Tennis Tip - Stalking the Ball
Posted March 24, 2009 – 1:06 pm in: Pegasus Internet Training Program
Oscar Wegner
There are many tennis tips and exercises that Oscar teaches to his students and coaches. One of these tips that I like and that I find useful is “Stalking the Ball”. Another way of looking at it is , not taking your racket back too early. Your racket should always be comfortably in front of you and move with your shoulders as you get in position to hit the ball.
The greater the flexibility, the more shoulder turn you can get, therefore, getting more extension to hit through the ball. Avoid taking your racket back with your arm, but rather allowing the natural motion of the shoulder and hip turn to generate your backswing, then extending through the ball. By stalking it, you can time it so that you are balanced and in position to drive the ball with depth and power, something that cannot be achieved if you are taking the racket back or swinging with your arm. This should be a fluid motion, not an uncomfortable feeling.
This occurs when you rotate your shoulders towards the incoming ball, and using the tip of your racket, you “stalk” the ball and “wait” for it. This contradicts traditional tennis teaching methodologies, but the prove is in the pudding when you look carefully at some of the pictures that I have chosen to demonstrate this tip.
By not taking the racket back too early, you can time the ball better when you want to hit it out in front.
Oscar always preaches, “If you are going to learn, learn from the best! Learn from the Pros!”
2 Comments
Oscar is a bona fide genius.The best kept secret in tennis.Everything I have ever tried from him has worked.The good old U.S.needs to wake up and go with Oscars beutifully simple method.PS I have really enjoyed your website.It has really helped my conditioning just by visiting.
No doubt about it Oscar has years and years of experience and his passion for the game makes for one great Yoda like teacher! Thanks for visiting my website! Will have more great articles to come for years!