Forehands Video: 10 months in

[gastro54]

Hi - please give me some advice on these forehands; I started playing last summer. I'm the one near the camera.

My backhands are too shoddy to post right now; I know what I have to work on from that side.

One of the major issues I saw was my takeback.
I still can't believe how big my takeback is - it definitely didn't feel like it.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Red0-OP9jvM

This is how I played almost half a year ago (around winter)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RGxSEuqLS40

[Blake0]

I think you have a pretty good form, nothing majorly wrong, except maybe a bit to much of a backswing, try to keep your backswing to the right of you, and don't let it get behind your back, that should keep it shorter.

And on your backhand, try to hit through the ball more, instead of focusing on brushing up, it helped me quite a bit.

[Slicendicer]

I'm calling BS... you've been playing more than 10 months.

[aimr75]

I'm calling BS... you've been playing more than 10 months.

yeah, from never picking up a racquet and only after 10 months.. i am impressed if it is the case..

to the OP, do you have a coach?

[BU-Tennis]

Your forehand is pretty good, and you move in and out of the court well to hit the balls at the appropriate height.

Now your BH is a different story. The over all form is good but there a few things that need worked on. First off, you take your left hand off of the racquet too early. then your left arm just hangs there like a limp noodle. Hold on a little longer until its almost at the bottom of the swing and then let go, bringing your left arm back to balance the forward movement. If you do that you will stop overrating, which is your second problem. the shoulders come open way too much, try holding the perpendicular position a second longer. Finally, you are falling off of the shot. Get your weight to transfer in a little more. do this and your stroke will improve traumatically.

[ramseszerg]

GWB2?

10char

[gastro54]

I'm calling BS... you've been playing more than 10 months.
I will take that as a compliment.

Now your BH is a different story. The over all form is good but there a few things that need worked on. First off, you take your left hand off of the racquet too early. then your left arm just hangs there like a limp noodle. Hold on a little longer until its almost at the bottom of the swing and then let go, bringing your left arm back to balance the forward movement. If you do that you will stop overrating, which is your second problem. the shoulders come open way too much, try holding the perpendicular position a second longer. Finally, you are falling off of the shot. Get your weight to transfer in a little more. do this and your stroke will improve traumatically.
Thanks - I think you're right on the money that this is how I need to improve my backhand.

I've played soccer all my life and just took up tennis. I've had 2 lessons

[EtePras]

It's amazing how many people try to show off to an internet forum they will never meet in person by claiming to have just started playing tennis. Guess what kid, you're not impressing anyone with your lies. Come back when you're a top 10 player and then maybe we'll be impressed. (And even then, you'd better be playing an all-court game and have at least 1 win against the top 4 or you're just another mug)

[bad_call]

Hi - please give me some advice on these forehands; I started playing last summer. I'm the one near the camera.

My backhands are too shoddy to post right now; I know what I have to work on from that side.

One of the major issues I saw was my takeback.
I still can't believe how big my takeback is - it definitely didn't feel like it.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Red0-OP9jvM

looks good. keep at it. ain't it great to be one of those with natural abilities...eye/hand coordination i think it's called.

[broddfelt]

Nice forehand.

You might want to work some on your contact zone since your contact zone is a little bit too short. With a longer contact zone you will get a little bit more power on the ball and more control as well.

Your partner had a good contact zone, so watch what he is doing after the contact of the ball.

[yellowoctopus]

Wow, 10 months; at this pace, you can be on the tour in a couple of years or less.

Keep up the good work; we will be looking for you on the telly then.

[gastro54]

Wow, 10 months; at this pace, you can be on the tour in a couple of years or less.

Keep up the good work; we will be looking for you on the telly then.

I think I started too late for that... I'm almost done with my undergrad degree. Maybe in another life.

I would like to make the college club team my senior year, though

I'll post some vids of me playing earlier so you can get an idea of my development.

[Venetian]

It's amazing how many people try to show off to an internet forum they will never meet in person by claiming to have just started playing tennis. Guess what kid, you're not impressing anyone with your lies. Come back when you're a top 10 player and then maybe we'll be impressed. (And even then, you'd better be playing an all-court game and have at least 1 win against the top 4 or you're just another mug)

What...is wrong with you?

