Fastest way to get your strokes back?

[Tennissiz]

Anyone have any advice on the best drills/ methods to get your rhythm back after taking a bit of time off from playing? I had been working on getting more spin on my serves (kick and slice) and a modern forehand for about six months. Both strokes had been feeling good technically and had even held up well under the pressure of tournament play. Now after taking a 3 week hiatus I feel like they are back to almost the same as six months ago. Is it really that easy to lose "muscle memory" and regress back to older habits?

[naturalgut]

I had the same problem after three months recovering from a shoulder injury. One of the best ways to regroove your groundstrokes is to hit a lot of balls against a wall while focussing on your technique before hitting with someone. To 'find' my serve again I practised half an hour of serving a day while recording it with a camera and reviewing my technique by watching replays of my serves. Apart from general fitness, I thought that my groundstrokes and serving was almost back to the same level I had before the injury after a week of training.

[Swissv2]

Best way is to do an easy warmup with a partner hitting it rallying back and forth exactly to him/her (down the line). Try to hit 2/3 to very deep on the back courte with solid hits on forehand and backhand. Maintain your hitting as long as you can. Pay attention to your contact point.

For the serve, keep it relaxed - no bombs on the first couple of serves. Just get it in with minimal effort. Breath a bit, then do your normal routine.

GL getting back into form.

[Tennissiz]

Sorry, double post.

[Tennissiz]

Thanks for those suggestions. I agree the video is a great learning tool and taking it easy hitting lots of balls focusing on technique is definitely going to help. Maybe this thread belongs more in Rant and Raves since I really am just venting frustration at losing the progress I had made.

I pretty much did an extreme makeover on both my serve and forehand. This included grip, swing path, as well as use of kinetic chain, to help increase racket head speed to achieve more spin and pace. I had incorporated these changes to the point I could consistently execute these changes automatically and I could just concentrate on whether the stroke felt good.

Now, I am back to thinking about everything and find I am slipping in and out of my new and old ways. I know more practice is the answer but I have to play in a team tournament event this weekend and I am expected to be one of the stronger players. I know it's all just for fun but it's a lot more fun when you aren't struggling and it's more effortless.

Anyone who can share their experience to provide encouragement and/or a "quick fix" would be greatly appreciated!

[looseswing]

I would try starting off hitting short court and then moving farther and farther back as you feel more confident. Concentrate on your strokes and spin, and this way by the time you reach the baseline you will feel competely in tune with your strokes.