Net Notes: Put your tummy to the target

Body rotation, not stepping into the shot as most recreational level players think, is the most dynamic component of producing a powerful forehand or two handed backhand ground stroke in tennis.

A classic error I see everyday is a player moving to a ball reasonably well prepared, arriving in plenty of time to execute a good stroke and then stepping directly toward the sideline with the foot nearest the net.

That fundamental misunderstanding of the footwork pattern limits the hips and shoulders from turning aggressively toward the target and will produce injury, directional errors and severely limit the players ability to generate pace on their ground strokes.

Watch a golfer pivot and then turn their tummy toward the target on virtually every shot aside from short chip and putts.

Baseball batters actually keep their weight from shifting completely forward and purposefully stiffen their front leg to generate explosive body rotation and aggressively turn their belt buckle toward center field during the swing.

A boxer doesn’t deliver a knockout punch by stepping forward and throwing a jab, but by rotating explosively from a stable base while throwing an uppercut or a cross.

If your groundies lack the punch that your level of effort should seemingly produce look to your footwork as the source of the problem.

Tummy to the target is the true test of good footwork if you are looking to add some zip to your forehand or two handed backhand.

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Howie Burnett is a member of the United States Professional Tennis Association and tennis director at the Island Country Club on Marco Island. Burnett welcomes questions on strokes, tactics or etiquette. To reach him, call the tennis shop at 394-4464 or e-mail him at islandclubtennis@hotmail.com.