High speed professional rallies pose significant stability problems. Any instability at high stroke speeds for any stroke can lead to off center and inefficient contact. This fact is one of the key differences between professional and amateur stroke production. We cannot emphasis this enough: Any small fluctuations in the arm during a high speed stroke can destabilize the stroke, causing a significant miss hit. Below left is a video produced at slow motion illustrating how the shoulder must control the stroke to maintain stability at high speeds. At the right is an audio containing additional comments.

In the video below, we illustrate in slow motion a slight, almost imperceptible variation in the stroke. The variation is seen during the period where the racquet is shown in isolation. This small variation, if experienced at high speeds, will cause a miss hit. A comparison is shown in the next video, below.

Below we show two slow motion sequences. The first shows a stable motion, the second shows how a slight instability, such as seen in the video above, which is greatly amplified by high speed stroke production resulting in a miss hit.

It is important to do exercises in front of a mirror where you use the shoulder to move the racquet in a stable motion as seen in the first video above. Make a line on the mirror to follow with the edge of the racquet. Do this in slow motion to develop the small control muscles needed to ensure stability at high speeds. If you do this exercise for about 3 minutes a day, three days a week, and use the motion during your practice, you should begin showing improved hitting at high speeds within a week. Further improvement will follow from additional exercises and practice.

Those who have a video camera that can be hooked up to your computer may use the real time computer image to do this exercise. If you capture the exercise on video, you can study it frame by frame to evaluate your stability development.