Here are my strokes. Tell me how to improve them.

[Dimethyl Sulfoxide]

I'm a new member and saw a few players post their videos so here are mine. I brought an HD Camcorder recently and thought I might film some of my tennis strokes. Initially the file sizes were too large because of the high definition but I found programs to convert the format to be more Internet friendly. You will need QuickTime 6.0 or 7.0. If you don't have it, you can download it from the this link for free: http://www.apple.com/quicktime/download/preview/

I also made these clips in slow motion so it would be easier to see my errors and bad habits. The toe up movement on my serve that I do sometimes is kind of annoying and I didn't know I was doing it until I saw my serves!

The links below are about 4-5MB each. View as few and as many as you want :p but to improve performance, you should right click on the link and save to desktop otherwise your default player tries to stream the clip.

Thanks a lot!

Kick Serves
Duece Court Kick Serve - Normal (http://www.125mph.net/TennisJuly2005/duece.mov) - Slow-mo (http://www.125mph.net/TennisJuly2005/duece_slow.mov)
Ad Court Kick Serves - Normal (http://www.125mph.net/TennisJuly2005/ad.mov) - Slow-mo (http://www.125mph.net/TennisJuly2005/ad.mov)
Ad Court Kick Serves #2 - Normal (http://www.125mph.net/TennisJuly2005/angle.mov) - Slow-mo (http://www.125mph.net/TennisJuly2005/angle_slow.mov)

Flat Serves
Duece Court Flat Serve - Normal (http://www.125mph.net/TennisJuly2005/flat.mov) - Slow-mo (http://www.125mph.net/TennisJuly2005/flat_slow.mov)

Backhands
Topspin Backhand - Normal (http://www.125mph.net/TennisJuly2005/back.mov) - Slow-mo (http://www.125mph.net/TennisJuly2005/back_slow.mov)

[AngeloDS]

I won't comment on serves, because I'm not a serve specialist and I really lack in the serve department. But with your backhand topspin.

They were too lofty, many people could kill those easily.

Plant your feet, and do not move them. Once you stop, the fun must stop! You're moving your lower body too fast. That's why they lack umph. It also looks like you're hitting a little too close to your body, maybe a side view might of help. But take it out a little more in front.

Take it on the rise, not the fall. You'll get a lot more power and drive from your topspin forehands.

But if you take it on the fall, take it a lot lower than when you were hitting. Got to get low as well, and then spring up on the hit.

[Prince_of_Tennis]

Your footwork is pretty bad for both the shots. You should be a lot more stable. Also you need work on shifting your weight to get more pop on both those shots.

Try using a little more eastern grip on the serve to get some more spin on it.

The backhand looks decent but bend your legs more and move the weight forward. Make sure you rotate your hips and shoulders.

I'm not really good with examplaining details but pm me if you have questions so I can elaborate more.

[Kirisaki]

it was in my slice thread but that wasnt great because suddenly i accused of kana identity.

on your backhand, you are opening up very much. at end of swing you look like you are standing with both arms straight at your sides.

not very good. that why ball go high often.

keep your body sideways. back arm should still separate, but stay behind you. your body should stay closed, let your shoulder rotate but the body should still face sideways. you can see in federeruberalles avatar federer's backhand. look how his back arm is kept behind him and he is mostly sideways.

[Dimethyl Sulfoxide]

Thanks for the comments so far.

- Yes the weight transfer on the serve needs a lot more work to get more pop on the kickers
- The backhand definitely opens up too much sometimes but I don't think that causes the high balls. That's how I attack the backhand by throwing very high deep balls with lots of topspin to the oppoents backhand. Guga is probably a better model for my backhand than Federer though
- I was hitting a little closer/late on the backhand because I cranked the ball machine with too much spin, and it was throwing me off a bit. I definitely need to improve the timing on that

Anything else?

[Kirisaki]

it does cause the high balls. opening up throws much momentum nowhere, and mostly up.

you want momentum forward. opening up early is similar to jumping straight up before hitting the ball.

you can still achieve deep, loopy topspin balls easily. but depth and pace (and driving the ball) would be much easier without open up.

[AngeloDS]

I don't know what Kirisaki is talking about. Your opening up early has nothing to do with your balls going high.

