Watching the tennis ball while playing tennis is a bit of a wrong conception, or perhaps it just a shortcut for saying: look at the tennis ball when you tennis raquet is actually striking the ball. Instead many tennis players only watch the flight of the ball as it comes toward them.

Watching the flight of the ball works fairly well much of the time especially if the tennis ball comes to you in a straight line. It does not work if the ball has topspin, sidespin, underspin, or if the flight of the ball is curving due to the wind or slanting of the court. In addition, it does not work if it hits a crack or a dip or a bit of dirt. So, unless you are playing indoors on a brand new tennis court that has just been cleaned, against a player who only hits clean flat shots, you are going to have problems producting your long powerful strokes.

For more information on Tennis tips and training visit Marin Tennis Club