My Groundstrokes

[bucpride]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RB7MgOhMCm4

Just a video of my groundstrokes....sorry for the bad quality. I have a lot to improve on so advice would be greatly appreciated.

I recently switched to a semi-open FH (tryin to do the modern FH) from a closed stance forehand

Right off the bat im guessing i need more knee bend and i gotta stop jumping -.-

-edit-
The ball might seem like its going super high as if it was a lob...the camera was just super low :p

[Jonny S&V]

Nice strokes, especially your forehand. Do you use a 1 or 2 hander more often, because there was a 1 hander in there that looked absolutely gorgeous. Word of advice: Wear court shoes and not Adidas shoes that have marking black soles.

[RoddickAce]

Pretty solid!

[RoddickAce]

Do you use a 1 or 2 hander more often, because there was a 1 hander in there that looked absolutely gorgeous.

Ya, the second one cross court rite? Nice knee bend in that shot as well. Consider using a one-hander full-time, and become part of the one-handed backhand society.:)

[bucpride]

I used to have a 1H backhand...but awhile back i made the switch to 2H backhand because I had some trouble returning serves with a 1H.

Thx for the comments xD

[Jonny S&V]

Ya, the second one cross court rite? Nice knee bend in that shot as well. Consider using a one-hander full-time, and become part of the one-handed backhand society.:)

The second one had the better knee bend, but the first one has the better preparation and follow through. I wouldn't advocate him switching (as his 2 hander looks very nice as well), but it wouldn't hurt him to toy around with it.

[bucpride]

I ran out of battery on my camera...next time I'll include more 1H backhands and some serves.

[bucpride]

Ya, the second one cross court rite? Nice knee bend in that shot as well. Consider using a one-hander full-time, and become part of the one-handed backhand society.:)

I'm gna be honest here xD The 2nd one was actually suppose to be a 2H backhand but i had a little trouble reaching it so my backswing was for a 2H but i reached out and hit a 1Hander hehe

[sharpy]

Ya, the second one cross court rite? Nice knee bend in that shot as well. Consider using a one-hander full-time, and become part of the one-handed backhand society.:)
:mrgreen:
Yeah, RoddickAce, Roddick is "RoddicktheMan!" ;)

[bucpride]

Anyone else have any advice?

[Noveson]

The strokes looked pretty good. I thought both of your backhands were better than your forehand, course I couldn't really see the result. Sometimes you were caught out of position, but I understand you were just hitting around.

[bucpride]

The strokes looked pretty good. I thought both of your backhands were better than your forehand, course I couldn't really see the result. Sometimes you were caught out of position, but I understand you were just hitting around.

Yes i noticed that too...im off balanced in some of my shots :neutral:

still trying to get used to the semi-open FH stance

Thanks for the input

[bucpride]

on my forehand am i suppose to be jumping or is that unnecessary? Should I just rotate my shoulders/hips and pivot my foot?

[lolsmash]

I don't know if it's just me, but I felt that your footwork wasn't as fluid as it could be and that you open up too quickly on some forehands. Also, you shouldn't necessarily be jumping but rather "exploding". In other words, when you're bending your knees, you are loading your legs with energy and when you unload by unbending your knees, you will be airborne and that energy will be transfered into your upper body and into the ball. The kinetic chain.

Also, with the footwork, try taking smaller steps to set up properly for the ball and try to stay on your toes the whole time.

[bucpride]

I don't know if it's just me, but I felt that your footwork wasn't as fluid as it could be and that you open up too quickly on some forehands. Also, you shouldn't necessarily be jumping but rather "exploding". In other words, when you're bending your knees, you are loading your legs with energy and when you unload by unbending your knees, you will be airborne and that energy will be transfered into your upper body and into the ball. The kinetic chain.

Also, with the footwork, try taking smaller steps to set up properly for the ball and try to stay on your toes the whole time.

Yes, i definitely need work on my footwork. Thanks! As for my forehand, i will work on that too

[quicken]

SOLID!

