Videos of me hitting around and some serves

[bad_call]

Originally Posted by Say Chi Sin Lo

Oh I definitely need more match playing. I get tense easily.

that diminishes after getting competitive matches under your belt...just don't lay off for years like i did and expect the butterflies not to return.

[Bobby Jr]

Originally Posted by Say Chi Sin Lo

I'll post some match playing videos when I have them. So you can see the difference when I'm just messing around and play like something is on the line.

Good plan

Originally Posted by Say Chi Sin Lo

How is it possible that you can conclude I arm my shots when I'm the one hitting the ball, and the observer has no real way to measure how much stress my arm is under? I can't improve on something I'm not doing.

Because on almost all of your forehands the shoulder on your non-racquet arm doesn't go out of view - as it would if you rotated your torso or got even partially side-on.

It's not that we can't tell what stress your arm is or isn't under it's that your torso is static during most of your stroke - i.e. you're not using it. Therefore you are arming it. That's what arming the ball is.

See this for a bit of a comparison: http://youtu.be/DPOaOiHbyTc - on every forehand his torso basically rotates around until his shoulders in line with the side-lines.

Originally Posted by Say Chi Sin Lo

Trust me, I've had 2 shoulder surgeries. If I'm arming anything, I'll be the first to know.

I think I have flexible shoulders, elbows, and wrists, so it may appear as if I'm flinging my arm about. Like I said, if I'm arming it, I'll feel.

Having flexible shoulders is good (it worked for Sampras on his serve!) but it is besides the point here - the video shows you're hardly using your torso in your forehand, if at all. Anyone with an eye for technique will spot this - it's really evident. The fact you think and say you don't says something about your objectivity when viewing the videos you posted or assessing your strokes.

Originally Posted by Say Chi Sin Lo

I will always accept advice. But I can't improve on what I'm not doing.

That is good. Being genuine in accepting advice however starts with accepting that others may know more than you or be able to view something more objectively than you.

[Spin Doctor]

Originally Posted by fRa

I thought both strokes had late preparation, the forehand being the "worst" of the two...

I think that this directly influences the motion of the strokes themselves as you do seem to be arming the ball.

Since your preparation is off, you rush through the swing by arming the racket. This explains why your backhand seems more consistent than your forehand because its preparation is slightly better.

Try practicing being early on your swing, it will help a bundle.

EDIT : Oh and also, you have 0 shoulder turn on your forehand.
This is another explanation as to why you are more prone to arming the ball. The only time you aren't really arming the ball is when you're on the run and actually rotating your shoulders.

I agree with this assessment. Early preparation will start solving some of your problems.

Trust me, I've had 2 shoulder surgeries. If I'm arming anything, I'll be the first to know. I used to arm my serves until I sat down, thought about my motion, and how I can use less arm while maintaining and improving my serve. If I say I'm not arming my strokes, I'm not arming my strokes. .

Pretty much all of us who have seem your video have agreed that you arming your strokes. You're not engaging your body at all. You are way off balance on your forehand (which even you agree with). Not sure how you think you're engaging your core when you are practically hitting off your heels. On both sides you're not moving INTO the stroke with your body.

As noted above, I think the early racket prep will help a lot. And the good news for you is that this is a relatively easy fix. I had very late racket prep two years ago and didn't believe it until I saw video of myself. This was a very easy change to make to my game. As soon as the racket comes off my opponent's racket I split step and I immediately get my racket into either forehand or backhand position. This helps tremendously with being in balance when hitting your stroke. You can't engage your core and body if you are off balance.

[Say Chi Sin Lo]

I went out to hit tonight and I'm very glad I'm back to my close stance. I also stopped being lazy and focused on my footwork and I must say, I'm happy again.

Now that I'm back to my close stance, I noticed I was bringing my racquet back a lot sooner without thinking about it.

[bad_call]

Originally Posted by Say Chi Sin Lo

I went out to hit tonight and I'm very glad I'm back to my close stance. I also stopped being lazy and focused on my footwork and I must say, I'm happy again.

Now that I'm back to my close stance, I noticed I was bringing my racquet back a lot sooner without thinking about it.

it's those little things that make a BIG difference at higher levels.

[DavaiMarat]

Originally Posted by Say Chi Sin Lo

In case you are wondering, I recently switched from my beloved PC600 to the BLX90. Which is why you see me with two different racquets. A very difficult switch because I've been with a Prestige for the last 10years or so. Similar specs, but I notice a big difference between swinging a Prestige and swinging a Pro Staff. Still getting used to it.



Light hitting...



Practicing some serves...



By the way, last time I posted a serving video, some people had a problem with me not going 100% while practicing serves. I have had 2 shoulder surgeries already. I'm not going to burn myself out just practicing. Even if I never had surgeries on the shoulder, if you know anything about the anatomy/structure of the shoulder, you would know how bad serving/pitching is on the joint. Which is why when I'm practicing serves and playing sets with friends, I don't serve excessively hard. I much rather work on my form, timing, spin, and placement.

If you still have a problem with me not going all-out while practicing serves, I have three suggestions for you:
1) Don't watch my serve video.
2) Take the stick out of your *****.
3) If you still have problem with me about the serves after #2, then use that stick and go F yourself.

To the rest of you fine folks, enjoy!

Lol. Hilarious. I'm not sure if he wants feedback so I'm going to err on the side of caution and not give any. Luckily, I have no stick to speak of whatsoever.

[Photoshop]

I think some people may have already pointed this out but you should take your racket back further. I don't think you're arming the ball and open stance is just fine, but your forehand take-back is too short right now.

Think of it as this - which is more accurate, a handgun or a rifle? A properly long take-back (not excessively long though) should produce more consistent and accurate strokes.

ps. I liked your serve a lot.

[Say Chi Sin Lo]

Originally Posted by Photoshop

I think some people may have already pointed this out but you should take your racket back further. I don't think you're arming the ball and open stance is just fine, but your forehand take-back is too short right now.

Think of it as this - which is more accurate, a handgun or a rifle? A properly long take-back (not excessively long though) should produce more consistent and accurate strokes.

ps. I liked your serve a lot.

Yeah, not taking the racquet back earlier is a bad habit. However, I'm not sure about taking it back further. Sounds like another thing that can go wrong? I've always had a short back swing I think.

My serve is not that great, hahaha. Probably the weakest part of my game.

[Magic of tennis]

Originally Posted by dozu

for 30 degrees of shoulder turn, the FH is as good as it gets... pros have 180 degrees.

YOu mean pros have 90 degree? 180 degree means you have to face back fence to create 180 degree if I am correct.

[Pet]

Ahaha I see a wegner disciple here.

[WildVolley]

Originally Posted by Magic of tennis

YOu mean pros have 90 degree? 180 degree means you have to face back fence to create 180 degree if I am correct.

Nope, I'll speak for him and say he meant 180 degrees. Basically this means that after the unit turn, the outside of the back shoulder goes from pointing at the back fence to pointing at the net. That's a full 180 degrees of shoulder rotation.

Pros don't necessarily have that much rotation on every forehand, but sometimes they actually rotate that far or farther. Think of it as going from looking over your left shoulder (for a righty) to looking over your right shoulder on the finish. That ability to engage the torso and shoulder turn in such a manner gives a lot of power because the whole body is being used in the shot.