Finishing Your Strokes Is Crucial

Tennis is a game of precision and finesse, where every shot counts towards the final outcome of the match. One of the most critical aspects of playing successful tennis is finishing your strokes correctly. However, people will always argue that finishing our strokes is not important at all. The ball is already gone, so it doesn’t matter what the racket does afterwards. In other cases, players will argue that it gives them more control or it simply decelerates the racket.

While the latter part of that sentence is true, there are more parts to this. Therefore, understanding the importance of finishing your strokes in tennis is a huge contributor to your overall success on the tennis court.

Humans vs Robots

I will admit that once the ball leaves the string bed, there is nothing you can do about the outcome of the ball. Now, the thing that makes this part of your shots so important is that we are human beings. Even if we tried repetitively to completely stop the stroke right at the moment of contact, it would be impossible.

We are talking about the small amount of deceleration after contact. There is simply so much acceleration built up inside our body. Hence, although the skeptics are right about the racket decelerating after contact, this happens for a reason.

In other words, when we strike a tennis ball, there is a delay between our intention and our muscle executing the action. Using the forehand as an example, players have to give themselves the maximum amount of acceleration around the contact zone in order to hit a solid shot. Your mind becomes free, the racket increments its speed through contact, and by also hitting through the ball, the shot has good pace.

On the other hand, by trying to reduce the size of your finish, you will start slowing down the stroke prior to the contact and you won't have maximum acceleration. In order to do this, you will most likely have to tense up and squeeze the grip.

For a sport where being efficient is key, having common sense helps players recognize how much better accelerating through the shot will be for your game.

Ball Trajectory

The amount of acceleration that you can obtain due to the finish of your stroke is amazing, but how you are going to play the ball is also determined by this. A great way of understanding this is by thinking of only two players. Rafael Nadal and Juan Martín del Potro.

These players have two completely different forehands and twin completely different finishes. If we intend to have a very high finish, there is more of a likelihood that our racket will take a more steep trajectory. On the other hand, by deciding to hit more through and behind the ball, the ball will most likely be extremely flat.

Forehand Finishes

It doesn't really matter where you finish your forehand, for this has to match your style of play. Personally, I prefer to finish my forehand around the same height of my shoulder. However, when I play and I am a bit tight and nervous I end up finishing only in front of my body. This is somewhat similar to how players used to play back in the 80s early 90s.

Although I don’t have a problem with where exactly you finish your forehand, it is important to always follow through all the way. Limiting your finish will interrupt your torso rotation, shorten your swing abruptly, as well as rob you loads of power and control.

Applying Topspin

The best way to apply topspin to your forehand while keeping a complete follow through is going to be the old-school way. Your intention will be to be as vertical as possible with your swing, allowing the racket to come over your shoulder.

Finishing in the range from your elbow to the shoulder is the easiest and cleanest way to apply topspin for a recreational player. In fact, many high level players also hit their forehands this way. It is simply really simple, comfortable, and efficient.

Hitting Your Back

Fortunately, it is much easier to finish your shots on the back hand side than on your forehand. When talking about the one-handed backhand, players will need a finish that goes at least above your shoulder. It is important to do this since your arm can’t bend backwards, meaning you can’t go up and down around, like on the forehand. To add, some players tend to this sometimes, which actually becomes a noticeable flaw on their one handed backhand.

If you hit your backhand with two hands, a simple tip people can follow is to hit themselves in the back with their racket. Doing this will ensure you are getting both of your elbows up and swinging from low to high. However, take note that it is important to lift from the shoulders and not from mere bicep strength, as it causes your swing to abbreviate.

Differing Circumstances

Your strokes’ finishes can also depend on what type of ball you’re hitting. T here will be times where everything I said will be reversed and you will need to hit a hit forehand going high to low or simply with a very parallel trajectory. In addition, maybe you are closer to the net approaching a high sitter ball that is ready to be attacked.

Instead, I am talking about your bread and butter shots when I ask you to finish your strokes while maintaining a low to high swing. Players usually don’t put enough effort when it matters the most. As long as your chest is pointed to the other side of the fence, it will be clear you have reached the maximum amount of finish on your shot.

What’s more, sometimes your racket is moving at triple digit speed, so there is not much that can be controlled. We are at the mercy of physics that all you need to do is give the racket time to decelerate after so much acceleration.

Final Thoughts

Finishing your strokes with a prolonged follow through is extremely key to having success on the tennis court. Whether you do so around your elbow or next to your shoulder, don’t try to force yourself into decelatring before contact. A full finish allows you to accelerate all the way through contact and hit the ball with a decent amount of spin. To add, it helps your accuracy on the court, helps prevent injuries, and adds variety to your shots.

Completing your follow through should work the same way as running. You don’t stop until the end. The only way to differentiate the two is by realizing how much better tennis is.