A Question: Why Do We Need To Follow Through?

I have just received this question from a player in London:

“Why do I need to follow through on my strokes, as the ball has left the racket, why not just stop the movement”

Good question, and if you watch probably 60% of players here in Los Gigantes, they do the same, stop the follow through.

But there are several factors that warrant the need of a follow through.

Imagine trying to hit a forehand or backhand without it…during the forward swing you develop muscle forces to accelerate this forward movement but after impact you need to slow down the momentum of the arm and racket..the idea is to keep the force to the racket  for as long as possible in the direction of the stroke, to increase the momentum of the racket, and so subsequently the ball.

The absence of, or a short follow through, would logically cause the racket to slow down proir to impact – top players accelerate the racket up to impact so top speed occurs at this point – the racket then continues to follow the intended path of the ball for as long as possible.

 

And there you have it – hence why coaches use cues like, make the racket follow a series of tennis balls out in the direction of the shot.

Now go out and practice this…