[Slicendicer]

I will take that as a compliment.

Thanks - I think you're right on the money that this is how I need to improve my backhand.

I've played soccer all my life and just took up tennis. I've had 2 lessons

Take that how you like.... I still calling BS. I've coached A LOT of beginner tennis players, so I say without a doubt in my mind... BS. :-?

[35ft6]

I call BS, too. Most of the BS'ers have been playing for a while but say they started the moment they decided to make tennis a priority. Speaking of which, where's that Gee Williker's Dude, he's been playing for about 10 months, too... Lets compare 10 month talent.

[Gee Willikers Batman!]

OP: Let people say your lying and take it as a compliment. I used to flame back but it got me absolutely nowhere, now when people say that I am lying about how long I have been playing, I smile because it means I am doing pretty well in tennis for how long I have been playing.

[Gee Willikers Batman!]

I call BS, too. Most of the BS'ers have been playing for a while but say they started the moment they decided to make tennis a priority. Speaking of which, where's that Gee Williker's Dude, he's been playing for about 10 months, too... Lets compare 10 month talent.

I first picked up my racket in January of 2007 my Freshman year. Which makes it over 2 years and 3 months.. not 10 months...

If you talk about when i started playing tennis seriously It was May 2007, which makes it ALMOST 2 years (in about 15 days or so)

[bad_call]

maybe BS...maybe not. not seeing a match here...just rallies. some ppl pick up sports, activities faster than others.

[35ft6]

^ Man, time flies. Well, however long you've been playing, your strokes look a LOT better in the newest video you posted, GWB.

[gastro54]

What's alarming is the fact that some people (a minority) feel threatened enough or in some way accosted by my claim that I've been playing 10 months to make a post calling me out.

I've updated the 1st post with a video of me playing this last winter. It isn't pretty.

I became interested in tennis mainly through this forum - IIRC, the first post I made here was asking about a Head Atlantis racquet that I had been using to start out.

Take that how you like.... I still calling BS. I've coached A LOT of beginner tennis players, so I say without a doubt in my mind... BS. :-?
Then all I can say is thank God you aren't my coach;.

[OvertheFence]

Do you have regular access to courts? or is your court time limited during winter

[Slicendicer]

What's alarming is the fact that some people (a minority) feel threatened enough or in some way accosted by my claim that I've been playing 10 months to make a post calling me out.

I've updated the 1st post with a video of me playing this last winter. It isn't pretty.

I became interested in tennis mainly through this forum - IIRC, the first post I made here was asking about a Head Atlantis racquet that I had been using to start out.


Then all I can say is thank God you aren't my coach;.


No doubt, your technique is pretty bad... you'd have to unlearn basically everything you've engrained, or find another coach. :twisted:

I am not "threatened by you"... you could not possibly beat me in tennis ever. Just pointing to an obvious conclusion... if you say 10 months, fine... 10 months...









but I'm still calling BS.

[35ft6]

What's alarming is the fact that some people (a minority) feel threatened enough or in some way accosted by my claim that I've been playing 10 months to make a post calling me out.Nah, it's not just you, the reaction is the accumulative effect of dozens of people making the same claims as you. And that's just at this tennis board, speaking in a broader sense, it's the accumulative effect of rampant lying on the internet in general.

[gastro54]

Do you have regular access to courts? or is your court time limited during winter

There's almost always a university court available any time of the year. I try to play as often as possible weather permitting.

[hyogen]

great improvement man. nice deep rallies you're having there. and looks like you have a solid onehanded backhand :]

[bad_call]

There's almost always a university court available any time of the year. I try to play as often as possible weather permitting.

keep it up man. your strokes look promising. looks like u have a decent hitting partner on the other side...always a good thing.

[hyogen]

No doubt, your technique is pretty bad... you'd have to unlearn basically everything you've engrained, or find another coach. :twisted:

I am not "threatened by you"... you could not possibly beat me in tennis ever. Just pointing to an obvious conclusion... if you say 10 months, fine... 10 months...








but I'm still calling BS.

in your ever so humble opinion, what do you think this guy's ntrp rating is and what is yours? can we see your vid as well?

