From our coach, Pixie Jones
(see 'Documents' for an easy-to-print PDF version)
Pre-Season Coaching tips
The following two comments have been heard on the lawns at times and I hope this is of some help.
“I keep missing my roquets on the same side”
If it is not the alignment of the shot that is incorrect, it is most likely to be that the mallet is being diverted during the swing by the player pushing with the bottom hand. To correct, check your stalking, then your foot placement. Both feet should be facing directly forward, equal distance from the mallet, with toes facing directly forward. Try bringing the hands together. If this is not an option, loosen the grip on the bottom hand to assist with the follow through. If your bottom hand grip is too tight on the mallet, it can cause the mallet to move to the side by a couple of degrees. If you hold your mallet still, then tighten your grip, you may be able to see the mallet turn slightly!!
“My mallet twists in my hands”
You are not hitting the ball in the middle of the mallet face. The force of the impact on the ball causes the mallet to twist in the hands. To correct, stalk the ball more carefully, making sure that the mallet will strike the centre of the ball and swing smoothly from the shoulders watching the exact point of contact with the ball. If you can keep your upper body perfectly still, except for the shoulder/arm movement, until you have finished your follow through and brought your mallet back to the starting position, you should have fewer off-centre hits. If this does not work you could be tightening your lower grip. Try as above.