***Please remember that although everything listed here is important, some aspects hold much more importance than others, and this will be made clear in your personal report***
FOREHAND
Grip: In what position(s) the hand(s) hold the racket to play the shot
Unit turn: Turning of the body as a unit, which initiates preparation to play the shot
Left arm release (right-hander): The moment the left arm separates from the racket
Left arm stretch (right-hander): The way the left arm, after separation, stretches across the body and points to the side fence
Racket height during backswing: The height of the racket from the ground through the backswing
Arm at end of backswing: Hitting arm position at the end of the backswing
Racket at end of backswing: Racket position/shape at the end of the backswing
Rhythm: How efficiently the arm and racket moves from the end of the backswing into the forward swing
Feet position: Where the feet are positioned as the forward swing starts
Feet balance: How well are the feet and body balanced as the forward swing starts
Leg load: How well the legs are pushing into the ground, ready to push up as the forward swing starts
Lay back of racket: The natural lag of the racket before striking the ball
Leg drive: The legs pushing from the ground during the forward swing
Racket on contact point: The position/shape of the racket exactly when it contacts the ball
Arm on contact point: The position/shape of the entire hitting arm exactly when the racket contacts the ball
Head still: Is the head still during and just after contact
Weight transfer: How well body weight is transferring energy into the shot
Left arm balance (right-hander): How well the left arm is helping overall balance after the left arm stretch is complete
Topspin: How well the racket and arm are able to produce topspin, from their position/movement before, during, and after contact
Body rotation: Timing and quantity of body rotation occuring during the forward swing, contact with the ball, and the follow through
Extension: Extension of the racket and arm after contact, measured by racket/arm position during the phase of the swing that comes after the ball has been hit
Racket finish: The position/shape of the racket at the end of the swing
Weight on finish: Distribution of body weight at the end of the swing
Balance on finish: How well the body maintains balance at the end of the swing
BACKHAND
Grip: In what position(s) the hand(s) hold the racket to play the shot
Unit turn: Turning of the body as a unit, which initiates preparation to play the shot
Hands level: How well the hands maintain a steady height from the ground during the backswing
Racket height during backswing: The height of the racket from the ground through the backswing
Arms at end of backswing: Hitting arm position at the end of the backswing
Racket at end of backswing: Racket position/shape at the end of the backswing
Rhythm: How efficiently the arm and racket moves from the end of the backswing into the forward swing
Leg load: How well the legs are pushing into the ground, ready to push up as the forward swing starts
Racket Dip: How the racket points downwards at the start of the forward swing, this movement makes topspin possible
Lay back of racket: The natural lag of the racket before striking the ball
Feet position: Where the feet are positioned as the forward swing starts
Feet balance: How well are the feet and body balanced as the forward swing starts
Leg drive: The legs pushing from the ground during the forward swing
Racket on contact point: The position/shape of the racket exactly when it contacts the ball
Arms on contact point: The position/shape of the hitting arms exactly when the racket contacts the ball
Head still: Is the head still during and just after contact
Weight transfer: How well body weight is transferring energy into the shot
Body rotation: Timing and quantity of body rotation occuring during the forward swing, contact with the ball, and the follow through
Topspin: How well the racket and arm are able to produce topspin, from their position/movement before, during, and after contact
Extension: Extension of the racket and arm after contact, measured by racket/arm position during the phase of the swing that comes after the ball has been hit
Racket finish: The position/shape of the racket at the end of the swing
Weight on finish: Distribution of body weight at the end of the swing
Balance on finish: How well the body maintains balance at the end of the swing
1st SERVE
Grip: In what position(s) the hand(s) hold the racket to play the shot
Foot stance: How the feet are positioned at the start of the service motion
Racket/Ball break: How the racket and ball move apart from each other to get the service motion underway
Ball release: How smoothly the ball releases from the throwing hand, and the timing of it
Racket position at trophy: The 1st phase of the service motion ends in the trophy position. For this, I look at the racket position/shape at this moment.
