Comments
Here’s what people just like you are saying about how Mauro Marcos and Coach Kyril have helped them improve their tennis game…
* Debbie Wessely
Great explanation thanks! Breaking it down into small steps really
helps. Thanks.
* Dennis
This is good simple stuff. Explained very clearly. As a coach,
I have coached around these ideas for years, however not as clearly. Thanks!
* Rahul
This video is without doubt the BEST video I have ever seen on
the mechanics
of the forehand. I have met dozens and dozens of tennis coaches and
have played tennis for over 20 years(NTRP 5.0), and let me tell you, I feel I have learned a new thing today after watching this video. Thank you so much for your kind service. You are doing a world of good to the tennis community. I wish you the very best in all your efforts.
* Kyle
Really good info, Mauro really has a knack for outlining the
mechanics of a stroke.
* Jack Bailey
Great stuff!! Mauro’s animated, hands-on approach is second to
none!! Mauro takes the on court class room to a new level. He explains the fundamentals and swing mechanics in a concise, easy to understand manner. Every junior to adult should watch this video!! I can’t say enough great things about Mauro’s teaching. With his extensive background, tutoring both the weekend warrior and the world class
junior, Mauro consistently gets results!! And yes, that’s one smooth forehand!! (Can’t wait for the backhand!!)
* Tom
Coach Mauro, smoothest stroke I have ever seen, like watching
Pedro Martinez pitch!
* Joc
Unbelievable wealth of information. Thank you for sharing such
valuable tips. I can’t wait to try all the steps. Mauro sure looks smooth and
executes
the shot with an effortless mien. I want to hit like him. FANTASTIC!
* Diego
This is great coach, can’t wait for the next video about hitting
with more power and topspin! I’m from Argentina, be very proud of your work, it’s now worldwide.
* Jose Cedeno
Congratulations for wonderful videos on a basic forehand. Thanks!
* Randy Reitmeyer
This set of forehand video instructions is the most detailed,
and best I have ever reviewed. Rob said it best: he tells you what, how, and why, and dramatizes the process with memory hints. Very clever & very useful.
* Edward said
I used the stuff you talked about in my tennis class today, and
darn things were rocking. I should pay you instead, thanks so much, you really broke it down to the details.
* Joe Russo
This is simply the best detailed instruction I’ve ever had the
pleasure of being exposed to.
* mons
This set of clips has to be the most detailed description of
a forehand I’ve ever seen, and I’ve looked at many instruction videos! Mauro is truly a legend!
* SK
Great video. Any idiot can make things complex, it takes a genius
to make things simple…
* Varvara
Thank you, it really helps, clear and imaginative explanation.
* philippe
Bravo messieurs! pour la clartÈ de vos explications.
* Jack
These videos are GOLD!! Keep up the good work!!
*Joc
Great Coach Mauro. I’ve never hit a more heavy and solid ball
until I implemented this technique. You know your stuff, cool!
* Jack
Video is example of Mauro’s vast knowledge of the body’s mechanics.
Awesome stuff!!
* Steven
This video helped me more than any other video I’ve ever seen.
I was about a 3.5 (NTRP) and then I watched this video and finally I got it. After being so intrigued, I watched the rest of the 7 parts and now I’m hitting forehands like a 4.0. All this after just one week (literally, like 5 days). Whatever Coach Mauro says, I will obey! Thanks much.
* Bhagi
Thank You! Thank You! Thank You For featuring Mauro!
His coaching is amazing, and makes things so clear and simple
to follow.
* abhimanyu
Exceptional, no words for it. Mauro is the master of techniques,
truly a remarkable coach.
* Sally
Learning tennis is like a jig-saw,every now and then you find
another piece that fits the picture, and Mauro has given me the piece that was missing for the forehand, you have made me one very happy lady, mua!
* Rodrigo Contro
About the forehand: details. That’s what Mauro makes you learn,
when you feel that you know how to do your strokes even when he taught them to you many many years ago.
* abhimanyu
Right Rodrigo. He tells you the details. Truly a great man.
* Nelzy
Les informations et les dÈtails techniques du coach Mauro sur
le coup SONT UNE droit d’rares prÈcision! MAIS les mettrent en place C’Est UNE & Autre Histoire.
* Gunther
Action Learning by Mauro`s impressive examples. Mauro demonstrates
a modern forehand step by step. Please continue this video lecture!
* noobie77
Awesome video, he sounds like a great guy. I enjoyed his tips
on “How to hit an easy, modern forehand” Thanks for posting!
* tommyenglish1
I like this guy, the kinda style I like.
* redaka0
TY COACH, Mauro is really an awesome teacher. I learned more
from this video than I have with a month with my local pro. Mauro simply explains this stuff so well and it is extremely easy to understand.
* SnipedXP
These videos are making both myself and my friends better players.
Thanks Coach.
* dodododa
This is indeed the best forehand lesson I’ve ever seen.
* VaughanF1
I really have to say these series of videos have really helped
me improve my forehand and the most important, my timing. Mauro is an awesome coach,
very gentle and crystal clear to explain. Many thanks to you. Greetings from Chile.
Mauricio.
* malovepumato
Thanks to Mauro
!!! He knows what he talks about.
* azarel7
Wow! Mauro is super smooth..
* djlevy94
Great explaining, and passion for tennis!
* Charusho
I didn’t know how much technique was involved!
* MrHadluve
Lesson in popular mechanics; excellent breakdown in details!
* bleek56
Great video, helped me a lot!
* hgamer
This stuff is priceless!. massive thumbs up guys!
* feimiao
Thanks! I learned so much from the 7 videos on the forehand!
KC (Singapore)
* hawaiidispenser
Just amazing stuff!
* DNSaus
I cant wait to see the more of these. My forehand is 10 fold
better.
* hatobacho88
wowowowowow! Really helpful for beginners like me, who need to
learn really effectively from scratch. Nice work sir!
* A550RGY
So helpful! I love this guy!
* MohrAvaMohr
I’d love to be coached by you, amazing work!