[Slicendicer]

in your ever so humble opinion, what do you think this guy's ntrp rating is and what is yours? can we see your vid as well?

I have never seen a player develop a 1HBH with no coaching in 10 months... never. I also have not seen a player rally with medium pace topspin, variety FH with control, with no coaching in 10 months... it just doesn't happen.

He's a 3.5 perhaps... can't really say since they are just rally and not serving and constructing points.

I posted a vid a while ago, although I'm not anywhere close to my ability, I could play 5.0. I'll hopefully play higher level tennis in 4-5 months, as my fitness gets under control.

[TBobLP]

I haven't spent much time on these boards (as is obvious by looking at my absent post count), but it doesn't seem right to "call him out" just because you don't believe him. obviously the strokes arent that impressive, many of you guys are better...he doesnt seem to be gloating or anything. i kind of take offense tho, because im in a similar boat. i started learning tennis from my girlfriend who has played forever and has competed in high school and played in leagues. not sayin she's a top player or anything, but i've seen myself progress in a short period of time having a solid hitting partner and daily access to courts if i want. ive been playing about 7 months and people i tell don't believe me. my serve is nonexistent because ive literally never even attempted one until recently...usually just hitting back and forth with her. he said his bh is horrible, and assuming he started similarly to me, there's no reason to assume that his claim is false.

whatever the case, OP, just have fun and play...as long as you're doing that than worrying about whether someone youve never met believes what you say will be the last thing on you mind.

[bad_call]

I have never seen a player develop a 1HBH with no coaching in 10 months... never. I also have not seen a player rally with medium pace topspin, variety FH with control, with no coaching in 10 months... it just doesn't happen.

He's a 3.5 perhaps... can't really say since they are just rally and not serving and constructing points.

I posted a vid a while ago, although I'm not anywhere close to my ability, I could play 5.0. I'll hopefully play higher level tennis in 4-5 months, as my fitness gets under control.

where did the OP say no coaching?

good luck with the fitness...having the same issue...20+ lbs isn't leaving me very fast. :cry: need to get serious or be stuck in 4.0 land.

[aimr75]

where did the OP say no coaching?

good luck with the fitness...having the same issue...20+ lbs isn't leaving me very fast. :cry: need to get serious or be stuck in 4.0 land.

I asked the OP this in a previous post.. it would a bit more plausable if a coach was involved in his development.. stroke technique aside, the level of consistency is impressive for someone playing only 10 months.. typically you would expect the shots to be spraying more, more short balls etc.. good on him if it is the case..

[ronalditop]

those two guys in the vid have funny looking forehands. I do believe hes been playing for 10 months. I dont see his strokes are good enough to say that he have played for longer time.

[Venetian]

I have never seen a player develop a 1HBH with no coaching in 10 months... never. I also have not seen a player rally with medium pace topspin, variety FH with control, with no coaching in 10 months... it just doesn't happen.

He's a 3.5 perhaps... can't really say since they are just rally and not serving and constructing points.

I posted a vid a while ago, although I'm not anywhere close to my ability, I could play 5.0. I'll hopefully play higher level tennis in 4-5 months, as my fitness gets under control.

So, let me get this straight. You haven't seen something, so it hasn't happened? And can't happen?

Why do you doubt what you have no basis for doubting?

[Slicendicer]

So, let me get this straight. You haven't seen something, so it hasn't happened? And can't happen?

Why do you doubt what you have no basis for doubting?

whatever He-Man... maybe you and Master-at-Arms should rendevous at castle Greyskull with Skeletor, instead of trying to break bad with some logic. :)

[35ft6]

So, let me get this straight. You haven't seen something, so it hasn't happened? And can't happen?

Why do you doubt what you have no basis for doubting? This is how reality works, it's a conceptual model for predicting the future based on past experience. Don't believe everything you read on the internet. At some point, you have to cross reference claims with what you know to be reality. Here are some early posts from this dude:9/15/08

Hey all,

I have been using the Prince TT Warrior OS with Head Rip Control 16g @ 62/62 and am breaking strings weekly - the crosses go first every time.

