Improving timing

[markzolotoy]

I have been playing with a guy who has good understanding about how a tennis player needs to prepare for ground strokes: both forehand and backhand. What he has identified that I have a severe timing problem preparing for a forehand ground stroke. Even he is placing balls very well I am still having issues positioning myself properly: the biggest problem is that I am not opening up in time. I am waiting too long for the ball to bounce. As a result I dont have enough time to get the racket behind me and rotate my body. To compensate for that I often use some jerky movement to get into position. One would say it is all in your head and I totally agree, the only sad thing is that I have absolutely no such problem with backhand stroke, so, there is a hope I am looking for some tips to improve my timing. What would experienced players recommend?

Thanks

[LeeD]

Search the vids of Federer just warming up for a casual practice.
Notice he doesn't need to move his feet whatsover. His shoulder turn allow him to hit a clean ball early every time.
Start the shoulder turn as soon as you recognize the balls travel to forehand or backhand, and well BEFORE the ball passes the net.

[markzolotoy]

Aha, you are saying turn the shoulder as soon as I see what direction the ball is going to but do not move feet just yet, correct?

[LeeD]

I"m saying the shoulder matters, the feet only to give you a ready position in response of the next ball.
Now when you start to hit for real, correct feet becomes increasingly more important.

[luvforty]

go to the other extreme by preparing too early on purpose, turn back as if you are gonna hit a ball in the air without bounce... that's obvious too early... then find the mid ground where feel comfortable.

[Cheetah]

Have you tried practicing?

[markzolotoy]

Yes, I am practicing. But I need to find something that would help me to get into a proper preparation routine. Another question. At what point am I taking my other hand of the racket? When a ball is bouncing?

[Cheetah]

are you actually practicing where someone is feeding you forehands over and over or hitting against a wall or a ball machine?

[morandi]

Just focus on what is in front of you, the ball. Do not worry about what is behind you, the racquet take back. That will help your timing the best. Just focus on thinking about what you want the strings to do to the ball.

[Zolar]

I think that if you start your swing slow and then accelerate the racquet head just before you hit the ball, it will help your timing. Takes a little more core strength but by starting your swing slow, you have more time to judge the ball and your timing should improve.

[dominikk1985]

prep early (shoulder turn) and hit a lot of balls. this is the best advice I can give although it is quite primitive.

A former coach also did some drill where you had to count numbers loud (1 opponent contact, 2 bounce and 3 own contact). this can help to develope some rhythm and get a feel for the time dimensions but in the end you need to collect data by seeing and hitting a lot of balls, preferably close to match pace (collecting data of soft pushed balls is not going to help against hard hitting opponents in a match).

[Relinquis]

eye on the ball

are you looking at the ball the entire time until impact? this focus will help you gauge the pace of the ball and you will adjust automatically.

[markzolotoy]

I am reading all your comments and I am very thankful for them. I guess, my biggest problem is that while awaiting for a forehand to hit, I am basically doing nothing. Seems to me, I am worried too much about the result - hit the ball that a partner cannot respond to, and because of that I am waiting too long staring at the ball approaching me.

[Cheetah]

If you post a video of yourself hitting you'd get more targeted advice.

[Relinquis]

if your strokes and timing are good with a ball machine, but not when practicing with someone or in matches it means that you might not be adjusting your timing to balls of varying speed. this is a skill you need to develop. how to adjust your timing depending on the incoming ball and on what you want to do to it.

there are many ways of adjusting to the incoming ball.
- you can wait for it to come into your hitting zone (delay dropping the racquet on slow balls), or
- you can attack it early by taking a step or two forward before going into your stroke motion, or
- you can step back and then hit it (useful for high balls on clay) or
- you can run around where the ball is going to be and hit it with the other stroke (i.e. change backhand to forehand and hit inside-out), or
- you can hit it out of your normal strike zone (higher or lower) and adjust the height of your take-back and stroke accordingly.

[limitup]

Have you changed anything with your stroke recently? I had a similar problem when I improved my OHBH by turning more shoulders more. At first I was constantly hitting the ball late because my timing was based on turning much less. I literally had to exaggerate it and try to force myself to swing really early, just to find the new sweet spot.

[markzolotoy]

Originally Posted by limitup

Have you changed anything with your stroke recently? I had a similar problem when I improved my OHBH by turning more shoulders more. At first I was constantly hitting the ball late because my timing was based on turning much less. I literally had to exaggerate it and try to force myself to swing really early, just to find the new sweet spot.

Yep, that is a part of a problem. Before I wasn't turning my shoulders as an early preparation step. But my partner wants me to change that. Before I was doing everything wrong but it "worked". Now I am much better, but still cannot completely get into this smooth forehand routine. Especially in the begging of a game/practicing. It takes usually around 30 - 40 min. for me to get into slow, smooth, and accurate movement. I even think about something that I could use off court to work on the whole forehand routine.

[morandi]

Timing too I believe has a lot to do with balance. Focus on remaining centered and erect, keeping your head upright, helps a lot with ones position on the court and stroke execution. Djokovic is a master at this.

[LeeD]

Better to be early and too early than late and too late.
So turn your shoulder's ASAP.