* hawaiidispenser
Absolutely brilliant coach and helped pull my forehand out of
the dark ages. I cannot wait for him to take on other aspects of tennis, like backhands and volleys especially, to see what insight he has in those areas. Thank you so much for this series with Coach Mauro! Please, please do more videos with him. Like you said Coach Kyril, the world should know about this guy!
* queenofcourt
I thought I knew how to hit a forehand until I saw these videos.
Tennis made simple, I love it! I’ve been having private lessons for a year and struggled with the forehand until I saw Mauro’s instructions and I improved overnight, thanks! Mauro is a fantastic coach.
* mthomas73
Thanks so much Mauro, your instructional videos has transform
my game and I am confident in my forehand now. Even when I am hitting it wrong I know what I should be doing to adjust. Wish I could be coached personally by you!
* hansoeij
I like Mauro. He points out all the basics that are mostly forgotten
by most players including myself. I used his methods, it worked wonders on the court. Thanks.
* FairwayJack
Thnx Coach for posting these! very good, very informative. Mauro
is great!
* azarel7
5 Stars!
* queenofcourt
10 Stars! Mauro
moves so graceful!
* dvsk89
I want my eastern forehand to be like his again :P …so smooth.
* vibe4me
Great video! fundamentally important points, especially for average
Joe weekend 3.0 players like myself.
* albesca
Thank you Mauro, your tips are really priceless. The best explanation
I’ve ever seen. You answered a question I’m asking for years to many coaches and players, and nobody was able for a clear answer. You are doing a great job.
* Megareemas
Keep doing this coach, really helpful! I have used your videos
to really develop a forehand weapon, that uses topspin to help me keep the ball in play!
* solventpop
This should be called Next Level Tennis.WOW!! I have not hit a correct forehand ever, wrist pain, etc. One day on the court, no more pain and more control, now just need to work on the rest to have better preparation and timing. I am sold!!!!
Coach,
Thanks for the VID!!!!!
Last night after watching all your videos I was able to whoop a fast flat serve into the court using your advice. 80% of it went inside the service box…I didn’t even realize my hand is pronating by itself….was a really a good feel of accomplishment…
I love practicing my service so much that I stayed on the court for 4 Hours… Just serving!!!!! Now can you remove all your video before my friends see it? (ha-ha joke…)
Anyways…. is there more video to come? Thank you again for your wonderful video!!! My coach saw me this morning serving Flat. And he thinks he’s the one who taught me…. I wanna say it’s from You or your video…but, he’s an old fart and won’t believe whatever I say…thanks again!!!!!!!!!!!!!
YOUR VIDEO ROCKS!!!!!!
- supertrex2
Thank you god for this, sir. Nobody actually explains how to hit the dang serve. Everyone points out every other fact about the serve except hitting the ball.
For someone like me, who has never taken a tennis lesson, but is naturally gifted athlete, I needed this. Thanks so much =)
- lalaborat
Coach Kyril,
Awesome, awesome series explaining the serves…especially the close up demonstrations (seated) of the action just before impact of (slice, top, kick, flat)….it’s a bit difficult to appreciate the ball action of the live serves so the close ups help. Look forward to seeing more tapes on other topics.
- yelloweric98
Coach Kyril,
I’ve enjoyed the e-mails that you have been sending to me, thank you. I’m interested in ordering your program, my only question is are there any pictures or video instruction included or is it all print? I ask because I’m a very visual learner. Thanks in advance!
- Adam
P.S. I’ve taken lessons off and on for the past couple of years and the guys that I’ve paid $75 bucks an hour plus, have not covered what I’ve learned from you so far for FREE!
Hi Coach Kyril,
I have been really enjoying your e-mails and all the information you have been giving. Thank you very much, I really appreciate it. I read your
“Power Serve” article and crazy as it sounds… read it a few times and implemented it into my game the next day for an ALTA match. My serve has been “off” for a while now and my toss was all over the place. We won our match and when we got off the court the opponents told me I had a great serve which was tough to beat. Wow! I hadn’t heard that in a long time. I am going to get out and get practicing on it. Thank you for all the motivation also. I cannot afford a coach right now and haven’t had one in a while, but it seems I am improving quicker this way anyway.
I hope to purchase your whole system soon. With the help I am getting just by your e-mails, I am excited to see what is to come.
Thank you,
Debbie
Kyril,
I gotta say man, that I dig your teaching style. Thanks again for what your doing. BTW I paid $40 for a serve package before, done in a downloadable video format and was not as good as what you’ve put up for free.
Dear Coach Kyril,
Your lessons on power serving are very helpful, I can now power serve! That pronation lesson help me out so much. You did a great job explaining it, and my coach was impressed on how fast I picked up on the power serve. And I would just like to say thank you!
Cameron
Thank you so much for your help Coach Kyril. Today thnx to your advice, my kick serve nailed me a series of aces in a row for two
straight service games….Thnx!!!
- Seekheart
Hi coach Kyril,
I already bought your books and signed up with your tennis program. I enjoyed reading your tennis development with Mihai,
very inspirational and glad that it worked out great for you. It’s definitely great that there are people in life who believe in us
and gives us help when we need it most, thank God for those people. Thank you for creating video and putting the tennis rules in place in
order to help other people to improve their games.
Thi
Coach,
I ‘got it’…and I love it! Can’t wait for the new videos…. Thanks again.
- ab
Coach Kyril,
Your report “Secrets of the Power Serve” is helping shed some major light on my serve. I just downloaded it yesterday and hit about 200
balls last night. It is already making a difference. I read it again cover to cover after practicing my serve last night and plan to practice
my serve again tonight. I also watched Roddick and Federer videos today to cement in the visual memory of what I’m trying to do. I plan to keep
incorporating the two critical secrets as they have made a noticeable difference.
- Paul
Hey, I don’t know who you are or why you do this, but thank you. thanks to your advice on staying in motion and moving into position, I’ve been
playing better lately. I actually moved up a box in my tennis team. (I play for high school.)
- Daniel
Coach:
Thanks for your thoughtful reply!
