Modern Tennis Tips by Oscar Wegner

[Greg G]

And here I thought you meant you don't need to understand it to feel it...LOL

[10isfreak]

[quote=arche3;7085791]

Originally Posted by 10isfreak

*theories in the scientific sense

To further develop, trying out different approaches is very inefficient, long and tiring... We can compare both ways to solve this problem with a simplified example.

Maximize f(x,y)= 3xy^2 subject to y=4x+2


? What does this have to do with training your body to hit tennis balls?

If you know what to practice and how to practice it, you learn faster... This math problem is an analogy: it‘s more efficient to solve your problem using a systematic analysis than running in all directions at once.

[10isfreak]

Originally Posted by Greg G

And here I thought you meant you don't need to understand it to feel it...LOL

Well, this is true in some sense. Understanding influences perception and thus experience, but sensing has nothing to do with it, so indeed: you need nothing else than your senses to sense.

But the problem here is about teaching, not doing...

[arche3]

[quote=10isfreak;7085827]

Originally Posted by arche3

If you know what to practice and how to practice it, you learn faster... This math problem is an analogy: it‘s more efficient to solve your problem using a systematic analysis than running in all directions at once.

There are pretty standard ways to teach tennis at this point. All the top coaches coach a similar system. I don't really see people trying to hit a top spin fh using a continental grip these days. Some things are self explanatory once you hit some tennis balls and see the results. The same goes I don't need the science to tell me to not use a kids racket to play as its too small. I just know it.

[Wegner]

It's it interesting how the author of "Does Modern Tennis Exist?" contradicts his own position back and forth. He is further agreeing with some of the tenets that I published in 1989, that is 23 years ago, longer than the quote "I've spent about 15 years studying these various permutations" he declares. I venture that I was coaching modern tennis before he was even born, starting in 1968 with Pancho Segura at the Beverly Hills Tennis Club. And of course I saw with my own eyes the ball slow down, losing more than half the speed. It was a given on the tour, always accepted by the touring players who stalked the ball. Not a precise measurement, but awareness non-the-less.

For those interested in comparing what he says in the thread Does Modern Tennis Exist? with my publications, check out my free 1989/1992 book:
www.tennisteacher.com/eBook.html

I personally don't understand why he comes to this thread to argue non-sequitur with other posters, unless he feels threatened by the array of technical data addressed here, feeling that it could be helpful to the reader and thus improve my status as a coach on TalkTennis, and wants this thread to be removed.

Wouldn't you agree that it is better if he posts in his own thread his conclusions and opinions? Wouldn't it be beneficial to the visitor if other great coaches such a Nick Bollettieri, Paul Anacone, Rick Macci, and more would open their own thread and post some of their knowledge?

I agree that my techniques, books and DVDs are the most radical departure from conventional coaching ever seen. Why have I adopted and published them?

Because they work !!!!!! Over 30,000 coaches and players have bought my DVDs, and more my books.

How does an individual wanting to be scientific ever fail to be so? He fails to be scientific by failing to apply logic. When one of his considerations fails to be a fact the whole string falls apart. It is one thing for a premise to be counter-intuitive, it is another thing for a premise to be false. This happens in tennis coaching as well.

I identified in my 1989 book 21 misconceptions that derail performance in this beautiful game. Some of them, as I see even from my detractors, have been overcome. Still, the industry has failed to make the game as simple as it can be. Rather than throwing false data overboard, justifications and compensations run galore.

An unfortunate result is that better players are counseled to compensate as well, in order to find invisible solutions to the equally invisible but frustrating failures to advance to the level they seek.

So, what is the solution?

Part of the answer lies in identifying and utilizing the so-called scientific method* accurately, with objective observation and experimentation unclouded by pre-conceived theory or agenda. Another contributing solution is having more positive, more famous coaches posting on TalkTennis. They may differ in opinion, but I say: "Bring It On".

Definitions:

scientific method - a method of research in which a problem is identified, relevant data gathered, a hypothesis is formulated from these data, and the hypothesis is empirically tested.

[JW10S]

Originally Posted by Wegner

I venture that I was coaching modern tennis before he was even born, starting in 1968 with Pancho Segura at the Beverly Hills Tennis Club.

Another contributing solution is having more positive, more famous coaches posting on TalkTennis. They may differ in opinion, but I say: "Bring It On".

