Finding my strokes after 20 years. Stroke video inside

[Limpinhitter]

Originally Posted by Greg G

Yeah I saw the Djokovic video after the hit. Now that is LOOSE! I think my torso is a bit tight too. At least I'm going in the right direction now.

is the stance low enough? I find my legs on the follow through a bit weird- both straight sometimes. Can't be right..?

My footwork still gets a bit confused on wide/short balls, but I suppose I'll adjust over time. Thanks!

Flexibility is always a good thing, but, it's not critical to achieving a full turn. In order for your chest to face 9 o'clock on the finish, your hips have to lead the way and your stance has to be open. It also helps to think of your finish, (chest facing 9 o'clock and your racquet head down at you left hip), as your target, or your destination.

To answer your question, check out this forehand lesson in which a good player with a very good traditional forehand learns to hit a modern forehand. There are a lot of good tips here, but, notice the low, open stance with the modern forehand.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Giyop...eature=related

[Greg G]

Nice video! Will try to loosen it up. Once my sore right thigh allows it

[Limpinhitter]

Originally Posted by Greg G

Nice video! Will try to loosen it up. Once my sore right thigh allows it

FYI, I edited my post.

[5263]

Originally Posted by Greg G

Nice video! Will try to loosen it up. Once my sore right thigh allows it

Yes, that death grip can cause a sore arm to go with your leg, according to some and it
is an indication of you muscling the racket head around with the hand vs
pulling it up and across to meet the ball.
This will also let you hit more out from if the racket stays laid back a bit.
But yes, that open stance and follow thru looked
much better.

[Limpinhitter]

Originally Posted by 5263

Yes, that death grip can cause a sore arm to go with your leg, according to some and it
is an indication of you muscling the racket head around with the hand vs
pulling it up and across to meet the ball.
This will also let you hit more out from if the racket stays laid back a bit.
But yes, that open stance and follow thru looked
much better.

He's turning better too. His chest was past 12 noon, to about 1-2 o'clock. Still needs to get to 3.

[Greg G]

OK my leg was still a bit sore, but since I took my son out for lessons, I borrowed his basket of balls and had a hit. I was concentrating on loosening up the arm and upper body rotation. Was surprised at the easyacces to power and spin, and I did get into quite a groove. I was also getting used to the new trajectory of the ball. Good net clearance, compared to my classic stroke where I would hit it much closer to the net.

I still end up pretty high on the follow through though. I suppose while my arm is looser than before, its still not loose enough?

Sorry if the video is a bit long, wanted to show the groove I was in.

http://youtu.be/65SA3F1m5UE

[Limpinhitter]

Originally Posted by Greg G

OK my leg was still a bit sore, but since I took my son out for lessons, I borrowed his basket of balls and had a hit. I was concentrating on loosening up the arm and upper body rotation. Was surprised at the easyacces to power and spin, and I did get into quite a groove. I was also getting used to the new trajectory of the ball. Good net clearance, compared to my classic stroke where I would hit it much closer to the net.

I still end up pretty high on the follow through though. I suppose while my arm is looser than before, its still not loose enough?

Sorry if the video is a bit long, wanted to show the groove I was in.

http://youtu.be/65SA3F1m5UE

Better still. Your technique got even better toward the end. Your stance got wider and lower, still need more. Your rotation is much better. It's not just a loose arm, you need a loose grip. You could also lead more with your elbow on the forward swing. When you do that, and then move your elbow up and out at contact, with a loose grip, that will promote a nice long WW finish down near your left hip and a ton of free power and spin. Some people refer to it as pronation (rotating the right arm counter-clockwise from the elbow and shoulder). Pronation occurs as you rotate your upper body. Look at the Djokovic and L&R videos again and watch carefully how they do it.

[Greg G]

Hmm. OK I think I have a good picture of it. I think I did it a few times off camera, while messing around near the net, trying to clear it with a lot of spin. Got a more WW type of finish.

[Greg G]

Originally Posted by 5263

Yes, that death grip can cause a sore arm to go with your leg, according to some and it
is an indication of you muscling the racket head around with the hand vs
pulling it up and across to meet the ball.
This will also let you hit more out from if the racket stays laid back a bit.
But yes, that open stance and follow thru looked
much better.

Arm has a bit of soreness, I just attributed it to age But yes, I do need to quit muscling the ball. Loose grip, loose grip. Must remember it! Thanks!

[Cheetah]

looked a little better towards the end.

do some research on extending and pulling the left arm across forward swing.

try to break the 'catch the racquet with the left hand' habit. it's causing you to want to arm to the ball. and leaving your hand up there ready to catch the racquet isn't good for rotation in the modern swing.

and take a look at how pro's today finish their strokes. your finish is loose and wiggly and still spinning and you never setting into an established finish position. a finish is an important part of the stroke.

also, imo, your 'finish' is a little too high. a little lower would be better imo and would probably help w/ other things.

after you get your racquet into an 'acceptable' finish position hold that position for about a half second or more. on each stroke. hold the finish. look at a pro finish. they all hold that position for couple of moments. holding the finish will help you program muscle memory for a correct swing path.