You have great communication skills to go with your knowledge of the game! I just reviewed you serving info, cut and pasted it for my lefty serve, and will give it a go tomorrow. Based on what you have to say about the serve I am IMMEDIATELY ordering the rest of your materials. I agree with everything you said in your reply!
- Gerry
Coach Kyril,
I’m writing to complement you on your article: “Secrets of the Power Serve”. Your article is excellent! You provided a thorough, logical,
clear treatment of a complex topic. It is very difficult to verbally describe a complicated physical action. Your use of the “you tube” videos
helped clarify your description, and your analysis proved your point.
All The Best,
Wood
Coach Kyril,
I’ve not come across a professional player before in another sport who helped you up the tennis rankings for free before, that is usually unheard of…..It’s refreshing to see a coach helping people improve their game because he wants to give something back to them.
Thanks for what you do.
Hey Coach Kyril,
When I was playing today, I really concentrated on getting my elbow up and pointing at the ball as illustrated in your new videos. Wow! What a
difference on my second serve, way more spin and maybe even a little more added kick. (At least that’s what my hitting partner said!) Thanks for all your help, I look forward to your emails everyday!
Dave
Coach,
We received your latest tips. My son used a little (wasn’t a lot of time to try the tips, it rained all weekend) time in the house to practice
the serve drills and will won his match in a third set tie breaker, he had a couple service winners to close out the match. It was funny to watch, once
in awhile just before he served he would practice pronating, to remind himself for his first serve. He still does not get his elbow up, but that
just takes practice. His teaching pro showed up towards the end of his match. He agreed with your serve tips. Anyway hewas the only one on his
whole team to win a match. He was thrilled and really kept his cool, the other kid was constantly questioning calls and making some very tough calls
on him. We will keep trying your tips. I, by the way, have two matches this week and I will try the serve and 1HBH tips.
Ed
Thank you so much. You have helped my serve so much!!! I haven’t tried the kick serve yet, but it is my next task to tackle!
God Bless,
~melanie
Coach Kyril,
Thank you. I faithfully read and follow your instruction. And I feel it is important for you to know how much I appreciate you and all your hard work and
tennis expertise.
I have been helped greatly with the 10 laws you sent me. I now anticipate better, I stay focused on the ball much better, I move better, I serve better, and am in better shape. All this has resulted in much better results in the league I play in. Having gone from an average player to the best player on the team. You are right, the little things done right leads to solid tennis play. Thank you for your help in improving my game.
Sincerely,
Craig
Coach,
Thx A LOT; my game has been improving since I’ve been participating!
Thx again,
Tej
Hi Coach Kyril,
I got your course in June and I wanted to give you an update on how things are going. To say my game has changed for the better would be a huge understatement. Without going on too long, I am a junior player and I ‘thought’ I was pretty good. My dad got me your course because he saw some things I needed work on, but I really didn’t think I needed any help at all. Anyway, now I ‘get it’ about to paying attention to the little things, and I jumped up 22 spots in my section ranking to 12th from 34. No way could I have done it without paying attention to the 8th Law – it’s made all the difference for me. Thanks again for what you’ve taught me.
Coach,
As a former NCAA D-1 player myself, I can honestly tell friends of mine that ‘yes, this guy knows what the hell he’s talking about.’ Your material reminds me of that old saying from golfers, “Drive for show, putt for dough.” It really is the focus on doing the ‘little’ (but up until now unknown) things that gets results.
David
Coach,
Yup, you were right – the videos definitely don’t look like they were filmed at a resort. But it’s by far the best info I’ve ever seen on what actually happens on the tennis court. I like how you show how I can do it, not just how the pros do it. Are you coming out with some more videos? Thnx for everything.
Josh
COACH!!!
Sorry, I had to shout that out! I cannot BELIEVE the difference in my game after making myself obey the 4th law. Simply unreal. I just finished going through the 5th Law, and let’s just say some ‘conditioning’ has already started to occur. Where are you located? Can I get private lessons from you? Have racket, will travel! I’ll be in touch soon!
-Barb
Here are some comments from the blog:
Ole F. Rose said
You make it so obvious. I will put that drill to action tomorrow! :) Thanks CK
Tom Antion said
I saw a guy who looked a lot like you training this same technique in Virginia Beach hahahaha This is a great drill coach and thank you for teaching it to me when you visited my area.
Joe Ciccone said
anytime I try hitting top spin, the ball usually hits the net…..can’t wait to try this ‘tip’ tomorrow at practice (early before our doubles matches begin)
I’m sure there going to help. Thanks
Laureano said
It looks so easy, I am going to do this drill tomorrow and I will tell you how I feel it.
I live in Caracas, Venezuela.
Thanks
Laureano
Ondrej said
I must try your “trick top spin stroke” at the very beginning of my tennis season (next week??). I am a beginner, have been playing tennis for two years or so.
My friends taught me to make a long swing before hitting the ball to avoid tennis elbow. Anyway, your stroke seems to be natural and effective.
Best regards from the Czech Republic.
Ondrej
Jack Walters said
I am 82 years of age, bad shoulders,arthrits, any how I play approxmately three times a week, with my peers, we have all been playing for years, not good but playing, Anyhow I am trying your new serve, and its coming along, I am fairly accurate with it, but it’s not yet achieved the power I need, but so far it good and I am enjoying working on it. We my group, were elderly and some of them don’t move to the ball like we used to do, have a tendency to stay back, a lob a lot, that not working any more well, we have one man early in seventys pretty good legs he always my apponet in our doubles, and he kicks my butt. But one day i’ll get him. Thanks a lot.
Jack
Ahmad Abdulla said
I was glad to read Mr Walters comments(the 82 years young. I am 81 &will soon be 82. I play in a country Club setting and face some of the problems outlined in Mr Walters. There are no players in the club even in their 70s.and the rest are in thei mid 60s and younger.
I am 5′ &2″ and my prblemis they keep lapping ove my head whereevwr I am located at any position in the courtand because my age I can!t run fast. I am practicing now your lesson on serving and will take and will practice the new forehand. I LIKE THE TIPS.
