Modern Tennis Tips by Oscar Wegner

[FrisbeeFool]

Another question for Oscar: I heard people say that Jimmy Arias tinkered with his grip when he made the transition from higher bouncing courts to lower bouncing courts or vice versa one season, and after he tried to change back to his original grip he could no longer hit his forehand as well. I've also heard people blame the transition from wood to graphite for the demise of his forehand.

Oscar, what would you say Arias's forehand issues were, if any. Do you think your methodology could have helped him fix his issues.

As far as the development of the modern forehand, I've heard people say, Arias played a big role in it. I believe Arias was coached by his dad and trained at Bolletieri's. I read an interview with Jim courier, where he talked about trying to copy Arias's forehand and how Aria influenced other young players like Courier.

Oscar I know you've said many times that the American coaching establishment is holding people back with it's emphasis on traditional techniques. Many of the American coaches I've seen seem to teach the modern game, just in a different way than you. What are your thoughts on Arias, Boletieri's or img or whatever it's called now and the development of the American forehand. Is your Issue with the American coaching establishment, that they're not coaching "the modern forehand" or that they're not teaching your version of the modern forehand.

Are you issues with the American coaching establishment purely related to technique? Is ego involved as well? Part of your issue seems to be that you believe you should have more personal credit for the development of the modern game. We've all seen your segments of ESPN and clearly they influenced people and played a role. But a lot of other hard working coaches and players also played a role in changing the game and the way it is taught.

If the key figures in the American coaching establishment have it all wrong, why do so many accomplished foreign players come to train in Florida, and southern California?

How are American coaches on the wrong track if they're developing modern players like Sam Querrey and Jack Sock and Christina Mchale?

[luvforty]

addressing the ball with the leading edge and making contact below the center appear to be oxymoron.... but it's a picture to help player visualize swinging across (or in Oscar's word, messaging) the ball instead of hitting thru it.

[FrisbeeFool]

Another question about modern tennis:

A lot of the key changes and trends seem like they came out of Spain and South America. I'm sure a lot of great coaches and players played a role in this. Most of these people are not true believers in MTM and were not directly influenced by the MTM methodology.

Other coaches on the boards know key figures in Spanish and South American tennis and have learned from them. Oscar do you think more people would be sympathetic to your approach, if you didn't present your self as the patron saint of modern tennis?

[sureshs]

Is messaging a typo above?

[FrisbeeFool]

Originally Posted by sureshs

Is messaging a typo above?

I think he meant massaging. It sounds vaguely mystical, and that's why I believe mtm isn't the right approach for everyone. Although that kind of language might help some people, others need a more straight forward breakdown of what is going on in the stroke.

[sureshs]

Originally Posted by FrisbeeFool

I don't think it's a typo. It sounds vaguely mystical, and that's why I believe mtm isn't the right approach for everyone. Although that kind of language might help some people, others need a more straight forward breakdown of what is going on in the stroke.

Are you using messaging = communication with the student through visualization, or are you talking about something the player does to the ball? Your sentence could parse either way.

I first thought you meant massaging the ball, then I thought you meant messaging as in communicating with the student. (It is a popular corporate term these days in management.)

I have never come across Oscar using this term.

Edit: See your edit now. Yes I have heard this massaging thing before.

[sureshs]

Originally Posted by FrisbeeFool

I think he meant massaging. It sounds vaguely mystical, and that's why I believe mtm isn't the right approach for everyone. Although that kind of language might help some people, others need a more straight forward breakdown of what is going on in the stroke.

I think massaging is supposed to be emphasizing feeling the ball and not slapping or swatting at it.

I agree with your comments though.

[5263]

Originally Posted by FrisbeeFool

Serious question about addressing the ball with frame rather than the strings.

I know I was as culpable as anyone for all the stupid modern vs traditional arguments. I apologize, and I'm trying to not act like a crazy person and let the anonymity of the net get the best of me.

Back on topic though, serious question

Well, guess that above didn't last long
Quickly degenerated into a bunch of loaded questions and opinions with a very
clear agenda; and Oscar hasn't even had a chance to answer.
I guess you did make an effort though?

[FrisbeeFool]

Originally Posted by 5263

Well, guess that above didn't last long
Quickly degenerated into a bunch of loaded questions and opinions with a very
clear agenda; and Oscar hasn't even had a chance to answer.
I guess you did make an effort though?

LOL, maybe you can answer them for me then? I was politely asking him to elaborate, and explain these issues.

[sureshs]

Originally Posted by FrisbeeFool

How are American coaches on the wrong track if they're developing modern players like Sam Querrey and Jack Sock and Christina Mchale?

And Ryan Harrison and Madison Keys and Taylor Townsend. And Coco Vanderweghe and Donald Young.

