Shanking like crazy & can't swing through

[ssonosk]

recently i've been shanking the ball a lot, and i don't really have control over where the ball makes contact on my racquet anymore. It's like i can't see the ball well enough mentally. I've also been having trouble swinging through the ball. I think they have something to do with each other; I'm thinking since i'm having trouble seeing the ball i hesitate to swing through it.


Extra info: I'm working on: my take back, my swing rotation, shoulder turn, and footwork.


Please and thank you for help.

 

[gregor.b]

recently i've been shanking the ball a lot, and i don't really have control over where the ball makes contact on my racquet anymore. It's like i can't see the ball well enough mentally. I've also been having trouble swinging through the ball. I think they have something to do with each other; I'm thinking since i'm having trouble seeing the ball i hesitate to swing through it.


Extra info: I'm working on: my take back, my swing rotation, shoulder turn, and footwork.


Please and thank you for help.

Well,there is your problem. As you improve,there is a 1% rule. Try to improve 1 thing (that's the 1%) at a time. That way you don't lose all confidence and you can improve small areas at a time. If you try and fix everything in 1 go,you gonna have a whole lotta heart ache. You don't see the ball because your mind is focusing on too many other things. Try it,you'll like it.

 

[in_ten_city]

A great tip i just got a few weeks ago that helped me immensely is not to stare at the ball, but rather just a quarter of the ball. Pretending the ball is in 4 pieces, upper/inside, upper/outside, lower/inside, lower/outside, you can now automatically get directional control without changing your swing motion. So for a crosscourt topspin groundstroke you would want to stare/aim for the lower half and outside edge of the ball. Hope this helps.

 

[in_ten_city]

Also, watch close up of the pros after the ball has already left their strings, they are still just staring at the contact point, never moving the eyes or their head until the ball is way past gone. Practice hitting some sitters not moving your head or eyes off the contact point.

 

[LeeD]

Practice more.
You're trying to employ too many new things at once, and you forget the old habits of POSTURE, get sideways, set early with racket back thru shoulder turn, and hit thru the ball.

 

[Playnice]

Modern Tennis Methodology Suggestions

Regarding seeing the ball, just look at it lazily until it gets close to you, then focus. You can try looking at the ball through your strings, which will also have the effect of making you track the ball with the racket out in front more BEFORE you take it back. Wait for the bounce and watch the ball all the way to the strings to remove any tendency to look up to your intended target (as in golf). Don't swing through the ball, this actually impedes the stroke; instead hit up and across with a consistent and full finish over your shoulder. The ball is not directed by hitting through the ball, but by the angle of your hand. Don't take the racket back too early and don't worry about your rotation and shoulder turn, that comes naturally when you concentrate on waiting and a full finish. And, don't even think about your feet. These are intentional exaggerations in technique to help you get a better feel for what seems uniquely natural to you.

 

[Playnice]

Practice more.
You're trying to employ too many new things at once, and you forget the old habits of POSTURE, get sideways, set early with racket back thru shoulder turn, and hit thru the ball.

and don't get sideways, unless you have a 1hbh! LOL

 

[prgault]

Haven't read through the thread so forgive me if this is repetitious... I went through a spell like this off and on a few months back, after seeing some slow motion video of Federer I set a goal of keeping my head still and on the ball on every shot. In practice I even exaggerated it by holding it there a for a couple of extra beats. I also used the old golf advice of worrying about making a good swing swing (stroke) rather than looking up to see the outcome of the shot. While I still very occasionally look/pull up on a shot, this has really helped cut down mishits tremendously. BTW, the same thing has helped me become more consistent on serves and overheads as well..


P_

 

[thug the bunny]

There's seeing the ball, and then there's seeing the ball. Strive for the latter. Don't focus on takeback, footwork, or anything else other than that. You will know you are seeing the ball when it looks bigger than a grapefruit and like it's moving in slow motion.

 

[sureshs]

and don't get sideways, unless you have a 1hbh! LOL

Pros are partially sideways most of the time on the forehand, in a semi-open stance, with their right leg behind the left, and then they rotate over into the shot. Shots hit with body strictly parallel to baseline are rare, and usually done when there is no time. Such shots don't have much power as there is no opportunity to create rotational momentum.

 

[gmatheis]

There's seeing the ball, and then there's seeing the ball. Strive for the latter. Don't focus on takeback, footwork, or anything else other than that. You will know you are seeing the ball when it looks bigger than a grapefruit and like it's moving in slow motion.

I think this is the best advice for anyone mishitting the ball often.

Just because the ball is in your field of vision does not mean you are really looking AT it. You have to really focus on the ball right through the shot .. and if you are doing that you should almost never mishit a ball.

 

[salsainglesa]

well, if you are shanking too much you are not hiting in the correct angle... or better said, you are not swinging in the correct angle depending on the trajectory of the ball...

 

[BevelDevil]

Are you shanking at the top or bottom of the rackethead? ("top" meaning the part closest to the sky, "bottom" being the part closest to the court?)

Without having more info, my guess is shank + not_hitting_through = yanking up the racket right before contact. Solution here is having a more natural followthough.


More info is needed though. What type of swing are you trying to emulate? Are you trying to windshield wiper? What grip are you using?

 

[Chyeaah]

$100 says that your not looking at the ball.

When people say look at the ball, you trace it all the way to your racquet and after ball leaves your string follow the ball back. Get markers and draw coloured dots on them and call out the dots every time you hit. (A dot on each side and call out one that you see)

 

[BevelDevil]

Yes, seeing the ball well is always good, but...

The thing is that many/most players don't see the ball onto their strings (including many pros) and they manage to get by. So this leads me to believe there's a mechanical problem with his stroke.