How To Keep Your Eye On The Ball In Tennis 

I've been playing tennis for 20 years and reached a high standard aged 17-18 but now - in my 30's, even with consistent play - my groundstrokes have become very inconsistent. I would recommend this video to anyone looking to improve their game, period, it's so fundamental to every shot in tennis! A perfectly explained and demonstrated video. Thank you so much!

I think that Tomaz' s instruction is outstanding. I find my instructors tell me I'm not keeping my eye on the ball or hitting it late and so on but don't explain why I'm doing that or how to remedy it. It is so much easier to understand how to correct an error in play when you know how/ why your body/ brain are doing what they are doing. And in understanding that you are then able to better apply the correction. I also love that he establishes reasonable objectives for how long it will take you to correct a problem area. Fabulous stuff!

Best Info so far. My shots are always inconsistent because of either looking at my opponent, trying to see if I can. Wrong foot him and also trying to look where I want to put the ball. My ba ends up at the net or I over hit the angle and the ball goes out.

Keeping the eye on the ball is one of the most difficult thing to do in tennis, believe me ! You have to focus on each shot and to keep concentrated during all the match. But if you manage to do that, you will be surprise of your own ability to progress an hit good shots. Thank you so much for this video, and as other commentaries said, the most useful for beginners.

I just watched your videos and I am going to do these: 1) Call out what you are going to hit, forward hand and backhand. 2) Aim at the big target, left or right. 3) Not to move the head until hitting the ball.

First time I hear the reasons why we don''t look at the ball. Love it. Tomaz, you are really a great tennis instructor for recreational players. I realized that whenever I miss hit a volley, a millisecond before, my eyes flicked away from the ball, not the head move, it's the eyes. My hypothesis is, that you do that when you are under stress. Under stress our eyes are more "twitchy". So its impportant to stay calm in the middle of the battle. Simply the fact that I got aware of this issue, improved my volleys. I wonder, if there is some eye training to keep the eyes stable during rapid movement? But thx again for your valuable insights.

Great video! Very logical and well explained. I've actually heard of one more reason why recreational players look up before hitting the ball. A study found that rec players are worried that the ball will be coming back to them before they are ready for it if they keep their eye on the ball. It's illogical, but that's what was found by researchers.

This is one of the most important videos a tennis player can watch. Inevitably, whenever anyone misses the ball, it is typically related directly to the head movement and tensing up!!!!!!!!! Thank you for this video

This is very important while receiving fast serve. Basically you need to track the path of the ball with your eyes steadily the moment the opponent tosses it in the air but not just with the eyes. Your head and eyes would move along with the path of the ball to track it from up in the air to the ground then to the time you hit it, and of course at moment of contact with your racquet, it's like he explained here, the head can't move until after the ball leaves your racquet. You might be a bit uncomfortable at first when the ball comes fast and you hit without seeing where it might go, but this is the only way. For me the difference is night and day. In fact, you'd want to do the same with all shots. The moment the ball leaves your opponent's racquet, you track it by moving your eyes and head together, then the moment you hit, the head stays still.

My brothers and I have been practicing a lot based on your video instructions. You would not believe how much they and I have improved over the past 6 months! I can't thank you enough for making all of these amazing videos; they are so informative and easy to understand. I may have to post some videos of my own, showing the improvements that my brothers and I have made. Cheers!

I knew I had a problem with hitting the ball correctly, bu always thought it was linked to positioning. Now I realise I always look at my target right when I take the shot. Thank you very much

The most consistent advice to this day, thank you

So, today I did everything in this video and won 6-1. My opponent/friend said she had never seen me play so well. This works!

Dude, I teach out of SoCal and I have my girl playing L1-L3 and I have to say, you’ve been the only coach I trust online. Keep up the great work coach!

This man has great human insight, as well as tennis skill. Thanks

Great video. one of the most useful I ve seen. you are an awesome teacher and communicator.

The most important part for me was that you are the first who explain the difficulty of not waching the ball. I have all 4 problems. Thanks !