Thanks. Mahatta
Carol S said
I’m 52 year old female playing serious for three years and no formal training before that. My forehand is one where most of the time I can read the logo on the ball the whole time it’s headed to the other side. I’ll try this method and hopefully I can get some top spin going and give my aching elbow a break. Thanks!
Stanley Cheng said
Today, when I went to practice with other teammates (high school teammates), they mentioned that my groudstrokes were scary. It had plenty of spin, lots of power, and deep. They asked me if I practiced a lot yesterday even though I didn’t go. This is seriously something that can give a boost to my game. Thanks a lot Coach!
Hyder said
Thanks. I will seriously try it at practice today. Your demonstration is excellent I am confident I can do it.
Paul S. said
Thanks very much, Coach K!
I always thought that if I played righty, that meant that it’s a sort of dominance of the right hand, and that all the left hand did was provide stability and control on the 2-handed backhand. But that’s before I realized, by watching your video, that the right arm, in the position it’s in, can’t generate much power, and that the 2-handed backhand is just a lefty forehand with added guidance from the right hand! Thank you for that. This really changed my game, because I now pay attention to my left arm on my groundstrokes as well as my right. Your lessons are very simple, easy to understand, and help notice things I never bothered to consider before. Thanks again!
Paul
Kathleen said
What Paul said is true, but as Coach Kyril pointed out, if you approach the ball with an open stance, you ball control will suffer as well as any speed on the follow through. Thus, the correct turn of the body in the approach to the ball resulting in the torque of the lower body gives even more power behind the two handed back hand shot.
What I appreciate about Coach Kyril’s teaching is that he breaks down all the components of a shot by showing the cause and effect of good versus poor form and how all parts of a player’s body ( head up or down and keeping it still; eye’s tracking the ball;
breathing; leg and foot position; body turned, etc.) connect to bring about a stroke.
A player can practice a stroke over and over again and never see improvement, but by adjustment and improving even one component of a stroke, one can see a marked change in delivery.
Thanks Coach! Thanks for keeping it simple and honest!
Alexander Keefe said
This is pretty much all what is behind Rafael Nadal’s backhand, and why it’s so good. The commentators on television matches are always talking about how he has an advantage on the backhand since he is a natural righty, and has the extra strength, which is probably why he can dig out and retrieve so many balls on clay, or any surface for that matter, since he has the strength in the lagging hand to snap the ball back cross-court and surprise his opponent. That almost makes it as though he is doing what you said, Coach K., he is hitting a forehand on his left side, and a two-handed forehand on his right side, since that is his more normally dextrous flank. I have a one-hander myself, but this is nice to know anyways to further understand the stroke mechanics of the two-hander.
Eliezer Dusowitz said
ThankS Coach,
Count me among those who have switched from the one-handed backhand to the two-handed backhand. The movement, especially from the hips and torso, comes naturally with swinging two hands, and also decreases the potential for injury. I used to think that the one-handed backhanded looked “cooler” and more “pro”, but I have come to the realization that looks are deceiving, and if you want to become a great tennis player, you can’t worry about what anyone thinks about your game. Your video here clearly demonstrates the pros of using the 2-hand BH. Like you say in the title, this video is a no-B.S. guide to hitting the 2-hand backhand.
Thanks the vid Coach!!!!!!!!!!!!
Walt Berchin said
Coach K,
All of your videos and instruction have proved to be invaluable to me. They have improved my game immensely. I particulalrly enjoyed this video as I have traditionally used a one had backhand. While it’s been an effective stroke for me, I have never been able to achieve the pace and depth that I do when using the two-handed method. Your video has broken down and simplified this stroke for me in a very easy to understand approach. It has made the world of difference in executing this stroke effectively in my play. The coolest thing about this video, is that because of your analysis and nad breakdown of this stroke, I have been able to relay your info and teaching to my 15 year old son. He is a junior varsityHS freshmen player and has always had a shyness or aversion to using the two-handed backhand. He has always exclaimed that it felt awkward or uncomfortable to him. That is until now. I sat him down to watch your video several times and he is now using the stroke with the utmost confidence. It has made a huge difference in his game and added a diversity that he did not have before. So much so that opposing coaches have accused his coach, falsely I might add, of “stacking” the ladder by placing him in a strategic position in order to win matches. He now looks that much better against opponents in the same posioning on other teams. So, for me, that alone makes this video, and quite frankly, all of your videos worth their weight in gold. Me and my son immensely appreciate the contribution you make to all tennis players, competive and recreational alike. Thanks coach!
playtenniswithme said
Coach K,
I really appreciate the videos, they’ve been a lot of help. I had 2 questions.
1) You mentioned that the ball doesn’t pass your front leg. I tried to do that today and I definitely got a lot more power on my crosscourt backhands. I mean a lot. Thanks for the tip! I was struggling with getting them down the line like what you did at 2:45 in the video. When I was going down the line and trying to keep the ball in front of my right foot, there was not nearly enough power behind the ball as the cross court shots. It seemed as if I was trying to “guide” the ball. Is there something I’m missing?
2) During the set, when fast serves were coming at me I had no choice but to hit my backhands with an open stance since they were coming in so fast. You were right, there was absolutely no power on those shots whatsoever. Can I do anything to improve that? I would guess that an open stance backhand would require pure upper body strength?
Thanks for you videos Coach K. I’ve been watching your vids since you first came out with them and they have helped me tremendously. I love them, can’t wait for the next one.
Billy said
Thanks Coach K,
I am verrry greatful for all that I learn from you.
I don’t how I got started with you, but all I know is your short lessons have been beneficial to me and the kids I instruct in the sport. You see I am learning the sport along with trying to teach it to teenagers who believe in the things I tell them. May God bless you for helping to develop the confidence and courage in me to feel good about my tennis and the knowledge I pass on to them. Your series about the serve, and court awareness, the two-handed backhand, and even the story of the young man w/no limbs who found the passion and determination to not give up in life are just a few of your segments that I always conjure up at times of need. Keep up the good work. Your generous sharing will someday be rewarded.