Are they Henins and Federers? No. But what must be remembered is that there are proven coaches out there delivering real world results, and in a transparent way which we can see, and criticize if we wish. But we must always ask ourselves: what have we achieved that they have not? Have we done better than them?

There are many factors about why US tennis may not be at its peak now, and I have listed them before.

[luvforty]

3 US guys in the tennis top 50;
25 (!!) in the golf top 50.

forget about (many reasons)... something is seriously wrong here.

[5263]

Originally Posted by FrisbeeFool

LOL, maybe you can answer them for me? Should I worry about the racket face angle if I already know how to turn my shoulders in preparation and then uncoil and meet the ball cleanly out front. If I'm doing this consistently and turning my shoulders is allowing me to close the racket face and make clean contact without manipulating anything else, why would I even worry about the racket face angle or the leading edge of the frame? When I first learned the groundstrokes my coach focused a lot on what contact should feel like. Now, it's automatic for me. But, I've never heard any coaches explain it the way Oscar does, so I'm asking him to elaborate so I can understand it more. All the slow motion videos I've watched seem to contradict what Oscar says about the contact phase of the stroke. That's why, I was politely asking him to elaborate, and explain these issues.

Thank you. Oscar may add or correct from his perspective of course, but imo
if you are happy with your shot, there is little reason for change. If you get to
the pt that you want more rhs, that could be a way to help. If you have
any depth control problems, it could help, but if it feels good and automatic
for you and you are happy with your execution...no, no concern imo.
I think if the vid you are seeing does not match with what you hear from Oscar,
it's terminology, because his version is the bare basics that all the good Fhs
I've seen tend to contain. It might help if you give a basic Oscar denotes
that you see different. Related to above, most high level Fhs lead with top edge,
or some closed face as some say it.

[FrisbeeFool]

Originally Posted by luvforty

3 US guys in the tennis top 50;
25 (!!) in the golf top 50.

forget about (many reasons)... something is seriously wrong here.

lets tell all those US tennis players that aren't in the top 50 to massage the ball, count to five, stalk the ball, find the ball from bellow, and yank up and across. Once they understand the essence of modern tennis, there will surely be more in the top 25.

You're missing the point luvfofty. How many of those players in the tennis top 50 train in the united states??? In the top fitfty women and top fifty men? How many train here? I'm curious? Out of those 100 players how many train here?

[luvforty]

you tell me

[FrisbeeFool]

Originally Posted by luvforty

you tell me

A lot of them. Lol

[5263]

Originally Posted by FrisbeeFool

lets tell all those US tennis players that aren't in the top 50 to massage the ball, count to five, stalk the ball, find the ball from bellow, and yank up and across. Once they understand the essence of modern tennis, there will surely be more in the top 25.

Are you going to be nice and ask sincere questions or go back to insults and
sarcasm?

[5263]

Originally Posted by FrisbeeFool

A lot of them. Lol

Yes, many train here with their foreign coaches.
Nicest country in the world for those with money &
great weather to boot!

[sureshs]

Originally Posted by FrisbeeFool

A lot of them. Lol

Many train here. It is a global world now. Many governments are spending money sending their kids to Evert and Bollitierri. Somdev trains here, Jankovic trains here (she mentioned how Nick fixed a flaw in her forehand).

And, as expected, many European coaches are in Sanchez-Casal and Henin's place. Many American coaches are living as expats coaching abroad. There is a free diffusion of ideas.

[Relinquis]

haha. just because you call him Ralph instead of Rafael doesn't make him American.

apart from WTA. the US is doing something wrong with it's approach to men's tennis. what changed from the legendary country that produced so many big players, McEnroe, Sampras, Aggassi and Roddick to one that can only produce an Isner (one trick pony) and a few 50+ guys.

where is the flair? where is the american Tsonga, or Monfis? where is the power on the ground? where is the American DelPotro, Almagro or Verdasco? and yes, where is the American Federer?

is it the lack of claycourt experience? is it the lack of emphasis on backhand? do/can you teach fighting spirit? is american tennis training allowing players to be creative like in the past? all i see is big serve and the occasional big forehand and injuries in your mid-20s. that's it. Sampras had a fabulous backhand, aggassi and roddick had amazing movement, McEnroe had the touch. Every american I see now is just big serve and no ground game, or is a textbook pusher. it's all foreplay, no orgasm.

the only exception from the new guys is this Stevie Johnson guy. He's a fighter, has heart. all he needs is a proper backhand and some clay court experience and he will go far.

you guys should have at least one guy in the top ten, maybe even a french open champion.

[sureshs]

^^^ So I guess Roddick doesn't count at all? He was the only credible threat to Fed in his prime.

And the Bryans?