When to Accelerate Racket in FH?

[user92626]

Hello,

I have a problem in deciding when to accelerate the racket in FH. Sometimes I do it at the point of takeback, sometimes at the beginning of forward swing motion, and even sometimes before the contact.

Any advices? Thanks.

[wihamilton]

Think of your racket like a speedometer. Racket should steadily accelerate during the course of your swing... and be moving as fast as possible at contact.

If you want to know when you arm starts to swing independently of your shoulder turn during the forward swing... it's pretty much when you establish your hitting arm position.

[user92626]

thanks.

Last time I rallied, which is to say much for experimenting, I did the moving "as fast as possible at contact" and I basically sprayed most shots :( which tells me the timing was way off.

I mean it's already very hard for me to incorporate the incoming ball's speed and the takeback, the units' turns, and a speedy forward swing all into one. And I don't know when to begin to apply force to generate a power shot.

[Vision84]

Begin your backswing accelerating slow and then as you start to uncoil then you really explode into the ball.

[wihamilton]

If you are just putting your forehand together racket head speed should be at the bottom of the list. You need to master all the fundamentals -- be able to execute them every time at a slow and consistent speed -- before you try and swing harder.

[dakels]

Based on what you said and how you said it, I think you need to look at the swing as a developmental step by step. Don't try to incorporate too many things at once. Like Will said, power is the last thing you want to worry about.

With proper mechanics, most people find that generating power is a natural step up to their foundational swing mechanics. No changes, just a little more of this and that. Little more coil, little more racquet head speed, little more takeback/loop, stepping in to the shot better, etc. You should seek to add power from these elements when you have mastered the fundamental use of them. Otherwise you get ugly overhitting syndrome. People ditching their proper mechanics to forcibly overwork one aspect purely for power, like hip rotation or wrist snap.

[RestockingTues]

Try watching Roger Federer's Slo-mo videos on youtube; I don't know enough of the jargon to explain it accurately but the videos worked like a charm for me.

G'luck ;)

[snoopy]

Listen to Will he is the expert. But I always remember reading, accelerate at contact.

[user92626]

Thanks, everyone

You guys are certainly right about getting the fundamentals correct first, which I have and that's the point -- I'm at the stage where I'm trying to figure out where the punch of power comes in. But I think I got it.

[quicken]

Accelerate through the contact point is what I was taught.

[Mansewerz]

I need to do this more, my balls tend to land long by 4-5 inches when I try to hit deep. I need that spin!!!!!

[junbumkim]

Assuming you have the conventional loop backswing, your swing will start accelerate in its forward swing. In other words, when you have reached the end of loop back swing and your racket is at the bottom with the butt cap point towards the ball, that's the point when you want to accelerate

So it will be like slow till the bottom, and fast from the bottom. Slooow and faaast.

[Ash_Smith]

See the image below...

http://i255.photobucket.com/albums/hh157/AceOnTheLine/fhand_accel.jpg

[GuyClinch]

I think your overthinking this. I don't believe pros ever thought about this question. It's like thinking how fast do I lift my feet when I run. <g>

[baselinerT]

i just swing faster by closing the face a a lot and swing like that but you have to swing from low to high. i dont think an open faced racket is more aerodynamic so yea...