Developing consistent follow through on forehands.

[sc0tt2288]

Hit a reverse forehand

[GuyClinch]

I have/had this problem. You are probably slowing down your swing before you hit the ball. I was.

This will screw your finish - and this happens when some players get 'nervous' about hitting their shots. It's actually better to swing with less energy at the start and not slow down at all then try to swing hard and stop your swing.

For most players if you swing through you are going to finish above your shoulder. If you have already got into the habit of putting alot of 'rotation' on your forehand you will finish lower down like a modern pro. (This is unlikely as its tougher then the OTS finish).

What you should do is swing through the ball and then hold your finish. If you are really swinging through and then you 'hold' it for a second I bet your finish will be pretty consistent. Don't try to force your finish to something its not either. This is often related to the above problem. The player will slow down their swing before contact and then try to bend the arm to whatever spot they think is right.

Just swing through - if you aren't getting the action on the ball you want you might have to change your finish. But that will be because you are hitting a different kind of ball.

Most amateur players actually won't have a bunch of different finishes - its the pros that do because they are hitting various amount of topspin and and sometimes using reverse forehands.

Pete

[Jake Speed]

Originally Posted by dozu

can still become buddies if you post a video.

I'd have to shoot the thing with a paper bag over my head.

I don't think I could play that way? Not very well anyways.

JS #1

[royalfan5]

I did a lot better when I played this morning. I worked on making sure I rotated my body which helped significantly. That led to me notice that getting my feet in the right place was probably the biggest issue I was having that was interfering with my body rotation. One things I have really had to fight since taking up tennis, is the instinct to stop the ball with my body which is quite useful in the other sports I have played.

[dozu]

Originally Posted by Jake Speed

I'd have to shoot the thing with a paper bag over my head.

I don't think I could play that way? Not very well anyways.

JS #1

a ski mask should do just fine.. and why is it necessary to hide your identity? If I were a teaching pro, I'd love to get free eyeballs.

[GuyClinch]

You can easily blur faces post production. <g> No need to suffer with a ski mask.

[SFrazeur]

Originally Posted by royalfan5

For the most part, my struggle to maintain a consistent follow through on my forehand is keeping me from developing it as a usable weapon. What is there to do to help develop the necessary consistence as far drills and what not?

This is an issue where the problem could be occurring from a number of technical and/or timing issues. I would assume it's a contact issue. However,
I could not want to suggest corrections, fixes without having seen it for myself as I do not know the originating cause.

-SF

[SFrazeur]

Originally Posted by Jake Speed

One ball is all you need.

Pick any end of the net, close to the pole.

From about 4 or 5 feet back, take your forehand stance then simply "drop and hit" a ball into the net.

Repeat this forever!

It's an exercise that can be used to grove a forehand, backhand, AND an opportunity to practice grips.

The workout is great also.

Here's the thing, once mastered, you can hit any ground stroke you want, repeatedly, because the ball always comes back, sets up nicely, AND you can "LET LOOSE." Develope that lacking follow through!

Eventually you'll be able to tell, from where the ball hits the net, if your strokes are good.

Better than hitting against a wall and you can do three times the work in the same amount of time.

Yes, all my students received a lesson or two, learning this!

Try it, you will not be disappointed.

It's good training!

JS #1

I could see possibly doing this as a short exercise, maybe. However, as a long term exercise it has certain problems. For starters, practicing this would inhibit a natural low-to-high lifting motion.

-SF

[Jake Speed]

Originally Posted by SFrazeur

I could see possibly doing this as a short exercise, maybe. However, as a long term exercise it has certain problems. For starters, practicing this would inhibit a natural low-to-high lifting motion.
-SF

With all due respect.

You've never done this or heard of this training method, and you're knocking it? If you try this, instead of just talk about this, you will clearly see, it's just the opposite of your claims.

That's smart. Typical of the Forum. Comment when you don't know jack.

FYI. I've had students do this since 1972.

If you saw myself hit this way, you would think I was in the back court hitting ground strokes. Off both sides!

Just goes to show you, I'm wasting my time here, no one appreciates anything, and the jealously is, out of control.

And, one more thing. I said this in another Post early on.

I've been teaching service pronation since 1972 also. That's like writing the book!

There's a way to talk about it, and a way to teach it.

I see no one teaching it!

JS #1

[Jake Speed]

Originally Posted by dozu

a ski mask should do just fine.. and why is it necessary to hide your identity? If I were a teaching pro, I'd love to get free eyeballs.

Just a teaching Pro? I don't think so.

Here's the problem.

Everyone knows that "everyone" lies about, what they are, or who they are, and I don't mind this. People need to "invent" or they wouldn't be anything, right?

So I come along and everyone believes I'm behaving like everyone else.

But clearly I'm not, and that's obvious. This is why I'm being attacked, and everything I say is being challenged.

I've been as honest as I could since my first day.

If my identity was found out, I'd have to leave, simple as that.

Now, if I left, who would you have to pick on?

No one that really knows what they are talking about, that's for sure.

So, we can play the "game."

Isn't that really what this is?

JS #1

PS. I still need to learn how to place a photo. I have this tennis court in my back yard I'd people to see. There a some nice people out there.

[Jake Speed]

Double Post?

[dozu]

"If my identity was found out, I'd have to leave, simple as that."

what is that supposed to mean? are you banned from this forum? are there some contractual obligations? (well, other teaching pros here apparently don't have that problem).

Just wear a ski mask, and hit for 5min. easy as pie.

you can upload picture/videos in tinypic, and put links here.

