My balls not heavy? (video included)

[latestgood]

Hello,

I've been play tennis for 7 months now and while I do have okay forehand, I feel that my shots are heavy. This is very puzzling because many people compliment my form but I feel that there's no real pace.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ySw8q...ature=youtu.be

[Cheetah]

You lack racquet head speed thus the shots are not heavy and have no pace.

But your form looks very good for sure.

[NLBwell]

I'm too afraid to look at the video.

[Cheetah]

Originally Posted by NLBwell

I'm too afraid to look at the video.

haha. take a look. his form is excellent for 7 months.

[KineticChain]

nice thread title

[latestgood]

Cheetah,

How would I go and increase my racquet head speed?
Is there a drill I can do?

Thank you!

[dominikk1985]

Originally Posted by latestgood

Cheetah,

How would I go and increase my racquet head speed?
Is there a drill I can do?

Thank you!

push off the back leg and rotate the hips hard ahead of the arm. swing harder

However after only 7 months (looks good for that time) I would worry more about footwork, balance and making clean contact rather than hitting hard. this will come later.

[corbind]

For playing 7 months I'm quite impressed.

[TheCheese]

Originally Posted by latestgood

Cheetah,

How would I go and increase my racquet head speed?
Is there a drill I can do?

Thank you!

Is that the fastest you can swing? Just curious. You seem like a fit guy, I'd imagine you could probably swing faster and it'd just be a matter of practicing that until you're just as consistent as you are right now.

[mikeespinmusic]

Yes keep working hard on that stroke its looking good. And then consider lead tape and a new string job as well - If you want lots of loop to your spin - have some lead at 12 and more at the handle. and check out this forum link if you get more curious

http://tt.tennis-warehouse.com/showthread.php?t=309803

[NLBwell]

Only 7 months and you are already trying to turn him into a TW racket geek? Let him keep his innocence at least a little while longer.

[Chas Tennis]

The book Technique Development in Tennis Stroke Production(2009), B. Elliott, M. Reid, M.Crespo, breaks down the stroke components.

For added pace the stretch shortening cycle is utilized.

Body turn adds to forehand pace if it is done properly. A good motion includes use of the stretch shortening cycle in the backswing and forward swing. Search: stretch shortening cycle

You seem to have body turn. But if you don't use enough SSC for speed in the motion, you could probably do a motion that appears in the video to be about the same, only slower. Elliott also describes clearly that the shoulder turn goes farther back than the hip turn and that trunk stretch is part of the SSC. See Djkovic forehand in a match.

Also, in your video your racket is not as high in comparison to strong pro forehands. Theirs are often above the head, yours much lower.
See all forehand analyses especially for higher takeback in this TennisOxygen series of videos.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gFY3GZV0gEE
http://www.youtube.com/user/xstf/videos

This TW thread had some related discussion and links
http://tt.tennis-warehouse.com/showthread.php?t=423053

Elliott's book is an excellent tennis stroke reference based on scientific analysis of the strokes using high speed imaging and other observations. It sums up many research findings for current strokes.
Only available through ITF I believe-
https://store.itftennis.com/product....ript=/home.asp

[sureshs]

Originally Posted by NLBwell

I'm too afraid to look at the video.

I took a peek. It is quite safe. He has his pants on.

[10isfreak]

Originally Posted by Cheetah

You lack racquet head speed thus the shots are not heavy and have no pace.

But your form looks very good for sure.

It does look neat and I feel like he can hit with some consistency.

I'm wondering about his take back... it's a small detail, but I think it could help him feel freer to swing at the ball.

If you carefully watch the best forehands on ATP tour (the top four, namely) or what I personally think is the best forehand on the WTA tour (Stosur) versus the commoners, you realize there's a major difference. Some accomplish their take back by more or less dropping their racket and show a rather clear pronation whereas others rotate their forearm, rather showing a supinated forearm. Amateur-wise, just to show how it applies to our lives as mere mortals, Aimr75 shows a pronated take back whereas the OP shows a supinated take back -- it would be better to find more similar players to compare, but that's just to illustrate the idea, just to show what it looks like. I could do it for anyone willing to figure it out -- or less, just do it yourself and look at where the knuckles point when the player is about to swing forward.

