About This Open Stance FH Business . . .

[Cindysphinx]

I think I may finally have solved my endless frustration in being unable to hit a crosscourt forehand, especially when swung wide: the open stance FH.

Worked on this yesterday in private lesson, and I was loving it! I was able to get on the outside of the ball, I had more topsin and angle, I had better balance, I could recover faster. This may not seem earth-shattering to anyone here, but it certainly was for me! Especially cool was that we worked on it and abandoned it a year ago because I couldn't get the hang of it.

Still gotta work out the kinks and practice, but I am wondering about how and when I should use this new shot.

Clearly it is great for shots where you are pulled wide to the FH, to take the ball back crosscourt.

Are there any guidelines for when you hit your FH open stance vs. closed? Are some shots inappropriate for closed stance? Is it possible to hit open stance as an approach shot? Does it work for inside out FHs? Or do most people abandon closed stance entirely once they learn to hit open stance?

[In)SpiRe]

I hit an open stance forehand all the time. I get plenty of power and control. I hit a more neutral to closed stance forehand when i get a short ball and am trying to put it away or if it lands a bit shorter than usual in a normal rally and I decide to put a little bit more kick/power on it. This is what works best for me, I don't think there are any certain guidelines, i think more so it depends on where you are, where the ball is going, and where the ball will go after the bounce(spin factor, slice factor, etc....).

[5263]

Keep hitting them all. Agassi did a great job of hitting lots of forehand stances.

[Bagumbawalla]

This is a complicated subject with lots of variables. There are players who hit predominately with one style or an other. In general the stroke for an open stance player will be different from that of a "closed" stance player.

I hope that is vague enough, because I am going to suggest that you just follow the lead of your instructor rather than get a thousand different suggestions that may be good, but may also be confusing at this point.

I suspect from your writings that you have a normally closed stance and when you are at the far right/deuce side the instructor is suggesting a more open stance- giving you a better opportunity to hit either down the line or crosscourt from the same position.

From that position, when you drive the ball crosscourt you would be in virtually the same position as your normal closed one, you have just angled it in line with the direction you want to hit the ball.

So, in effect the change you are making is fairly minor and, at this time, since it is working for you, it is probably best that you not over analyse it.

[rockbox]

I used a closed stance for down the line shots and when I get a short ball, so I can drive the ball more.

[Nellie]

I find I hit more closed stance on the full run and more open when the ball is hit at me or when I am just moving slightly to the side. Specifically, I think that at a full run, it is easier for me to step forward into the ball at contact instead of stoppign, planting my right leg and then doing a left weight shift (I am right handed)

[Mr. Blond]

I think as you get more comfortable with using it you will start to migrate to it on most of your shots. Just remember to rotate those hips and shoulders (that is where the kinetic chain starts). The best place to use the open stance is when you are wide and need to recover quickly. By loading that outside leg and springing off of it on impact, you are already changing direction toward your recovery point. I think that helps your overall movement.

One thing I always tell my students when I teach them the open stance is that it is just one more skill that will make you successful. It is not the end of the closed stance, just an addition to it. The more variety you have out there, the more success you will have in most situations. Kudos to you for learning it, many 3.5 leaguers won't even consider changing their stance.

[In D Zone]

I think I may finally have solved my endless frustration in being unable to hit a crosscourt forehand, especially when swung wide: the open stance FH.

Worked on this yesterday ........
Still gotta .........

Clearly it is great for shots where you are pulled wide to the FH, to take the ball back crosscourt.

Are there any guidelines for when you hit your FH open stance vs. closed? Are some shots inappropriate for closed stance? Is it possible to hit open stance as an approach shot? Does it work for inside out FHs? Or do most people abandon closed stance entirely once they learn to hit open stance?


Good for you CindyS!

Its always an advange knowing how to hit various stance on specific situation. I hit an approach shot on a close stance because it gives you a better solid base while moving forward and allowing the hip and shoulder to rotate as you hit thru the ball. Another advantage on the close in an approach is allowing you to hide your shot - you can go dtl, cross, slice and even drop shots.

Inside out FHS - definitely the close stance. You are moving around to get to the ball - same reason as I have mentioned earlier. Solid base for footing while allow your hip and should to rotate. Employing the closed on Inside out - allows me to hit a deep cross, straight DTL and even using forehand slice in short (drop shot) or in an angle.

Another scenarios to use the Closed in hitting DTL shots, when pressure to hit a low passing shot against a net / volleyer, and digging up a low sliced ball with a topspin.

[Bungalo Bill]

Are there any guidelines for when you hit your FH open stance vs. closed? Are some shots inappropriate for closed stance? Is it possible to hit open stance as an approach shot? Does it work for inside out FHs? Or do most people abandon closed stance entirely once they learn to hit open stance?

You should learn how to hit from all stances (open, semi, and neutral/forward). Period.

http://www.revolutionarytennis.com/Rebuttal/forehand2/usta-forehand-federer-types-website.jpg

I can bet the reason you had trouble with the crosscourt ball was not because of the stance, but how you moved into the stance. In other words, it was your momentum that inhibited you from hitting a good crosscourt ball.

Many players have their momentum going too much sideways or parallel to the baseline which sends your momentum toward the side fence. When you have to stop and plant, your mind wants to hit the ball crosscourt but the direction of your momentum is difficult to stop.

A lot of this is from a poor initial step, directional judgement to the ball, footwork pattern taken, and footspeed. If you have time to setup, your weight should be going into the ball and not away from it.

This is a subtle momentum and movement error that many players make.

Keep working on the open stance but solve the closed stance (which I would really prefer to see as a forward or neutral stance).

[BeHappy]

Cindysphinx

The further in front of you the ball is when you hit it, the more crosscourt the ball will go.