I guess we have to take your word that you were teaching 'modern' in 1968 since like so many of your assertions there is no empirical 'scientific' proof of it. I have to ask, has your teaching evolved at all since 1968 and if so how has it--if not it can't be called 'modern' can it? Nothing that happened 45 years ago can still be considered 'modern'--nothing. So what exactly is your definition of 'modern'?

FWIW, since we're dropping names (which you LOVE to do), I went to Segura when I was in college (I played for an NCAA National Championship team, played pro tennis, and currently coach all over the world) when he was the pro at La Costa (well after his time with you at the BHTC) and he did not teach like you. Prior to that I took a few private lessons from Pancho Gonzalez, who you claim to base at least some of your teachings on, and again he did not play or teach like you. And neither of them hit primarily open stance, semi-western, windshield-wiper, sudden 'yank across' forehands (Segura in fact hit his forehand with 2 hands). Gonzalez very rarely, if ever, hit topspin backhands. So where does the 'modern' fit in?

So again, what exactly is your defintion of 'modern'? And what exactly are the current crop of Americans doing that is not 'modern' and holding them back (be specific)? Maybe that would clear a lot of things up.

(I'm going ignore all responses from the minions, peons, worshippers & wannabes--as should everyone).

And none of the 'more famous coaches' would ever bother to post here for the simple reason that they just don't have to--their work, their influence and their results speak for themselves. They don't need to constantly post links to their website or Youtube like you apparently need to. I'm actually surprised someone of your 'legendary stature' (???) would find this little forum so important to you. That alone says a lot...

[Wegner]

Originally Posted by JW10S

I guess we have to take your word that you were teaching 'modern' in 1968 since like so many of your assertions there is no empirical proof of it. I have to ask, has your teaching evolved at all since 1968 and if so how has it--if not it can't be called 'modern' can it? Nothing that happened 45 years ago can still be considered 'modern'--nothing. So what exactly is your definition of 'modern'?

FWIW, I went to Segura when I was in college (I played for an NCAA National Championship team, played pro tennis, and currently coach) when he was the pro at La Costa (well after his time with you at the BHTC) and he did not teach like you. Prior to that I took a few private lessons from Pancho Gonzalez, who you claim to base at least some of your teachings on, and again he did not teach like you. And neither of them hit open stance, semi-western, windshield-wiper, 'yank' across forehands (Segura in fact hit his forehand with 2 hands).

So again, what exactly is your defintion of 'modern'? And what exactly are the current crop of Americans doing that is not 'modern' (be specific)? Maybe that would clear a lot of things up.

(I'm going ignore the responses from the minions).

And none of the 'more famous coaches' would ever bother to post here for the simple reason that they just don't have to--their work and their results speak for themselves. I'm actually surprised someone of your 'legendary stature' would find this little forum so important to you. That alone says a lot...

Well, JW, I preached, in 1968, open stance, topspin, stalking the ball, finishing across the opposite shoulder. In 1971 I started putting a string 3 ft. over the net to promote topspin, I used this in Spain in 1973. In Brazil in the 1980s I experimented by putting the string 5 ft over the net, and I emphasized waiting for the ball to emphasize the Zone, always testing, seeing what gave out the best results. In 1989 I published my first book, "Tennis in 2 Hours" (a name that the Germans called me when I coached there in the 80s). I gave a copy of the book at the 1989 Sunshine Cup to the Russian coach, for the Russian Tennis Federation. Bud Collins confirmed the next year, on his first trip to Moscow that coaches there loved it and asked him for more copies. I learned from a Belgrade coach that is now in Australia that my 1989 book was in Belgrade in 1991 and well received by coaches.

Then came the 1990s, and for four years I participated with instruction in more than 100 New Tennis Magazine shows, and we sold DVDs with that instruction through the TV show. From 1994 to 2000 I worked for ESPN International as an ATP, Australian Open and French Open commentator. I started emphasizing hitting on the lower part of the strings for topspin. I then commented for another channel PSN, in 1992 for the whole year, doing Wimbledon.

