Videos
Most videos online are about the technical side of the game. My videos are broken down into various aspects: technical, mental, tactical, movement, drills, etc. On this page I provide a general discussion of videos and some great content as well. On my other video pages (technical, mental, movement etc), I provide what I teach players of all levels and in many cases things that you will not find discussed online usually. Much of this comes from working with college players but also young and adult students I have. You can also go to my podcast page (The Coach Steve Clark PhD Show) and listen to some of my shows regarding speed, fitness, nutrition etc from world recognized authorities and practitioners among elite US players, college players and touring professionals. These principles apply to all levels.
Below you will find videos and still pictures with commentary instructional purposes that include drills for technical and tactical development, singles, doubles, fitness, etc. Some will be on this page and others in the blog section. Below is a link to my latest video discussion regarding some 2018 Doubles at the Australian Open from a video I just received from the Bryan Brothers clan.
When doing videos, it is very common these days with the programs to compare footage of players with other players. Here is Graham’s 1-hander (at age 11) compared to Federer and his forehand compared to David Ferrer’s. Graham wanted a 1-hander at age 8 because your’s truly has one. For those of you thinking of switching or if you players want to, it was very natural for Graham but regardless he hit 5000 backhands off a ball machine in a week before he owned hitting it or cemented the motion from various locations and off both feet (open, closed, moving back or forward etc)–see the video (see the video on the home page if you are interested. I teach all my players how to hit their 1-handers, (or two handers, forehands and vollies for that matter) off various feet, positions, heights, on the run etc. So 5000 balls was not that many. I have switched juniors, adults and even accomplished collegiate players to one handers for various reasons so it can be done at all phases in the game and stages in life.
These videos show nearly identical footwork, prep and release that can encourage youth they too can expect to work hard to get those results. (You can click on the play button and pause it at any increment to see moves in detail). My future videos, whether technical, tactical, even demonstrating doubles communication, doubles movement, PRPR between-point-management, footwork oriented, etc. will have narrative or description associated with them. In these, I am only giving brief comments.
Notice that Graham has the tip up and good should turn prior to taking the “intending to hit” step on the left foot. What I mean by this, and what many players taking lessons do not realize is the front foot (in this case Graham’s or Federer’s right foot) does not take the final move until everything is loaded (racket back and tip up, shoulders turned and weight loaded on the left foot). You can freeze frame it in that position if you like and then they step in with the right and Let ‘er Rip. Also not fully realized is that at impact the one hander’s chest/shoulders should be pretty perpendicular or “on side” and then only upon the follow through (and not always) does it rotate as they recover and move to the center. Actually having the shoulders “separate” as I call it causes significant whip in the swing. Too many club players rotate their entire torso with the swing losing power or forcing the shot. I would be akin to a baseball player swinging with straight arms instead of the proper kinetic chain.
Here Graham (age 11) and Ferrer have significant foot speed in prepping for the forehand. Often today, experts in biomechanics and national coaches have noted that players more or less glide to the ball without a lot of steps. I call it a dance or rhythm. But in this case, as in many cases, it is appropriate and sets up some serious loading and rotation. Notice here too, as I noted in the backhand, it is the outside foot always (the right foot in this case) that is the “intending to hit” step from which the driving energy comes for either open stance (in this video) or the closed stance as well. To many players, especially at the club level, think, or have been errantly taught, that the closed stance left foot forward (for a righty) coincides with taking the racket back. Nope. The initial move on the “uni-turn” is the racket partly back with the right foot pivoting and then the left comes later for closed stance with the racket moving further back in a “pre-stretch” whipping move then to come accelerating forward when the left foot transfers the weight. Open stance, like here, the right foot is the prep and the driving foot all in one.
Notice also the arms are far from the body and the tips not so high or “cocked.” Many are taught to cock the wrist severely and the elbow is low but this creates too many hitches and time delay in getting to the ball for most people.
Oh, and one thing I find very commonly in teaching players is that so many step with their toes or balls of their feet when stepping into groundstrokes closed stance, overheads, and vollies. Try transferring your weight as you walk on only your toes or balls of your feet. You can’t do it very well. Tennis really has a lot of heel to toe movement which transfers our weight. This picture of Fed is an exaggeration but it gets the point across.
Offense/Defense/Neutral footwork, the Basket drill, and Paul Goldstein getting hit.
Here are a few video clips that I have used for all levels and ages of players (young kids like Joy and friends here at age 8, club level ladies, and collegiate players). The first two drills I have used for all levels of players (juniors through collegiate) and even ATP players have used the second drill, the basket drill.
The first drill is Offense, Defense, Neutral. This particular drill and video turned out to be the most watched video at Stanford’s Nike camp on line of all time. It is Joy (8) and several of her drill group buddies with me working the drill. The goal is footwork in all positions, cardio, and fun. The first player does all the hitting with the others having to shadow the same distance and pattern so they can work on the footwork and rhythm as well.
- Offense is closed stance moving into the court with as much rotation and “roll out” as possible when needed. The cross step, shuffle, shuffle movement is important as well. Joy has very good foot speed (later used in an elite soccer team) and balance at 8 years old.
- Defense is when I toss the ball back and she has to learn to move back and hit open stance with even some rolling back to open up the hips etc.
- Neutral is hitting along the baseline open stance.
The second drill is a basket drill which gives the player feedback (Graham and Joy in this case) on keeping the arm away from the body. Too often peoples’ elbows are like Chicken wings and too close to their body. Having the arm out reasonably so allows for faster rotation and getting into contact position faster and more efficiently. The player circles around the basket with the arm back and ready then runs to the ball. You can alter the distance running to incorporate cardio work as well.
The music is Let It Rip by Mike and Bob Bryan (yes the #1 ATP dubs team plays great music in addition to great dubs). This is the same song I use for the intro to my podcast that Wayne Bryan introduces. Wayne was my first guest as well when the show was live several years ago.
The video below is just for fun and it will make you smile. I call it the “9th ball and giggle drill.” Joy is being run side to side by good friend and Stanford Coach Paul Goldstein (I remember when he was playing at Stanford when I was coaching at UC Irvine. That was the year, along with Mike and Bob Bryan playing, that Stanford lost only 2 points all year if I recall correctly (all other matches were 7-0). Look what happens on the 9th ball and what ensues. Pretty funny. Paul’s favorite video).
Thanks for visiting and I will be posting upcoming instructional videos.