Let me show you how to develop your serve into a weapon. My experience as a teacher shows that the serve is often the most difficult stroke for the average player to develop—and the hardest for tennis instructors to teach....

May 2011

Let me outline my views on making your serve a weapon. This series of articles presents my approach to the tennis learning process. Previously we've looked at the forehand (Click Here) and the backhand (Click Here). Now let's turn to...

April 2011

The serve is one of the most important aspects of the game of tennis and is probably the most difficult stroke to perfect. Even accomplished players struggle with making their serve more of a weapon in their game. The one...

May 2022

Usually we associate great overheads with attacking players. Whether you're a great net player, a strict baseliner, or somewhere in between, a good overhead should be an essential part of your game. If you think of the great players of...

January 2007

Look closely at the legs--can you see True Alignment? Many coaches talk about the role of the shoulders and the arms in producing power. Many talk about different stance positions. But few have talked about the exact role of the...

March 2010

Could serve and volley again be a winning style in pro tennis? As a long time coach, I’m often asked will serve and volley type players ever return at the highest levels of the game? This is a complicated question...

When it comes to true alignment on the one-handed backhand, the principles are structurally similar to the two-hander. If anything, the alignment of the hips is even more important. (Click Here for True Alignment on the Two-Hander.) There is much...

June 2018

The concept of true alignment refers to the angles between the legs and the hips in relation to the line of the shot. In a previous article I looked at True Alignment on the forehand. (Click Here.) Now let's do...

May 2018

The process for improving a backhand with either one or two hands can be more difficult than the forehand. The process of improving your backhand can be even more daunting than the forehand learning process we addressed in the first...

November 2010

How are the technical factors interconnected in a good forehand? The lesson process in tennis is complicated and can entail many pitfalls that delay or stall a player's progress. As a coach and trainer I find that virtually every individual...

March 2010

How do tennis personality types affect playing style? My strengths as a coach and instructor are usually analyzing stroke technique, seeing patterns, and helping players translate those things into a winning game. The psychology of the game I usually leave...

March 2009

The drop shot has made a pro comeback but has always been effective at lower levels. In today's game of big hitting and infrequent ventures to the net, the drop shot has made a comeback. In the days of wood...

May 2008

All time great players are also great returners. Returning well is essential in the game of tennis. With a good return a player has a chance to win every match, even against the best servers. It is not an accident...

September 2007

Open stance is standard in modern tennis--but what is the key to developing it? "Open-stance" hitting has become the standard with players and coaches alike. The trend has been developing for a long time, but how did this really come...

June 2005