How to hit super hard forehands

[Limpinhitter]

Originally Posted by Fedace

Hip and trunk rotation and Core strength.

That's right.

The biggest deficiency of technique among club level players is the lack of upper body rotation in their stroke production - both groundies and serve. Typically, they swing primarily with their arms. By upper body rotation, I mean the whole upper body from shoulders to hips rotating back and forth as a single unit. Think of the upper body as a cylinder (a tennis ball can), rotating back and forth. And how is upper body rotation achieved? With the legs. You have to get your legs into it. When you "turn" on your shots you get much more of the mass of your body behind your shot and you don't have to accelerate the swing as much to generate power. By not swinging as hard at the ball, you improve control and consistency. Also, there's much less that can go wrong with upper body rotation. It's a motion that can't vary much. The arm, on the other hand, can go awry in many ways. So, utilizing more rotation and less arm adds consistency and reliability to your shots.

[ubermeyer]

Thanks everyone

I know how to do this on the backhand because there is a lot of upper body rotation that necessarily must be involved to hit a two handed backhand. However, the 1 handed forehand has different mechanics as the left arm is not in the same place as the right. I'm not going to switch back to 2 handed forehand but the fact that the left arm is not holding the racket makes it difficult to achieve enough rotation for me and also difficult to envision such rotation. I would like a big forehand so that people do not only hit to my forehand as they do now, because they avoid my backhand because it is a lot better and can hit winners more.

[Limpinhitter]

Originally Posted by ubermeyer

Thanks everyone

I know how to do this on the backhand because there is a lot of upper body rotation that necessarily must be involved to hit a two handed backhand. However, the 1 handed forehand has different mechanics as the left arm is not in the same place as the right. I'm not going to switch back to 2 handed forehand but the fact that the left arm is not holding the racket makes it difficult to achieve enough rotation for me and also difficult to envision such rotation. I would like a big forehand so that people do not only hit to my forehand as they do now, because they avoid my backhand because it is a lot better and can hit winners more.

If you don't rotate your upper body, and rely on an arm swing, then you are sacrificing power, control and consistency. Rotating with a one handed stroke is voluntary. With a two handed stroke, you have to do it. But, if you want to have the best forehand that you can have, then you must to rotate your upper body. Your choice!

[masterxfob]

i guess body rotation is the main way to hit with power, but footwork is the only way you'll end up making clean contact to do so.

anyhow, it sounds like you're a bit of a pusher, and that's a playing style that's tough to overcome. even if you learn to hit a nice forehand, you'll most likely revert back to pushing in matches. just keep at it and remember you're going to lose a lot in the beginning.

[user92626]

Originally Posted by ubermeyer

Thanks everyone

I know how to do this on the backhand because there is a lot of upper body rotation that necessarily must be involved to hit a two handed backhand.

Hmm..I just opened a thread on basically how to hit a super hard 2hbh (never mind if it's a good shot or not).

You must be joking if you're alluding that you hit your BH more powerfully than your FH. Nearly everyone I know hits his/her fh far better power than the bh. How the heck do you produce a faster rackethead speed with 2 hands than with 1 fh?

[masterxfob]

Originally Posted by user92626

Hmm..I just opened a thread on basically how to hit a super hard 2hbh (never mind if it's a good shot or not).

You must be joking if you're alluding that you hit your BH more powerfully than your FH. Nearly everyone I know hits his/her fh far better power than the bh. How the heck do you produce a faster rackethead speed with 2 hands than with 1 fh?

uh, have you been following tennis at all lately? nalbandian is back and his 2hbh is clearly his stronger side.

[ubermeyer]

Originally Posted by user92626

Hmm..I just opened a thread on basically how to hit a super hard 2hbh (never mind if it's a good shot or not).

You must be joking if you're alluding that you hit your BH more powerfully than your FH. Nearly everyone I know hits his/her fh far better power than the bh. How the heck do you produce a faster rackethead speed with 2 hands than with 1 fh?

Oh I'm definitely not joking. I'm just different I guess but I have always hit my BH far more powerfully than my forehand, and also never had problems with consistency either. It's just naturally my better side...
And to answer another poster, yes I do sort of push off the forehand side although I am aggressive on the backhand

[ho]

Originally Posted by ubermeyer

wow, thanks everyone!

what did i tell you? (welcome aboard) these guy can give you more than any tennis website, their informations, if you have time to think, will be very profound and very smart, all based on their experience, probably better than many reknown coach. but that they just warm up, the deeper you go into it, the better you will receive !!! welcome aboard !!!

[TennisAddict121]

Forget core rotation and strength there are 2 things that are much more important. Footwork and timing!!!! You can have the best strokes in the world but it will mean nothing if you cant position yourself correctly. Also timing is so huge because look at davydenko he is tiny but because he times teh ball so well he can crush shots bigger than guys half a foot taller than him

[ProgressoR]

^^ true, but the flip side is footwork and positioning wont help that much if the stroke is not mechanically strong. You need all 3 to play a better shot consistently, easier said than done, otherwise we would all be very very good players.

[GuyClinch]

Obviously footwork is important - but don't lose sight of what footwork does. It helps you get balance and in ideal position for more balls.

The OP wants to hit winners of easy shots. You know those balls you should really crush but don't do enough with. They are slow - high bouncing and easy to get into position for.

So in this case I don't think its fair to throw out the tenniswarehouse answer to every problem - footwork. <g>

[papa]

Originally Posted by user92626

You must be joking if you're alluding that you hit your BH more powerfully than your FH. Nearly everyone I know hits his/her fh far better power than the bh. How the heck do you produce a faster rackethead speed with 2 hands than with 1 fh?

Often the case with women.

[papa]

Originally Posted by ubermeyer

I want to learn how to hit a really really hard forehand, emphasis not on consistency or spin.

Certainly have heard this before - consistency is not a factor, at least not yet.

Maybe your trying too hard - relax and get some whip into the stroke.

We're really just talking about a collision. So it gets down to path and racquet head speed.

[tennis_balla]

Just watch this guy
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vLRx2TACIKA

[Blake0]

A couple things that helped me gain pace.
Racket head speed.
Swing path is extend more throughout the shot instead of just brushing up.
Wrist is bent at contact.
Timing/footwork.
Loading and releasing energy from your whole body, not just your upper body.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pPLmCqGIotM

Great video of federers forehand and a brief explanation on how he gets so much pace.

[ubermeyer]

Originally Posted by papa

Often the case with women.

I'm a boy

Thanks those videos were helpful

[papa]

Originally Posted by Blake0

A couple things that helped me gain pace.
Racket head speed.
Swing path is extend more throughout the shot instead of just brushing up.
Wrist is bent at contact.
Timing/footwork.
Loading and releasing energy from your whole body, not just your upper body.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pPLmCqGIotM

Great video of federers forehand and a brief explanation on how he gets so much pace.

Good post.

This is why some of us teach the 2HFH to get the younger/newer player used to doing these things. Not trying to push the stroke on people but it does incorporate the principals you describe.

[ManuGinobili]

Originally Posted by papa

Often the case with women.

hahahaha SHAZAM

[CityTennis22]

I always tee off on a forehand by taking the ball on the rise. If you get a shortball, then step into it and take it early. It's a lot more effective than crushing the ball from two feet behind the baseline.