shadow-training
Sweetiele asked 6 years ago
Hey Dan and Tom!
I have been thinking about a few things lately and it would be very nice if you could answer them here together!
- What are some shadow training exercises that we can do and how do they help improve our game?
- My topspins tend to be very loopy. I think that this might be because I tend to strike the ball late and go upwards more – a timing problem. Is it possible to hit through the ball more with the plastic ball.
Tom Academy Coach answered 6 years ago
Hey Sweetiele,
Yes no problem, so for 1 you can almost do any exercise or drill that you would do with the ball as a shadow exercise but the best are simple ones that focus on footwork, for example 2 backhands 2 forehands. They just help improve speed and agility and also you can focus on technical elements without worrying about the ball.
2- Yes you can still hit through the ball woth a plastic ball, it just requires good timing as you said and to contact the ball in front of your body. I think using your legs and body and keeping a relaxed arm is even more important to generate power with the plastic ball. Try to focus on brusing quickly on top of the ball and imagine the feeling of hitting more forwards through the ball.
SweetieleThanks for the reply Tom!
Why do you think that using legs and body and keeping a relaxed arm is even more important to generate power with the plastic ball than it was with the celluloid ball, Isn’t there less spin now and probably the plastic ball is a bit easier as well?