What's causing your high balls is on the drop you're pushing up on the ball. That isn't good. You're suppose to push up on the ball when it's on the rise or get lower if it's on the drop.

Opening up doesn't cause the high balls. Opening up too early causes the weak balls (like his last hit was before the service line) and inconsistent balls, taking them lower and planting yourself = good drive + low + deep. Your backhands really lack in speed, and drive. A lot of opponents would take advantage of your weak backhands.

So, take the ball on the rise and just plant yourself and push out and up. If you're taking it on the drop take it lower and push it out and up. What I mean by taking it lower is bend those knees and get lower.

[zAllianceBmx]

your serves look nice. a little too much foot movement though on it. and it looks like you step on the line a bit when you move that front foot when you toss. it moves just slightly if you notice. you have it planted then it moves towards the line a bit. its hard to tell if your footfaulting but i would make sure just incase someone wants to call it on you. take the ball a little lower on the backhand. taking it on the rise is a little bit more tricky for the 1hbh but if you like standing a little back from the baseline, make sure the ball drops a little more and drive through it to decrease the lofty hits.

[akj27]

Holy crap, the topspin on that backhand is insane, Id like to see Angelo return that :D

[Dimethyl Sulfoxide]

your serves look nice. a little too much foot movement though on it. and it looks like you step on the line a bit when you move that front foot when you toss. it moves just slightly if you notice. you have it planted then it moves towards the line a bit. its hard to tell if your footfaulting but i would make sure just incase someone wants to call it on you. take the ball a little lower on the backhand. taking it on the rise is a little bit more tricky for the 1hbh but if you like standing a little back from the baseline, make sure the ball drops a little more and drive through it to decrease the lofty hits.

THanks for comments Bmx. My foot does move too much during the toss and racquet takeback and I'm trying to work on control it. The body just won't do what the mind tells it to do :)

In regards to foot faults, I think the camera angle is giving that illusion, but it could be that I do foot fault. I'll set up the camera at a different angle next time to check it out.

[AngeloDS]

akj27, it's not hard ;). They're bouncing high, I use a semi-western forehand. Having them bounce that high is like dinking a serve. It's just asking to be ripped. That's why you want to have drive to your one handed backhands.

So keeping your legs planted and taking it on the rise, or taking it lower on the drop will stop it from being easily attackable. High bounce is only good on beginners, they can't handle it. With better players it's like dinking a serve, it's asking to be ripped.

For me, if I was playing you. I'd cut the pace on my first forehand to your backhand. Let you bounce it high and then rip it at your backhand twice as hard and twice as much topspin (to keep it in).

Topspin is good on it, but that much is only good for setting up the volley. Which I occasionally, do take it on the drop push up on it have the bounce for my opponent at shoulder-neck height and be right there for the putaway.

[Rickson]

Awesome kick serve, sulfide. I laugh every time I see your left hand go way out to your side on the backhand though. You're a topnotch player, keep up the good work.

[Prince_of_Tennis]

The left arm on the bandhand reminds me of Sampras.

[ATXtennisaddict]

DS >> Could you set it up so I could see the contact between racket and ball for your kicks?

[Dimethyl Sulfoxide]

DS >> Could you set it up so I could see the contact between racket and ball for your kicks?

Sure thing. I'm going to try to film my forehands this weekend and I will take clips of the racquet contact position. I think it will be very hard to see what's going on because the camera is only 60fps. You would need a 1000fps camorder to see any detail in a brushing motion.

[Bungalo Bill]

Sure thing. I'm going to try to film my forehands this weekend and I will take clips of the racquet contact position. I think it will be very hard to see what's going on because the camera is only 60fps. You would need a 1000fps camorder to see any detail in a brushing motion.

I need things in Quicktime to accurately give you feedback. Windows Media player just doesn't cut it.

On the onehander:

1. Try and throw your back arm back to hold your lateral stance longer. You got a lot of rotational forces at play. I would like you to exaggerate it to learn what it feels like to hold the lateral position longer and go out toward the target more.

2. Drop your butt more and go straight into the ball with your arm forming an Las you are rising. Finish with the arm still in an L with your ability to see the sun or "moon" through your strings. Later you can develop the rounded followthrough. The point is you are not making clean contact to generate power, consistency, and placement. Your elbow had a slight bend in it at contact which is sometimes ok, but if you're not careful this can cause a racquet head that doesnt catch up to the ball and a drooping racquet head at contact. Put that with your "arm" lifting motion and that spells inconsistency.

