas]

Two things = power - swing speed and contact... Swing speed comes naturally as a result of good technique. Think about how a "fast" swing was for you when you just started. It probably felt rushed and awkward. Just as now, you can swing faster comfortably, with better technique, you can swing faster and in control. Oh, and a huge part of power comes from hitting the ball on the sweetspot so please don't forget about that =(

[Determined]

Honestly if you have fluid strokes I would think that power would come naturally. If you are really that fluid it's just basically about swinging faster but keeping the perfect technique that I suppose you already have.

[Nellie]

Force = Mass* Acceleration

As mentioned above, you need to do one of two things, swing harder/ swing faster

I find that it does not help to swing really hard. Most already swing about hard as they can without missing shots.

Things that may help:

1) swing faster by working on speed (swing as fast as you can to build up your arm stregth)

2) swing stronger by getting stronger, lefting weights

3) use a heavier racquet and swing the same

[fuzz nation]

Think about the brief jabs that some players take at the ball to knock it back. If you tried to speed that "flail" of a shot up, it would be pretty hopeless, right?

More racquet head speed can come from taking a longer stroke - it gives you a longer progression to accelerate the racquet under control. This idea of better technique that some of our pals are eluding to basically requires your moving to the ball more quickly and starting your swing earlier. If you can get yourself set up at the hitting zone farther ahead of the ball's arrival and start a long, full swing nice and early, you effectively create more time to hit a bigger stroke under control.

To advance your timing, play and practice with a new urgency to move as early and as quickly as you can to the hitting zone. That first step and partial turn can't happen early enough. Once you get used to moving and setting up more efficiently, you can take a bigger stroke that is unrushed because your timing will be farther ahead of the ball. Rush your setup, not your stroke.

[ho]

best way to increase power? it's $. Subcribe hitech-tennis.com to learn the PULL or easytennis.com to learn the PUSH.

[LCorreia]

just swing faster :D

[TOS]

A lot of good tips I will try tomorrow during my match. Two things that work for me to add pace are to loosen my grip quite a bit while leading with the butt of my racket, and do this while hitting the ball on the rise.

[Koaske]

This has been said already but I will say it again because it can't be over-emphasized: when you want to hit with more power, you must use topspin to maintain control. A perfectly flat shot with a speed of 80 mph or so can't land within the boundaries of the court( unless hit from a high position and close to the net).

[Bud]

You might be accelerating your racket at the wrong time, which would result in a less-than-expected shot.

This was my guess. Wait a split second longer to swing... and try to contact the ball in the same location you were previously. This will force you to pull the racquet head around faster to hit the ball in the same location.