Finding my strokes after 20 years. Stroke video inside

Originally Posted by Greg G

Cool! I'm on the right track! I realized the SSC movement is a much smaller movement than I had previously thought. Hopefully this is the breakthrough I've been waiting for.

All I need is more court time... >.<

Good for you,,,what do you mean the SSC if smaller

[Greg G]

Well if you look at my older videos, I thought it was a longer movement that occurred a bit further back. Hence the longer loopier backswing.

[Chas Tennis]

Greg G, Now that you have high speed video and, I guess, can view it stop action on the LCD screen at the courts -

When I started high speed video I would practice, say, for an hour taking, say, 6-10 serves in a clip or 30 seconds of forehands and then go home and view my high speed videos on the camera or a computer. It was not unusual that, in the first video of a stroke of a 60 minute practice secession, I could see an obvious flaw. For example, not enough back swing and body turn on the forehand. Or, on the serve, not having the edge of the racket toward the ball when the racket first starts up to impact, etc. These flaws are easy to see. Often, I had practiced with these flaws for an hour!

I now try to review my strokes frequently on court, say, every 5 minutes, and make on-the-spot corrections of obvious flaws.

Now I am considering going even farther and looking at my strokes every 2-3 practice hits. This would be a very cumbersome and unpleasant way to practice. ?

Anyhow, maybe you want to consider your use of single frame stroke analysis on the courts.

[Cheetah]

hmm... that takeback looks a little roddick-ish. I think it could be better.

and what's going on between frames 9 and 10?

Originally Posted by Cheetah

hmm... that takeback looks a little roddick-ish. I think it could be better.

and what's going on between frames 9 and 10?

Too funny, that's the mythical stretch shorten, that you are always talking about.

[Cheetah]

between 9 and 10?

Originally Posted by Cheetah

between 9 and 10?

Yes, between 9 and 10..........To induce stretch shorten, the racquet needs to "flip" like it is here. This quick internal to external rotation of the arm is what balistically loads it for the forward swing.

[Cheetah]

Originally Posted by chico9166

Yes, between 9 and 10..........To induce stretch shorten, the racquet needs to "flip" like it is here. This quick internal to external rotation of the arm is what balistically loads it for the forward swing.

Yes I know what the what's/why's/how's regarding ssc. Thanks.

i was asking him in a 'do you see anything wrong with what you are doing between frames 9 and 10?' type of way.

Originally Posted by Cheetah

Yes I know what the what's/why's/how's regarding ssc. Thanks.

i was asking him in a 'do you see anything wrong with what you are doing between frames 9 and 10?' type of way.

Yeah Ok, For his sake, please do not advise him to mess with the racquet arm postion in frames 8,9,10. These are absolutely imperative for what he's after, and the crux of his problem...Right now they are mint.

[Cheetah]

no those positions are mint. he's had the same issue for a long time. it's apparent in all his vids.

Originally Posted by Cheetah

no those positions are mint. he's had the same issue for a long time. it's apparent in all his vids.

Was that none of those positions are mint?

[Cheetah]

I mean those positions are NOT mint.

Originally Posted by Cheetah

I mean those positions are NOT mint.

Then don't talk about stretch shorten. You have no idea what your talking about.

[Cheetah]

Once again you are mistaken. If you knew anything about what we're talking about as opposed to just regurgitating what you've gleaned from skimming through forums we wouldn't be having this conversation.

If his positions were so mint as you say then why does he get very minimal ssc and racquet lag? If everything was so mint shouldn't his swing look like a pro?
If you can't answer that then it is you who doesn't know what they are talking about.

[Greg G]

Ok no fighting in this thread

Between 9 and 10... Do I allow too much external shoulder rotation, as opposed to ulnar deviation? In racquet butt terms, you mean it should not be pointed down that much....?

Originally Posted by Cheetah

Once again you are mistaken. If you knew anything about what we're talking about as opposed to just regurgitating what you've gleaned from skimming through forums we wouldn't be having this conversation.

If his positions were so mint as you say then why does he get very minimal ssc and racquet lag? If everything was so mint shouldn't his swing look like a pro?
If you can't answer that then it is you who doesn't know what they are talking about.

Dude, I teach this stuff..Have for many years. This is pretty elementary.

The fact that you don't know what's going on between 7,8,9,10 tells me all I need to know about your knowledge on the subject and corrective measure needed for the OP. I'll make it real simple for you....The arm cannot be rotated externally when the racquet is pulled....It really gets down to that...If you don't know what that means, or can't identify it on video, than look it up. At any rate, do not talk about how stretch shortening works (as some sort of know it all, expert) when you don't understand this necessary position..In the OP's case, it really is the crux of the problem.

[Cheetah]

is frame 9 the beginning of your forward swing?
if so can you describe what you see happening in those frames (9 and 10)?

[Greg G]

Here it that section of the swing broken down even further. Sorry to change the reference numbers :P



#6 left arm moves across
#7-8 ulnar deviation
#9 shoulder starts to rotate
#10-12 a bit of forearm supination accompanies the external shoulder rotation. That the issue?

Is my hip firing late?

Re the take back form- it's a bit exaggerated to control my tendency to supinate too early.
@Chas Tennis: yes, I have started to take a look at the videos after each basket of balls. Helps a lot, at least I don't end up wasting a whole hour if I spot anything on review. Plus it gives me a chance to catch my breath

[Cheetah]

yes what you said is good.
hmm... let's see... hard to explain...

You have a semi western grip right?

You seem to be incorporating Fed's takeback style now. Which is fine.
but...

Let me ask you this first... when you do a shadow swing or real swing with that form while holding a real tennis racquet does the racquet move like it does here? I'm asking because I don't want to comment too much if that stick is not behaving like a real racquet would.

[Greg G]

I believe a real racquet would alter the swing a bit (for the better). The pole is too light and whippy. But I felt it was a good tool for showing which way the butt was pointing.

Yes I shifted to a semi western, so I understand the racquet face should be more closed vs fed, more djoko like, and I try to feel that in court.

Speaking of grip, I may be a bit choked up on the forehand as well. Since you pointed that issue out on the backhand, I tried moving the forehand grip further out too, which seems to allow easier access to the ssc.