Talking about tennis technique in my blog, I will start focusing on non-dominant arm action. It is unreasonably neglected thing while teaching this sport and at the same time something that can distinct intermediate player from a beginner and advanced player from an intermediate! Non-dominant arm for right-handers is the left arm and vice versa. There is a precise role for non-dominant hand and the reason for that role explained in the following text, supported by videos. Let’s start with a forehand.
FOREHAND:
- Non-dominant hand helps with the unit turn (holding the neck of the racket is a good choice)
IT WILL MAINTAIN THE UNIFORM BACKSWING AND WILL HELP DOMINANT ARM TO RELAX BEFORE THE HIT
2. The extended non-dominant arm comes to a parallel position with the baseline
IT PREVENTS THE UPPER BODY FROM OPENING BEFORE TIME – GOOD BASIS FOR GENERATING MORE POWER! IN THAT STAGE IT ALSO HELPS A PLAYER WITH MORE PRECISE SPACING!
3. It starts going back together with the dominant hand during follow through, they move in the synchronized way, with the same pace and well balanced.
IT IS VERY IMPORTANT THAT THE NON-DOMINANT HAND DOESN’T INTERFERE WITH THE DOMINANT HAND, SO THE PLAYER CAN MAINTAIN THE FREE FLOW OF A RACKET WHILE ROTATING THE UPPER BODY!
4. At the end of the deceleration part, the non-dominant hand is finally back on its natural side of the body, but around the shoulder level. The usual ending is catching a racket, but it is not necessary, especially if the shot is very powerful.
In the second video, we can see a big discrepancy and disbalance in non-dominant arm motion. Unit turn is complete but after that the left hand starts moving way too soon and not all the way, interfering with the right arm and upper body rotation.
There are a certain harmony and balance between both arms that need to be followed in an order to hit an efficient and effortless shot. It seems like there is some similarity between balancing arms in tennis and surfing. Think about that…
Vlad Paunic Tennis Blog 