https://youtu.be/r82Mj0Nptz8

Here is some great slow motion footage of Nick Kyrgios practicing forehands.

Specifically, I would like to focus on the role of the left foot and stepping in—or lack thereof.

I believe that players lift their left foot to play heavy—to slightly increase the angle of approach of the racquet to the ball. Lifting the left foot slightly tilts the shoulders backward and causes the racquet pathway to the ball to rise more steeply. This helps the player kick the ball up with more spin and shape.

You often see clay court players lean backwards slightly with the shoulders and lift the front foot and leg to create more “effect”, or spin, on the ball.

This is in opposition to the traditional method of teaching players to step in and transfer weight from back foot to front. That approach creates a lower trajectory ball and reduces RPM. I know many coaches stress this weight shift when teaching groundstrokes, but they may not realize that they are inadvertently reducing RPM.

Notice how Kyrgios leans slightly backwards when hitting heavier and steps in when driving the ball with a more linear trajectory.

Coaches are often too quick to label the former as “lazy or sloppy”. It doesn’t look right to their classical eye because the traditional transfer back to front is not evident.

My point is that leaning back and lifting the front leg is not necessarily lazy. It could be lazy footwork, but it’s also a function of the tactical intent to play with more spin and height—and the technical goal of producing more RPM by increasing the racquet angle of approach to the ball.

Other technical areas to observe:

Kyrgios often finishes with the racquet low at the end of swing—often around his bicep or lower down by his hip. We are seeing this more and more with top professional players, including next gen female players—Anisimova and Sabalenka for example. Keep an eye on that trend.

Moreover, notice how—when necessary—he finishes around his head, in what I call a reverse or hook follow through style. I believe we should teach these finishes to our students as well.

As I always say: Over the shoulder follow throughs around the neck are dying—doomed for extinction!

Also, notice how Kyrgios maintains a whippy and loose arm. How can we develop this elasticity in our young students?

I believe we should actively train and develop elasticity. It should be a primary area of concern when building groundstrokes. I see the majority of kids coming out of ROG U10 mechanically stiff and tight.

Please coaches—no more stiff swings coming out of U10!

Please share your thoughts and join the technical discussion.

If you like talking technique, please consider following my blog at ProdigyMaker.com or my Sunday FB Live show and podcast, The Prodigy Maker Show.

Chris Lewit