The first tennis swing should look right before a ball is involved. Shadow swinging builds the path. Turn, drop, lift, follow. No ball, no pressure. Just the motion.
What you need: A youth tennis racquet (19, 21, or 23 inches depending on age). Open space.
Setup: Kid in athletic stance with the racquet ready.
How to run it:
- Cue: Turn, Drop, Lift, Follow.
- Turn: shoulders rotate, racquet goes back beside the body.
- Drop: racquet head drops below the imaginary ball.
- Lift: swing forward and up, contacting an imaginary ball at waist height.
- Follow: racquet finishes over the opposite shoulder.
What to watch: The follow-through. A swing that stops at contact has no power. The racquet has to finish over the shoulder.
If they’re struggling: Walk through each step slowly. Coach calls each cue word.
If they’ve got it: Add a balloon or beach ball. They hit the balloon with the same motion.
Gear for this drill (affiliate)
Orange tennis balls (12-pack) → — slower-bounce balls for learning groundstrokes.
Junior tennis racquet → — HEAD Speed, pre-strung for beginners.
Full tennis gear guide → — all picks by age, sport, and level.
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