Again, The EARLIER you hit the ball, the more crosscourt your shot will go, the LATER you hit the ball, the more inside out the ball will go.

I suspect you are hitting the ball in the same place in relation to your right hip regardless of stance, When you hit the ball open stance your hip is further forward so you hit it earlier, and vica versa.








again

The farther in front/the earlier you take the ball, the more cross court it goes, the later/The less far in front you hit it, the less crosscourt it goes.

GL

[drakulie]

Cindy, don't forget to breathe when hitting the open stance FH. :)

[toughshot]

IMO You're supposed to used open stance predominantly in today's game.. Players trading ground strokes with heavy topspin at 70+ mph, you have no time to close your stance.

Only exception is really on slow bouncing balls that sit up, then you can "step" into it with a more closed/neutral stance to flow your stroke through the ball.

Again, there are many many variables on which which stance is used is based.

[drakulie]

IMO You're supposed to used open stance predominantly in today's game.. Players trading ground strokes with heavy topspin at 70+ mph, you have no time to close your stance.



You're talking about pros. 70 mph groundstrokes don't apply to Cindy or 99.9% of the board.

[Tennisman912]

Also remember that to get to that serve wide regardless of how you hit it, you are moving forward diagonally and cutting off the angle, not moving straight sideways, parallel to the baseline. This is key.

Most club players do not move diagonally and cut off the angle so be sure you do it. It is important for several reasons. First, by moving diagonally, you have at least some momentum moving forward, which will help you add some pop to your return. Second, you are hitting it sooner giving your opponent less time to react because you are moving forward (diagonally) more than sideways. Third, you have to cover less ground to hit your return moving diagonally than if you moved straight sideways. Fourth, by moving diagonally, it makes it easier for you to get around the outside of the ball to make it easier to hit it solidly cross court.


I guarantee it will help. Also keep in mind what BeHappy is saying. It seems like it would be common sense to advanced players but most don't even think about it unless it is brought to their attention.

Good luck and adding the open stance groundies will definitely help your game.

TM

[Bungalo Bill]

IMO You're supposed to used open stance predominantly in today's game.. Players trading ground strokes with heavy topspin at 70+ mph, you have no time to close your stance.

Wow, I didnt know Cindy hit the ball that hard with that much spin. I also didnt know her opponents hit the ball back to her like that.

Yeah, based on this information, open stance is the only stance she will be able to use in that fast paced game.

Only exception is really on slow bouncing balls that sit up, then you can "step" into it with a more closed/neutral stance to flow your stroke through the ball.

Again, there are many many variables on which which stance is used is based.

Wait, now I am confused. So are you saying that she does need to be able to hit out of various stances because she will face various types of players and balls?

[njjohan]

As far as I can see, it is difficult to rotate with closed stance forehand, but the open is rather inaccurate (my coach always says "I know this is the modern game, but...". Therefore, I use the semi-open. Good rotation/ power and good control. However, it does make sense that if you hit a forehand crosscourt shot that it would help to open up your stance. Likewise, to hit an inside out forehand crosscourt, it would help to close your stance.

[Bungalo Bill]

As far as I can see, it is difficult to rotate with closed stance forehand, but the open is rather inaccurate (my coach always says "I know this is the modern game, but...". Therefore, I use the semi-open. Good rotation/ power and good control. However, it does make sense that if you hit a forehand crosscourt shot that it would help to open up your stance. Likewise, to hit an inside out forehand crosscourt, it would help to close your stance.

It only helps if you do not line up properly to the ball on what we are calling a closed stance. I do not advocate hitting in a closed stance on the forehand side anyway.

If a player has a slow start, is slow, and has poor footwork/speed which is the case with many club players, then hitting in a "closed" stance will cause the player to have a very difficult time.

The body weight a player sends sideways will do more harm then anything else. So it isn't the stance that is the problem, it is how a player moves.

A forward or neutral stance where you step into the shot, will allow a player to hit crosscourt. In fact, this is the natural direction to hit the ball to.

An open stance in many cases supports the "modern" game, however, it can also hide/disguise poor movement as well.

If someone is not having success with a "closed" stance and then all of a sudden has success with an open stance, I would ask for an evaluation on the players movement before prescribing the open stance as the solution. That is all.

[njjohan]

well from the sounds of thinks I meant a neutral. Another question with regard to this terminology, does the stance name refer to your position on preparation or follow-through?

[Bungalo Bill]

well from the sounds of thinks I meant a neutral. Another question with regard to this terminology, does the stance name refer to your position on preparation or follow-through?

The stance names are derived from how your hips are facing the net.

[chico9166]

Cindy,

You really should take a look at Kerry Mitchell's, "What is open stance?" article in tennisplayer. In fact it should be required reading for anyone with any aspirations of learning more modern footwork patterns.

The jest of the article is that proper alignment occurs when the stance and weight shift around contact parallel the intended shot line.

The open stance is confusing to most club players because they think in right angles, which happens to be the way the court is constructed.

In your case, I can only assume that your talking about returning a wide ball
from the deuce side. A crosscourt return with a "neutral stance" would actually look open from the frontal view. Hope this helps.

[chico9166]

Cindy,

You really should take a look at Kerry Mitchell's, "What is open stance?" article in tennisplayer. In fact it should be required reading for anyone with any aspirations of learning more modern footwork patterns.

The jest of the article is that proper alignment occurs when the stance and weight shift around contact parallel the intended shot line.

The open stance is confusing to most club players because they think in right angles, which happens to be the way the court is constructed.

In your case, I can only assume that your talking about returning a wide ball
from the deuce side. A crosscourt return with a "neutral stance" would actually look open from the frontal view. Hope this helps.