I retired from broadcasting in December 2000 and dedicated my time to promote my modern tennis videos (the term came up in 1991 as a friend of mine started doing surveys for me in Boca Raton and I started using it, and Brad Holbrook said in a New Tennis Magazine TV show that I was "the father of modern tennis"). In the 2000s I started emphasizing more and more pulling across instead of just swinging across and I added two more videos in 2006 and 2007. Then I started to visit Europe again (where I had played so much in the 1960s), meeting with old friends that were now coaches (Tony Roche in Rome, Angel Gimenez and Pato Alvarez in Barcelona, and in England meeting with David Lloyd and laying out teaching his main Next Generation clubs top coaches the system, plus seminars in Belgium, Holland and Finland, with great reception).

Next, in 2008, 2009 and 2010 producing 4 more DVDs, the series Tennis Into the Future, I just authored a new DVD, The Best of Oscar, a compilation, stroke by stroke of my most salient video segments, and I am on the process of writing a new book. I know my methodology is quite controversial and revolutionary, but it is a real good service to kids and public at large.

This is a long answer to your question, but also need to say that Segura played open stance two-handed forehands which was a bullet, and I did not teach like he taught, neither like Gonzalez, I taught like Segura and Gonzales played, not how they taught, although Gonzales forehand was a bit continental and not his forte. But Gonzalez serve, his slice approach, his volleys were a beauty to behold. I also studied/copied, some of the best strokes of all time, including the modern players. You must have witnessed, being a pro player and now a coach, some of the incredible shotmaking of many champions and I am lucky to have witnessed the evolutions that the game took and proud to be a part of that.

Finally, to answer your question specifically, American coaches stress to play forehands semi-open, which is a bit less efficient than the open stance for pulling across, and, perhaps for that reason, they are not geting that much action on the ball. They are also not tracking the ball long enough. Other than that, the USA has some fantastic prospects. I would say, encourage them to yank the ball up and across. When you get the feel, the harder you hit, the more the ball goes in.

I wish you a very Happy New Year and the best in your endeavors as a coach and in life. I am 73 years old, semi-retired, enjoying life myself, and loving every day. Occasionally I have posted in Talk Tennis, and thought starting my own thread to post tips would be a fun thing to do. I have the time, and a ton of materials to post.

Best, Oscar

[morandi]

I wish this thread would not get so argumentative and defensive. I like hearing the tips and insights that I can use to improve or expand my tennis, rather than it becoming a he said, she said discussion.

[JW10S]

Originally Posted by Wegner

Well, JW, I preached, in 1968, open stance, topspin, stalking the ball, finishing across the opposite shoulder. In 1971 I started putting a string 3 ft. over the net to promote topspin, I used this in Spain in 1973. In Brazil in the 1980s I experimented by putting the string 5 ft over the net, and I emphasized waiting for the ball to emphasize the Zone, always testing, seeing what gave out the best results. In 1989 I published my first book, "Tennis in 2 Hours" (a name that the Germans called me when I coached there in the 80s). I gave a copy of the book at the 1989 Sunshine Cup to the Russian coach, for the Russian Tennis Federation. Bud Collins confirmed the next year, on his first trip to Moscow that coaches there loved it and asked him for more copies. I learned from a Belgrade coach that is now in Australia that my 1989 book was in Belgrade in 1991 and well received by coaches.

Then came the 1990s, and for four years I participated with instruction in more than 100 New Tennis Magazine shows, and we sold DVDs with that instruction through the TV show. From 1994 to 2000 I worked for ESPN International as an ATP, Australian Open and French Open commentator. I started emphasizing hitting on the lower part of the strings for topspin. I then commented for another channel PSN, in 1992 for the whole year, doing Wimbledon.

I retired from broadcasting in December 2000 and dedicated my time to promote my modern tennis videos (the term came up in 1991 as a friend of mine started doing surveys for me in Boca Raton and I started using it, and Brad Holbrook said in a New Tennis Magazine TV show that I was "the father of modern tennis"). In the 2000s I started emphasizing more and more pulling across instead of just swinging across and I added two more videos in 2006 and 2007. Then I started to visit Europe again (where I had played so much in the 1960s), meeting with old friends that were now coaches (Tony Roche in Rome, Angel Gimenez and Pato Alvarez in Barcelona, and in England meeting with David Lloyd and laying out teaching his main Next Generation clubs top coaches the system, plus seminars in Belgium, Holland and Finland, with great reception).