M. Morgan said
I like the point at the end where you talk about the split step with your back facing your opponent. That should accomplish some nice down-the-line shots with the power coming from the legs rather than trying to pull all the power from my arms, which are not that powerful to begin with. If I can learn to use more power/torque from my legs I can maybe accomplish more power through the follow-through. Good video, Coach! Thanks!
Nick said
First off I would like to thank you for providing simply put solid instruction. It seems like whenever I try to find good tennis info a price tag always pops up in the way. Thanks for your time and effort.
On to the video, this highlights a key aspect of the two-handed backhand that eludes many. Having your off-hand dominant is the real key towards developing consistency and generating pace. It seems so simple but it ends up being enormously helpful (that pretty much summarizes all of your lessons).
Unfortunately for me I originally fell into the trap of using my right dominantly. I had a flimsy shot with little pace, which was frustrating. Eventually through a lot of practice along with trial and error I figured it out.
The main point is that you do not need to go through all the frustration of having to “figure” strokes out. After realizing this I understand why your helping all of us out. Tennis has so many traps of not doing something right that can be easily explained and therefore avoided. We just need someone to tell us, who isn’t charging us $20+ an hour.
-Your advice is greatly appreciated, Nick
Gary Schepers said
Such a simple thing but what a difference it made in my controle! I always had a dominant hand death grip while hitting my backhand. Loosening up and allowing the left hand to controle the shot greatly improved my accuracy.
To take it a step further I practiced returning my middle schoolers serves left handed to gain confidence. Now when I hit a real back hand in a match, I do so with the knowledge that is going exactly where I intended. I never would have imagined that easing up with my dominant hand could improve my back hand so much. Thanks again.
Gary
Carol S said
Waaaaah! I’m a one-handed player! In addition to Coach Kyril’s message today with the GREAT video, I just got a newsletter from another venue talking about how 9 of the top 10 men are two-handers and 29 of the top women are two-handers and their subject line asked, “Is the one-handed backhand a thing of the past?” I’ve always been proud of being a female one-handed backhand player, but I guess that was a silly thought. So with the great information in Coach Kyril’s video, I’ll work on it with the intention of being a more versatile player with the ability to hit a one-handed and two-handed backhand. Oh yeah! Thanks!
Stanley Cheng said
I tried this out today at practice and it really improved my backhand. After watching this video thoroughly, I realized that my contact was poor. I never thought of the left hand as the source of the backhand (I am a righty.) I always neglected that by using my right hand as the dominant source. If I never came across this video, I would have probably kept the poor contact. As you mentioned, the ball should not pass that right leg. Prior to watching this, I let it pass on some occasions and I kept hitting in an awkward way. And to sum up this long comment, it helped me improve to the next level. I must make it to the top, one step (or level) at a time.
Jeff said
An excellent video clip for better two-handed backhand. I like the demonstration with two-finger of non-dominated hand to prove that indeed the dominated hand for two-handed backhand is left hand (for right handed players). This is the reason why a good exercise for two-handed backhand is to practice one left hand groundstroke as shown in the video clip. Some players use right hand as dominated hand for two-handed backhand, which is how one to hit for one-handed backhand. This video clip will definitely help them to make correction. This raises an interesting question, what roles right hand play? One role is to stabilize racquet swing as mentioned in the video clip. I would think there are two other important roles, one is to facilitate whip like motion of racquet swing, the other is to act as a pivot for racquet to have more angular momentum.
elizabeth halliday said
Thanks for the backhand lesson Coach K. You look great! Your new fitness/diet regime is working mos def. I particularly needed the reminder to make contact with the ball IN FRONT of my body. Many 2-handed backhands lately have been shanking off left. Hitting balls too late, hitting them too defensively, not generating pace. By hitting out in front, and using left hand for power, I’ll be able to turn defence to offence.
John K said
Coach K…
I coach a girls tennis team and I need all the help I can get. Most of them use a two-hander and your explanation of how the left hand actually is the key to success for this stroke is a huge help. I plan to encourage them to watch your video. You make it look so simple. I think the idea of hitting with the left hand for a while and then gradually adding the right hand is a great tip. Also, shoulder turn shoulder turn shoulder turn, drilling this into the head is critical. I like how you provide the no BS approach to illustrating the importance of the shoulder turn.
Thanks!
Jason Sun said
After reading this, I couldn’t believe that I had never thought of this before. A ‘forehand on the back side’, I use a double handed backhand and it’s never been the same after watching this video. I was mis-hitting a lot of backhands because of my open stance and had a weird swing path. You managed to help me in both of those in one video. First of all after thinking about the two handed backhand as a forehand I went to the courts and had a hit but since my forehand was a weapon i took my left hand off the handle. (I am a lefty by the way). Then I hit a couple of shots with my right hand forehand and i was trying to use the same swing path as my forehand. Then I did a close stance then kept my head down and hit a two handed backhand,. :) That first hit it was sensational, now I am as confident as ever I can actually stay in a rally and as I put it, I can attack with both wings now. All day I can hit my backhand it felt great. My forehand and backhand. Thank you so much Coach wish you would coach me.;)
Jason
Alex said
Thank you very much for these videos. This video has really improved my backhand. I know this may seem odd but a little detail you mentionged was almost just as important as the left hand for me. When you said the right hand was for guidance I could suddenly aim my shots a whole lot better. It is truly helpful to think of this as a forehand. My pace has really improved thanks to these simple ideas. I hope to see more videos.
John Gill said
Hi Coach K I am a current tournament player and coach and that is the best description of how to hit a two handed backhand I have seen on video or books. You have a simple yet extremely effective method of coaching as you get straight to the point so well done!
Thankyou and Regards,
John Gill
Hanne said
Coach Kyrill,
Great!..just Great!..you´ve saved me hundreds of crowns..which they’re going to be use in booking a indoor court.I´m 40+ and thanks to your video is funny to play and to see that my game improves all the time.