Hi teacher. I am from Mexico City, and I have been practicing your recommendations during my last six play days. Great improvement. I have start winnig games to those who always win to me. Your recommendation to enshure hitting with the sweet part of racket is a true. My shots are powerfull and very well directed. Also "not to see my opponent / target" works incredible. Thanks a lot again teacher....

I have watched so many tennis videos here and this is the one I needed the most. Your teaching was clear and concise. No waste, no unnecessary words or joking. It was a perfect video. Thank you very very much.

The part about the breakdown of four outcomes of missing a little was brilliant. Fantastic vid

I love coach like you who breaks down a seemingly easy concept into such detail. A lot of coaches know looking at the ball is important and will tell their students to do so without really understanding why it's important.

I haven't seen anyone explain this skill in such a detailed way. Excellent! This made me realize that as an aging player , I have to pay more attention to keeping the head still. The comments on the body pulling the neck and head really rang true! I'm going to do the suggested training and work on improving the rotational flexibility in my neck , which should help. Thanks !

I have had this problem for such a long time and his different points are spot on regarding the body movement, mental ability about not having to see the opponent and self confidence in my game. Another wonderful video from Feel Tennis. You have improved my serve, my forehand and now one upped my whole game.

I KNEW YOU WAS A VERY HUMBLE MAN AND YOU LOVE TENNIS !! THOSE PERSONS ARE THE BEST!!

This video and video about consistency/intentions is very helpful

Congratulation. I am tennis coach too from France and now I am coaching in Australia. I have seen many many videos and this one is one on my best. I agree with everything, manly the big target. Where are you coaching?

This is one of my biggest problems. I tend to frame the shots too frequently, and off center shots are the norm. The reasons you detail are exactly what I need, since the "how" is pretty straightforward, but difficult to do. Thank you very much for the video!

Thank you SIR, you have assisted me in over coming a very bad instinctive habit. God Bless You.

My coach tells me, 'The lines on the court don't move. You know where they are without looking.' Which is essentially what Tomaz is saying. Fantastic video. So helpful to me.

Single most effective important improvement I made in years following this advise. Thanks.

Excellent! this is my weakness not only in tennis but in golf and Pickleball, too. Whenever I miss, I’ve moved my head and looked up. 🤦‍♀️ it is not just keeping the eyes on the ball, it is keeping the head down and still until the ball leaves the racket! TRUST! excellent video and thank you

i have seen hundreds of video's on various tennis subjects. this is without question one of the very best. clearly explained in lay terms i feel like i have come away with great advise that i can actually use. i have always believed in the importance of keeping your eye on the ball and head steady but never new y it was so difficult.

You’re definitely right about it being a summer project. I watched the video and fully intended to execute it for every shot i played. But lo, the game begins and can’t remember more than 3-4 shots where i could actually execute it. The ones i did were screamers. But darn it sure is a difficult but important skill....

"There is nothing to see." Love it when sports instructions sometimes approach zen :)

Thanks, Thomas! Btw, the church bells in the background have blessed this instruction of yours. God bless you for all of your instructional videos. I’m learning a lot with them. Keep up the good work.

One of the best tutorial for the logic behind the body movements. Thank you for sharing such valuable tips.

Tomaz your explanation has helped me make real progress in keeping my head still. I listened several time to your session and finally got my brain to start doing it on the court. But here is an added benefit that I didn’t expect. By keeping my head still I see my stroke and can tell why it worked, or not. Today I hit several balls into the net and could tell that I was not dropping the racket far enough below the ball. In the past I would not know that because I would look up too soon. Thanks again for your help.

Feel tennis are the best videos on RU-vid! Thanks!

Required viewing for anyone who plays or teaches tennis. Well done, Tomaz. Here’s a trick I learned from Oscar Wagner on developing this same skill. Practice hitting the ball while closing your eyes at the point of contact. It defeats a lot of the instinct about moving your head with the stroke. The head stays more still, and it surprises players how little they lose in stroke execution, and gain in making consistently clean contact.