Next, in 2008, 2009 and 2010 producing 4 more DVDs, the series Tennis Into the Future, I just authored a new DVD, The Best of Oscar, a compilation, stroke by stroke of my most salient video segments, and I am on the process of writing a new book. I know my methodology is quite controversial and revolutionary, but it is a real good service to kids and public at large.

This is a long answer to your question, but also need to say that Segura played open stance two-handed forehands which was a bullet, and I did not teach like he taught, neither like Gonzalez, I taught like Segura and Gonzales played, not how they taught, although Gonzales forehand was a bit continental and not his forte. But Gonzalez serve, his slice approach, his volleys were a beauty to behold. I also studied/copied, some of the best strokes of all time, including the modern players. You must have witnessed, being a pro player and now a coach, some of the incredible shotmaking of many champions and I am lucky to have witnessed the evolutions that the game took and proud to be a part of that.

Finally, to answer your question specifically, American coaches stress to play forehands semi-open, which is a bit less efficient than the open stance for pulling across, and, perhaps for that reason, they are not geting that much action on the ball. They are also not tracking the ball long enough. Other than that, the USA has some fantastic prospects. I would say, encourage them to yank the ball up and across. When you get the feel, the harder you hit, the more the ball goes in.

I wish you a very Happy New Year and the best in your endeavors as a coach and in life. I am 73 years old, semi-retired, enjoying life myself, and loving every day. Occasionally I have posted in Talk Tennis, and thought starting my own thread to post tips would be a fun thing to do. I have the time, and a ton of materials to post.

Best, Oscar

You still didn't answer my questions, but then I really didn't expect you would. But in a way that in itself does answer them.

I'm well aware how lucky I've been to have interacted with some of the game's greats like Gonzalez and Segura, to have played (sometimes succeeding and sometimes failing) in pressure situations, to have seen some amazing, almost superhuman, shot making as a spectator, coach and player (unfortunately sometimes too often against me), to have been able to travel, to have been able to meet many high-profile celebrities, and now to be able to help people play and love this game as I do. It's just that my experience differs from yours--in some cases by miles. It's because of my passion for the game that I have such strong feelings.

I thank you for the kind wishes, and I wish you the same--after all we are both very lucky to be doing something we love. We just do so in very different ways--and I'm not talking just about technique. You'll note that I have never once linked my website, Youtube, or testimonials to anything I've ever posted here. The only names I've dropped are some of those who've coached me, and for whom I will be forever grateful. I haven't named any of the tour players I've worked with either in the past or currently--and I take no credit for someone who may or may not have read something I've published. Happy New Year.

[Wegner]

Originally Posted by morandi

I wish this thread would not get so argumentative and defensive. I like hearing the tips and insights that I can use to improve or expand my tennis, rather than it becoming a he said, she said discussion.

Morandi, you are right. Perhaps no more explanation is needed. Here is the tip.

The Frame

In older times the ball was adressed squarely with the strings.

In modern tennis you approach the ball with the racquet’s frame, the upper edge, starting from below the ball for topspin, the lower edge, starting from above for slice.

Tennis today is more of brushing, massaging, deflecting the ball.

Not only is contact longer in this fashion, it also elicits spins and more control.

Power is no longer the main consideration. Modern racquets and strings have great response and generate ball speed with a lesser effort that racquets of old.

Even further, when you are looking at the ball you are about to strike, having the edges in mind increases your awareness of the racquet angle, especially of the vertical angle that determines the height of your shot.

It is almost as if playing tennis with the hand. The fingers have feel, have awareness. The racquet has not.

[TomT]

Originally Posted by Wegner

It is almost as if playing tennis with the hand. The fingers have feel, have awareness. The racquet has not.

I like this way of approaching a stroke. The racquet is just an extension of my hand. I have total control over my hand, and so total control over the racquet. When I think and visualize and execute this way, while remembering to prepare early and keep my eye on the ball to racquet contact, then I always, not almost always but always, make good strokes and hit good shots ... where I want to hit them. But of course I'm an amateur with comparatively little experience, and am somewhat lazy, and so I almost invariably neglect one of the essential ingredients on almost all of my shots.
Practice ...........................................

[Dragan]

Originally Posted by arche3

Have you guys seen the video of Djokovic teaching how to serve? He says its all in the wrist snap. High speed video of top pros show its really not about snapping the wrist. But that is what djokos coach used to elicit a certain performance from him. So djoko thinks its because he snaps his wrists.

