Please help me figure out my forehand

[andrehanderson]

I took some footage of me rallying and tried to include as many forehands as possible. A lot of backhands and a few seconds of volleying snuck in, but if you can please take a look at my forehand and help me figure out what's wrong with it, I'd appreciate it.

My issue is this: When people watch me play they find that my forehand is a mess. Whether I'm preparing too late, finishing poorly, too slappy, or not hitting at the optimal contact point, I'm not sure because all of those things have been attributed to it.

Please take a look and help me dissect the problem. Im in the black hat (back to the camera for the first part of the video)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4ef5VYJk0uY

 

[kvan]

Please change your video privacy settings to "unlisted" for us to view it.

 

[andrehanderson]

Oops! Sorry!

Fixed!!

 

[kvan]

Hmmm. First of all, nice backhands But don't run around your forehands by any means! Practice is your best friend, and your forehand needs some love.

For your forehand. You seem to not be swinging freely. By that I mean your follow through seems truncated and you're not finishing all the way across your body/ above your shoulder. You also seem to arm the ball a bit.

Split step more! This will help you with your "preparing too late" problem. You do an alright job of doing so up at net, but you start getting lazy the second half of the video. Try doing it every shot.

Now, a problem with the follow through means a problem with your preparation. Your unit turn is lacking, so try to keep your off-hand on the throat of your racquet for as long as possible, and consciously turn so your shoulder is nearly beneath your chin. This will help you use more of the rest of your body (torso, hips) instead of your arm. Then... just swing. A good follow through is a good forehand!

Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b-C2VpinAVY


Your point of contact is inconsistent, and sometimes directly in front of you, which causes "sloppiness". Check out this video to help you with developing a predetermined point of contact, which could help you loads.

Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fx_Wz9FyEgs


You look like you're using a grip closer to eastern/continental, but check out this video for great preparation tips.

Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tzo1vD754i8

*********************

Anyways, good luck and Happy hitting and New Year!

 

[skim the net]

Technically, your game is sound. I can see what you mean with your forehand being an issue though. I can tell you that you have a very simple, basic motion which is a good thing that eliminates off hits. However, I think that you have too much arm in your stroke.

The vast majority of the power come from the legs/core and you need a bit more rotation for increased power and consistency. See videos of Novak Djokovic for this, he is excellent to try and mimic. His torso gets great rotation, and you can see the work coming from his legs. You will see VAST changes, and your forehand will feel more professional.

Also, you could try to do a looping motion with your take back, meaning to try and drop your racquet lower before you come up for impact. The lower you are under the ball before hitting up during contact will increase spin greatly, which will help your increased power consistency land in.

Here is Djokovic, you can really study his forehand and his body rotation.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PLRLP8g7-zY

 

[andrehanderson]

Hmmm. First of all, nice backhands But don't run around your forehands by any means! Practice is your best friend, and your forehand needs some love.

For your forehand. You seem to not be swinging freely. By that I mean your follow through seems truncated and you're not finishing all the way across your body/ above your shoulder. You also seem to arm the ball a bit.

Split step more! This will help you with your "preparing too late" problem. You do an alright job of doing so up at net, but you start getting lazy the second half of the video. Try doing it every shot.

Now, a problem with the follow through means a problem with your preparation. Your unit turn is lacking, so try to keep your off-hand on the throat of your racquet for as long as possible, and consciously turn so your shoulder is nearly beneath your chin. This will help you use more of the rest of your body (torso, hips) instead of your arm. Then... just swing. A good follow through is a good forehand!

Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b-C2VpinAVY


Your point of contact is inconsistent, and sometimes directly in front of you, which causes "sloppiness". Check out this video to help you with developing a predetermined point of contact, which could help you loads.

Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fx_Wz9FyEgs


You look like you're using a grip closer to eastern/continental, but check out this video for great preparation tips.

Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tzo1vD754i8

*********************

Anyways, good luck and Happy hitting and New Year!

Thank you so much for the detailed response! I am going to go through your post very carefully to try to absorb as much as I can. I'll definitely check out the videos you posted, as well. Ill try to post an update video after Ive incorporated some of your advice!

Thanks again!

 

[andrehanderson]

Technically, your game is sound. I can see what you mean with your forehand being an issue though. I can tell you that you have a very simple, basic motion which is a good thing that eliminates off hits. However, I think that you have too much arm in your stroke.

The vast majority of the power come from the legs/core and you need a bit more rotation for increased power and consistency. See videos of Novak Djokovic for this, he is excellent to try and mimic. His torso gets great rotation, and you can see the work coming from his legs. You will see VAST changes, and your forehand will feel more professional.