[Jake Speed]

are there some contractual obligations?

Bingo!

Taken a while, but you're learning.

You are a slow learner.

JS #1

[dozu]

Originally Posted by Jake Speed

Bingo!

Taken a while, but you're learning.

You are a slow learner.

JS #1

what about the ski mask.

[SFrazeur]

Originally Posted by Jake Speed

With all due respect.

You've never done this or heard of this training method, and you're knocking it? If you try this, instead of just talk about this, you will clearly see, it's just the opposite of your claims.

That's smart. Typical of the Forum. Comment when you don't know jack.

FYI. I've had students do this since 1972.

If you saw myself hit this way, you would think I was in the back court hitting ground strokes. Off both sides!

Just goes to show you, I'm wasting my time here, no one appreciates anything, and the jealously is, out of control.

And, one more thing. I said this in another Post early on.

I've been teaching service pronation since 1972 also. That's like writing the book!

There's a way to talk about it, and a way to teach it.

I see no one teaching it!

JS #1

I did not say it was a bad exercise as a whole, only that I see problems using it as a long term exercise.


You seem to have an exception that you should be respected for 40 years of experience. How is one supposed to respect this experience when no one knows or sees proof that it exists? And just because someone has been doing something for 40 years does not mean they have been doing it well or right. Not an attack. it's just a pet peeve.

-SF

[Jake Speed]

Originally Posted by dozu

what about the ski mask.

I don't think so.

JS #1

[Jake Speed]

Originally Posted by SFrazeur

I did not say it was a bad exercise as a whole, only that I see problems using it as a long term exercise.


You seem to have an exception that you should be respected for 40 years of experience. How is one supposed to respect this experience when no one knows or sees proof that it exists? And just because someone has been doing something for 40 years does not mean they have been doing it well or right. Not an attack. it's just a pet peeve.

-SF

Sure, I agree with that, and to some degree, you're correct.
(Not about me.

Disagree if you like, but not because of some whim, or because of my 40 years of not knowing anything. Go do it first.

I will say this, hitting "correctly" against the net, isn't as easy as it sounds, or looks, for that matter. And to perfect this technique, takes understanding, practice and effort.

That leaves out a bunch!

FYI. It will only help you, as will ALL my advice, Grasshopper.

JS #1

[mightyrick]

Originally Posted by Jake Speed

Sure, I agree with that, and to some degree, you're correct.
(Not about me.

Disagree if you like, but not because of some whim, or because of my 40 years of not knowing anything. Go do it first.

I will say this, hitting "correctly" against the net, isn't as easy as it sounds, or looks, for that matter. And to perfect this technique, takes understanding, practice and effort.

That leaves out a bunch!

FYI. It will only help you, as will ALL my advice, Grasshopper.

JS #1

I'm surprised you really aren't prescribing wall work. No disrespect to your 40 years of being involved in tennis, but hitting into the net doesn't drive a person to create a full stroke. A wall requires someone to see the ball coming back at them, it requires (fast) footwork to get into position, it encourages a full turn, backswing, and follow-through.

A drop-hit into the net doesn't do this.

That said, I'm not a teaching pro. In fact, with tennis, I'm not sure what qualifies someone to teach.

I only know what worked for me. And what worked for me was reading about what other ATP professionals did to groove their strokes early on. All it requires is a wall, some balls, and time/practice. After 1.5 years, I went from never having held a tennis racquet to beating most 3.5s in my area.

I think there are probably several methods someone can use to groove their forehand. Personally, I think hitting against a wall has the best return on investment (for beginners) and covers all of the mechanics of the stroke.

At some point, though, I think rallying with someone else is the best thing to do.

[dozu]

Originally Posted by Jake Speed

Sure, I agree with that, and to some degree, you're correct.
(Not about me.

Disagree if you like, but not because of some whim, or because of my 40 years of not knowing anything. Go do it first.

I will say this, hitting "correctly" against the net, isn't as easy as it sounds, or looks, for that matter. And to perfect this technique, takes understanding, practice and effort.

That leaves out a bunch!

FYI. It will only help you, as will ALL my advice, Grasshopper.

JS #1

stop hiding behind some 'contractual' thing.... plenty evidence points to that you are not a real pro, or a real sucky one.

I can understand that there maybe some clauses to prevent you from teaching outside the contract, but posting stuff here is not even commercial, there are no $$$ involved.

Show me the contract and I will believe you.

[NamRanger]

Originally Posted by mightyrick

I'm surprised you really aren't prescribing wall work. No disrespect to your 40 years of being involved in tennis, but hitting into the net doesn't drive a person to create a full stroke. A wall requires someone to see the ball coming back at them, it requires (fast) footwork to get into position, it encourages a full turn, backswing, and follow-through.

A drop-hit into the net doesn't do this.

That said, I'm not a teaching pro. In fact, with tennis, I'm not sure what qualifies someone to teach.

I only know what worked for me. And what worked for me was reading about what other ATP professionals did to groove their strokes early on. All it requires is a wall, some balls, and time/practice. After 1.5 years, I went from never having held a tennis racquet to beating most 3.5s in my area.

I think there are probably several methods someone can use to groove their forehand. Personally, I think hitting against a wall has the best return on investment (for beginners) and covers all of the mechanics of the stroke.

At some point, though, I think rallying with someone else is the best thing to do.

A wall can help you groove your stroke but because of the way the ball bounces off the wall it can be detrimental to your development later on.


Ball machines (particularly the more expensive ones) are a good substitute for hitting partners / coaches when you have no one else to hit with.