Help with inside out forehand

[sgrv]

I am having trouble with io forehand. When I get a ball from T to sideline, I can hit dtl very well. For IO, I just push the ball, but CANNOT hit with much power or topspin.

I do get into a closed stance and am familiar with other tips like using sidesteps to get into position. But something is not working. Below is an illustration of my position and swing

1 +
2 +
3 + front leg
4 +
5 +
6 + back leg
7 +
8 +

+ above is my swing path, with numbers for illustration. btw, i am leftie with Western grip.

Here are few questions:

1. For DTL, I make contact around 4 or 5 and it works fine. Is the technique correct?

2. For IO, should the contact be made on 6, 7 or 8? It sounds logical because the racquet is pointing in the correct io direction. 1-3 will mean CC. However, 6-8 are fairly early in swing path, so how do I generate much power or spin?

[sgrv]

Sorry the diagram didn't render correctly:

I am having trouble with io forehand. When I get a ball from T to sideline, I can hit dtl very well. For IO, I just push the ball, but CANNOT hit with much power or topspin.

I do get into a closed stance and am familiar with other tips like using sidesteps to get into position. But something is not working. Below is an illustration of my position and swing

1::::::::::+
2::::::::+
3:::::::+::::::front:leg
4::::::+
5::::::+
6:::::::+::::::back:leg
7::::::::+
8::::::::::+

+ above is my swing path, : for HTML indenting and numbers for illustration. btw, i am leftie with Western grip.

Here are few questions:

1. For DTL, I make contact around 4 or 5 and it works fine. Is the technique correct?

2. For IO, should the contact be made on 6, 7 or 8? It sounds logical because the racquet is pointing in the correct io direction. 1-3 will mean CC. However, 6-8 are fairly early in swing path, so how do I generate much power or spin?

[wihamilton]

Closed stance? With a few exceptions you never want to hit a forehand with a closed stance. On an IO forehand, open / semi-open is typically what you want to use.

[ramseszerg]

According to Blake, the difference in timing is so very small between a normal forehand and an inside out forehand. The io is just a very little bit later.

[sh@de]

Closed stance? With a few exceptions you never want to hit a forehand with a closed stance. On an IO forehand, open / semi-open is typically what you want to use.

What's wrong with hitting with a closed stance? I hit with the closed stance whenever I approach I think... unless it's a neutral? I'm not entirely clear about the stances :-?

[wihamilton]

You're probably using a neutral stance. That's where a line in-between your feet would be perpendicular to the baseline. Parallel w/the baseline would be open. When your front foot steps across your back foot that's closed. Don't want to do that cuz it inhibits your body from rotating properly.

[sh@de]

I'm sure I do hit closed stance and not neutral actually Wil... the thing is, I still have plenty of torso and shoulder rotation when I hit those shots. Is that not possible...?

Oh and a question Wil, how come Federer sometimes uses this 'scissor' step when hitting inside out forehands? What are the benefits? When to use this and when not to...?

Here's the vid of it:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=70ojwwcspX0