My forehand revealed! Tips appreciated.

[Power Player]

Originally Posted by HunterST

Thank you for the refreshingly simple advice!

Lol no problem. The best advice I get from coaches is extremely simple and it makes it much easier to implement.

[pvaudio]

Hunter, please don'tmistake. I am not intending to be mean, crital or rude. I'm just pointing out exactly what I see. I would be remiss if I didn't have something concrete to add.

I would still like that second video though.

[Cheetah]

another video with faster feed rate would be better.

not sure about pro's being flat footed. do you have a vid of one we could reference?
i'll bet their left knee isn't locked though.

also you land your steps flat flooted. like an elephant, pardon the expression. there's no spring or bounce. that's an energy killer. you want the energy starting from the ground and flowing link by link to the racquet. one segment at a time, one by one, in order with no pauses, overlapping / skipping links or locked knees.

here's are some good vids on power. he talks mostly about the serve but does talk a lot about fh and goes into depth about kinetic chain.

http://www.tennisone.com/membership/...ve/1.train.php

http://www.tennisone.com/membership/...2.train.xf.php

http://www.tennisone.com/membership/...3.train.nk.php

[tennishotdog]

just my opinion your stroke and form looks alright, not ugly or weird but it looks a bit slow? can you hit it any harder or faster than that in a rally or match?

i also dont like how you lift your right leg off the ground as you accelerate the racket towards the ball. it makes you arm the ball more and lose weight transfer. i think you probably see federer do this when he hits an inside out forehand running around his backhand but i dont think he ever does it whilst standing still so its not what it looks like i guess.

[HunterST]

Originally Posted by tennishotdog

just my opinion your stroke and form looks alright, not ugly or weird but it looks a bit slow? can you hit it any harder or faster than that in a rally or match?

i also dont like how you lift your right leg off the ground as you accelerate the racket towards the ball. it makes you arm the ball more and lose weight transfer. i think you probably see federer do this when he hits an inside out forehand running around his backhand but i dont think he ever does it whilst standing still so its not what it looks like i guess.

Yeah, this was just light hitting. Thanks for the comments.

Also, the ball machine I have is positioned at the service line (in mimics a hand feed) so I think that's why people think I'm prepping so late.

[5263]

Originally Posted by HunterST

After years on this forum, I finally got around to filming some of my forehands. I figure it would be good to see what some other sets of eyes have to say. Sorry about the lighting. I needed this angle, but the sun was in the camera.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wAPjhrHACYY

Not too much modern about it, but
Looks pretty good for what you seem to be trying to do....
a neutral stance, push thru 3 balls, step into shot so much the rt foot comes around,
and tacking on a slightly modern type finish. Pretty much what many traditional
players and coaches advocate on here if you just prepare earlier and
use more shoulder turn.
I don't see any big problem if the traditional linear stroke is what you are going for,
Nice job.
thanks for posting

[Limpinhitter]

Originally Posted by HunterST

After years on this forum, I finally got around to filming some of my forehands. I figure it would be good to see what some other sets of eyes have to say. Sorry about the lighting. I needed this angle, but the sun was in the camera.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wAPjhrHACYY

Not bad at all. I like your swing path, especially your straight take back and your low finish. 2 things that would add a lot to your forehand: (1) a wider, lower, open stance, and (2) a bigger unit turn back and forth. With a wide, low, open stance, a big unit turn is going to create a big coil and all that stored energy will greatly increase your power and spin. You should be able to hit a ton of spin with that swing path and finish if you coil up the way I suggest.

PS: One more thing. When you hit with an open stance and you employ the big unit turn I'm talking about, you should also make contact more out in front than you currently do - at least 2 feet in front of your right foot. That is where the apex of your racquet speed is, and where you'll get the most topspin from your swingpath. Hope that makes sense.

[HunterST]

Originally Posted by Cheetah

another video with faster feed rate would be better.

not sure about pro's being flat footed. do you have a vid of one we could reference?
i'll bet their left knee isn't locked though.

also you land your steps flat flooted. like an elephant, pardon the expression. there's no spring or bounce. that's an energy killer. you want the energy starting from the ground and flowing link by link to the racquet. one segment at a time, one by one, in order with no pauses, overlapping / skipping links or locked knees.

here's are some good vids on power. he talks mostly about the serve but does talk a lot about fh and goes into depth about kinetic chain.

Played tonight and I focused on hitting earlier in the swing (farther back) and bending my knees. I think it helped my forehand quite a bit, so thanks.

[HunterST]

Originally Posted by 5263

Not too much modern about it, but
Looks pretty good for what you seem to be trying to do....
a neutral stance, push thru 3 balls, step into shot so much the rt foot comes around,
and tacking on a slightly modern type finish. Pretty much what many traditional
players and coaches advocate on here if you just prepare earlier and
use more shoulder turn.
I don't see any big problem if the traditional linear stroke is what you are going for,
Nice job.
thanks for posting

Thanks for the comments. You know, I actually didn't realize how traditional my stroke is until I saw this. I imagined that I hit a lot more shots with open stance and that I had more angular momentum. I hit some open stance shots tonight and I liked the result, so I think I'm going to try implement more modern elements into the stroke.

[HunterST]

Originally Posted by Limpinhitter

Not bad at all. I like your swing path, especially your straight take back and your low finish. 2 things that would add a lot to your forehand: (1) a wider, lower, open stance, and (2) a bigger unit turn back and forth. With a wide, low, open stance, a big unit turn is going to create a big coil and all that stored energy will greatly increase your power and spin. You should be able to hit a ton of spin with that swing path and finish if you coil up the way I suggest.

PS: One more thing. When you hit with an open stance and you employ the big unit turn I'm talking about, you should also make contact more out in front than you currently do - at least 2 feet in front of your right foot. That is where the apex of your racquet speed is, and where you'll get the most topspin from your swingpath. Hope that makes sense.

Thanks limp. I think you're right on all accounts. I'm definitely going to try to get more knee bend and coil in my shots. Like I said, I really didn't realize it was so linear and traditional.

[Limpinhitter]

Originally Posted by HunterST

Thanks limp. I think you're right on all accounts. I'm definitely going to try to get more knee bend and coil in my shots. Like I said, I really didn't realize it was so linear and traditional.

Remember OPEN STANCE. You can't achieve the full unit turn and finish, or contact sufficiently out front, with a neutral stance, unless you're Gumby.

[5263]

Originally Posted by HunterST

Thanks for the comments. You know, I actually didn't realize how traditional my stroke is until I saw this. I imagined that I hit a lot more shots with open stance and that I had more angular momentum. I hit some open stance shots tonight and I liked the result, so I think I'm going to try implement more modern elements into the stroke.

It's great that you are willing to post your stuff on here and be open to listening
to find things you can use. Limp is giving some good keys imo.
You know I'll always be willing to help where I can with players like yourself looking
to improve. I think with the points Limp is suggesting, you will find the ability
to hit just as hard, but with better spin. With time, it will allow you to cut loose
for even more power with your strokes. You could generate just as much power with
traditional maybe, but not with the spin and control to make it useful.
keep it up!

[Timbo's hopeless slice]

I think also with the shape of your swing, and putting in to place 5263's suggestions, you could probably swing quite a bit harder than you are, you just have to believe the topspin will keep that little fuzzy bugger in the court!

[Limpinhitter]

Originally Posted by Timbo's hopeless slice

I think also with the shape of your swing, and putting in to place 5263's suggestions, you could probably swing quite a bit harder than you are, you just have to believe the topspin will keep that little fuzzy bugger in the court!

Reminds me of the first time I played with polyester string. After 2-3 shots I was a believer.