I have a big question for you today.
Do you know what a dominant eye is?
I ask you the question because it plays a big part in how you should set up your technique. All TOP PLAYERS have a technique that’s totally in line with their dominant eye.
What does it mean?
It means that your dominant eye gives you the opportunity to develop very strong shots, and at the same time you have to be careful not to develop a technique that doesn’t fit, otherwise your shots could be weaker or with too much rear impact.
Do you know which is YOUR dominant eye?
I know it sounds silly, but it’s SUPER important in tennis.
While it’s very easy to find out, most tennis players don’t know which eye is dominant.
Is this your case?
I’ll show you how to find out right away.
Stand up and stare at a point on the wall.
Now create a triangle with your two hands and make sure you see the point or object you have chosen in the centre of the triangle with both eyes open.
You see it?
Now close one eye?
Do you still see it?
And now do the same, but close the opposite eye.
In one of the two cases, the object has exited the triangle. This happened when you closed your dominant eye.
Because one of your two eyes dominates the other, it’s the one that guides you and REALLY sees where the object is and how it’s getting there. The second eye’s mission is just to make you see in 3D.
In our case, since we are tennis players, it is the eye that needs to see the ball. It’s the eye we use to aim.
You’re probably wondering, “Ok, but why do I need to know?”
It is because some techniques that are optimal for left-eye dominant players are not necessarily best for right-eye dominant players.
Let me give you an example: Roger Federer almost turns his back on the fence when needed. This gives him a lot of range of motion.
Being Federer, many players try to imitate his technique.
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But in many cases, this is an ERROR.
How come? Roger Federer’s dominant eye is his left, which allows him to see the ball and court from that serving position.
The same goes for the obverse or reverse.
A player who is right eye dominant will most likely feel more comfortable and be more accurate with an open forehand stance and generate pace with less drive and more wrist and forearm action (like Zverev). On the backhand side he will feel very comfortable with closed positions, will have a contact point closer to his body and will drive the ball longer (opposite for lefties).
And someone who is left-eye dominant might prefer the other way around.
Now that you know which eye is your dominant eye, you should discuss with your coach whether the position of your head and body allows you to see the net and the ball clearly, and therefore get the most out of your shots!
Hope this helps you level up your game!
