Please watch and join the convo if you want

[TheLambsheadrep]

Originally Posted by Anton

Yea basically just keep the elbow down and close to your body on the take back, but right at the end of take back start smoothly straightening your arm (in downward direction since your elbow is still at body side) and relax it at that point. Body rotates forward. What this does is lets the racket fall down and behind the stroke and then throws it out and forward with up ward rotation around your now straight arm.

This is specifically to hit a straight arm forehand similar to what dominikk was saying, right?

I wouldn't say that now I'm trying to hit with a straight arm, but ever since I saw that I was in the video I would like to know why it was happening. Some of the strokes were straight arm at contact and others were bent arm, and I would look at the stroke motions from start to finish and not see much of a difference between the two. I have been looking at many different aspects of the video but now I am trying to just focus on finding what's making that difference, if anyone picks up on it or just knows why, please let me know

[Anton]

Originally Posted by TheLambsheadrep

This is specifically to hit a straight arm forehand similar to what dominikk was saying, right?

I wouldn't say that now I'm trying to hit with a straight arm, but ever since I saw that I was in the video I would like to know why it was happening. Some of the strokes were straight arm at contact and others were bent arm, and I would look at the stroke motions from start to finish and not see much of a difference between the two. I have been looking at many different aspects of the video but now I am trying to just focus on finding what's making that difference, if anyone picks up on it or just knows why, please let me know

Its timing impact - if you are late for the shot you'll probably hit with bent arm, if you are early you'll meet the ball more in front on a straight arm.

Here is some of my stroking from 3 years ago:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m05au...vRYogg&index=7

When that ball is coming in quick and high I have to bend my arm in to hit it late.

[TheLambsheadrep]

Originally Posted by Anton

Its timing impact - if you are late for the shot you'll probably hit with bent arm, if you are early you'll meet the ball more in front on a straight arm.

Here is some of my stroking from 3 years ago:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m05au...vRYogg&index=7

When that ball is coming in quick and high I have to bend my arm in to hit it late.

Nice video, thanks. So in my video you're saying the differences between a straight and bent arm are from a matter of timing, but just curious - how much does technique come into play? I mean, would you say in general that either 1. When you hit the ball (timing) mostly determines a shot being straight or bent armed and technique can disrupt this, or 2. How you hit the ball (technique) mostly determines a shot being straight or bent armed and timing can disrupt this. If I am on the right track with asking this, I don't think that timing and technique can play equal parts, because then hitting with a straight or bent arm would be totally random

[Anton]

Originally Posted by TheLambsheadrep

Nice video, thanks. So in my video you're saying the differences between a straight and bent arm are from a matter of timing, but just curious - how much does technique come into play? I mean, would you say in general that either 1. When you hit the ball (timing) mostly determines a shot being straight or bent armed and technique can disrupt this, or 2. How you hit the ball (technique) mostly determines a shot being straight or bent armed and timing can disrupt this. If I am on the right track with asking this, I don't think that timing and technique can play equal parts, because then hitting with a straight or bent arm would be totally random

Other than someone being late with straight arm technique, there is ALSO a double bend technique (djoker uses it and most of WTA). Personally I think it's kinda ugly and in the end game less efficient, but it's valid and it works if that's what you want.

Point is IT DOESN'T MATTER, don't worry if your arm is bent or not bent - that doesn't determine your forehand being good or not good. There are a thousand and one other things to you could worry about that WILL help you.

Don't get stuck on this.

[TheLambsheadrep]

Originally Posted by Anton

Don't get stuck on this.

Ya, after I made my last post I was debating whether or not it even still made sense to me and I thought to myself there's not much dirt left to dig deeper haha. All the questions just stem from the fact that I never knew I was doing that, but after I tweak my back swing it may not even matter.

[TheLambsheadrep]

Btw Anton, I saw some of you recent videos. Going for the Nadal swing, looks good. How's that 45ish degree straight arm drop feel compared to a more circular arm swing?

[Cheetah]

Originally Posted by Anton

Its timing impact - if you are late for the shot you'll probably hit with bent arm, if you are early you'll meet the ball more in front on a straight arm.

Here is some of my stroking from 3 years ago:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m05au...vRYogg&index=7

When that ball is coming in quick and high I have to bend my arm in to hit it late.

very nice. great strokes.
now that's the way to use the wall. excellent work.

[Calor1]

Originally Posted by Anton

Point is IT DOESN'T MATTER, don't worry if your arm is bent or not bent - that doesn't determine your forehand being good or not good. There are a thousand and one other things to you could worry about that WILL help you.

Don't get stuck on this.

This. That's what I meant by not overthinking.

By saying standing closer I don't mean that you have to hafvolley everything or that you should stand so close that you can't execute a normal forehand motion. But when the ball comes a little closer like alot of times in this video, move up to it instead of moving back a little (sometimes) and letting it bounce twice.
All of this just to say that you could improve way more by moving better than by thinking about minor details of your FH motion.

[Anton]

Originally Posted by TheLambsheadrep

Btw Anton, I saw some of you recent videos. Going for the Nadal swing, looks good. How's that 45ish degree straight arm drop feel compared to a more circular arm swing?

Actually that's old too haha, maybe I should get a new vid up.

In that phase I was trying to work on incorporating more spin and margin into my game. But I'm an aggressive driver at heart and full western game is just not for me.

But specifically on the back swing, I'm using the shorter form like in that last video and not the longer version I used three years ago. I'm keeping my elbow down more and don't start elbow-high on the take back. It's a faster, simpler setup and gives better balance and control of racket path on the run.