My forehand, any anything appreciated.

[pyrokid]

I like it a lot right now. It's able to be very precise, flatten out, hit tons of spin, do basically whatever I want. And all while being REALLY consistent.

But last time I posted a vid you guys posted things that my coach and I didn't notice that ended up helping, so I'll give this whole shebang another go.

Comments appreciated.
Back angle.

Also, the scream thing at the end was some crazy five foot man on the other side of the divider between these 4 courts and the ones on the other side.

Not me.

Jus' sayin'.

[GetBetterer]

Superb. But don't lie about that screaming moan at the end there, we know it was you.

I've never liked that thing when people have their racket head parallel to the ground on the take-back simply because everyone I've talked to has always run into elbow pain, and whenever someone asks me to do it, I say no, even if it's a coach.

[SystemicAnomaly]

Are you a table tennis player by any chance? Your FH looks a tad like a ping pong FH loop swing -- the hips and torso tend to have the very same rotation. For a tennis FH, the hips and torso are somewhat offset -- the motion is a bit more of a sequence of overlapping links rather than a single rotation.

[bad_call]

pyrokid - nice ball smacking. you'll be a bit more efficient if you rotate thru the core more. it's probably not a big deal now but prolonged rallies with good competition will drain the tank quicker.

[ttbrowne]

If you are not going to play all of your matches flat-footed, practice on the balls of your feet, moving just like you would in a match.

[hawk eye]

Originally Posted by SystemicAnomaly

Are you a table tennis player by any chance? Your FH looks a tad like a ping pong FH loop swing -- the hips and torso tend to have the very same rotation. For a tennis FH, the hips and torso are somewhat offset -- the motion is a bit more of a sequence of overlapping links rather than a single rotation.

Very much a table tennis fh loop indeed, with a some more extension and follow thorough. To SA's comments I would add, from your backswing on you should drop your racket head a little bit more naturaly to trace a c-shape kind of loop. This can help you gain momentum and fluidness in your stroke.

[pyrokid]

Originally Posted by GetBetterer

Superb. But don't lie about that screaming moan at the end there, we know it was you.

I've never liked that thing when people have their racket head parallel to the ground on the take-back simply because everyone I've talked to has always run into elbow pain, and whenever someone asks me to do it, I say no, even if it's a coach.

Do I do that? I couldn't quite tell. Isaw it go parallel for a second, but then I didn't see it any more.

Originally Posted by SystemicAnomaly

Are you a table tennis player by any chance? Your FH looks a tad like a ping pong FH loop swing -- the hips and torso tend to have the very same rotation. For a tennis FH, the hips and torso are somewhat offset -- the motion is a bit more of a sequence of overlapping links rather than a single rotation.

Haha no I'm the worst table tennis player you'll even see. So I should try to separate the shoulders and hips?

Originally Posted by bad_call

pyrokid - nice ball smacking. you'll be a bit more efficient if you rotate thru the core more. it's probably not a big deal now but prolonged rallies with good competition will drain the tank quicker.

It does look like less rotation than I usually hit, I'll have to remember to take my shoulders through more consciously... I wonder what caused that. I hope it was just because I was tired.

Originally Posted by ttbrowne

If you are not going to play all of your matches flat-footed, practice on the balls of your feet, moving just like you would in a match.

I was totally drained at this point.
The only reason I was filming here was because this was one of the few times my dad was willing to use the camera and film me, so I wanted to take advantage of it. If I had had a choice I would have picked a time where I was fresher, but I just needed to see my strokes and this did that.

[bad_call]

pyro - were you hitting against a backboard or something like that?

[pyrokid]

Originally Posted by bad_call

pyro - were you hitting against a backboard or something like that?

Ball machine.

[pyrokid]

Originally Posted by hawk eye

Very much a table tennis fh loop indeed, with a some more extension and follow thorough. To SA's comments I would add, from your backswing on you should drop your racket head a little bit more naturaly to trace a c-shape kind of loop. This can help you gain momentum and fluidness in your stroke.

My forehand has been changed a lot lately so it's still really in transition, so different parts show at different times. I was hitting a bit flatter that session. That might have had to do with not enough drop down.

I started off hitting with more of a loop, but I started hitting it late for some reason so I went to less of a loop.

So I should try and keep the loop I guess?

[AhmedD]

I think you need to go under the ball for more topsin and to get more net clearance, from what I'm seeing your playing very flat and your not brushing under the ball much.

[Cross-court]

That's one weird-looking forehand.

[pyrokid]

Originally Posted by AhmedD

I think you need to go under the ball for more topsin and to get more net clearance, from what I'm seeing your playing very flat and your not brushing under the ball much.

I was hitting flatter than usual that day. But it was still nowhere near flat. Those FHs cleared the net by about 4-6 feet at around 70 MPH. I don't usually hit that hard in a match, but it's a ball machine so I was working on getting my average speed up.

Do you want me to get a gun out on my next vid so you can see they're just going a little fast to come down quickly?
Maybe set the cam up where I hit the balls so you can see the kick off the bounce?

It's not an insane amount of topspin, but it's more than the vast majority of juniors I play. It's where I get my consistency from because I really am not that great at height control.

[coyfish]

Big forehands but if you really want quality opinions than you should upload a video of you rallying or a more involved ball machine pattern. You are waiting for the ball and hitting hard enough to make you stumble a few times. My opinion off that vid is that you are twisting too much. Not an efficient shot that will be very difficult to utilize when you are moving in a point. Look at pro forehands.

