Wrist Assist Update

[drak]

Since I have recently had a very good experience with this device and especially using the "new attachment" I thought I'd start a new thread.

I've had one and used it over the past 6-9 months with my learning daughter, mostly on volleys and some forehands. I had personally tried it before and though it was okay. What WAS a pain was having to always having to switch it when changing sides from BH to FH.

When I saw on a recent visit to their website that they had a new attachment that allows you to do BHs and FHs and volleys with NO changing I said lets give it a try. I tried it today when hitting with my normal 4.5 hitting buddy, he sorta smirked at me when I put it on. Well was I surprised (so was he), after a rough first 2-3 minues I started really getting into a forehand groove (my wristy and inconsistent shot) and was just hitting solid and deep with top and was very consistent. It took me about 10 minutes to get used to the BH but then I got dialed in there too. My consistency of stroke was what really stood out to me, and I think there is value in upping that by creating improved muscle memory.

What was interesting was that when I had tried it before it became uncomfortable after 5 minutes or so. Maybe I had it a bit too tight but today with the new attachment gizmo and having it just a bit looser I hit for about 40 straight minutes, doing lots of drills - it felt so good I did not want to take it off!

I really liked being ablie to just hit and use all the strokes and volleys. I think it is a very good tool for grooving strokes thru correct wrist position and repetitive and correct muscle memory - even for a long time 4.5 like myself. I found in my forehand that often I was not laying my wrist back enough on the takeback and then often would break it too much during the forward swing - the WA really helped me correct that. It also kept me on a better forward swing plane and I kept along the swingpath better. I think will use this in my training sessions and especially with my 3.5 daughter.

Drak

Long time 4.5 player with classic one-handed BH and SW forehand. I play at a fairly high level and went to 4.5 Nationals 1 1/2 yrs ago.

[RedWeb]

Drak, are you actually Brad Gilbert?

[drak]

Originally Posted by RedWeb

Drak, are you actually Brad Gilbert?

LOL, funny dude. Nope, been on TW a long time, check it out. It's a good aid IMO

[crash1929]

I agree with drak, this thing can give you a new perspective, especially if your a good player but never had lessons. this new device seems like a huge improvement. I could only hit with original one for a while before getting tired but it does give you that feel and you can emulate it after you take it off.

-a fellow 4.5, drak who did you play in nationals? hawaii?

[drak]

Originally Posted by crash1929

I agree with drak, this thing can give you a new perspective, especially if your a good player but never had lessons. this new device seems like a huge improvement. I could only hit with original one for a while before getting tired but it does give you that feel and you can emulate it after you take it off.

-a fellow 4.5, drak who did you play in nationals? hawaii?

Yeah, we ended up 2-1 (Georgia beat us) and I won both dubs matches I played. It was an "earth shattering" experience! We were at the epicenter and it was pretty wild.
I never had lessons either (started at 15 - now 52)) and what has been interesting for me is the forehand. About 5-6 yrs ago I swithed to a SW FH grip and while it was better than my previous FH I never felt I got the consistency I wanted or hoped for, I often do not lay back my wrist enough and I think I often "release" it too early - the WA seems to be correcting/helping me with that. Its feels like a "tune up" or refresher course if you will - its easy to fall into bad habts.
One note is that I think I am relaxing more and not muscling the ball as much, hence I can drill with the WA on for a long time. I am not cinching it too tight but enough to "feel" it - I do think that is a key when using it.
My wife is a 4.5 with a weak BH volley, she used it today as we worked on that volley for about 10-15 min and made some very solid progress. Perhaps it is not for everyone, but I think it is a very good tool.

[Sentinel]

So what does it really do, does it keep the wrist firm on the backhand, and cocked at 90 degrees on the forehand ?

How much did it cost ?

I just checked out the videos on the site ... mainly commercials, don't explain what it does.

[crash1929]

something like that. i was not volleying correctly. and it created an angle in my wrist that I found gave me the right technique to hit much more powerful shots. the word leverage comes to mind. i was not using leverage on my shots as much as I could. hoyce gracie said with enough leverage I can move the world. I think Steven Cohen said that, too -)

[scotus]

Was it "the best 60 bucks you've ever spent"?

[drak]

Originally Posted by scotus

Was it "the best 60 bucks you've ever spent"?

LOL. BUT I better not go there! It's the cost of a lesson and a half - given that I and my wife use it, and I use it quite a bit for my daughter I think it well worth it.

[Bungalo Bill]

So you guys gonna get the "Toss Assist"? Then the "Swing Assist"? Then the "Footwork Assist"? Then the "Show Up To The Court Assist"?

[drak]

Originally Posted by Bungalo Bill

So you guys gonna get the "Toss Assist"? Then the "Swing Assist"? Then the "Footwork Assist"? Then the "Show Up To The Court Assist"?