Also, you could try to do a looping motion with your take back, meaning to try and drop your racquet lower before you come up for impact. The lower you are under the ball before hitting up during contact will increase spin greatly, which will help your increased power consistency land in.

Here is Djokovic, you can really study his forehand and his body rotation.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PLRLP8g7-zY

Thank you so much for the advice. I really appreciate it!

I think you're right about arming it too much. I dont tend to do it on my backhand anymore (after tennis elbow set in) and it actually improved my backhand a lot. I need to figure out how to relax and use my body/core more on my forehand. Ill check out the video you recommended! Thank you!!

 

[JohnMartin]

is this just a warm up or you usually hit like this? you guys hit so slow that I was falling asleep.

speaking of 'warm'.... big envy from up here, temperature 30F, going down to single digits next week ugh!

 

[andrehanderson]

Just a warm up.

 

[TomT]

I took some footage of me rallying and tried to include as many forehands as possible. A lot of backhands and a few seconds of volleying snuck in, but if you can please take a look at my forehand and help me figure out what's wrong with it, I'd appreciate it.

My issue is this: When people watch me play they find that my forehand is a mess. Whether I'm preparing too late, finishing poorly, too slappy, or not hitting at the optimal contact point, I'm not sure because all of those things have been attributed to it.

Please take a look and help me dissect the problem. Im in the black hat (back to the camera for the first part of the video)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4ef5VYJk0uY

It all looks ok to me. I mean, you didn't miss any forehands, did you? What do YOU feel is the problem? Anyway, I don't think I would be able to help you, but it looks like you've gotten some good feedback from some people who seem to know what they're talking about.

For myself, I had developed a killer (for me ) forehand back in 75. Then didn't play for about 40 years. It was much harder to get the strokes back than I thought it would be. I was much older, weaker, slower, poorer eyesight, rackets were a LOT different, etc. etc. Anyway, what one poster said about follow through. I know that's important. Also, as I've been re developing my strokes I found that, for the forehand, holding the racquet with my left (non-hitting) hand a bit longer than I was, and a pronounced sort of high take back, and pointing with my non-hitting hand sort of out at the ball produced better shots.
The other thing that I had to relearn (am in the process of relearning) has to do with torso rotation. All that stuff and a relaxed arm and grip, and, most importantly, watching the ball all the way to racquet contact, generally produce forehand shots that I like ok. That is, when I actually do all of that stuff on a shot, then it usually turns out ok. Do I usually do all of that stuff on a shot? Uh, no. But I'm working on it. Probably have a few thousand more forehands to go before I can consider it 'solid'.

Another thing that I'll mention is that, for me, using a relatively closed or maybe slightly neutral stance and stepping into the ball seems to produce better shots than an open stance. But that's just me. I use an old school grip (more or less eastern, not western or semi-western) also. But for the best way to do your forehand for the modern game the other posters' advice will probably serve you well.

In closing, I will just say that I think that you just need to get out and hit a ton of balls. You're smart enough to envision how you should be hitting the ball, and to try things and adjust your stroke accordingly.

 

[andrehanderson]

Hi Tom!

Thanks so much for the feedback.

You discussed your forehand from the 70's and that reminded me of one problem I might be having. I am so self-conscious about swinging and finishing the "old fashioned way" that I often find my forehand is caught somewhere between old school and the modern forehand--and the ball ends up going long as a result.

Im not sure if that's evident in the video, but it's something I struggle with.

 

[5263]

you push your racket on the Fh instead of pulling it thru the stroke. Sort of playing ping pong on your Fh side with no real tk back.

Need to get that racket back and down as the ball starts it's bounce, then drag the racket butt first towards contact. Right as you approach contact, you start to pull across...dragging the racket head into contact (not pushing it).

this might help..http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=85EFNRihtJk#t=152

 

[5263]

or this......http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KKC_Y26eleo

even though I think he misses the mistake imo on how Rafa muscles the head around on his Bh at times sort of like you are doing on your Fh. Even though Rafa is pretty good at it, it does give him the UE at times. What saves him is he only does it when going super aggressive or under pressure where even if he misses it is a FE in stead of a UE.

 

[andrehanderson]

you push your racket on the Fh instead of pulling it thru the stroke. Sort of playing ping pong on your Fh side with no real tk back.

Need to get that racket back and down as the ball starts it's bounce, then drag the racket butt first towards contact. Right as you approach contact, you start to pull across...dragging the racket head into contact (not pushing it).

this might help..http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=85EFNRihtJk#t=152

Man, I think you nailed it. The ping pong comparison feels right.

I'm going to try to apply your advice tomorrow morning. Thank you!