Arm position at trophy: The position/shape of the racket arm in the power position
Foot stance at trophy: How the feet are positioned when the power position has been reached
Knee bend: The timing, and depth of the knee bend in preparation to push up to hit the ball
Body rotation: The timing, and amount of upper body rotation when preparing to hit the ball
Shoulder tilt: The timing, and amount of shoulder tilt in preparation for hitting the ball
Hip coil: The timing, and amount of back hip coiling in preparation for hitting the ball
Throwing arm extension: How well the throwing hand opens up and arm extends upwards after releasing the ball
Throwing arm hold: How well the throwing arm maintains its extended position after release of the ball
Ball toss height: The height of the ball throw, and how it relates to the efficiency of the serve
Leg drive: How well the legs drive upwards from the knee bend
Racket drop: How well and effectively the racket drops behind the body before driving up to hit the ball
Tricep extension: How well the tricep muscles extend upwards as the racket comes out of the racket drop
Arm rotation before contact: Rotation of the arm from the shoulder, as the racket moves up to the ball from the racket drop
Body extension on contact: How well the body has extended upwards at the moment of contact
Head position on contact: How the head is positioned at the moment of contact
Ball position on contact: The position of the ball at moment of contact
Throwing arm on contact: How well the throwing arm has tucked into the body at this stage of the serve
Arm rotation after contact: How well the arm rotation continues after contact with the ball
Racket after contact: How efficiently the racket has angled downwards during the follow through
Racket finish: The position of the racket at the end of the service motion
Position on landing: The position of the feet and body on landing after the service motion is complete
Balance on landing: Balance of the whole body on landing, after the service motion is complete
**2ND SERVE: This is evaluated on the same aspects as the 1st serve. However, they relate to the effectiveness of the serve in different ways. If there are many differences between your 1st and 2nd serve, then the whole list will be evaluated. If not, then you will simply get a short summary of the key points related to your 2nd serve**
BACKHAND SLICE
Grip: In what position(s) the hand(s) hold the racket to play the shot
Unit turn: Turning of the body as a unit, which initiates preparation to play the shot
Arms at end of backswing: Hitting arm positions at the end of the backswing
Racket at end of backswing: Racket position/shape at the end of the backswing
Rhythm: How efficiently the arm and racket moves from the end of the backswing into the forward swing
Feet position: Where the feet are positioned as the forward swing starts
Feet balance: How well are the feet and body balanced as the forward swing starts
Leg load: How well the legs are pushing into the ground, ready to push up as the forward swing starts
Left arm release (right-hander): The moment that the left arm releases the racket
Arm/Racket shape during forward swing: The shape of the hitting arm and racket as it moves through the forward swing and through contact
Leg drive: The legs pushing from the ground during the forward swing
Left arm balance: How well the left arm is helping overall balance after releasing the racket
Racket on contact point: The position/shape of the racket exactly when it contacts the ball
Eyes on the ball: Are the eyes looking at the ball before and during contact
Head still: Is the head still during and just after contact
Weight transfer: How well body weight is transferring energy into the shot, less relevant for slice but this still plays a small role
Racket finish: The position/shape of the racket at the end of the swing
Left arm finish (right-hander): Position of the left arm at the end of the swing
Weight on finish: Distribution of body weight at the end of the swing
Balance on finish: How well the body maintains balance at the end of the swing
VOLLEYS: It's worth noting that the range of variation with volleys is bigger than any other shot in tennis. The contact point could be anywhere between ankle height to above head height, and then add to that the fact players are often moving up the court before playing volleys, which leads to a wide variety of hitting stances. The variation in spin and power when hitting the volley also varies massively, which in turn affects the preparation and forward swing. That said, there are still many fundamentals to look for, and these will be done from footage of mid-height, mid-court standard volleys. Other types of volleys can be analysed on request.
FOREHAND VOLLEY
Grip: In what position(s) the hand(s) hold the racket to play the shot
Left arm release (right-hander): The moment that the left arm releases the racket
Unit turn: Turning of the body as a unit, which initiates preparation to play the shot
Lack of significant backswing: How much of a backswing occurs before the racket moves forward to hit the ball
Arm/Racket at end of backswing: Shape and position of the hitting arm and racket at the end of the backswing
Rhythm: How efficiently the arm and racket moves from the end of the backswing into the forward swing
Left foot step (right-hander): Where the left foot steps and when, as the forward swing is taking place
Arm/Racket shape during forward swing: The shape of the hitting arm and racket as it moves through the forward swing and through contact
Left arm balance: How well the left arm is helping overall balance after releasing the racket
Racket on contact point: The position/shape of the racket exactly when it contacts the ball
Eyes on the ball: Are the eyes looking at the ball before and during contact
Head still: Is the head still during and just after contact
Short follow-through: How far and where the racket travels after hitting the ball
Racket finish: The position/shape of the racket at the end of the swing
Left arm finish (right-hander): Position of the left arm at the end of the swing
Weight on finish: Distribution of body weight at the end of the swing
Balance on finish: How well the body maintains balance at the end of the swing
BACKHAND VOLLEY
Grip: In what position(s) the hand(s) hold the racket to play the shot
Unit turn: Turning of the body, which initiates preparation to play the shot
Arm/Racket during the backswing: Shape and position of the hitting arm and racket through the backswing
Arm/Racket at end of backswing: Shape and position of the hitting arm and racket at the end of the backswing
Left arm release (right-hander): The moment that the left arm releases the racket
Rhythm: How efficiently the arm and racket moves from the end of the backswing into the forward swing
Right foot step (left-hander): Where the right foot steps and when, as the forward swing is taking place
Arm/Racket shape during forward swing: The shape of the hitting arm and racket as it moves through the forward swing and through contact
Left arm balance: How well the left arm is helping overall balance after releasing the racket
Racket on contact point: The position/shape of the racket exactly when it contacts the ball
Eyes on the ball: Are the eyes looking at the ball before and during contact
Head still: Is the head still during and just after contact
Short follow-through: How far and where the racket travels after hitting the ball
Racket finish: The position/shape of the racket at the end of the swing
Left arm finish (right-hander): Position of the left arm at the end of the swing
Weight on finish: Distribution of body weight at the end of the swing
Balance on finish: How well the body maintains balance at the end of the swing
