TennisOne Lessons

The Correct Use of the Legs

by
Dennis Van der Meer
President of the U.S.P.T.R. and
Van der Meer TennisUniversity

Beginners tend to lock their legs (left), they should learn to bend their knees.

When I am at tournament sites or visiting club pros, I listen very carefully to the comments the various coaches and teaching pros make to their players. I have noticed that those who are  inexperienced use the all encompassing phrase, “stay down,” for almost every problem that arises on the court. 

For instance, they say, “Stay down,” when the player is late in getting set up for the hit or does not send the racket through the ball, or pulls off the ball too early. But the worst feature of this phrase infers that the player should stay down with bent knees and all the ground strokes will be perfect! Unfortunately different mistakes need different instruction, but most of all, “staying down” on all your ground strokes could make for a very inefficient player.

Players who lift the chest as they hit the ball should practice staying down.

Bending the Knees

The bending of the knees and then straightening of the knees should be done selectively, depending on the type of stroke the player is attempting to play. The only players who should bend their knees on every shot are beginners. Beginners are so unsure of their strokes that they tend to stiffen their knees on every shot. For them the generic phrase “stay down” is quite appropriate until they start hitting with more pace and confidence. 

Play punch volleys with bent knees, drive volleys with knees rising.

When players are more experienced, they should know when to play with bent knees and when to straighten them. 

Lifting the Chest

Some players play their forehand extremely well, but when a pressure shot comes, they tend to lift their chest, which makes for a very ineffective shot. Players who do this should be reminded to “stay down,” and they will find their strokes are much more effective.  

On power drives advanced players bend the knees, get the racket below the ball and then straighten the knees as  they push off against the ground.

Playing the Slice

“Staying down” throughout the stroke is appropriate for playing slices, rallying a ball that is below the height of the net, or hitting the ball while on the run. These strokes are best made when the knees are bent throughout the stroke.   

The Volley 

On the volley many players play with straight knees. This is not as effective as using the bending of your knees to make a more effective stroke. However, when the player chooses to hit a drive volley, then the knees start out being bent and then rise upwards through the hit.

Ground Strokes

Ground strokes played with power need a different technique. To generate enough power, the racket should be below the height of the ball; the knees should be bent. As the player pushes off the ground, the straightening of the knees helps greatly for the stroke to become more powerful and yet controlled.

Modern Players

Modern players who are playing at a high level get so much push off the ground reaction that it is not uncommon to see them leave the ground with both feet. It really would be a disservice to tell these players to “stay down.”

The moral, therefore, is for the coach or teaching pro to choose which advice is appropriate for each situation and only use the words “stay down” when it fits the circumstances.

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Dennis Van der Meer, voted U.S. Olympic Development Coach of the Year, has taught more people to play and teach tennis than anyone in the history of the game. From legendary world champions Billie Jean King and Margaret Court, who received coaching from Dennis during their careers, he continues to help develop the games of many ATP players, WTA players and up-and-coming young players at the Van Der Meer World Class Tennis Academy located on beautiful Hilton Head Island, South Carolina, USA.

Dennis Van der Meer and his staff can be reached in the USA by phoning 1-800-845-6138 or faxing (843) 785-7032. From outside the United States, dial 001-843-785-8388 and fax 001-843-785-7032.

Send E-Mail to tennis@vandermeertennis.com or stop by the web site: www.vandermeertennis.com