Good point, it is this video, towards the end:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R0dldQUtRbo

It looks like he truly believes that he actually snaps his wrist, while in practice he clearly pronates, not snaps. Regardless, somebody apparently used "wrist snapping" as a way to teach him how to improve his serve.

[JohnYandell]

To All,

So I have been castigated for daring to post in this Wegnerite thread. Is there anyone here that is not too brainwashed to note the sequence of events?

Wegner copied one of my posts and inserted it in toto here along with a series of weak and evasive responses.

I feel I have the right to respond to that tactic and will continue to if--or if I just happen to feel like it for that matter.

[Greg G]

I think from here on out, we (we being the main protagonists) should just have a gentleman's agreement to stay out of each other's threads and avoid direct quotes from the other's thread. Would be a real shame to lose both threads

Happy New Year

[treblings]

Originally Posted by arche3

The best coaches in every sport realises that players need to keep things simple and uncluttered in their minds. So they play without conscious thought and play in the moment. Which coincidentally is the reason drills and patterns of play are used by the top coaches of all sports. So the situation is familiar to the player. The players body just does what it knows. There is no overriding ego sitting ontop of the mind during the split second between hits.

You cannot get much better as a player watching videos. You can however get much better if you have a coach that watches videos of your technique and game play. The job of the player is to keep it simple in a complex dynamic situation of the point in a tennis match.

Have you guys seen the video of djokovic teaching how to serve? He says its all in the wrist snap. High speed video of top pros show its really not about snapping the wrist. But that is what djokos coach used to elicit a certain performance from him. So djoko thinks its because he snaps his wrists.

of course you can get better as a player watching videos. as long as you realize that there is something of value presented in those videos, that is worth trying out for yourself and could improve your own game.
than you need to apply yourself to the task and practice, practice,....

[arche3]

Originally Posted by treblings

of course you can get better as a player watching videos. as long as you realize that there is something of value presented in those videos, that is worth trying out for yourself and could improve your own game.
than you need to apply yourself to the task and practice, practice,....

I'm not saying video is not valid. Have you never videod yourself and then said wtf? I never knew OK I had that hitch at the take back? My point is you can watch all the videos you want at however millions of frame rate. And try to emulate it. But you need someone to be on court with you and actually tell you what you are actually doing vs what you think your doing.

I have personal experience with this. After 20+ years off from tennis when I took it up again I got decent pretty fast. After 2 or 3 years my friend asked me "did you know you had a hitch in the trophy position?". What? I had watched a lot of slow mo video trying to do all the current instruction. Studied tennis videos to get back in competitive form. Had good pace and spin on serve.

So I setup a camera..... I had the worst hitch. Lol. I wish someone would of said something sooner. I watched old videos from my coaches when I playing in college. I didnt have a hitch. I watched a video i took the month i got back into tennis. No hitch. 3 years later after serious study of high speed video I had this weird hitch.

How did I fix it? I set up a camera once a week during ,my serve practice and looked at the video after every 5 serves. Made corrections based on what I saw and used shadow swings to build new muscle memory. Watched the serve doctors advice on how to rebuild a serve. One year later my serve is better than ever and hitch is gone. Thanks to video!

[Wegner]

Quote:
Originally Posted by arche3
Have you guys seen the video of Djokovic teaching how to serve? He says its all in the wrist snap. High speed video of top pros show its really not about snapping the wrist. But that is what djokos coach used to elicit a certain performance from him. So djoko thinks its because he snaps his wrists.

Originally Posted by Dragan

Good point, it is this video, towards the end:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R0dldQUtRbo

It looks like he truly believes that he actually snaps his wrist, while in practice he clearly pronates, not snaps. Regardless, somebody apparently used "wrist snapping" as a way to teach him how to improve his serve.

That is why coaching tennis is so interesting. It's almost like being the student, looking at things from their viewpoint, and then explain things with full understanding of the impact you are going to have for the things that the student wants achieved. So, if I am teaching a kid and he says "I want to play like Roger Federer", I acknowledge him and show him what Federer does and how to copy him. If he says he wants to play like Rafa, then Rafa is the model, and so on. It used to kill me when I watched a lesson and the kid said: "I want to play like Andre Agassi", and the coach teaching him would say, "you can't do that". "First you need to learn sideways, racquet back towards the fence, step into the ball with your left foot, hit and finish towards the target". I even heard a coach say to a kid, after a similar can't do message: "When you get good, then you can copy Agassi".