The first style I highlighted (pronation) is highly correlated with the heaviest forehands on both tours. There are exceptions such as flat hitters like Berdych who use it, but don't generate a ridiculous amount of spin like the Big Four, Roddick, Stosur, etc.

If I do have a certainty regarding tennis is that your body position when you are about to swing is probably the most important thing there is... Maybe it would turn out to yield improvements for him.

[anubis]

You've only been playing for 7 months? You look great, IMO. Much farther along than most are @ that amount of experience. Don't rush it. You've only been playing for 7 months, you have a looong time to improve.

Racquet head speed is your issue, but it's not something that you need to deal with right now I think. Just focus on the basics, your footwork, preparation, and attacking the ball early. Racquet head speed comes with experience and confidence. It's not something you can learn overnight. It's developed slowly with the proper fundamentals.

If you simply sped up your head speed right now, your balls would soar over the fence. With proper training, you can bring up your game -- all facets of your game -- a little bit at a time.

[Chas Tennis]

Originally Posted by 10isfreak

.......................................
I'm wondering about his take back... it's a small detail, but I think it could help him feel freer to swing at the ball.

If you carefully watch the best forehands on ATP tour (the top four, namely) or what I personally think is the best forehand on the WTA tour (Stosur) versus the commoners, you realize there's a major difference. Some accomplish their take back by more or less dropping their racket and show a rather clear pronation whereas others rotate their forearm, rather showing a supinated forearm. .................................................. ..
.................................................. .................................
...........................................

What do you mean by dropping the racket? Could you point it out on one of these videos? I see the rackets winding up higher than the head in these videos from reply #12.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gFY3GZV0gEE

[10isfreak]

Originally Posted by Chas Tennis

What do you mean by dropping the racket? Could you point it out on one of these videos? I see the rackets winding up higher than the head in these videos from reply #12.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gFY3GZV0gEE

They begin with the racket higher, but when I compare Federer's or Nadal's forehand to the average forehand on the tour, I feel like their take back is less circular, more like a racket drop. But, that's an illustration or a visual cue, if you prefer; the point was to bring people get an idea of what this type of forehand look like since some might not be very comfortable using pronation/supination, extension/flexion, radial deviation/ulnar deviation, etc.

To me, personally, it feels like the racket just drops down. However, that's my perception and it's heavily influenced by my personal experience and, unfortunately, it can't be an actual illustration for everyone.


Regardless, the important point was pronation versus supination during the take back... Again, "take back" is also not clear, but I would say that when both hands split (usually, players keep both hands together before until they are ready to swing; many, for instance, will hold the throat with their off hand), the take back begins. As for when to identify this feature, it's mainly by the end of the take back: as the player is just about to swing.

[ATP100]

DO NOT CHANGE ANYTHING, JUST KEEP PRACTICING.

Take another video in a couple months, than change 1 thing at a time.

[NLBwell]

After actually watching the video, I'm agreeing with ATP100. Don't think about specific changes to your forehand at this point. There are no major problems. Just practice a lot with the idea of learning what you have to do to hit harder and lower, or put more spin on the ball, or loop the ball higher, or hit a short angle, etc. Don't go overboard and start flailing about, but work on specific improvements. Takebacks, racket head drop, etc. should develop naturally as you learn what you must to to achieve these things.
Post another video or, even better, have a pro look at your strokes in a couple months and see where you are then.

[TennisA]

I think the main change you need to make is what your legs are doing. Right now, your body faces the court when you hit your forehands. That, and you aren't bending your legs much, either. You should also start practicing split stepping a bit to help with movement. Other than that, I think your groundstrokes are excellent for only playing 7 months.