Forearm pronation on FH....

[Thunnus]

Like I said, it all depends on what kind of swing you have.
Just think about forearm pronation in serving, your forearm starts to pronate (rotate) before the impact and continues to rotate after impact. So, when does the pronation begin? Does forearm pronation add power? Like in forehand, it all depends on the kind of technique you use. If you don't use active forearm, you will feel like you pronate after the impact.

[Japanese Maple]

As you approach the ball any forearm rotations/manipulations that
may take place before contact is to simply get the racquet head
in a vertical position on contact and in the extension through the
ball. Since your wrist is set throughout of course the forearm
is critical to accelerate the racquet. I still contend, that nothing
really has changed during contact but styles of different players
vary on what they do before and after contact. Sampras had
a more traditional fh versus the South Americans and Spaniards
but I'll quarantee you that these players would love to have his
power-its considered one of the best fh's ever. My only problem
with Sampras's fh as compared to lets say Federer, is that he
only could drive the ball low over the net with a small margin of
error,where Federer can not only hit flat but also hit heavy,loopy
topspin. The famed coach of Sampras,Austin,Davenport,Myskina
ect.,Robert Landsdorp feels that all this heavy,loopy topspin
is hurting kids today because they fail to realize that to attack
and win in big time tennis you have to flatten the ball out and
drive through with full extension and not simply lift up applying lots of spin and wrap
the racquet around the side.

[Thunnus]

Originally Posted by Japanese Maple

As you approach the ball any forearm rotations/manipulations that
may take place before contact is to simply get the racquet head
in a vertical position on contact and in the extension through the
ball.

I strongly believe that we are talking about two different things here. Just look at the success that Spanish and South American players have had in recent years. They clearly have developed different techniques especially in forehand side. I rarely see any American players playing like them. I am not saying one technique is superior to the other, but at least we must recognize that it is a legitimate technique and that it can be highly effetive on hard court as well as clay cout.

Even with this active forearm technique, you can still flatten out or hit a ball with a good deal of penatrating power. It is not the same old topspin technique that produces loopy high bouncing balls but heavy balls with strong foreward kick that can give flatter hitters plenty of trouble.

The reason why Federer can hit that hard ball with nasty topspin is because the strong whip (racquet head speed) by his active forearm through the contact. For him and many others who have perfected this technique, this is a high percentage shot.

You keep playing the same way that you deem correct technically to play. All I am saying is here that there are other ways and for us with enough curiousity and inclination actually are working with those who have perfected this and are trying to get there ourselves. I personally think it is funny that you think this is not something that exists, even though I am doing it everyday and many touring pros have been doing it for many years now.

[Japanese Maple]

Thunnus,

We are splitting hairs here-I can assure you that the South Americans and Spaniards do not have the inside track on the new
modern fh-what have they won on the hardcourt or grasscourt
tour? As I had said before whatever happens before or after
contact with the rotation of the forearm will vary from player to
player and country to country. What doesn't vary is the racquet
is vertical on contact and through extension. I have looked at
slow motion video, frame by frame of various pros and there is
no forearm manipulations during contact and through extension.
Look at the William sisters , they drive through the ball with no
fancy forearm rotations and the same goes for Sampras, Agassi,
and Roddick. Who has a better fh than Sampras? His fh has
allowed him to win 14 grand slams and is clearly one of the best
fh in the history of the game! Check it out on TennisOne.

[C_Urala]

Thunnus,
did I visualize your words correctly?
Somebody has used this analogy with boxing. For example, you want to hit your opponent into the ribs. You have your elbow close to your body. Your forearm is parallel to the ground and your palm looks up (that means your forearm is supinated). Now, you begin a forward swing. You move your fist linearly forward and simultaneously pronate your forearm in such a way that at the contact with the ribs your palm looks downward (and the forearm is pronated).
Now you have a racket in the western grip and do the very same motion. THe W grip will allow to have a vertical string bed during the whole movement. It will allow you to hit through the ball and impart the topspin due to pronation.

Is it what you say? Or did I get it completely wrong?
THanks.