[Greg G]

Watching the video, I suspected that the left hand was preventing me from rotating fully, thanks for confirming it. I should be more planted/stable on the left leg when I finish?

Is this a good video to model the forehand from? Cos if you told me to watch it all day, I just might

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HS78isLP4Vk

[Cheetah]

yes that is a good video. i've watched it myself about 50 times. i like her swing. note where her finish is. lower. and she holds the finish for a shorter period of time than the guys do but she still holds it for a bit.

[Greg G]

Today's new video:

Shadowing the stroke-- is this what I'm aiming for?

http://youtu.be/_KZQpSDiHQg

Some light hitting. Sorry for the lazy footwork-- Wimbledon finished at 2 am here, had only 4 hours sleep! Still groggy. Excuses excuses right? Anyway. I tend to drift back into old habits, but I think I'm a bit looser now. My left hand keeps wanting to catch the racquet, which stops the rotation. Have to consciously not catch it. When I am hitting looser, I do notice easier access to spin and power. Maybe I should Botox my arm

http://youtu.be/J-e9gfl278Y

Regarding the open stance--how far forward should the left foot be? Couple of feet? In my attempt to keep it open, I think I end up with feet parallel to the baseline. I suppose the left foot should be a bit forward.

Thanks for all the advice guys! I do feel it becoming more reliable, and do appreciate the help

[Greg G]

Reverse view:

http://youtu.be/1we9KdGzCKI

[Limpinhitter]

Originally Posted by Greg G

Today's new video:

Shadowing the stroke-- is this what I'm aiming for?

http://youtu.be/_KZQpSDiHQg

When you shadow your swing, you should include all of the elements of your technique including your wide, low stance and weight transfer from right to left.

Originally Posted by Greg G

Some light hitting. Sorry for the lazy footwork-- Wimbledon finished at 2 am here, had only 4 hours sleep! Still groggy. Excuses excuses right? Anyway. I tend to drift back into old habits, but I think I'm a bit looser now. My left hand keeps wanting to catch the racquet, which stops the rotation. Have to consciously not catch it. When I am hitting looser, I do notice easier access to spin and power. Maybe I should Botox my arm

http://youtu.be/J-e9gfl278Y

Regarding the open stance--how far forward should the left foot be? Couple of feet? In my attempt to keep it open, I think I end up with feet parallel to the baseline. I suppose the left foot should be a bit forward.

Thanks for all the advice guys! I do feel it becoming more reliable, and do appreciate the help

Looking much better. You are using much more angular (rotational) momentum now. How does it feel? You still need a consistent wider, lower stance with weight on your right leg when you set up to hit. Your finish is still a bit old school. You should have more of a WW finish that comes across after contact and down to your left hip. I suspect you still grip the racquet too tight at contact.

To answer your question, your feet can be anywhere from parallel to the baseline to about 45 degrees from the baseline. More than that begins to hinder your rotation. The exception is when you are running laterally to the right. Then you may find it easier to hit with your left foot leading laterally to the right at contact, and then your momentum causes you to step across and stop and plant with your right foot to recover back to your position on the court.

[Greg G]

The balls leave the racquet with a lot more spin than I'm used to generating. And with a lot less effort! Just have to keep pluggin away till it becomes second nature I guess. If I don't think about it, the classic elements creep back in.

[Limpinhitter]

Originally Posted by Greg G

The balls leave the racquet with a lot more spin than I'm used to generating. And with a lot less effort! Just have to keep pluggin away till it becomes second nature I guess. If I don't think about it, the classic elements creep back in.

I think it was our own Aimr75 who said that it takes 5,000 repititions to learn a new stroke. You've come a long way in a short time. Keep up the good work.

[Greg G]

Originally Posted by Limpinhitter

I think it was our own Aimr75 who said that it takes 5,000 repititions to learn a new stroke. You've come a long way in a short time. Keep up the good work.

5000! Then I have to learn to use it in match play. But yes, I am looking forward to learning this- I can see the potential! It allows me to play more angles..am starting to see the court differently.

[Limpinhitter]

Originally Posted by Greg G

5000! Then I have to learn to use it in match play. But yes, I am looking forward to learning this- I can see the potential! It allows me to play more angles..am starting to see the court differently.

You're learning fast. It took me much longer to make the transition. Perhaps taking 20 years off is helping you more than hurting you. Hahaha!

[Cheetah]

looks a little better. good job.

try to use less arm. keep the head still. work on the footwork at the end. that little skippy hop full body turn and cross over step to the left after the swing is going to cause you problems if you play a point. what if the next ball comes wide to the right? point over.