Modern Tennis
Modern Tennis is not as complicated and fancy as people may think. My definition of Modern Tennis is to play tennis the way the body is meant to move in the most optimal and effective way, the Lock and Roll Method. These days, due to racquet technology, players are able to swing the racquet as if it is an extension of their arms, hitting tennis balls at lightning speed. Players no longer swing at the ball linearly (Old-School or Classic) because it takes too much time and does not generate enough power. These days, players swing in a rotational path (Modern Tennis) which allows the body to move faster, especially the arms.
When I ponder upon Modern Tennis, there are immediate words that pop into my mind. Those words are: Open-Stance, Topspin, Coil and Uncoil ( Lock and Roll ), Loading step and Push-off. Although each tennis stroke has evolved to a certain degree, the most transformed, controversial and talked about stroke in Modern Tennis is the Forehand. Often times, the Forehand is the shot that catapults players into becoming number one in the world.
Details such as what grip to use, how to take back a racquet, when and where to make contact with the tennis ball, how to follow-through with the racquet and etc. are all important. However, without moving your body effectively, it will hinder the growth of any tennis player. If you carefully observe the best tennis professionals, they all move their body similarly in order to strike the tennis ball.
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The video below describes how a modern tennis player uses their body to hit a ball in a simple and tangible way. I apply this technique myself and have taught many students, ranging from young to old, novice to advanced. I have experienced tremendous success with this Lock and Roll Method of Movement. (Check Out the Viewer Comments Page on this site.)
Lock and Roll Tennis ( How to Play Modern Tennis the Right Way! )
Have you ever watched amazing tennis professionals (ex. Roger Federer, Novak Djokovic, Rafael Nadal, Pete Sampras and Andre Agassi) and wonder how they hit a tennis ball so hard while remaining so relaxed? Of course there are many minute details to the way a professional player can rip a tennis ball, but it can be broken down into two main steps. I’ve named these two steps, “Lock and Roll.” “Lock and Roll“ is an easy way to remember to move your body to “twist and release” or “coil and uncoil.” This perspective is designed for any player who is able to make consistent contact with the tennis ball, wanting to take their game to the next level. The main strokes: the Serve, the Forehand, the Backhand, the Volleys and the Overhead all require, to a different degree, this “Lock and Roll” Movement.
A Little Bit of History
In the mid-70’s, Bjorn Borg, a former #1 player in the world, popularized a new style of hitting during his era called, Topspin and Open-Stance Forehand. There have been players in the past who have used the Topspin shot during their games to mix things up every once in a while. However, Borg used the Topspin shot on the Forehand and Backhand as a regular stroke. These days, the Topspin and Open-Stance Forehand is the most used amongst top tennis professionals. The Open-Stance Forehand portrays the best example of the Lock and Roll movement, due to the amount of twisting that is required for the body to execute a shot correctly.
The Little Monkey Drum
There are many different names for this instrument, but out of all of them, I like “monkey drum.” For those who have seen the original Karate Kid II movie, played by Ralph Macchio, you can recall the scene in the movie when everyone is using this instrument. This instrument signifies a direct parallel to the Lock and Roll movement. Visualize the drum as the human core (abdominals and chest), the two strings as arms and the attached handle as legs. The monkey drum is initiated by rotating the handle back and forth with two hands. Once the handle starts rotating, the tiny balls attached to the end of the strings hit the drum effortlessly. The human body can imitate this exact movement of the drum. This is precisely how a professional tennis player moves their body to hit the ball powerfully with very little effort.
I ran into one of your videos in youtube and glad I did. I then decided to type in your url, and I am glad to say this is my go to site for tennis reference. You did a great job explaining and showing everything. I plan to send you a video for evaluation. Thank you for making this site. Informational, and professional, with a hint of comedy (saw the tricks video).
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Tim Reply:
August 3rd, 2011 at 6:33 pm
Spot on summary
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laradmin Reply:
August 3rd, 2011 at 1:10 pm
So glad you found this website! I really appreciate your comment. Please send your video and get the word out! Thanks
Tae (lockandrolltennis)
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Great website, simple design, easy to find everything. I absolutely love the example of using a monkey drum as an analogy to tennis strokes. I only started playing two years ago when I was 15 but I have worked hard and I am trying to improve to a point where I can compete in tournaments and I will be referencing your technique videos along the way. Hopefully at some point I will get the chance to film my strokes to post for analysis. Thank you for providing all of these great lessons!
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laradmin Reply:
August 3rd, 2011 at 9:45 pm
Awesome! Good to hear that the monkey drum concept works for you! Please do send your video. Thanks
Tae (lockandrolltennis)
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I like your videos: )
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lockandrolltennis Reply:
August 7th, 2011 at 5:24 pm
Thank You!
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Your lesson programs are great!
They are easily understood and educational.
Did you shoot these videos in Hawaii? Which tennis club?
