Tennis Australia Coach Membership T: 03 9914 4191 F: 03 9650 1040 Email: coachmembership@tennis.com.au Website: www.tennis.com.au/membership

Strokemaster

www.tennis.com.au/coaches

PRESENTED BYCallum Beale, a former professional who achieved singles and doubles rankings on the ATP tour, is Tennis Australia’s Coach and Talent Development Manager in NSW. He has a Bachelor of Applied Science, Human Movement.

SEPTEMBER 2015 AUSTRALIAN TENNIS MAGAZINE 23

STROKE MASTER

What do you see?Few players have boasted such long-term consistency as Tomas Berdych – an achievement helped by effective ground strokes like this classy backhand volley. A trio of images helps highlights the stroke's strength.

Continental grip with racquet head nicely supported by thenon-dominant hand

Racquet face positioned abovewrist with all strings presentedto the oncoming ball

Body weight exclusively on the left leg, which will assist forward momentum. This body weight transfer means less racquet work is required, thus reducing the margin for contact error

Shoulders and racquet haveturned together as a unit

Hitting arm extended away forthe body

Front foot meets the groundpost contact, helping to maximise the use of momentum

Racquet remains on the hitting side of the body

Arms have completely separated, helping to keep the shouldersappropriately positioned

Tall posture maintained upon landing

Hitting arm has extended slightly through contact

Shoulders are perpendicular to the net, with arms separating through contact

Full face of the racquet meets the oncoming ball

Contact point is well in front, with racquet head remaining above wrist

Forward body momentum is evident through contact