Heya Bill, I thought I remember you saying it was a good teaching tool? Did I get the wrong guy?

[Bungalo Bill]

Originally Posted by drak

Heya Bill, I thought I remember you saying it was a good teaching tool? Did I get the wrong guy?

i think you got the wrong guy. I usually don't discount teaching aids, however, I dont get excited about them either. I think teaching aids ar valuable but not necessarily for everyone.

I was just kidding above.

Has anyone tried this leash looking thing? It probably has a name but I don't know what it is. Anyway you basically put your non-dominant arm in one part and the other part goes on your hitting arm and it keeps both arms in line. It forces you to do the thing BB recommends with keeping your chin on your shoulder and you cant go back too far on the backswing. I used a homemade version of this once a few years ago when my swing got too big on the forehand from clay court play (someone else made it, not me!). I am sure that someone like that Joe guy has marketed it but I have no idea what it is called.

[Sentinel]

Originally Posted by Bungalo Bill

So you guys gonna get the "Toss Assist"? Then the "Swing Assist"? Then the "Footwork Assist"? Then the "Show Up To The Court Assist"?

lol, while reading the thread the other night, i was thinking of a "Choke Assist" -- but your one takes the cake.

Is maintaining a 90 degree angle (wrist with forearm) the correct style. If I am already doing that, then the Wrist Assist is not required, correct ?

[Bungalo Bill]

Originally Posted by Sentinel

lol, while reading the thread the other night, i was thinking of a "Choke Assist" -- but your one takes the cake.

Is maintaining a 90 degree angle (wrist with forearm) the correct style. If I am already doing that, then the Wrist Assist is not required, correct ?

The long "L" is important and you can see it n many professional strokes. I talk about it many times in my posts concering proper racquet position through the swing and contact point. There are two "L's" in the onehanded backhand. One is measure from the tip of the racquet intersecting at the wrist and then going up to the shoulder.

The other one is the small "L" which is made by pulling back the hand. That is a preference item and depending on the grip, it would be more pronounced. So if the Continental is straight and the Extreme Eastern is full back which make a 90 degree angle, then the other grips will be somewhere inbetween.

I really dont think it is that hard to maintain the long L without the wrist assist. I think it is more about forgetting to maintain it and the racquet ends up wobbling around during the swing for some players. It is a lot like players not realizing they are not bending their knees anymore.

The wrist assist is a teaching aid. The key word is "aid".

Some players can benefit from this teaching aid because they will feel when their wrist or hand tries to move around in the swing. Moving the hand is not necessarily bad but for some players it is really hindering their progress.

So, it is what it is and if you feel you can benefit from it, then go ahead and try it. Usually this type of teaching aid is for the beginner/intermediate levels where many funky things happen.

I dont know why Gilbert is endorsing the product, his strokes weren't exactly textbook.

[BeHappy]

Originally Posted by Bungalo Bill

I dont know why Gilbert is endorsing the product, his strokes weren't exactly textbook.

They were good enough to take him to number four in the world.

Originally Posted by Sentinel

Several people here praised (on another thread) one device that makes you bend your knees while rallying - can't recall what it was called. The AP Band.

I'd like to put on ALL these devices and THEN play.

Yup, AP belt is a gimmick, same as all those other cheap pieces of crap.

[ShooterMcMarco]

wrissasssisss

[crash1929]

yeah was lucky a friend had it.

drak sounds like quite an experience! we missed 4.5 nationals in hawaii by one match vs. round hill country club. we might've met up...

we're on a roll this year,though. see what what shakes out.

the wa just opens your eyes on some things, i know i was surprised by the improvement on the volley. Normally I might be embarrassed to try such a tool, but since I was the best player out on the courts I figured what the heck! and surprise...it actually helped me.

[drak]

Originally Posted by crash1929

yeah was lucky a friend had it.

drak sounds like quite an experience! we missed 4.5 nationals in hawaii by one match vs. round hill country club. we might've met up...

we're on a roll this year,though. see what what shakes out.

the wa just opens your eyes on some things, i know i was surprised by the improvement on the volley. Normally I might be embarrassed to try such a tool, but since I was the best player out on the courts I figured what the heck! and surprise...it actually helped me.

Hey Crash, that would be very cool to duel in Tucson. We have a good 4.5 team this yr and have a shot, but there is always an element of luck getting through sectionals and there are very good teams there. We won something like 80% of our matchbreakers to get through, I bet if our odds of doing that again are 1 in 20.

[TonyB]

It should be called the "Wrist Crutch".

I can't imagine anything that acts as a crutch will help you strengthen your wrist, which is necessary in order to execute proper strokes. You just can't do it with a weak wrist.

I'm not convinced. Looks like another gimmick to me. Sure, it might help you hit better shots in the short term, but I see it as being a detriment in the long run.

In my opinion, the best bet is to just learn proper form without requiring a leash on your wrist.