3. You had a nice hip turn into the ball but it needs to pull the arm that is straightened and fixed into the ball and up. Not over. I just think must of your momentum was centrifugal rather then linear.

[Dimethyl Sulfoxide]

I need things in Quicktime to accurately give you feedback. Windows Media player just doesn't cut it.

On the onehander:

1. Try and throw your back arm back to hold your lateral stance longer. You got a lot of rotational forces at play. I would like you to exaggerate it to learn what it feels like to hold the lateral position longer and go out toward the target more.

2. Drop your butt more and go straight into the ball with your arm forming an Las you are rising. Finish with the arm still in an L with your ability to see the sun or "moon" through your strings. Later you can develop the rounded followthrough. The point is you are not making clean contact to generate power, consistency, and placement. Your elbow had a slight bend in it at contact which is sometimes ok, but if you're not careful this can cause a racquet head that doesnt catch up to the ball and a drooping racquet head at contact. Put that with your "arm" lifting motion and that spells inconsistency.

3. You had a nice hip turn into the ball but it needs to pull the arm that is straightened and fixed into the ball and up. Not over. I just think must of your momentum was centrifugal rather then linear.

Thanks for the tip Bill! You have a great eye. I will defintely take into acount your three points and try to improve my stroke over time. I will research how to convert these videos to QuickTime.

Anything else you want to add to the serves? I know the weight transfer needs to be more aggressive into the court, not just up but also forward, and that I need to stabilize my feet movement.

Thanks!

[AngeloDS]

You'll know when you're doing your one-handed backhands right when you can't see your racquet when you finish off.

http://cache.gettyimages.com/comp/53031461.jpg?x=x&dasite=MS_GINS&ef=2&ev=1&dareq=B3B0CAEAE758B2F0D7526FB11713481D621B2AC3A625 13D3

Federer:
http://www.agodbey.com/pictures/tennis/backhand/1.jpg

Yours:
http://www.agodbey.com/pictures/tennis/backhand/2.jpg

[Bungalo Bill]

Thanks for the tip Bill! You have a great eye. I will defintely take into acount your three points and try to improve my stroke over time. I will research how to convert these videos to QuickTime.

Anything else you want to add to the serves? I know the weight transfer needs to be more aggressive into the court, not just up but also forward, and that I need to stabilize my feet movement.

Thanks!

I really need to see these shots with the ability to move at step frame speed so I can toggle back and forth certain parts I feel are causing some trouble.

For now, dont try to rap around the racket out of view, many people see the end of a pros stroke and not the discipline that caused the stroke to perform well - over and over again. Don't let "style" influence good technique. Work on the technique first then the style will come.

Discipline yourself to maintain that L position all the way up so you can see through your strings. Later, when you get this down you can add a faster rotation into your shot which will bring you around more. But your stroke will be disciplined to go through the ball longer before departing over to the same side as your hitting hand is. Discipline, discipline, discipline comes first before style.

If you dont you will always wonder why you sometimes top the ball into the net, or hit off center, or frame it to a land you never heard of.

Swing inside out and keep that L going up and up and up. Not over.

[Dimethyl Sulfoxide]

You'll know when you're doing your one-handed backhands right when you can't see your racquet when you finish off.

http://cache.gettyimages.com/comp/53031461.jpg?x=x&dasite=MS_GINS&ef=2&ev=1&dareq=B3B0CAEAE758B2F0D7526FB11713481D621B2AC3A625 13D3

Federer:
http://www.agodbey.com/pictures/tennis/backhand/1.jpg

Yours:
http://www.agodbey.com/pictures/tennis/backhand/2.jpg

Wow I look like a bird flying LoL

[Dimethyl Sulfoxide]

I really need to see these shots with the ability to move at step frame speed so I can toggle back and forth certain parts I feel are causing some trouble.


Thanks Bill. I am going to see if I can make the QuickTime conversion tonight. I'll get back to you!

[Mike Cottrill]

Dimethyl
First off,
Your gonna put tennis-one out of business :). Very nice. Did not know you could get a 60fps non commercial camera. Man, things are progressing. What camera is that?