Mmm
Maybe you could use a straight arm FH...
Just a maybe =]

[bucpride]

SOLID!

Mmm
Maybe you could use a straight arm FH...
Just a maybe =]

I actually read something about that today, definitely gna have to go try that out and see how it goes

[FH2FH]

Shorten your backswing on your forehand.

[dantespark33]

backhands are nice
but work on foot work

[quicken]

Jumping is pretty unecessary unless the ball jumps up really high, just stay on ground bend your knees and lean into the shot, pivoting your foot and rotating your upper body + hips as well

[Nellie]

It looks like you are leaning back and trying to hit up at the ball by jumping backwards. The modern stroke your are trying to hit is more of a sit with a right to left pull/ weight shift.

Also, I think you are late to prepare and, thus, are forced to rush to catch up on some of the wide/fast balls.

[bucpride]

Ok thank you guys.

1. Work on footwork
2. Prepare early...less racquet takeback
3. Less jumping, more weight shift

Thanks for the tips

[Pusher]

Good strokes.

But apparently there is a secret to really making your groundstrokes powerful and difficult to defend. It is ignored by most players and when it is mentioned it gets little attention. They usually say, "yeah, I already know that".

It seems most players are satisfied to hit with decent technique that allows them to rally consistently. But have you ever observed how accomplished players seem to hit with much more pace and hit many more outright winners than us lesser mortals? Are they just swinging harder and have better racquet speed?

Look at the video again and instead of looking at the stroke technique keep your eyes on the flight of the ball. See the ball coming toward you, see it hit the court, see it bounce up, see it drop and then see the racquet hit the ball.

Yep, I've made a short story long. Hitting the ball before it drops or bounces up beyond the normal contact point is the difference between players with good strokes and those that hit good groundstrokes. A teaching pro one told me that for every 6 inches a ball drops you cut your ball speed by 10%. Let it drop a foot and you lose 20%.

To the guy in the video: Move in to about a foot or so inside the baseline and stay there. Practicing hitting the ball earlier with both feet solidly on the ground but up on your toes-no jumping allowed. Hit with your usual racquet speed-no pushing. Each time you practice start off with about 30 minutes with the above drill. Then move back to your normal position while concentrating on hitting early and moving forward when necessary so as to not let the ball drop.

Do that religiously for just a few weeks or less. You will find that those basic rally forehands you were hitting are now getting returned as short balls, errors or going as outright winners.

Good luck.

[bucpride]

Good strokes.

But apparently there is a secret to really making your groundstrokes powerful and difficult to defend. It is ignored by most players and when it is mentioned it gets little attention. They usually say, "yeah, I already know that".

It seems most players are satisfied to hit with decent technique that allows them to rally consistently. But have you ever observed how accomplished players seem to hit with much more pace and hit many more outright winners than us lesser mortals? Are they just swinging harder and have better racquet speed?

Look at the video again and instead of looking at the stroke technique keep your eyes on the flight of the ball. See the ball coming toward you, see it hit the court, see it bounce up, see it drop and then see the racquet hit the ball.

Yep, I've made a short story long. Hitting the ball before it drops or bounces up beyond the normal contact point is the difference between players with good strokes and those that hit good groundstrokes. A teaching pro one told me that for every 6 inches a ball drops you cut your ball speed by 10%. Let it drop a foot and you lose 20%.

To the guy in the video: Move in to about a foot or so inside the baseline and stay there. Practicing hitting the ball earlier with both feet solidly on the ground but up on your toes-no jumping allowed. Hit with your usual racquet speed-no pushing. Each time you practice start off with about 30 minutes with the above drill. Then move back to your normal position while concentrating on hitting early and moving forward when necessary so as to not let the ball drop.

Do that religiously for just a few weeks or less. You will find that those basic rally forehands you were hitting are now getting returned as short balls, errors or going as outright winners.

Good luck.

I will DEFINITELY try this out, hitting the ball early and on the rise. I tend to let the ball drop usually so thats probably why I lack power, thanks!