Developing Strokes: Power vs. Placement

Legend has it that Andre Agassi’s father taught his young son tennis by telling him to hit the ball as hard as he could to learn how to generate maximum power, then figure out how to get the ball in later. While this might be an exaggeration of the development of Agassi’s strokes, it is common knowledge his early development did emphasize power, rather than simply correct biomechanics.

By going for maximum power, young Andre learned how to use his hips, rotate his upper body, how to time his uncoil, how to accelerate his wrist, how to find the optimal contact point and other mechanics which contributed to maximal power.

One of the discussions tennis teachers have discussed for many years has been whether to develop tennis strokes using power and speed first, refining a player’s accuracy as they progress, or whether to develop a sound stroke at a slower pace first, then adding pace after the player has developed control over the stroke.

The conventional wisdom among most coaches is that for most players, the correct stroke should be learned first, with power added later. However, leaving power out of stroke development, even at early stages, may not be the best coaching technique for all of your players. A third option, which emphasizes practicing speed and power simultaneously, has been found to be the most successful approach in at least one study.

According to a study cited in the USTA’s Sport Science for Tennis newsletter in 1993, a study using three groups was conducted: the first group practiced the forehand during a five-week period emphasizing speed for the first 12 days, then accuracy the next 12 days; the second group reversed this order; the third group practiced both speed and accuracy simultaneously. After the five weeks of practice, the players were tested for both velocity and accuracy, and the results favored the method of practice used by the third group.

The conclusion from the study supports the fact that in a sport in which both speed and accuracy will be used simultaneously during competition, speed and accuracy should be practiced together. This follows the theme of our articles  — practice like you play or you will play like you practice.

Which Teaching Method Are You Using?
If you are using the method of teaching used by most American tennis teachers, or the Directed Method of teaching (whereby you tell the student what to do), developing the stroke at a slower pace may be more appropriate.

If you use the more correct Guided Discovery method of teaching (whereby the coach sets up problems for the player to solve), having your players practice accuracy and speed simultaneously will work better.

Ask your player to hit the ball as hard as he can to a particular target and give him several chances. If the player cannot control the shot, ask him why he thinks the ball is going long or wide. Ask him to analyze his footwork, lower body and upper body during the stroke, contact point, racquet face at contact and follow through. Helping your player solve problems after several tries, rather than giving technique instruction only, will lead to more permanent solutions.

New Stroke vs. Modified Stroke
If you are trying to add power to an existing stroke, realize that the stroke the player is currently using may not lend itself to optimal power. A conservative baseliner who hits with tremendous topspin may have a compact swing with a short backswing and follow through, as well as a more closed stance.You may have a recreational player who under-roates the upper body or who is still chopping at the ball because she’s afraid to take a full swing.

If your player is struggling as she tries to add power, ask her to try different techniques which they she feels will add power, rather than simply tensing her muscles, gripping the racquet tightly and swinging harder with the same stroke. For example, have her try to swing “fast,” rather than “hard,” with a goal of touching her opposite back shoulder at the end of the shot to help maintain racquet head speed.

You can also have players practice hitting hard from the service line into the back fence (turned around), so they don’t worry about where the ball land for the few minutes they are practicing a new stroke technique).

Add Fun to Practice
Letting kids loose to hit the ball as hard as they can is a great way to have fun, experiment and let your kids come out of their shells. Let kids practice huge forehands and ripping backhands in order to see how they react in a less pressure-filled environment. Kids might discover power they never knew they had or may see a stroke change they can make which will add more pace to their strokes.

There is no “muscle memory” that will allow a player to simply hit hundreds of balls as hard as she can and eventually develop control. You will have to be there to make sure that power is eventually practiced in the context of getting the ball in, and to a target area — just like the player will have to do in a match — and offer suggestions and solutions.

Remember, letting go a little and adding a power practice will add fun to your team workouts, let kids experiment and help your players find and develop the right balance between power and placement.