Your on your way to having a great game. On the serve, I noticed you pretty much land on the line. I can’t see the toss from this angle, but it does look like it could be just a little further out in front. That will get your momentum into the court and get more on your serve. I noticed a little extra movement in your motion that takes energy away. I also noticed you pull away to side on your kick instead of flowing toward the direction of the serve (I tend to do that too), this also waste energy.

I was down in Delray in May. Nice place. Good tennis down there. BTW, what type of surface is that you playing on? (I'm afraid to see what I would look like on film IKES).

Regards
Mike

[Bungalo Bill]

You'll know when you're doing your one-handed backhands right when you can't see your racquet when you finish off.

http://cache.gettyimages.com/comp/53031461.jpg?x=x&dasite=MS_GINS&ef=2&ev=1&dareq=B3B0CAEAE758B2F0D7526FB11713481D621B2AC3A625 13D3

Federer:
http://www.agodbey.com/pictures/tennis/backhand/1.jpg

Yours:
http://www.agodbey.com/pictures/tennis/backhand/2.jpg

Hold your horses cowboy. This is not everything that is happening in Federers stroke.

Evaluate the non-dominant arm position and compare it to our friends. Compare Federer's hip position to our friends. You will notice Federer has tremendous lateral control well past contact which enables him to swing much faster through the contact zone which ends up PULLING the right arm over while his hips and non-dominant arm are still trying to maintain the lateral position. Even his head holds the 45 degree angle pretty darn well for this swing speed. THIS IS THE MOST IMPORTANT PART OF THE PICTURE! Federer is all about technique and is why Big Mac loves this guy.

This is also what our friend needs to work on before increasing swing speed. The positon our friend is in above indicates a lack of control to hold the lateral position longer. It is too rotational.

[Dimethyl Sulfoxide]

Dimethyl
First off,
Your gonna put tennis-one out of business :). Very nice. Did not know you could get a 60fps non commercial camera. Man, things are progressing. What camera is that?


Mike, the camcorder is a JVC GR-HD1 (http://www.jvc.com/product.jsp?modelId=MODL027075&pathId=29&page=1). It's pretty nice, a bit expensive, but you can get it for half the listed MSRP price. The native format of files are HD-DVD quality, but it runs at over 19Mbps so not internet friendly :) It does do many formats including 720p, 480p, and 480i.


I was down in Delray in May. Nice place. Good tennis down there. BTW, what type of surface is that you playing on? (I'm afraid to see what I would look like on film IKES).


The surface is some type of soft metal but I don't really know what it's called. The bounce is very consistent, and plays similar to fast hard courts like the US Open.

[wpeng4]

Hi,DMSO
A funny name! When I first saw it, I thought it was Dimethyl sulfide(DMS), which is a very stinky chemical. DMSO is not smelly at all.I used to handle both a lot:)
Nice videos and nice serves! I am think of getting a digicamcorder myself, but cannot afford a GR-HD1. I like your strokes, very nice. I don't think you need more power on serves. Your serves can give anybody trouble if they can be placed well. I would work on placement from this point on.

[Dimethyl Sulfoxide]

I've updated my videos to be in QuickTime format. The quality is slightly degrated but still pretty good. I lost sounds though :( I will have forehands in a week or two.

You will need QuickTime 7.0 to play these which is a very new release. Get it here:

http://www.apple.com/quicktime/download/preview/
or
http://appldnld.m7z.net/qtinstall.info.apple.com/zagato/us/win/QuickTimeInstaller.exe

Kick Serves
Duece Court Kick Serve - Normal (http://www.125mph.net/TennisJuly2005/duece.mov) - Slow-mo (http://www.125mph.net/TennisJuly2005/duece_slow.mov)
Ad Court Kick Serves - Normal (http://www.125mph.net/TennisJuly2005/ad.mov) - Slow-mo (http://www.125mph.net/TennisJuly2005/ad.mov)
Ad Court Kick Serves #2 - Normal (http://www.125mph.net/TennisJuly2005/angle.mov) - Slow-mo (http://www.125mph.net/TennisJuly2005/angle_slow.mov)

Flat Serves
Duece Court Flat Serve - Normal (http://www.125mph.net/TennisJuly2005/flat.mov) - Slow-mo (http://www.125mph.net/TennisJuly2005/flat_slow.mov)

Backhands
Topspin Backhand - Normal (http://www.125mph.net/TennisJuly2005/back.mov) - Slow-mo (http://www.125mph.net/TennisJuly2005/back_slow.mov)

[Bungalo Bill]

I've updated my videos to be in QuickTime format. The quality is slightly degrated but still pretty good. I lost sounds though :( I will have forehands in a week or two.