The simplicity of your explanations fit my understanding of tennis.
gerry said
Hi Coach Kyril
I am in my 40’s took up tennis only three years ago and have no time for any BS! I am a keen student of the game and playing four times a week but even my wonderful coach cannot explain with your clarity what I am trying to achieve.
cheers Coach
Nick S said
Coach, I have been having trouble with my backhand, but having watched your video, I notice that the right leg (for righty’s) stays pinned to the ground and does not move with the shot. I think that is what I was doing wrong.
Thanks for your help!
Nick
Ed Matheson said
Hi Coach. Just want to say THANK YOU for all the e-mails and great videos. I play tennis every morning with a group of retires, we play all year and usually have five or six courts going for three hours. I am 70 years old and probably the only one in the group that is still trying to improve his game. On the way to the courts I select two or three “KEYS” I plan to focus on that day. These “KEYS” are usually fundamentals:
Your information provides me with some great “KEYS” and as a result my concentration and game is improving every day. I look forward to receiving your “Tips.”
Thanks again for all that you do.
Kate said
Thanks so much for another excellent tennis video! The great aspect of this video (and all your other instruction) is the emphasis on simplicity and applying the correct fundamentals. After watching this video, I immediately knew exactly what to do to improve my two handed backhand stroke. Many other instructional materials provide good ideas, but they are not as easy to implement into my game. And what good is knowing the correct thing to do but being unable to apply it?
Your videos give me the confidence that I can become a great player with consistent practice and application of the ideas in the videos, which has skyrocketed my motivation to hit the courts. I am enjoying tennis like never before, thanks to your excellent instruction.
Hitting off the backboard this afternoon, I knew exactly what to work on for my two handed backhand, which is normally solid but has felt a little off the past couple of weeks. Using your suggestion of hitting with just the left hand for a little while, I found that when I switched back to two hands, my stroke felt so smooth, solid, fluid, and controlled. The idea of using the right hand as a guide and hitting the ball out front was also spot on. It felt amazing to unload on the ball again with control. I am so excited that I not only have gotten my feel back, but that I am hitting the shot better than ever before.
With great tennis instruction that I can use, I have the confidence that I possess a real shot of achieving my long term goal of becoming an All-Conference Division 1 tennis player. Thank you SO much!!!
Steven said
First off, I want to say that your tips have helped me so much in improving my game. I’ve been a subscriber since July, and ever time you post something I learn a new thing. These videos on the 1HBH (including the youtube one) have helped me so much. It used to be a liability and the reason I would lose so many matches, but now it’s solid enough to where I can hit winners and not just lobs. I’ve moved from playing doubles on my HS team to the 1/2 singles spot, and I can honestly say it’s because of what you taught on the 1HBH and everything else as well.
Kevin Rodriguez said
this video is awesome it helped me during a game against my younger brother. I was serving and it was 15-40 and my brother was really giving it to me on my backhand side kinda reminded me of rafa lol. anyways as I served he chipped the return deep to the backhand corner as he sprinted up to the net right then i remembered this video and spread my fingers across my grip after that was done magic my friends happened magic. I got low and came up underneath the ball and hit a cross court passing shot at an angle for a minute that i could not even believe that i hit. for a second i thought roger himself had possessed me and helped lol. my brother sat there at net looking at me in awe at my reply. after that point i hit 2 more winners from my backhand side and got the score to deuce where i held serve. and i have to thank coach kyril for this video because if it wasnt for him i would have never heard the end of it from my little brother. by the way i ended up winning the set we played 6-3.
jeren goldstein said
I generally don’t like to turn my back on somebody, but in this case it was the deal maker. My backhand has always been trusty, but not exactly a weapon, more like an old Chevy–it got me there. Once I started turning my back on the competition, it got mighty peppy: I’d estimate 15 miles peppier. After a couple of hundred balls using the “turn your back and smack” (as I call it), I actually started running around my forehand to hit backhands.
And one more thing–and this was the real topper–suddenly I could hit my backhand down the line. I realized that when I had been trying to go down the line with my shoulders perpendicular to the net, I was already too open. But once I closed my shoulders, the down the line shot was another weapon in my bag. Thanks! This feels like winning the tennis lottery!
Freddie Asis said
Your video and related instructions on 1HBH are wonderful. I’ve been playing tennis for more than 10 years and seen a lot of “how to improve” videos and instructions but none comes close in terms of content and stroke analysis. One thing that differs you on this particular video from the rest is the need to spread my fingers in holding the racket vs. the hammer type for control and power. I would think that this also minimizes (if not prevents) the development of tennis elbow associated with 1HBH.
Mo said
Man coach your lessons are like drugs!!
once you start watching them your hooked to know how you do it
i dont know maybe its just me.. but by the looks of it
it isnt short and sweet thats the best way to describe your lessons
iv seen those other how to serve vids and let me tell you CK you teach it better and in a shorter time
(ive seen some that are lke 20 mins of crap) hope you make more!! Mo.
Coach Dad said
Coach K.
Just wanted to let you know, that after watching the videos on your power serve, my son (13) was able to fine tune it into a more accurate weapon. He was already over 110 mph, it’s just gotten faster, and he moved up an age group in the USTA Jrs. We have had several other instructors try and assist, but weren’t able to cut through the fat of a private lesson to get to the meat. Thank you for the think straight, talk straight, no sugar coating information. We can’t wait for release 2.0.
Raja Ramesh said
Hi,
This serve instruction is excellent, Pancho Gonzalez and Rod Laver all served the same way.
Zashire said
Wow! Your lessons are absolutely amazing! I found your website by total accident when I was searching google for help on my backhand. I started watching one of your videos, and was hooked immediately. When I saw the black screen with your URL on it at the end, I had to see what was on it… and let me tell you, it was totally worth it.
I just had a tennis lesson today and found that my backhand is severely lacking because I haven’t been able to get to a court more than once a week (with the cold weather and all) since last October. I’m a freshman in high school, and I played on the team last fall. I managed to make 1st singles (Junior Varsity) after only having played for less than a year. In the matches that followed, I found that I was making some obvious mistakes, but when I asked, my coach wasn’t able to help me fix any problems… so I ended up sticking with my flawed footwork and jerky swings for the rest of the season.
