Video of ball machine hitting 11-15-12

[JackB1]

ok guys...I took some video today while I was demoing the new Dunlop M 3.0 at an indoor court. I used my iPhone, so let me know if the quality is OK.

I would appreciate any critique or advice on my forehand and backhand technique. This video was taken after hitting for about an hour nonstop, so I was pretty tired at this point and wasn't moving my feet much at all. Next time I will shoot right away and incorporate more movement.

here is the link...
http://youtu.be/HQs5jHgWXWM

thanks

[slowfox]

Not exactly a critique, but what did you think about the new Dunlop?

[5263]

I would suggest you use the backswing for more rhythm and timing.
Overall you looked pretty good, but sort of stiff (like me, lol) and abrupt.
I think it affects your balance as well.

[Timbo's hopeless slice]

First, I would tend to leave your BH alone, looks fine. Bit mechanical, perhaps, and you could probably afford to hit it harder with that swing path, but basically fine.

I like the RHS on your FH but you seem to have a slightly low finish that seems to end up at waist height. I would suspect you have a tendency to drag FHs into the net more than going long when you are under pressure? Anyway, I would look for more knee bend (coiling) and a higher finish if you were my student. Also, your backswing on the FH is a bit, I dunno, 'abrupt'? A longer and more fluid swing would probably result from a more integrated kinetic chain, anyway.
(based on a video of a very tired guy, so meh..)

I would probably set the ball machine to a quicker feed rate, too, as it is almost impossbile to maintain any energy in your feet when you have to wait THAT long for the next ball!

*edit. These are small things, there is nothing fundamentally wrong at all!!!

[JackB1]

Originally Posted by slowfox

Not exactly a critique, but what did you think about the new Dunlop?

I posted my thoughts on the Dunlop M 3.0 in the Racquets section. Check it out.

[JackB1]

Originally Posted by 5263

I would suggest you use the backswing for more rhythm and timing.
Overall you looked pretty good, but sort of stiff (like me, lol) and abrupt.
I think it affects your balance as well.

I do struggle with balance sometimes. I will try and be more smooth and rhythmic next time and not so abrupt and jerky. Great points!

[Timbo's hopeless slice]

what am I , chop liver?

[t135]

Speed up the ball feed. Way too slow. Add unit turn on forehand.

[JackB1]

Originally Posted by Timbo's hopeless slice

what am I , chop liver?

Not at all. I had a more detailed reply for I will write in the morning. Tired now and hitting the hay. Check back tomorrow

[TheCheese]

I think you're prematurely opening up your shoulders on the forehand by moving your left arm away too quickly. Also, it looks pretty stiff, but besides that it looks nice.

Are you a djokovic fan? Your strokes remind me of his.

[xFullCourtTenniSx]

All I can say is knee bend would be nice.

[WesternCK]

Two things I noticed on your backhand side.

1) You want to bend your right knee prior to contact a little more. Having a stiff leg like that prevents you from being able to fully rotate.

2) You seem to be a bit off balance after hitting your shot. Try bringing your left foot around and having both your left and right feet pointing towards the net once you complete your rotation after contact. You came closest to doing this on the backhand you hit at 0:58. Your balance also happened to be greatest on that shot.

[LeeD]

You hit good, much better than me...well, we both know that.
But, your movement is suspect, you keep admiring your shots, you are too deliberate and stiff.

[tennis_pr0]

I would say the two things I noticed were not getting set on your forehand side and being a little looser. When I say getting set I mean bending your knees a little and setting the weight on your right leg, then pushing off the right leg to give you some power coming from the ground up into the ball. Also, being a little looser would help too. It looks like you are arming the ball a bit too much on the forehand, by being looser, your wrist will set back more on your take back and you will produce more "whippy" racquet head speed. Other than that looks fine.

[cluckcluck]

Forehand, use your left hand to help you balance.

Like Ferrer:

[sunof tennis]

I think you have seen good responses. More use of leg, less stiff, more movement, etc. By the way, since you asked, the quality of your video was fine. I also have to tell you that I was pretty distracted by watching to see if you were going to step on that ball right next to you as you were hitting forehands. Otherwise, I might have had some brillant suggestion for you. LOL.

[cork_screw]

You seem like you drag yourself into your shot a lot. You seem slow and a little overly forceful when you really don't need to be to get the same out of your shot. To me it's just wasted movement and takes time away from what you could be doing moreso which is moving your feet.

My main word of advice is to just play more natural. You look like the tin man from wizard of oz the way you plant yourself after your swing and your swing is labored.

Loosen up your body, loosen up your swing and just try to play more freely. I can't imagine you playing sets and having someone run you around while you hit like that. It would seem like you would behind in the point a lot.

Lose your structure or whatever, whoever taught you to hit like that and just play freely.

[Torres]

You're arming the ball, and not using your legs and body at all. Not sure how old you are, and whether you have the inclination, but I'd look to reconstruct your FH from basics.

http://lockandrolltennis.com/forehand/

[Say Chi Sin Lo]

Why are you seemingly admiring your shots? Hit the ball, and return to center of the court/ready position. Don't stand there and pose for a second or two.

As others have commented, more knee bend and overall footwork. Also, looks like you're really jerking your torso/lower back. That can't be good in the long run.

And speed up the feed, all that's doing is encouraging lethargic movements.

[mattymatt]

I think you need to work on balance and loosening your grip pressure.