EASI Tennis Article III

[Bungalo Bill]

Courtesy of EASI

Ideal Racquet Motion

In every groundstroke, in order to strike the ball, the racquet must be advanced from a position in which the racquet butt is pointing toward the ball to where the racquet face is perpendicular to the path of the ball. Below is an animation of the ideal movement to advance the racquet from the contract to the strike position regardless of your grip.

{sorry couldnt get the animation in here} This movement is ideal because the butt of the racquet remains on a straight-line path as the racquet is pulled forward (by the butt), and the head of the racquet is rotated forward into the path of the ball.

However, moving the butt along a perfectly straight line is impossible; thus we use the term ideal.


During the rotate stage, the butt may vary from a straight line due to the combined movements of the body and arm. However, during the acceleration stage, a straight-line movement of the butt during upper arm rotation is nearly achievable. The degree to which you achieve this ideal motion will determine, to a great extent, how cleanly you strike the ball.

One reason that this motion is so effective is that our brains can keep track of the racquet progress relative to the ball better than for any other motion. The straight-line movement of the butt in conjunction with the racquet head rotation is also very stable.

It is possible that this motion was what Chris Evert was referring to when she said that one must swing the racquet with a "quiet" racquet head.

[Geezer Guy]

That sounds like a good description of the classic take-back-early--pause--swing-straight-through (or swing low-to-high) motion. Do you think that applies to the newer "loop" motion - especially from an open stance?

[Bungalo Bill]

That sounds like a good description of the classic take-back-early--pause--swing-straight-through (or swing low-to-high) motion. Do you think that applies to the newer "loop" motion - especially from an open stance?

I think it does from the standpoint that at some time the player is going to have to "straighten" the swing path between two points in time which is usually about 6 inches before and 6 inches after they hit the ball. What happens prior to that is usually preference. Some players are stronger then others and can loop their backswings bigger but still bring the the racquet in a straighter line between the two points above then others. The key is can you control that short time with your loop.

[steve s]

Interesting. So you pull the butt toward the ball at the start of the stoke. I'll have to give it a try.

[fastdunn]

That sounds like a good description of the classic take-back-early--pause--swing-straight-through (or swing low-to-high) motion. Do you think that applies to the newer "loop" motion - especially from an open stance?

I did not read it that way. I read it as you can have very different swings that work
as long as you have fundamentals that you must have.

[fastdunn]

Courtesy of EASI

Ideal Racquet Motion

In every groundstroke, in order to strike the ball, the racquet must be advanced from a position in which the racquet butt is pointing toward the ball to where the racquet face is perpendicular to the path of the ball. Below is an animation of the ideal movement to advance the racquet from the contract to the strike position regardless of your grip.

{sorry couldnt get the animation in here} This movement is ideal because the butt of the racquet remains on a straight-line path as the racquet is pulled forward (by the butt), and the head of the racquet is rotated forward into the path of the ball.

However, moving the butt along a perfectly straight line is impossible; thus we use the term ideal.


During the rotate stage, the butt may vary from a straight line due to the combined movements of the body and arm. However, during the acceleration stage, a straight-line movement of the butt during upper arm rotation is nearly achievable. The degree to which you achieve this ideal motion will determine, to a great extent, how cleanly you strike the ball.

One reason that this motion is so effective is that our brains can keep track of the racquet progress relative to the ball better than for any other motion. The straight-line movement of the butt in conjunction with the racquet head rotation is also very stable.

It is possible that this motion was what Chris Evert was referring to when she said that one must swing the racquet with a "quiet" racquet head.

Some of articles BB posted really address things I always wondered but most coaches do
really have answers to.

One of those things is, for example, how directions of forces for incoming balls, raquet
and my arm should be aligned for optimal clean hit.
if I have this digram of optimal alignments of these vectors, I don't really have to
have concerns about things like what back-swing, what swing path, follow thru or even
what wrist and elbow poistions...

In the advent of very different modern swings, I feel lile I need to think about really
smaller (lower level, I may say?) core fundamentals,....

[papa]

Some of articles BB posted really address things I always wondered but most coaches do
really have answers to.

One of those things is, for example, how directions of forces for incoming balls, raquet
and my arm should be aligned for optimal clean hit.
if I have this digram of optimal alignments of these vectors, I don't really have to
have concerns about things like what back-swing, what swing path, follow thru or even
what wrist and elbow poistions...

In the advent of very different modern swings, I feel lile I need to think about really
smaller (lower level, I may say?) core fundamentals,....

Well my friend, if you intend to improve or advance to any significant level playing this game, you better pay close attention to the things you mentioned.

Without knocking coaches, let alone a particular coach, I think its fair to say that the advice provided by BB in particular but also several others, is rock solid and you can take that to the bank. You might not understand the advice on occasion but thats a different situation. Stay tuned and learn, thats what this game is all about.

[fastdunn]

Well, I did have a typo in my previous post. I meant
"Some of articles BB posted really address things I always wondered but most coaches do
NOT really have answers to"

[Bungalo Bill]

Well, I did have a typo in my previous post. I meant
"Some of articles BB posted really address things I always wondered but most coaches do
NOT really have answers to"

I understood what you meant. Did you contact EASI about the vision thing you asked me? I would be curious to learn more and what you found.