Soon after, I continued my lessons at the local park district. I was in a group of about fifteen students whose ages ranged from nine to sixteen. It was hard for our coach to get to all of us because of the sheer number, so most of our minor mistakes went untouched, and still have been up until today. I honestly cannot wait to get out to the tennis courts again sometime this week to try all of this out. I know it will work, and I’m really excited to start helping myself get better at serving and backhanding… I’ll try out the forehand tutorial if I have time!
I feel very awkward for having written so much here. It’s just, well, I’m really excited to get the show on the road since the warm weather is on its way (finally!). I also can’t wait to start playing every day when the season starts again. Hopefully I’ll be able to get on varsity if I start being more consistent with everything. Thank you so much for taking the time to do this! I really don’t see many people do these kinds of things for free anymore. It’s really nice to see people willing to help others just for feeling the joy of seeing those others accomplish what they’ve always wanted to attain. I’m glad people like that are still around. :)
Thank you again for doing this, and I’ll be off to the tennis courts whenever I can to try this out.
Great video lessons,
Zashire
Bryan said
I enjoy this video so much because I would have never guessed shifting my weight and hopping to the left foot would dramtically increase my serve like it did only learning it a week ago. Faster spin, more power, and accuracy even! (literally won me most of my recent sets at practice)
You vids are amazing, Kyril, going off of them, I was able to reach near varsity this year, when I only started Tennis last year stuck at the bottom.
Keep up the good work, its helping so many people!
Miles said
These videos are great! The one that has helped the most was the Roddick serving video because for the past year i have lost my serve and have not been able to find a good clean motion again even with the help of coaches, ive asked multiple coaches but all they can say is work on your toss and i know for a fact that it was not the best thing i could do for my serve. but after watching the videos and practicing the one foot-then two foot motions i have finally found my serve again and it feels so great to have this big part of my game back. i finally have a cleanly timed serve and i feel i can put my serve wherever i want with whatever spin and i finally have faith in my 2nd serve. the other video which has really helped me is the one handed backhand video. i hit a 1hbh and ever since ive had one ive had a decent motion but there’s always been something missing that has made it a liability instead of a weapon. but after watching the video the two main tips of showing your opponent you back and the relaxed spread out grip has really filled the holes in what has been missing in my backhand. before i did not rotate my body enough so it was mostly just arm strength but none of my coaches told me what i was doing wrong. earlier i went to tucson for a training trip and after concentrating on the advice given in the videos i had seen great improvement in both my serve and backhand. it feels sooooooooo great to KNOW that my backhand is now a weapon rather than a major weakness in my game. i had recently bumped up my colorado ranking from 86 to 14 in a matter of months(but now i am no longer eligible in the 16s so im now working on 18s). With the confidence brought from improving my backhand and serve other areas of my game also improved. All i can say is THANK YOU COACH KYRIL!!!!!
Aditya Bandi said
I love the videos, I’m basically learning tennis from these. Hard to imagine that only about a month ago i was serving underhand or a paddycake serve. Now i actually make the serves in consistently with a real grip. Its a lot of practice. I go to UCSC, who are DIV 3 champs and I picked up tennis last year around November. I cant really afford tennis lessons or coaching so these videos are a real life saver. I have a nice 2-handed back hand, a fluid forehand, and a pretty consistent serve. Also i’ve started working more on my footwork and fitness because i now really understood that getting in position is the most important aspect of the game.
Thanks a lot for being my coach, even though you dont know about it!
Adi
Joe said
I could identify with your lady of your second case study in two ways. First, she was someone who played when young and then was away from tennis for a while. It is the same with me. I played a lot when I was a teenager, but only during the summer. It was just playing with friends, but we could sure get intense in the competition. None of us ever had lessons because the economics of our families didn’t have a budget category for things like that, so I know I developed some bad habits which seemed to work for me at the time. My playing stopped when we all went off to college, and then I started up again after I retired, living in a community with tennis courts as one of the amenities. Now I am playing three times a week for about two hours each time. I love it and will be continuing even though I have to play through the pain of these old feet. My layoff from tennis, you could calculate, was about 46 years.
Now, the retirement budget still doesn’t allow for tennis lessons so I did the same thing that your lady talked about — checking out the internet to get some pointers — and that is where I found you. I can’t compare you to live tennis teachers since I never had one, but I do like the way you break things down. I watched your power serve movies and liked how you broke it down into four phases, and I have started to try these out. It is hard to break old habits that you’ve gotten comfortable with, and I think your phased approach is the best way to do it.
I appreciate that you have these free tips, and I have to admit that I’m curious about your full course and the ten laws. I’ll continue playing tennis because it is great exercise and I enjoy it, but I am also a competitive person so I want to improve.
Richard Label said
I immensely enjoyed watching the videos of the two-step serve as well as the one-handed backhand. What struck me as overwhelmingly obvious was not the game-changing techniques, techniques that were effective because they were simple, but your excitement and love of the game of tennis. As a retired teacher, I realize that the pinnacle of that love is to teach others what you have discovered. Thank you. I look forward to seeing future videos and tips from your newsletter
Stone said
The video that helped me the most was the kick serve video. Last year I was looking for a slice top-spin serve. But I realized that my own kick serve was not top notch yet. Through research I realized that i could still put even more spin on the ball. I kept on hitting a kick serve contenetal getting atleast four feet when the ball bounced with pace but I couldn’t get that extra kick. After your little tip about switching to an eastern backhand grip my kick serve improved a great deal. Plus I realized that I need more head speed on my racket in order to pull of a great kick serve. My frustration and confusion dissapeared.
Walt said
Coach Kyril,
First of all, I am a 48 yo male and have been playing tennis for less than a year. While being athletically inclined and a usual quick study, I am still learing and fine-tuning my game. All of your videos are so amazing! I have learned so much from you. As a matter of fact, I have been on your e-mail list for quite some time now and what I’ve created is a binder of all your lessons that I have received in my e-mails to date. I’ve got a neat looking binder with a sweet picture of Roger Federer doing his signature backhand inserted in the front sleeve. I have a table of contents and each lesson is separated individually. I have referred to your lessons time and again and they have proven invaluable to the improvement of my game.
