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Tennis Training - WARNING! |
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Written by Sergio Cruz
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Tennis Instruction and Training
Is hip injury a present danger in tennis?
The fact that Lleyton Hewitt has had hip surgery, does not come as a surprise because the list of illustrious players who have had it at a young age includes; Gustavo Kuerten, Magnus Norman and many others.
In Lleyton Hewitt’s case I noticed a technical change on his forehand from 2005 onward that surprised me a little and that is:
- Before 2005 Lleyton used to charge all his elastic energy on his his right foot on the forehand side and then release it by stretching and lifting that leg upwards into the shot.
- After 2005 or there about Lleyton started to just stay low, strike the ball in a low position throughout the shot (even recovering low) without elastic energy release.
This puzzled me and made me wonder if Lleyton was trying to copy what I had seen, Davidenko and a few Russian players and of recent Shara Peer and even Anna Jovanovic do?
This things a successful player might do and as anything (like the proverbial head sideways by Roger Federer) in tennis is often copied by other players and eagerly taught by lesser teachers that are bored on their jobs and try to bring “new” things to their clientele.
In this case, in my opinion, this just stay low technique is a dangerous thing, that can lead to serious injuries and I could argue in the long run to hip surgery!
As I do not have scientific proof, I will just go with what my eye sees and explain it to you:
- When we run toward a tennis ball (especially on a hard court) we generate enormous forces that can be translated in some cases into hundreds of kilos if not tons, depending on our speed, body mass and breaking. Allied to this are the rotational forces we create when we swing at the ball.
- In the first scenario we charge elastic energy on our forehand side on our right foot (this applies to the backhand side with the opposite foot) and then release it by stretching and lifting that leg upwards into the shot. As you can see in the picture all forces are being released into the ball. Excellent!
- Now lets look at the second scenario, we stop, we charge the elastic energy on our right or left side, but this time we stay in the crouched position through the shot and recover pretty much in the crouched position (keeping a very low centre of gravity).
- What happens here? By staying pretty much in the crouched position through your shot, all the forces you created with your running, the loading of elastic energy, the upper body torsion and forward swing are concentrated (full weight, may be tons of forces!) on your ankles, knees, hips, muscles and tendons.
- Do you think this can be damaging to your body, especially on hard-courts? I certainly think so*!
 
Can this be avoided? Yes!
- Before you play, always warm-up well till you break a sweat and then stretch.
- Release elastic energy and lift upward through all your shots.
- Play the minimum possible on hard courts (cement or any other hard court).
- When jogging or running avoid hard surfaces, such as, asphalt, cement, or very dry hard ground. Seek to run on grass or surfaces that are moist and relatively soft.
- Use proper running technique, do NOT pound on your heels or jaar your knees and hips.
- Cool down and stretch after your training.
*Read DISCLAIMER
Here is a forehand you might like to copy.
Here are other tennis video instruction lessons:
How to Hit an Easy Tennis Overhead-Smash!
How to hit the tennis backhand topspin
like a champion!
How to Hit a Great Low Tennis Backhand
Slice!
How to Master the Tennis High Backhand Topspin
How to hit an easy topspin tennis backhand?
How to hit a forehand and a backhand volley?
The Topspin Backhand with a Forward Step
How to Master the Tennis Topspin Low
Backhand?
How to hit a basic high forehand
topspin ground stroke?
The Tennis Overhead-smash footwork
Bjorn Borg - Roger Federer Tennis Forehand Comparision!
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