Break a bad habit

Alois and Jeff,

I'd like advice on how to break a bad habit. When I play a forehand loop or drive I have this odd habit of not rotating my free arm. My body is rotating at least a bit but it's like I try to keep my free arm in the same position. This means that sometimes when I play a shot down the line I occasionally will even hit my free hand with my bat. I do play many shots down the line and I wonder if I've developed this from that. It's one thing to know you are performing a shot wrong and another to correct it. If I think too much I lose all rhythm and accuracy. Any suggestions to make the correct technique automatic. I know I have to rehearse the right action but how do I get rid of the wrong one?

Hi Nigel,

I think the first thing is to think of it as a new skill, not trying to change an old one.

In training start by exaggerating the action of your free hand.  Start by rotating it in towards your left side and then rotating it away to the right.  I like to get players to think about throwing the free arm away which will also help with the rotation of your waist.  This is your new forehand.

Another thing you can try is put your free hand behind your back.  This means it will turn naturally with your waist.  When you get the feeling the turn, take it back in front of you.

To get it automatic, you need to spend time on it and do it from different situations such as switching from forehand to backhand.