Written by Randy Cummings

The Argentinean Oscar Wegner has a great tennis tip which he refers to as "find the ball."  Simply stated it means to be patient, determine first where the ball is going to land and with how much pace, spin, and bounce, and then prepare your swing accordingly.  
Watch the pros on TV.  Whether it's  <http://vjtta.com/tutorials/tennis_video_tutorials/agassi_video.html> Nadal, Federer, or Sharapova, their first move to a ball, forehand or backhand, is a simultaneous pivot and a turn of their shoulder as they lean in the direction of the ball (what's called a unit turn). Their arms and hands are initially still, with the butt of the racquet pointing toward their navel (not much different than their ready position). The racquet face is more-or-less parallel to the net, lined up with the oncoming ball. Their non-racquet hand remains close to or on the racquet. They "stalk" the ball in this position until they get really close to it, then they begin preparing their swing. Often they wait until the very last instant before they take their backswing.
If the ball has been hit really hard and deep and their time is drastically reduced, they shorten their backswing so their stroke is almost a block. If they have more time to set up, then they will take a bigger, longer backswing. This is why the best of them hit so smoothly and never appear rushed. Their swing is always measured. They match their effort (their back swing) to the task (the ball's pace, spin, bounce).

Andre Agassi was the epitome of "finding the ball."  He hit many balls inside the baseline that looked like half-volleys, his back swing was that compact. His backhand had even less back swing, accelerating almost directly from the "find the ball" position into the contact zone. This is also what made his return of serve among the best: there was virtually no back swing once he "found the ball."  Andy Murray is probably the current role model of "finding the ball."

The opposite of this would be the big-hitting Novak Djokovic, who begins his backswing before the ball has barely left his opponent's racquet. Serena Williams is also guilty of not always finding the ball.

One important note: "finding the ball" at the pro level does have its idiosyncrasies. Roddick, Murray, Federer, Sharapova, and Ivanovic might look a little different in _the way_ they find the ball (i.e., the position and height of their racquet face, hands, and arms) but all of them _are _"finding the ball" --stalking it-- before they take their full swing at the ball.  Incidentally, on TV you'll be able to see the pros "finding the ball" more easily on a slower surface like clay that say at the U.S. Open.

"Finding the ball" is probably different from what you have been taught (turn, take your racquet back, etc.), yet it is what the pros do and it is actually a more natural approach to striking a tennis ball.

Next time you are on the court, be patient, try to "find the ball" first, then prepare your swing. You'll discover that you have more time to execute your shot (because you'll never be rushed) and you'll be hitting more naturally.


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