This is the best and most thorough explanation on this topic I've ever seen! Thank you!!!

thank you SO MUCH!!!! I was about to quit tennis just because of that - could not force myself to look at the ball, despite saying to myself 'llok at the ball, look at the ball' EVERY TIME i shot, but could not do it because i wanted to control the other part of the court. that depressed me A LOT! this video was an eye opener for me. now i feel filled with positive energy and can not wait to try it on the court.

I have played tennis for YEARS now and I never really learned how to watch the ball. Much like you said in the video, I was having moderate success without watching the ball very closely by "guestimating" where the ball was going to be at contact. I tended to do better against fast-moving balls, which deviate less from their flightpath than slow and/or spinning shots. But I wasn't getting anything like effortless power or proper topspin, and always had to swing very hard, it felt like my racket didn't even OWN a sweetspot, but the few times I did manage to hit the sweetspot it was a novel and odd-but-cool feeling! This summer, thanks to the microscopic invaders from China with the Mexican beer name, I have made it my sole mission, my _raison d’être_ , to train myself to track the ball properly and finally learn to make solid contact on a regular basis. So I went out to our local park with a bucket of balls and did some self-feeding, then hit against the wall, and then finally, hit with some other lonely tennis orphans...and lo and behold, I WAS DOING IT! Every ball struck dead center, smack dab in the middle of the sweetspot, flying off my strings with magical speed and mystical spin! It was like Federer Himself had descended from Mount Grand Slam-opolis, took possession of my body and was belting the ball for me! Tears streamed down my face as I raised my racket in triumph, bent back and facing the heavens roared, "So this, THIS...is what Tennis is all about!!" Nah I'm just kidding, of course, I shanked every third ball over the fence. The other two I hit closer to the frame than the sweetspot. But how? It seemed so simple on the video. Just do what Tomaz said. Come on you moron, children do it! Nope, I guess I'm gonna have to break down and ACTUALLY DO WHAT TOMAZ RECOMMENDS IN THE VIDEO. Dammit. It seems, as usual, that Tomaz is right again. Until you exorcise your demons, uproot your deep-seated misconceptions and insecurities - at least about watching the ball and keeping your head still - BEFORE you can ride out and slay the dragon. So that's my new mandate, which he clearly states is Step One, Do Not Pass Go, Do Not Collect $100!! Ah, when will I ever learn? (Probably never.) If Tomaz says "do this first", you should probably *DO THIS FIRST* . But then, you all knew that. I appear to be the only one with the pointy hat in the Dunce Corner. But don't worry, I'll get it. Eventually. Tell me again, uh, how much time to we have before the sun blows up?

Thank you very much! This is one of the best tips for junior players. Well explained. My son doesn't usually like my long explanation of anything but I'll have to make him sit down for 15' to listen to this one.

10:46 "..because you are free to miss your target.." - misses a butterfly. Presentation of a highest level. haha Nice, informative video, thank you for doing this.

He's such a good coach! He should be coaching the pros !

Tomacz is really a great instructor. His single little phrases can dramatically change your thinking and reduce errors. Thanks!

Wonderful video, this is something I have been working on and I found this so helpful, thank you!

amazing Thomas, thanks for sharing this wonderful eye on the ball concept in detail.

Your every lesson is mind blowing. Out of this world.

Absolutely fantastic! So clear, so powerful! Many many congratulations Teacher!

Often problem. Thanks for the video!

Very timely video. Seems like a simple cure for my inconsistency and frustration lately. Maybe it will help me overcome my tendency to be over anxious and reach out for the ball before it arrives. Thanks much.

dear Coach .. tQ for this video. yes, I am 6 years late😅. I used to be an intermediate level tennis player, maybe in the 90's, just started playing again about 1 month ago, and everything is haywire. yes, I have this tendency of not keeping my eyes at the ball through the stroke. tQ for saying that it will take time to improve and now I have a reasonable time period expectation of improving the skill as u put it. again, tQ tQ Coach. your presentation, explanation and rational of the issue is superb. I will be viewing all your videos especially me being a classical tennis player. take care.