Fast forward to now. I am really glad that you have put the effort into creating this new site with all of your videos. While they are all very helpful and useful, and I have implemented elements from all of them, I am particularly fond of your two-handed backhand video. I was a player who found the two-hand backhand as awkward and uneffective. I watched so many players achieve great success with it. I tried using it on several occasions but I naturally wanted to use a one-handed back hand…it just felt very natural to me. I tried several times to implement the two-handed shot but with no success at all. After watching your video and hearing you break it down to it’s most simple elements, I now understand the shot fully and am having great success with it. I guess I never realized, or even more so, it was never taught to me that the right hand (for a righty) is just there as a I guide. You brilliantly and simply displayed this in your video and emphasized that the pwer is generated from your left (foe a righty). Additionally, you indicated the correct grips which in the past I have been told several different ways to do it.
Coach, I just want to say thank you from the bottom of my heart for all the things you are doing to improve the tennis game for people of all ages and all over. You are truly a gem and your instruction is easy to understand and digest. You have an uncanny way of taking something complex and breaking it down to it’s simplest form. Thanks for making my game complete!
Walt
Steve said
I can’t wait to practice my serving since I watched your serving video’s. I am confident that my game will improve a lot once I implement this into my game.
Thanks
Steve
Dear Coach Kyril
I am a fan of yours from Greece. I have been watching your videos and I have found them so helpful and so adequately presented. I want to congratulate you for your simplicity of presenting all the different types of serves and also the pronation technique.
I think we the people who want to improve ourselves in tennis have just found an excellent teacher ! Just keep up the great work that you do and keep differentiating yourself from the rest of the coaches who share their knowledge little by little……
Congratulations again…
Tassos
Hi coach Kyril,
First of all, I am really appreciate of your work on the videos and the interesting articles and emails you sent. I was a complete beginner last summer of 2008. I was interested in tennis for my whole life but I didn’t have the fortunate to apply my life to this great sport ever. But then I decided to try out for my high school tennis team this school year.
I searched all over youtube to learn the basics and practice like crazy to improve my games. I ran into a lot of great videos and some
of them were yours. And guess what? I made it to rank varsity exhibition on the team on my first try, there were 50 people trying out. So looking at my scenario and remembered your story of how you came to love tennis. I feel like you made a part of my tennis life greater. Thank you very much.
Nguyen T.
Wow coach, I must say you really improved my serving by 90 percent. I was totally shocked how much the speed increased with little effort thanks to the mechanics you showed on the video. I say this because my instructor has totally changed the grip
on my serve. I have been serving with the wrong grip for years. I was using the semi-western grip to hit. I was successful and it and it was a fast and flat first serve, but my second serve was lacking. It was a struggle switching to a new grip.
I worked on it for a while and finally got the timing down for it, but was lacking the speed from when I was hitting with the semi-western grip. I cam across your video, and totally changed it in LITERALLY overnight. I was serving with having my right foot come behind my left foot, so I was essentially taking off on only one foot
which was my left. However, with your mechanics and technics I was able to generate more pace in a relaxed fashion. I had to work so much harder and serving to get the pace I wanted. Your technique allows me to generate pace without struggling or
putting more muscle to it.
Thanks.
BJ
Hi Coach Kyril,
I got the first Tennis Lessons from you which I enjoyed very much .
I already put the “killer service” and “one handed backhand” on court and surprisingly it works , after only 2 weeks .
It was a wonderful and unexpected surprise , and all that because of you ( I am already committed to ) .
Of cause , I need more coordination and to do this without thinking , naturally , as you do it ( Now I believe that it will come ) .
With regards to staying balanced for efficient movement , and how much is important to get on time at a right position , I understand what you mean .
I’m going on a trip for a week just tomorrow , so when I’ll be back home I start again .
A lot of thanks , Ervin
Hi Coach.
Thank you for all your emails, I bring my laptop to the court and read as I practice. I dunno how I could have done this without your step by step guide. However im dying to know the “rules of tennis” you have been talking about. Is that what your sending out now, one mail at a time? Otherwise, how can I get them?
Thanks in advance! your greatest norwegian fan, Ole
Coach,
Your one handed backhand video really has helped me! Still have some work (I’m a 3.5 player) but some of your tips started helpin, day one!
Kent Blacksher
Hi,
Thank you very much for the tip!!! I felt that the answer always was in your videos but I really did not know what drill exactly to use. Thanks coach!!!
Respectfully Yours
Daniel
Coach,
Great – thanks very much!
My girlfriend (and mixed doubles partner) wondered if you might able to pop over to the UK and give us some tactical advice, but I thought that might be pushing it! :-)
Look forward to seeing the new stuff in the spring.
Cheers,
Chris
Coach Kyril – Thank you. I look forward to reviewing your videos. I absolutely eat & breath tennis so this is a treat.
Chazz
Dear Coach K,
Thanks so much!! Your instruction has been extremely helpful in areas beyond my tennis game as well. You have helped me realize that there is nothing mystical about success. Excellence is simply the result of knowing the correct things to do and *applying* them. Thanks SO much! Have a great day and God bless.
Sincerely,
Kate
Coach Kyril…I’m 58 and not up on u-tube or posting video on
blogs…but i just wanted to let you know i tried your drill and it has
been a big help. I use it as part of my forehand routine since i
received it via e-mail…thank-you
James
Hi! Thx for all the videos. I have seen loads of videos in the internet about tennis coaching on other websites but your teachings are very unique.
Bye and thx!!!
Alex
Hey Coach, I hope this email reaches you,
I just wanted to thank you (and I know you must be used to hearing this all the time) but your advice is BY FAR the most useful on court. I think I have learnt 10 times as much from you than I have from my coach (no offence to him). You are an inspiration to me :)
I wish I could hire you as a coach, because I really would!
-Anita
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