Question 143: How can I use the kinetic chain?

Answer

▶ The kinetic chain is indeed happening. However, it is not something you "do"

Experts use swing analysis software and the like to analyze things like, "There is a time lag in the movement from the player's lower body to the upper body, and energy is transmitted from the core to the extremities while amplifying the force of pushing off the ground."

It is true that energy is transmitted through such a kinetic chain.

However, that is a completely different story from whether the player is "consciously doing it" or not.

▶ Even when using chopsticks, if you "think about it"...

Therefore, even if you try to trace the visible phenomenon on the surface and use it as a reference for your swing or form, it probably won't go very well, will it?

It is true that when we eat, we move our chopsticks through the coordination of our thumb and middle finger, support them at the base of our index finger, and carry food to our mouths while maintaining appropriate relaxation, but the point is that we are "not conscious" of such physical movements.

There is an original source for this story; a golf instruction book by a foreign author introduced an episode like, "If you want to get food into your mouth, you can succeed 100% of the time without thinking about it, but when I became conscious of how to move my hand, I missed my mouth!".

This suggests that being conscious of physical movements is a very unnatural act unless there is some specific purpose for doing so.

It is exactly like the image of a swing.

No child tries to swing on a swing by "waving their hands".

Even without being taught, it becomes a "kinetic chain" that transmits energy from the core to the extremities (Reference article: "When Natural Improvement Happens").

▶ The key to the kinetic chain is "rewriting your image"

Therefore, trying to swing while being conscious of the kinetic chain movement where "there is a time lag in the movement from the lower body to the upper body, and energy is transmitted from the core to the extremities while amplifying the force of pushing off the ground" is extremely unnatural and invites a strong sense of awkwardness.

To put it plainly, you cannot perform a kinetic chain when hitting a ball even if you are conscious of it.

So, how can someone who hits with their arms use the kinetic chain? The point is not to be conscious of trying to change your physical movements, but to rewrite your image so that your physical movements change naturally.

▶ Fearing that the forehand will "fly too far"

If you are told that you are not using the kinetic chain when hitting a forehand, you are likely fearing that your "forehand will fly too far" and strongly wanting to "keep the forehand in".

In other words, I can imagine that you are potentially worrying about the "result".

When that happens, the image of not wanting to hit it out the back causes your swing to become an arm-only swing.

▶ "Creating an image" that produces a kinetic chain

Now, if you want to perform a swing using the kinetic chain, for example, try hitting a ball that pierces the back fence of the opponent's court with a line drive.

Since it is impossible to do that with an arm-only swing, there is a possibility that it will inevitably change to a kinetic chain swing that is coordinated with the lower body.

It means that it will naturally become that way without you even being conscious of it as a swing where "there is a time lag in the movement from the lower body to the upper body, and energy is transmitted from the core to the extremities while amplifying the force of pushing off the ground."

As a result, even if you don't swing with your arms, it changes to a kinetic chain swing where the core generates energy and the hands take on the role of being swung.

▶ How to prevent hitting it out the back

However, if you think, "Even if I can use the kinetic chain, it's meaningless if I hit it out the back," then the problem can be solved by reviewing your ball-striking timing.

Unless you are intentionally hitting a ball that goes over, (or to put it bluntly, unless your spatial perception of the court is distorted), if you are hitting it out the back, the cause is simply that you hit it with the wrong timing.

Errors such as "the racket face was facing too far up" or "I scooped it" are also essentially caused by missing the ball-striking timing.

However, please be careful because if you try to "face the racket downward" or "suppress the opening of your body so you don't scoop it," you will lose the kinetic chain from your swing again, and you will repeat the vicious cycle of returning to an arm-only hitting method.

▶ Removing "snags," "clogging," and "cramped feelings" from your swing

Our bodies are originally made to move smoothly and without stagnation when carrying out a purpose.

However, if you feel snags, clogging, or cramped feelings, it is because you are moving based on some incorrect image.

As I always say, if you are too conscious of "the topspin swing is from bottom to top," it becomes an unnatural movement, and you will feel snags, clogging, and a cramped feeling in your swing. If you want to get rid of that uncomfortable feeling,

make it so you can swing smoothly in practice swings without hitting a ball.Or, even when hitting a ball, practice without worrying about the result of whether the shot goes in or not. Deviating from the topic of the kinetic chain, regarding the topspin hitting method taught by common tennis instruction, catching a ball that is flying horizontally from the front by swinging the racket vertically from bottom to top is



like intentionally setting tennis to hard mode (Reference article: ""Spin Faith" and "Form Myth" have spoiled Japanese talent").

▶ Conventional tennis instruction makes swings feel "uncomfortable"

Therefore, when learning the kinetic chain, you do not need to be conscious of forms taught in conventional tennis instruction, such as "swing from low to high for topspin" or "keep the contact point in front of your body."

If you are conscious of those (because you are conscious of them), you will end up with an uncomfortable feeling of catching, jamming, or feeling cramped.

If you fit yourself into a mold, you will fall into a trap.

Leave it to the smooth, easy-to-swing motion that your body feels, and just swing.

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