how important is it to lean into the ball?

[morten]

I do it on the backhand naturally,but not on the forehand,making it erratic i think. I do not mean stepping into the ball nescessarily,more like leaning into,forcing the weight towards the ball as i hit.. get it.I tend to sometimes lean back on the forehand,like a topspin lob in a way,it does not feel solid.i have an easterngrip. input?

[Nikeman0092]

With an eastern grip you really should try to plant your front foot forward and lean into it. If you had more of a western grip you could hit with an open stance.

[Mahboob Khan]

One of the side effects of open stance forehand is that at the point of contact your weight is centered on the right foot. As you hit the left leg gets lifted and it appears as if you are falling backwards. The best situation in this instance should be: Open stance ok, but as you hit your weight should shift from right to left foot.

If you are using Eastern fh grip, then it is important to step toward the ball with the left foot and as you hit transfer your weight into the hit i.e. to the left foot. You call this lean into or lean over .. your choice of words.

[morten]

ok,but even with a more open stance,or when i dont have the time to plant my front foot,is it still important to lean in? and any tips on how to think about it,what to focus on?

[gmlasam]

With an open stance, you plant your right foot, for right handers, and push off with the right foot and transferring the weight forward. If you hit with a western grip, your point of contact is more in front which helps with weight transfer forward.

[Marius_Hancu]

for those interested, there are several lessons on how to lean into the shot on defensive shots at easitennis.com

[Marius_Hancu]

Sampras
http://www.ee.surrey.ac.uk/Personal...s/sampras03.swf
will show you a little it on the subject
pull down the slow-mo slider on the left

Ferrero too:
Ferrero Forehand Analyzed
http://tt.tennis-warehouse.com/showthread.php?t=22111
the clip is at:
http://www.aquo02.dsl.pipex.com/Ferrero.mov

[Marius_Hancu]

Also, check Sampras leaning into this one:
http://www.ee.surrey.ac.uk/Personal/Q.Luo/tennis/sampras07.swf
use the slo-mo slider at the left

[paulfreda]

For the FH, I think you get your body into the shot more by "turning" into the ball rather than "leaning" into the ball.

--------
Just revisited the Fererro clip at www.aquo02.
This is a wondeful clip. There are so many things to be learned from this it is hard to know where to begin. Much has been covered by BB analysis.
But note that his elbow is in front of his torso at contact, not at or behind as it would be with a pure windshield wiper type swing. He is driving the ball with his forearm, pushed by the elbow and aided by his turning shoulders !!!

I don't think Moya or Guga do the same thing. At least I have not seen clips that show they do.

Sorry if I go a little off topic here.

[odessa]

I do it on the backhand naturally,but not on the forehand,making it erratic i think. I do not mean stepping into the ball nescessarily,more like leaning into,forcing the weight towards the ball as i hit.. get it.I tend to sometimes lean back on the forehand,like a topspin lob in a way,it does not feel solid.i have an easterngrip. input?

Alot of people lean forward or even sideways to the left foot but not like you want it INTO the shot. In fact they are falling out of their forehand topspin and dont drive through the shot (slice, drive or topspin the head should move about 10 inches in a staight line)
The direction of the left foot is very important. If the foot is parallel to the baseline it is very hard to lean into the ball.
Experiment with the left foot pointing forward and at the ball at contact.
try to lean at the point of contact from the center of your body ( lower stomach) do not bend to much at the waist (back is fairly straight or slightly forward.)
Btw on a topspin lob it is okay to lean back.

So make sure you are really leaning into the shot and not just forward to the net or even worse to your left side.
Good luck