Great class! Cleared up my mind about looking to the ball and about tatics game. Thanks!

Awesome instruction. I really like how you incorporate the mind into leaning how to produce good and clean shots. Thanks for sharing that.

Awesome explanation! Love your videos. Could you do a two handed backhand instructions?

Excellent video and great advice. Many thanks.

I tried to this technique today. Awesome! I just want to add a point. When I firstly tried to do it, I worried if I can hit the target region. Later, I talked to myself "let it go". Yes, I only watch the ball and let it go. Now, I felt much relaxed and the ball has amazing power without effort.

wonderful teaching.I am looking forward to seeing more drills from you,well done.

thank you! thanks for your effort at explaining the basics and reasons for doing certain things. it will help me a lot. I will work on it , I am sure you are an excellent coach .

This is so helpful! Thanks for such clearing instructions!

Excellent video. Really made me think and focus on what I need to fix.

Thank you, I took tennis lesson at the moment and this was from my instructor ask me to practice on. Thank you for the hint that it took you all summer to master it therefore i m not looking to master this skill overnight. 🙏

You really are such a great teacher, thank you for your videos..I've watched a few of them today and your tips re really useful. I've just started playing tennis and I'm more enthusiastic about playing after watching your videos.. Thank you

OMG i have been playing for 3 years. Watching a lot of instruction tennis videos and now all i could say is that this is one of the best. From Vietnam with love

Top instructions! Very clearly explained! Thank you very much

OMG this is SO helpful!! I have stopped doing this and now it seems so obvious TO do it! Great video. I will definitely start doing this every time i hit.

Very good and useful advice. Thank you.

Great thought process analysis. Learning to hit out in front of me really helped all my strokes. I think mostly because i can make solid contact while having my head looking, approximately, out towards my target while still keeping my eye on the ball.

Thanks for yours all videos !! You are such a great instructor !! Specially this one about this important topic.

Definitely, by far it is the most useful, concrete and convincing tennis instruction I have ever watched. For sure, it will be my summer project. I do not know if it solves all my ball control problem but I am sure it can make huge difference. Great job. Many thanks and congratulations. Pls keep up such good works.

Thank you for your video. You're an excellent Tennis coach. I will look out and try to implement this lesson into my game.

This is amazing,!!!! Thank you for these realistic notes and I can’t wait to practice this

The explanation is the very best I've ever heard and I worked with really good instructors

Very solid advice and great explanations. Keep up the good work!

Just want to thank you for all your videos. I have learned so much from your smart tennis teachings. God bless you for sharing.

fantastic explanations, like all your vids. Thank you so much !

Brilliant, well done. So simple but so true. I wish I had your instruction ten years ago. But we’ll done

Really great analysis. Appreciate your insights and coaching advice! Thx!

Thank you! Super helpful video. You are a very good instructor!

Excellent tips. Can't wait to apply to see how I adjust.

This is awesome and clearly explained! Thanks a lot!

very helpful indeed and clear , you are among the best in this trade congratulations

OMG how simple explined and good ground. Great video. Thank you Very much. Dziękuje bardzo

Excellent explanations, thank you!

Best tennis teaching videos online. Amazing. Thanks Thomas.

Great coaching and amazing tip,..thanks

Thanks for a great and very useful video. Very clearly and nicely narrated.

Yet another amazing video and explanation, thank you!

Priceless info Tomas, thx for sharing.

Great explaination. Simple and effective. Thank you

"You probably never miss the ball completely" Uhh, yes i do 😂

Thank you for great tips! I'm having a bit of problem with the 2nd point - looking to aim at small targets. Sometimes, i'm more focused on target than the ball. Began working on it and your video helped very much. btw, you have beautiful technique. Cheers!

You are the best coach - such a great explanation

Very good logic and explanation behind keeping your eye on the ball. Thank you

Beautifully explained...will incorporate

This is fantastically helpful. Thanks!

This is brilliant, so well explained.

Excellent instruction. Thank you

Very very good advice! Thanks a lot!