Tennis Drills: Conditioning Open Stance Strength Drill

www.hi10spro.com presents a very simple but effective drill: the Alley Cat--make sure they go from one leg, bringing their other leg over to touch that leg, and then push off to the other side. we make them do sets of 25. they're not difficult, but very easy to cheat on. Done properly, they teach balance, explosion, and are quite beneficial.

Category:

Sports

Tags:

• instructional
• tennis
• hi10spro
• gary
• sakuma

[mantiskf2003]

@hillsong1004 there is plenty of sports science research cautioning against weights around the ankles, risk is mostly to the knees,hips and back. Other forms of strength are actually more controllable than that method in avoiding any risk of stunting growth.

Ankle weights also change the step mechanics as the greatest force is on different lines to those caused by simply adding weight to the legs.

good luck to your brother.

[TheFatKid128]

@endlerb2 i agree that tennis is very physical since i play too but tennis needs both explosive movement and endurance. this drill will help with the explosive agility needed to get to the opposite side of the court and jogging or stair masters will help with your stamina in the legs. hence u should do both for u need both to be able to last in a game, especially a long one

[hi10spro]

I do like stair master, but it's like you said, it's like jogging. kind of useless in the explosive domain of tennis

[hi10spro]

love the love man :D

[hi10spro]

oh if you're not specific with the kids, they cheat... and leave the leg out, so it's like a U...and then, it's super easy

[endlerb2]

Hey Hilfiger, don't comment about tennis-specific-drills unless you know how physical tennis can be. Watch a professional match and then come up with an informed opinion.

[endlerb2]

Hi10, I like this drill but have never seen the foot of the unplanted leg resting on the ancle of the planted leg. When I do it, the hopping leg kicks back while landing on the other leg. But I like the drill for building strength and balance for open and semi-open stance shots.

[endlerb2]

I hate to tell you buddy, but tennis is a physical sport, and the above-mentioned drill helps with building strength in the legs for better stroke production. Tell me how a stairmaster is going to heIp as much with springing laterally or forwards, and give you better balance.

[hi10spro]

plyometrics :D took a class on that one, but it's useless for me. I don't teach kids in college. most of my players are high school, go off to college, and basically, quit after that. had one person who I really wanted to try to turn pro, but he's more into the university thing

[hi10spro]

land with your hips back, you need to explain it better. i can't visualize that, land in a squat position? or describe it better. dude--this is a simple drill we do with little kids, never thought it would cause an injury. and we usually do it like 10 reps and move on--it's more punishment--it's not big on my list like sprints, lines, etc