Topspin Forehand and Backhand extension.

[JohnThomas1]

Hi guys this is my first topic and i must say you have a fantastic board, lots of information, knowledge and passion :)

Ok, i have a pretty good forehand with a SW grip, fair amount of top and decent power. It is excellent on set ups and rallying but breaks down a little under the fire of players rated above myself. You know, the shots we all hate to face, hard and deep. Two coaches have noted that on many shots i have a fair amount of wrist and forearm action. Some friends think that this is what makes my forehand the shot it is tho, allowing me to get heaps of top and power when i need it. It is quite highly regarded amongst competitors of my standard and below. I myself do feel however it does get a bit slappy at times. Any comments on this or possible drills and idea's?

On the backhand side (I have a one hander) there are two trains of thought in my Club. Some coaches are telling students to let the racquet head go on the follow thru, where as other want the exaggerated firm extension and follow thru. I just had the best win of my life on the weekend, hitting my backhand passing shot(Played a S&V) better than it has ever been considering it is my weakness. I was letting the racquet head swing freely and it seemed to work quite well. When i come off a guy said he thought i was hitting it with too much wrist and this caused me to miss the ones i did. It was however the best backhand day i have had so now i'm a little lost again lol. Any comments?

P.S. Schalken and Lendl would be good examples of the exagerrated firm extension while Becker and Sampras would signify examples of letting the racquet head go.

Thanks all :)

[BillH]

When you say "letting the raquet head go" do you mean after contact with the ball? It seems on the backhand, the racquet must generally go from low to high, contacting the ball in approximately a 6 o'clock to 12 o'clock path and continue up and through the ball with a possible break and opening of shoulders only after contact and follow-through. Letting the racquet head go after follow-through may be primarily the domain of high-level players - much like the pros leaving their feet on a forehand. Maybe I don't understand what you mean by letting the racquet go, but it seems for club-level players the safer approach is to have a fairly straight line follow-through with the shoulders remaining level and your body in sideways position with non-racquet arm moving back opposite the racquet arm during the stroke.

[jun]

As far as your forehand is concerned, majority of wristy shots are inconsistent. If there is such shot as intentionally "wristy" stroke (i do think wrist can play role in a few occasions, mostly unintentionally), it's going to require a lot of talent, and a lot of practice to keep the timing there. If it breaks down against better players, it could be because you don't see those shots enough.

About your backhand, i don't quite understand your comment about followthrough. Assuming you have easter bh grip...As long as you accelerate through the contact zone, and your shoulder remains in line with where the ball's going, it should be ok. I just looked at Ivan Lendl's bh, it doesn't look any more exaggerated than Sampras's or Blake's Sometimes they will be a little rushed and followthrough might be exaggerated.

[JohnThomas1]

Thanks guys. I guess i mean letting the racquet head flow freely thru the shot on the backhand as opposed to consciously guiding it out toward the target with a firm wrist Bill.

Hi jun, Beckers would be a good example of letting the racquet head go. He really rips it thru.