Improving timing

[markzolotoy]

Originally Posted by toly

Let’s assume that ball travels from opponent’s racquet to your point of contact Ttr seconds and your back and forward swing takes Tsw (can be about 0.5sec). Thus you should start backward swing after Ttr-Tsw when the ball lives the opponent racket. That’s why there is practically no correlation between timing of your swing and ball’s bounce.

To illustrate this idea there is Safin difficult FH from baseline http://youtu.be/PvkLy7vZyy4. He almost finishes his forward swing before ball’s bounce.

Somewhat confusing ...

[toly]

Originally Posted by markzolotoy

Somewhat confusing ...

Maybe, but that is obviously true. What part of my post is confusing?

[markzolotoy]

Originally Posted by toly

Maybe, but that is obviously true. What part of my post is confusing?

That it is not relevant to ball’s bounce. I think if we would hit from the air then your statement would be correct, but because bouncing significantly changes ball's flying speed and time I think it's a good idea using bouncing to start swinging a racket.

[toly]

Originally Posted by markzolotoy

That it is not relevant to ball’s bounce. I think if we would hit from the air then your statement would be correct, but because bouncing significantly changes ball's flying speed and time I think it's a good idea using bouncing to start swinging a racket.

Safin starts swinging the racquet long before ball’s bounce. So, according to you he does something wrong. How should he correct technique of this particular FH?

[markzolotoy]

Then I dont understand that video. What time do I need to look it at?

[toly]

Originally Posted by markzolotoy

Then I dont understand that video. What time do I need to look it at?

In pic.1 Safin starts backswing long before ball’s bounce. Pic.2 shows he starts forward swing. Pic.3 is ball’s bounce. Pic.4 is contact point.

[sureshs]

Ball machine good for your timing

[markzolotoy]

Originally Posted by sureshs

Ball machine good for your timing

Well, as I said, practicing with machine feels much, much better.

[sureshs]

Waiting too long for the bounce is a bad thing. As early preparation as possible is the key. You can become complacent if you play the same people over and over again, and will experience discomfort if a higher-level player shows up. So even in rallies and casual matches, it is good to notice the direction of the ball from as early as possible and start preparing. Waiting till the bounce and then reacting slowly is a no-no.

[markzolotoy]

Originally Posted by sureshs

Waiting too long for the bounce is a bad thing. As early preparation as possible is the key. You can become complacent if you play the same people over and over again, and will experience discomfort if a higher-level player shows up. So even in rallies and casual matches, it is good to notice the direction of the ball from as early as possible and start preparing. Waiting till the bounce and then reacting slowly is a no-no.

As I understood other postings an early preparation starts with turning my shoulders. That seems to me needs to start asap. Then keeping a racket with both hands in a front of me and tracking the ball is the next phase. Right before the ball is bouncing start taking a racket behind and dropping the other hand. Does that sound more or less correct?

[toly]

Originally Posted by markzolotoy

Well, as I said, practicing with machine feels much, much better.

Returning hard dip ball is mostly about prediction of the ball trajectory around contact point. To learn that you better use ball machine with random throw. You also should use brand new balls and good courts.

[sureshs]

Sounds OK. Do not believe in the counting till 5 from bounce before impact as preached by some, and stuff like that.

I find that a "proportional" strategy works very well. Instead of any abrupt panicky motion, take back and swing forward timing in proportion to the distance from the ball and its speed so that the forward swing meets it at the desired location is the key.

[Relinquis]

if your strokes and timing are good with a ball machine, but not when practicing with someone or in matches it means that you might not be adjusting your timing to balls of varying speed. this is a skill you need to develop. how to adjust your timing depending on the incoming ball and on what you want to do to it.

there are many ways of adjusting to the incoming ball.
- you can wait for it to come into your hitting zone (delay dropping the racquet on slow balls), or
- you can attack it early by taking a step or two forward before going into your stroke motion, or
- you can step back and then hit it (useful for high balls on clay) or
- you can run around where the ball is going to be and hit it with the other stroke (i.e. change backhand to forehand and hit inside-out), or
- you can hit it out of your normal strike zone (higher or lower) and adjust the height of your take-back and stroke accordingly.

[limitup]

Have you changed anything with your stroke recently? I had a similar problem when I improved my OHBH by turning more shoulders more. At first I was constantly hitting the ball late because my timing was based on turning much less. I literally had to exaggerate it and try to force myself to swing really early, just to find the new sweet spot.

[markzolotoy]

Originally Posted by limitup

Have you changed anything with your stroke recently? I had a similar problem when I improved my OHBH by turning more shoulders more. At first I was constantly hitting the ball late because my timing was based on turning much less. I literally had to exaggerate it and try to force myself to swing really early, just to find the new sweet spot.

Yep, that is a part of a problem. Before I wasn't turning my shoulders as an early preparation step. But my partner wants me to change that. Before I was doing everything wrong but it "worked". Now I am much better, but still cannot completely get into this smooth forehand routine. Especially in the begging of a game/practicing. It takes usually around 30 - 40 min. for me to get into slow, smooth, and accurate movement. I even think about something that I could use off court to work on the whole forehand routine.

[morandi]

Timing too I believe has a lot to do with balance. Focus on remaining centered and erect, keeping your head upright, helps a lot with ones position on the court and stroke execution. Djokovic is a master at this.

[LeeD]

Better to be early and too early than late and too late.
So turn your shoulder's ASAP.