How I Taught a 70-Year-Old Man to Hit With Topspin

tennis balls in net

A few years ago, the father of one of my students told me he wanted to take a couple of tennis lessons so I can teach him how to hit with topspin. This gentleman was about 70 years old and a reputable doctor in Southern California.

My first approach with him was to check his grip. I explained to him that in order to create more topspin on his groundstrokes, he needed to make a grip adjustment.

He was using a continental grip (on his forehand); I slowly helped him to make the transition to an eastern and then to a close to semi-western grip.

That, followed by a couple of other minor technical improvements (stance and swing), gave him a very good understanding and feel of how to hit with more topspin, and power, and keep a lot more balls in.

It took us a few sessions (about 10 – with a lot of questions and frustrating moments here and there :)) but then he ended up surprising his doubles buddies with his new strokes; as a result, his confidence and enjoyment for the game got to a new high level.

You see, many times the minor adjustments that we make in our tennis technique can be the foundation of our overall capability to play at our full potential.

Cosmin Miholca

Cosmin Miholca

Certified Tennis Coach

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