[theZig]

your stroke is good, your understanding of spacing and "chain" mechanics are great, but the one thing you're lacking (and note i'm speaking in ideals, you're still eons ahead of most people) is weight transfer.

your weight transfer goes from your outer foot (left) to your inner foot (right) on just about every shot, and that's not entirely wrong. as you already know, and will most likely argue that you are already doing, your weight should be going forward through the ball. to give you an idea in a diagram, the weight should be going forward like this | but at the moment your weight is going like / .

what's the difference, you ask? your weight IS going forward, afterall. and you're right, it is. the point is, however, that you want your weight going forward and most importantly where you want it to. to get an idea of how to accomplish this, go ahead and stand up right now with your feet and shoulders width. transfer weight between your two legs, by lifting one leg up, leaning towards that same side, put that leg down, and then switch. it'll kind of feel like a penguin that's waddling, but going side to side. this is essentially what you are doing on a tennis court. stand up again, and this time when you lift your right leg up (left leg for you righties reading this) and lean forward (almost like you're going to fall) and then catch yourself with the right leg; it should feel similar to a lunge. notice the position your feet are in; it's very similar to the / position (although much more extreme than in a tennis stroke, remember this is just to illustrate an image!), non? but what's the difference between what you are doing normally and what you just did?

what you normally do is set your feet at an angle / and then transfer energy from your left to your right leg. very good, better than what most people can do, but still not perfect. you can make this shot even better by instead of planting both your legs, only plant your outside (left) leg, and put all your weight on it. your inner (right) leg can be on the ground, however all the weight should be on your outer leg. when you're going to hit, make your weight go FORWARD (like when you were "falling forward") while hitting, and then catch yourself with the right leg. it may LOOK very similar, but it will FEEL very different. you'll know you're doing it right if you're maintaining everything else (keep your form the same, this is just a weight transfer issue, and it's a pretty minute change at that!), but your shots feel like they have more penetration/weight.

the reason i point this out is because while your stroke is great, if I had to split up the "points" you have, a majority of them are in the pace/weight category (aka if you had 100 points, like 70 points are allocated there) which is fine, but I feel your game has much more to offer. By adding power/weight/pace with your weight transfer you can reallocate some of those points to things like spin, placement, and control. the whole point is to relieve your arm of the responsibility to produce pace, and get more of your body involved in that process. one of my mantra's is that the body should be the powerhouse, while the arm should be the control tower (and while i'm not saying you can hit 90 mph balls swinging like a snail, I am saying you can produce pace easier than you are at the moment). by having more power from your body, your arm can focus more on control. can you imagine how your game would change if you could hit the same pace, but hit wherever you wanted to, whenever you wanted to? you can do it!

PLEASE note I am not saying you have no control, or have no pace, or anything negative! I am quite impressed with your stroke, and you are, again, better than the majority! I am only saying things i KNOW will help you be a bettER player! with that being said, i do hope you take the time to think about this and best of luck with your game!!

-Zig

[pyrokid]

Wow zig, thanks.
I'll try that out tomorrow.

[theZig]

anything you'd like explained in more detail?

I've added my AIM to my tw profile in case anyone needs immediate help.. I'll do what I can if I'm on

[pyrokid]

Originally Posted by coyfish

Big forehands but if you really want quality opinions than you should upload a video of you rallying or a more involved ball machine pattern. You are waiting for the ball and hitting hard enough to make you stumble a few times. My opinion off that vid is that you are twisting too much. Not an efficient shot that will be very difficult to utilize when you are moving in a point. Look at pro forehands.

You're right, my running forehands aren't as good.

But I think most of the stumbling was a footwork issue. My coach pointed out I only do it when I'm unbalanced.

How could I make my forehand more efficient? Especially on the run.

[coyfish]

Originally Posted by pyrokid

You're right, my running forehands aren't as good.

But I think most of the stumbling was a footwork issue. My coach pointed out I only do it when I'm unbalanced.

How could I make my forehand more efficient? Especially on the run.

I agree with zig. You torque yourself laterally so much. Your footwork wasn't bad but with you waiting for the ball so long and so much twist it isn't a good perspective.

I think if you focus on moving into the ball instead of twisting laterally things will come together nicely for you. You will get more easy power. Your forehand looks like roddicks with the high takeback and closed face. He gets more behind the ball and moves forward though. But that is coming from the vid you posted. If I try and bomb forehands off the ball machine I will probably do some stuff I normally don't do.

[pyrokid]

Originally Posted by coyfish

I agree with zig. You torque yourself laterally so much. Your footwork wasn't bad but with you waiting for the ball so long and so much twist it isn't a good perspective.

I think if you focus on moving into the ball instead of twisting laterally things will come together nicely for you. You will get more easy power. Your forehand looks like roddicks with the high takeback and closed face. He gets more behind the ball and moves forward though. But that is coming from the vid you posted. If I try and bomb forehands off the ball machine I will probably do some stuff I normally don't do.

Haha I wasn't bombing them, just trying to get another 5-10 MPH out of rallying strokes. Unless that's what bombing means. (deep, placeable.) I do need more fluidity though. It looks really forced. It's weird because usually in matches my strokes feel effortless. Maybe they're different, or maybe I go zen in matches?
So just work on 'falling forward' more like zig said?

how do I do that? any tips?
Wouldn't it be hard on the run?