I used to play in Oahu Club in Hawaii Kai when I was young.
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lockandrolltennis Reply:
August 14th, 2011 at 10:05 pm
Thanks! I shot these videos in Irvine, California.
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Love your videos on Utube..the lock and roll concept has even helped my golf game !!
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lockandrolltennis Reply:
August 27th, 2011 at 9:06 pm
Thanks! Interesting you say that because when I realized golf has very similar movements, my golf game improved as well! =)
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I’m from Treviso, Italy and i love your videos and your lesson programs!
Everyday i watch your video and i take your tips for improve my tennis!
Great website, if i coming to California…sure that i go to Irvine for a contact!
(the same if you coming in Italy…)
Thanks
Anthony
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lockandrolltennis Reply:
September 6th, 2011 at 1:17 pm
Please do contact me when ever you are in California! I would love to visit Treviso, Italy. Let me know if you can host me, my wife and baby. We’ll go there in trade for some lessons. =)
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hey,
first of all this is a great site. you have covered all the shots and footwork in detail with good explanation. pictures themselves cover the basics very well and I would like to thank you for all these. However, It would be great if you could bring in strategy tactics along with the shots. I believe shots alone, without tactics make tennis incomplete. I hope to see atleast few basic strategies discussed. Thanks once again.
Regards
Manas
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YOU ARE AMAZING!
YOUR EXPLANATIONS ARE VERY CLEAR AND YOUR DEMOSTRATIONS ARE VERY “CLEAN” (NO PERSONALIZATION) .
FROM ITALY
RICCARDO
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lockandrolltennis Reply:
September 6th, 2011 at 1:19 pm
Thanks for your compliment! Please let others know about this site!
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Good Free Tennis lesson online
My daughter watched your video and right away use it to teach her Dad. She is only 8, her dream to be world No1. She is familiar with all the terms you used and technicly are very good. We live in Australia and haven’t find a coach as good as your video. If you come to Australia we would like to host your family in trade with your lessons.
Regards
A tennis parent
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lockandrolltennis Reply:
September 7th, 2011 at 12:30 am
Awesome! Your daughter is 8 years old and she understands all this?! The dad must be lucky to have a daughter as a coach! =)
We would love to visit Australia! Which city do you live in? Probably have to wait a little because my baby boy is 3 months old. Lets keep in touch!
Tae
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please the Lock and roll tennis newsletter
thank you
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lockandrolltennis Reply:
September 13th, 2011 at 11:02 am
Working on it. Appreciate your patience. Thanks!
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Pretty nice post. I just stumbled upon your blog and wanted to mention that I’ve really enjoyed browsing your blog posts. After all I will be subscribing for your rss feed and I hope you write again soon!
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lockandrolltennis Reply:
September 22nd, 2011 at 12:02 am
Thanks! I will be sending out a newsletter very soon.
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Superb job! Thanks for sharing!
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lockandrolltennis Reply:
September 27th, 2011 at 11:53 am
It’s my pleasure! Thanks for checking out the site!
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Hi, Great educational videos, I watch and subscribed them on you tube. Are you giving lessons at Irvine, I am at north county of San Diego and would like to take your lessons.
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Hi Tae,
I have been following you videos for the last couple days and I am so glad that I have found you. Thanks so much for the afford that you put in.
As you mention that you’d recorded those videos in Irvine, Ca. I am currently living in Westminster, CA. which is not too far away from you. Do you teach group lessons? We have a group of friends whose playing tennis 3 times a week but honestly we are sucks.
If it is possible that you can send me schedule of those classes or how much it would cost for those lessons. Your reply would be very appreciated.
Thanks,
Hoang
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lockandrolltennis Reply:
October 3rd, 2011 at 2:13 pm
I’ve sent you a message. Keep playing!!
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Do you have an estimated time when your premium site will be online?
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lockandrolltennis Reply:
November 7th, 2011 at 1:10 pm
Thanks for your interest! The estimated time that I will launch the premium site will be in early to mid December. I’m shooting totally new videos with much greater details. The audio and visual quality will be a lot better and the site will be very easy to navigate almost like Youtube. I’m really looking forward to launchin the premium site! Thanks again.
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Thank you for the videos. It helps a lot. I am just a recreational player who has never played on a team, has taken some lessons, but love the game. I realize that you mentioned that you will do a video analysis of my strokes. However, I live very close to in Fullerton. I don’t know if you would be willing to do an analysis live as long as I make a trip down to Irvine. I wouldn’t mind, I just want to get better. Thanks.
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Excellent website. I love it when a coach can practice what he preaches and you deliver all the goods.
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I watched and watched and watched , repeatedly your videos and I find them correct in every possible way ! I study tennis (books , video analysis , bio mechanic approaches ) for the last 4 years and have been playing the game for more than 20 years. You pack enormous information in very little space !