Kick Serves
Duece Court Kick Serve - Normal (http://www.125mph.net/TennisJuly2005/duece.mov)- Slow-mo (http://www.125mph.net/TennisJuly2005/duece_slow.mov)
Ad Court Kick Serves - Normal (http://www.125mph.net/TennisJuly2005/ad.mov)- Slow-mo (http://www.125mph.net/TennisJuly2005/ad.mov)
Ad Court Kick Serves #2 - Normal (http://www.125mph.net/TennisJuly2005/angle.mov)- Slow-mo (http://www.125mph.net/TennisJuly2005/angle_slow.mov)

Flat Serves
Duece Court Flat Serve - Normal (http://www.125mph.net/TennisJuly2005/flat.mov)- Slow-mo (http://www.125mph.net/TennisJuly2005/flat_slow.mov)

Backhands
Topspin Backhand - Normal (http://www.125mph.net/TennisJuly2005/back.mov)- Slow-mo (http://www.125mph.net/TennisJuly2005/back_slow.mov)

Don't need sound. The last thing I want to hear is all that grunting! ;)

[JCo872]

I've updated my videos to be in QuickTime format. The quality is slightly degrated but still pretty good. I lost sounds though :( I will have forehands in a week or two.

You will need QuickTime 7.0 to play these which is a very new release. Get it here:

http://www.apple.com/quicktime/download/preview/
or
http://appldnld.m7z.net/qtinstall.info.apple.com/zagato/us/win/QuickTimeInstaller.exe

Kick Serves
Duece Court Kick Serve - Normal (http://www.125mph.net/TennisJuly2005/duece.mov) - Slow-mo (http://www.125mph.net/TennisJuly2005/duece_slow.mov)
Ad Court Kick Serves - Normal (http://www.125mph.net/TennisJuly2005/ad.mov) - Slow-mo (http://www.125mph.net/TennisJuly2005/ad.mov)
Ad Court Kick Serves #2 - Normal (http://www.125mph.net/TennisJuly2005/angle.mov) - Slow-mo (http://www.125mph.net/TennisJuly2005/angle_slow.mov)

Flat Serves
Duece Court Flat Serve - Normal (http://www.125mph.net/TennisJuly2005/flat.mov) - Slow-mo (http://www.125mph.net/TennisJuly2005/flat_slow.mov)

Backhands
Topspin Backhand - Normal (http://www.125mph.net/TennisJuly2005/back.mov) - Slow-mo (http://www.125mph.net/TennisJuly2005/back_slow.mov)

Hey are you still posting? You have excellent technique. What a beautiful one hander. Great camera as well.

[munk3y]

lol this might be a little irrelevant, but me being in the field of chemistry....i just have to say it.

The "abbreviation" for dimethyl sulfoxide is DMSO (all capitals) and you can't use "chemical structure" unless you're gonna show it. :)

sorry...just had to get it out of me. lol. ignore this if you want.

[ta11geese3]

BB, when you mean an L do you mean the arm being the long end and the hand/racquet being the other part of the L? Basically a fixed bent back wrist?

[safin_protege]

The placement on your kick serves should be more towards the center of the court- "down the T." A kick serve towards the center of the box sets the returner up to rip a high forehand back.

[ta11geese3]

Could be an into the body serve though...

[Bungalo Bill]

BB, when you mean an L do you mean the arm being the long end and the hand/racquet being the other part of the L? Basically a fixed bent back wrist?

The small L is made by the wrist and hand. The bend in the back of the wrist as you pull it back is the corner of the small L.

The large L is made from the tip of the racquet to your shoulder. The hand area is the corner of the large L.

[topspin kid]

i need to look at that next time i serve. because i took the advice from when yall gave it to that kid that posts alot of vids and it got my slice serve some better movement.