This spine exercise gives older players smoother strokes!

Summary

In this Tennis Hacker video, Richard Bryce demonstrates how spinal mobilization can enhance the fluidity of tennis strokes, including forehand, backhand, and serve. He introduces different variations of the exercise, focusing on the thoracic spine, and suggests a before-and-after test to measure its effectiveness. The video also explores shot-specific mobilization techniques to improve flexibility and performance.

Takeaways

• 🎾 Richard Bryce from Tennis Hacker is sharing a technique to improve the fluidity of tennis strokes.
• 🌟 The method involves spinal mobilization, which can be beneficial especially for older players.
• 📈 Before and after tests can be conducted using shadow swings to measure the effectiveness of the exercise.
• 🔄 Spinal mobilization focuses on the thoracic spine, which is crucial for rotation and extending properly in tennis strokes.
• 🧍‍♂️ A basic standing variation of the exercise is introduced, emphasizing the extension and flexion of the spine.
• 🪑 For those with back stiffness, a seated variation is suggested to facilitate easier mobilization.
• 🏸 Tennis-specific positions are used to perform the mobilization, targeting preparation, contact point, and follow-through stages of a shot.
• 🤔 The exercise aims to control the spine while keeping other body parts relatively still, enhancing the mobility of each spinal joint.
• 💪 Incorporating this exercise into warm-ups or during matches can help maintain flexibility and improve performance.
• 📚 Richard Bryce offers a training class for further learning on brain-based training to enhance tennis skills.

Q & A

What is the main focus of Richard Bryce's video?

The main focus of the video is to show how to improve the fluidity of tennis strokes through spinal mobilization exercises.

Why is spinal mobilization particularly useful for older tennis players?

Spinal mobilization is particularly useful for older tennis players as it can help them maintain flexibility and fluidity in their strokes, which can be affected by age.

What is the purpose of doing a before and after test with the spinal mobilization exercise?

The purpose of the before and after test is to measure the effectiveness of the spinal mobilization exercise in improving the fluidity and relaxation of the tennis strokes.

What are the two ways Richard Bryce suggests to perform the before and after test?

The two ways suggested are: 1) doing a series of shadow swings before and after the spinal mobilization, and 2) hitting on court before and after the mobilization to see how it feels.

What is the basic standing variation of the spinal mobilization exercise?

The basic standing variation involves extending and flexing the thoracic spine (upper back) by lifting the chest towards the ceiling and then moving it backwards.

Why is the thoracic spine an important part of the body to mobilize in tennis?

The thoracic spine is important because it is involved in the rotation and extension needed for proper racket drop and stroke execution in tennis.

What is the regressed seated variation of the spinal mobilization exercise?

The regressed seated variation involves wrapping your arms around your knee, relaxing it, and using it for feedback while extending and flexing the spine.

How can the spinal mobilization exercise be adapted for tennis-specific positions?

The exercise can be adapted by performing the mobilization in three points throughout the shot: preparation position, contact point position, and follow-through position.

What is the benefit of performing the spinal mobilization during a match?

Performing the spinal mobilization during a match can help loosen up and relax the muscles if they tighten up, potentially improving stroke fluidity and performance.

What additional resource does Richard Bryce offer to help improve tennis level through brain-based training?

Richard Bryce offers a training class that teaches more about using brain-based training to improve tennis level, which is linked in the video description.