On Forcing the Pace (Part-2)
The person who begins killing the ball early puts more balls in the net and out of court. This fault is common more with beginners and average tennis players. A first class player tries all his strokes before he feels that he is ready to play. When he is warmed up and has control over his ball he begins to hit harder.
To have your strokes in working order you should have confidence in them. Many have off days, due to lack of confidence, and lack of confidence will be bred by mistakes in hitting early in the game. A player cannot start in from the beginning and expect to make perfect returns. Then they become angry and lose control over the ball because they start forcing the play too soon and this gives their opponents the advantage.
Do not work with the arm and elbow too close to the body. Try to keep them well away. It prevents you from getting a free stroke and hampers your follow through. If your elbow comes in contact with your body it stops the stroke. It puts the player into cramped positions and off his balance. Getting the stroke in close makes one lean to one side to hit the ball. This prevents him from making a clean shot and a steady one. One cannot finish out on his stroke when the arm and elbow are so close to the body that it stops the stroke from going any farther. A player can hit the ball, but he is prevented from getting a good "drop" on it. To get a good drop one must start well back with his swing and finish all the way out, the body going forward with the stroke.
Many are too stiff in their body swing. The weight should pass from the backward foot to the forward one with the shot. By having your body work with your arm one is bound to finish out better.
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