What strings would you recommend that are comfortable like the Head R.C., but have increased durability? I am willing to test out hybrids

Thanks
Alex Two months into playing, he's really breaking a lot of strings? And knows about the comfort of strings? 9/16/09

Thanks for the suggestions -

I'll try out some string savers and see where that gets me - hopefully it wont change the feel that much since I like the way RC hits (and how how cheap it is compared to other multifilaments)

I am stringing on a Gamma X-2, so I'll give the RC Ms/ syn gut Xs a try. I have a bunch of Gamma syn guts that were included in the X-2 gift pack... How should I handle tension with this setup?

A reel of Gosen 16g micro is coming in, so will try a hybrid with that stuff too.And he's already stringing his own rackets.10/5/09

I'm surprised you're feeling soreness from Rip Control - I thought those felt very comfortable - I just tried a poly/syngut hybrid and I'm feeling tennis elbow for the first time. I'm going back to multis or syn guts10/13/09

Tennis elbow 4 months into it.This wasn't the case for me. I had ordered three racquets that were in stock and 1 that was backordered. TW didn't hold the 3 in stock racquets for me until the backordered one returned so by the time the backordered one was back in stock they had sent out the 3 that were in stock to other customersBecause of string breakage, 4 months into tennis, orders 3 new rackets. I only looked at the first two pages of his posting history, who knows what else he reveals later on, but his first post, dated 7/09:Hey, I just took up tennis and am using one of my parent's Head Atlantis 660 IDS - does anyone have any info on this racquet - characteristics, what its made of, etc?

Is this a good racquet for a new player?

Thanks Similar posting history for GWB. He was giving advice to people on racket stringing, weighting, etc, within weeks of taking up tennis. His parents ALSO played, so my theory is simply that they were sporadic players as kids, their parents probably signed them up for lessons, but they never took it seriously until recently. Thinking Gastro never really took it seriously, but in college realized he's not that bad and is deciding to enhance his college experience by joining a team.

Same reason I played college tennis. I was surprised I could make the team, for some reason I thought everybody would be much better. Didn't play for a couple of years, realized I could make the college team, beat everyone in challenge matches, and got pulverized the whole season playing number 1 of a D-2 team winning only 2 singles matches all year.

Anyway, Gastro has a nice forehand. Weird, he sort of hits his forehand like Nadal but his backhand like Fed. (man, I've got so much time to kill during my time off from work... this post is ridiculous...)

Good luck with your college team or whatever you said you're trying out for.

[maverick66]

whatever He-Man... maybe you and Master-at-Arms should rendevous at castle Greyskull with Skeletor, instead of trying to break bad with some logic. :)

this is hilarious.

ill agree with slicer and 35ft hes not giving us full details on his playing experience.

[Slicendicer]

where did the OP say no coaching?

good luck with the fitness...having the same issue...20+ lbs isn't leaving me very fast. :cry: need to get serious or be stuck in 4.0 land.


Thanks, broham. Hey... Gaucho is one of my fav albums... that is a quote from Gaucho, right?

[4zureSky]

You're playing like at in only 10 months?? Very nice I would say. You're timing and form is good. Keep up the good work :)

[Venetian]

This is how reality works, it's a conceptual model for predicting the future based on past experience. Don't believe everything you read on the internet. At some point, you have to cross reference claims with what you know to be reality. Here are some early posts from this dude: Two months into playing, he's really breaking a lot of strings? And knows about the comfort of strings? And he's already stringing his own rackets.10/13/09

Tennis elbow 4 months into it.Because of string breakage, 4 months into tennis, orders 3 new rackets. I only looked at the first two pages of his posting history, who knows what else he reveals later on, but his first post, dated 7/09: Similar posting history for GWB. He was giving advice to people on racket stringing, weighting, etc, within weeks of taking up tennis. His parents ALSO played, so my theory is simply that they were sporadic players as kids, their parents probably signed them up for lessons, but they never took it seriously until recently. Thinking Gastro never really took it seriously, but in college realized he's not that bad and is deciding to enhance his college experience by joining a team.