Kids deserve better than that. Thankfully, coaching has improved dramatically, and I think I achieved quite some success presenting this viewpoint, especially through the ESPN International "Play Like the Pros" Tips, with billions of impressions in more than 150 countries, and my videos and books.

Happy New Year for everyone! And for a reflection of very sad things we still need to solve, here is a link to a John Lennon song:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yN4Uu0OlmTg

[TheCheese]

Oscar,

Do you have any insight into how to teach someone to be able to curve the ball left-right or right-left like Federer is able to do? (He'll commonly have to ball curve to the right on an inside out forehand, for example)

Thanks

[Wegner]

It’s All Feel

The ball stays on the racquet a few milliseconds if you hit flat, longer if you brush across.

To optimize your focus on feel it is better to maximize your sensations on a longer time span.

I recommend to focus on the feel of the hand at the ball contact and at the finish, when the racquet is already pointing behind you, getting the sensation of acceleration between one and the other.

This way you become aware of the connection between the feel of the ball, the finish, and the resulting placement of the ball.

Racquet head speed at the top level is greatest closer to the end than at the impact, which tells the intention of the player to go towards the stroke’s end.

Tracking the ball as if going to catch with your hand, not your racquet, is another simple way to facilitate your strike.

Rather than preparing early, track the ball with the racquet on both hands as long as possible, then go back and forth with your dominant hand alone for your swing.

You don’t need to swat at the ball.

Find it easily in front, while accelerating up and across. You’ll see it speed up with great control.
_______________________________________________

The Finish

There is a good drill that works marvelously on shaping groundstrokes.

On the forehand finish, touch the left cheek with the back of your right hand.

On the two-handed backhand, touch your right cheek with the back of your left hand.

The butt of the racquet will be pointing towards where you aimed the shot.

Do it gently but consistently. It will improve your stroke.
_______________________________________________

The Outside Foot

On groundstrokes, landing on the outside foot has several virtues:

1) you stop your run,

2) you are more balanced than otherwise,

3) it helps you turn back and power your shot,

4) you recover and cover the court you left open much faster.

Learn to pivot on the ball of the outside foot and you’ll handle the tennis ball in a better way.
_______________________________________________

Stay in the Present

When you are playing tennis, avoid thinking.

Just look.

It’s almost as if immersed in a stupor.

In this regard, tennis is a very special sport.

It has its own modus operandi, its own Zone.

Once the ball is in play, you can’t really plan for the future.

You have to adjust, to be capable of adjusting, minute to minute, millisecond to millisecond, to the path and changing velocity of the ball.

If you go into the future, you rush.

If you go to the past, you get distracted.

Watch the ball and stay in present time.
______________________________________________

Delay

Do you want to play like the pros?

Don’t take the racquet back as soon as possible.

Delay your backswing. Use your non-playing hand as a holder, as a restraint.

Look at the ball exceptionally well AFTER THE BOUNCE.

Track the ball with the hand, as if going to catch it.

Find it slowly and then accelerate up and across and end up with the hand over the shoulder, with the butt of the racquet pointing to the net (like Djokovic and Murray).

If you want natural footwork, do drills around a cone (turning from behind, as in a figure eight).

It’s easy to put together. Tennis can be a very natural sport.
______________________________________________

A Gentle Touch

When warming up or having a light practice, it is best to touch the ball, rather than hitting it, but emphasizing lifting it two or three feet over the net.

Tennis is a vertical game, much more than horizontal.

Gravity is the main force you are fighting.

Further, the ball is only a bit over 2 ounces in weight, while your body and racquet combined are perhaps one thousand times heavier.

Warm up gently, immersed in feel and control rather than power, and you’ll play later a very beautiful game.

[Wegner]

Originally Posted by TheCheese

Oscar,

Do you have any insight into how to teach someone to be able to curve the ball left-right or right-left like Federer is able to do? (He'll commonly have to ball curve to the right on an inside out forehand, for example)

Thanks

Brushing the ball across will lead to that famous inside out left to right curve. There is also an upward component, but just dropping the racquet below the ball to approach it and pulling the racquet towards you and the finish will naturally induce the windshield wiper lift as well.