You do what you teach and this matters a lot. there are things you could mention on your explanations (closing the racket face on the forehand backswing or opening the racket face on the backhand slice follow through or keeping your head calm on all strokes , or breathing out on all strokes) , but if someone watches you closely gets all the answers.
Thank you for such a great website and hope that more people would benefit from you as I did !
Wish you all the best !!!
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Kent Reply:
November 29th, 2011 at 7:04 pm
@Charles
Indeed, I had a lot of “a ha” moments after watching these videos. Better than a lot of instructional clips out there on the tubes.
Thank you Tae and cannot wait for more to come from you.
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Hi Tae. I’ve a question . In your video, you show how the body can move like a monkey drum, with both arms totally relaxed starting from the shoulder joint. At second 2:14 you show how to hit a forehand with the same monkey drum movement but, you don’t relax all hitting arm, only the wrist. Why ? Is it right ?
I think it’s really important to understand what joint we have to relax.. becouse
the arm behavior is totally different depending on it.
Sure the wrist must be loose to release energy… but shoulder ? elbow ?
What Do we have to do with that joints ?
Thank you.
Ciao
Alberto
Italy
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I love this approach! You explain the techniques so well, in a unique and easy-to-grasp approach. Looking forward to the premium content!
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nice post, very ueful information
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You are a very good, clear teacher. Your intelligence and respect for your audience is reflected in how smart and to the point your instructional videos are. I just signed up and will be suggesting your site to half a dozen people. Thank you.
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Tae Byon Reply:
February 13th, 2012 at 9:58 am
Thank you and thank you for your post and support to the Premium Site!
You left me speechless when I read your post. You have made my day! The fact that you feel respected from watching the videos reaffirms my teaching. Thank you for spreading the word!
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Awesome video. Seriously. I watch tennis lessons on YouTube almost every night. This is some of the best explained, easiest to follow coaching on how to hit a big groundy. You have a gift for distilling down a complex concept and motion into very simple and reduced functions…Lock and Roll…;-)…I’ll look into more of your stuff tomorrow. Just had to comment tonight,,,GREAT stuff. I’ll be back.
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pleasesign me up for your newsletter I kept getting errors on the page, thanks.
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HI ,
Your videos are really good, help me a lot to improve my shots, and help my little son too! I will be sharing this information with my friends since they are looking for something easy to understand to improve their game. thanks!
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Tae Byon Reply:
February 22nd, 2012 at 11:47 am
Thank you for spreading the word about Lock and Roll Tennis!
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Hello,
I have just paid for the 3 month access to your Premium Site, bu there is no instruction what to do next. I cannot access the videos. Could you advise ? thanks
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Tae Byon Reply:
February 25th, 2012 at 5:47 am
Thank you very much for signing up for the Premium Site! Sometimes the registration email goes to the “spam” section. I will send you another registration email shortly. Thanks again!
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Michael Reply:
February 25th, 2012 at 7:31 am
Yes, it was sitting in spam indeed. I have sent you an email with another question. Thanks for help.
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Hello. I want to tell you how much I liked watching your videos, and how much I learned from them that’s been so helpful. I live in Los Angeles, so if you ever give a clinic in this area (I live in the San Fernando Valley) would you please let me know? I’d like to attend.
Thank you,
Nick
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Hello Tea,
This site is fantastic- I`m putting most of the stuff into my play almost daily. I have a question – could you make an instuction movie in premium section on how to tackle `sitter` balls that are close to the net (i.e. mid-court or closer) ? Partcularly how to position your racket head in forehand. These in theory should give you an advantage, but they are quite difficult to tackle – in my case I hit them into the net or out of the court…
Thanks in advance.
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Tae Byon Reply:
March 2nd, 2012 at 7:51 pm
Hi Michael,
Thanks for the compliment! I already have the forehand sitter shot in the Premium. It’s called, “Advanced Forehand Sitter Shot.” It’s similar to a regular FH. You still need to get under the ball, make contact with the ball while your racquet face is square to the net and then follow trough. It varies a little depending on how high or low the shot is, or how much power or spin you want to add on the shot. But most IMPORTANTLY, it’s about hitting the ball with the forward momentum of your body. Often times players run up to the ball, stop and then swing their hitting arm which makes them lose control. Let the power come from the forward momentum and not just your arm. Hope this helps!
Tae
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Thaks for clarifying ! I`m actually using your “Adv. Sitter FH Shot” footwork and preparation – it was just about getting the right contact position for max spin in order to give the ball maximum chance to clear the net and then not to overshoot the other side of the court (that`s what`s giving me bit of a problem still).
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Hi Tae Byon . thank a lot for your site, you are the best i ever seen! come on
good luck and good health!
bach duong
praha-czech rp
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I like your instruction very much. It has greatly improved my forehand! Thanks a lot.
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cannot wait to play keep up the good work what an amazing way to teach
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