Shadow Tennis by Clay Maynor, Head Tennis Professional Mount Pleasant Rec Department

Laurel Maynor Junior Tennis Player

A tip I frequently recommend to players of all levels is to practice shadowing their strokes at home. This can be done with or without a racket and a mirror. A few minutes of swinging relaxed and freely in a controlled environment is a great way to make refinements in your technique. Shadowing strokes and footwork provides the opportunity to gain valuable repetitions while promoting muscle memory and confidence. 

I like to tell players if you can shadow a shot perfectly without the ball, it is going to be so much easier with the ball! Tennis skills are improved by practicing the feeling of the desired stroke and footwork rather than the knowledge of it. Performing your shadow strokes for a few minutes every day will lead to consistency and carryover back on the court. So enjoy getting the flow and rhythm of a shot in the privacy of your home and keep improving despite the cold weather !

Clay Maynor

Clay Maynor,
Head Tennis Professional, Mt. Pleasant Rec Department,
29 year USPTA Elite Professional,
Former NCAA Div 1 player and head coach