Same reason I played college tennis. I was surprised I could make the team, for some reason I thought everybody would be much better. Didn't play for a couple of years, realized I could make the college team, beat everyone in challenge matches, and got pulverized the whole season playing number 1 of a D-2 team winning only 2 singles matches all year.

Anyway, Gastro has a nice forehand. Weird, he sort of hits his forehand like Nadal but his backhand like Fed. (man, I've got so much time to kill during my time off from work... this post is ridiculous...)

Good luck with your college team or whatever you said you're trying out for.

It still seems within reason to me. If he had posted a video of him playing a match that showed more advanced skill, that would be one thing; but he posted a video of some casual hitting that seemed reasonable enough to me. It's a case of possibility versus probability. So again, just because you haven't seen it, doesn't mean it doesn't happen.

[Blake0]

well 10 months into tennis and hitting like that is quite amazing, does it really matter how long he's played tennis to us? Just give him a compliment for good improvement, which he surely has had comparing his videos, and even if he is lieing, it only hurts him in the end.

[35ft6]

So again, just because you haven't seen it, doesn't mean it doesn't happen.By this logic, anything is possible. It's called appeal to ignorance.

And again, it's not just this dude, I'm sure he's a nice guy. It's just some of us has seen this so often. I work in TV and film and I see the same thing there, people preface their script or cut with a " this is rough... I didn't spend a lot of time on it..." First off, his ability level is obvious, so why include 10 months? Because he wanted to make sure he got praise. Otherwise, it's really not useful at all.

Anyway, I'm not going to post in this thread anymore.

[bad_call]

Thanks, broham. Hey... Gaucho is one of my fav albums... that is a quote from Gaucho, right?

right on. owned a few of theirs but not that particular album.

[bad_call]

By this logic, anything is possible. It's called appeal to ignorance.

And again, it's not just this dude, I'm sure he's a nice guy. It's just some of us has seen this so often. I work in TV and film and I see the same thing there, people preface their script or cut with a " this is rough... I didn't spend a lot of time on it..." First off, his ability level is obvious, so why include 10 months? Because he wanted to make sure he got praise. Otherwise, it's really not useful at all.

Anyway, I'm not going to post in this thread anymore.

hmmmmm...."stretching" the truth doesn't warrant praise. a lesson for the OP.

[Tennis Dunce]

35ft6 seems pretty spot-on to me. Why even mention 10 months?

[MomijiTMO]

Well the post diving did show some interesting points O_O.

Anyhoo, take up more lessons and post a video in 2 months. I'd like to be hitting forehands at a similar level in 8 months :D. I have my racquets strung with RIP Control and after 14 hours [7 hours of rallying, 7 of lessons] I still haven't broken my strings because I do not hit manly shots yet lol. They are fraying but heck they started that 2 weeks ago.

[iksmols]

There are many factors that contribute to ones ability to progress including previous athletic experience (sports coordination) and ability to process and apply information (putting theory into practice) therefore not knowing much about you I am willing to give you the benefit of a doubt.

[Tennis Dunce]

There are many factors that contribute to ones ability to progress including previous athletic experience (sports coordination)

If you don't believe this...just ask LeeD. He was a cliff-diver, rodeo superstar, is a stud on a hang glider, trekked to the North Pole, and I believe he is a champion truffle spotter.

All before tennis!

Didn't you bowl a few 300 games too?

I seem to remember you and Allison Fisher in a trick-shot promo as well?




:)






:

[yoh4u]

Thats impressive

[ximian]

I call BS too. I wonder where the OP went?

[Patrick_St]

By this logic, anything is possible. It's called appeal to ignorance.

And again, it's not just this dude, I'm sure he's a nice guy. It's just some of us has seen this so often. I work in TV and film and I see the same thing there, people preface their script or cut with a " this is rough... I didn't spend a lot of time on it..." First off, his ability level is obvious, so why include 10 months? Because he wanted to make sure he got praise. Otherwise, it's really not useful at all.

Anyway, I'm not going to post in this thread anymore.

I call BS! ;)