What is ghost tennis? It’s not a spirit of someone who has passed away that’s for sure. Ghosting is playing a point on your own without the ball. This teaches you to practice every shot or move around the court, just as if you were playing a real game situation. Let’s take a look at a common problem “do you find it difficult to follow through with your forehand?” Stopping your swing too soon?
Before you start your ghosting, get the feel for hitting with a good follow through. Simply warm up gently by shadow stroking the forehand, to achieve this place some tape on top of the wrist of the hitting hand, and more tape on the shoulder of the non-hitting arm. Then, as you practice, try to get the two pieces of tape to connect at the end of your trace.
Set up practice by placing a marker where the inside tram line meets the baseline, this is where the ball would hit if it were to move from the center of the baseline. You can practice the ghost initially by starting in the ready position, start slowly with a jumping step and a small bounce on both legs at the same time. Then turn to the side you’re going to hit that imaginary tennis ball on, making sure to keep adjusting until you actually hit the ball. The important thing here is to make sure you are balanced when your arm is used to swing and connect. Keep one foot on the ground for a fraction of a second, it will help you control your swing.
To make sure the ghosting is correct, have a friend monitor and evaluate your practice. When you start ghosting, you might feel a bit embarrassed. The reason for this is that if you don’t hit correctly, your ghost effect will spot you. If you find that you are not coordinating, then slow motion ghosting. Feel the tracking or balanced foot when you move your arm. Notice the difference you make, have fun and enjoy your accomplishments. Always make sure you warm up well and are in good health, ghosting can be very demanding. The goal would be 5 reps for the beginner to get comfortable with and then build up to what he desires to take. More advanced could be 20 repetitions in a stipulated time. Do not overdo it, practice with quality and in advance.
best wishes
graham