Passive backswing, is it okay ?

[isilra]

I have lost my mind with that wrist whipping action but you need to be relaxed and use the kinetic chain. When i'm thinking about pat the dog, etc. i just can't be relaxed and it effects my game.

So now i'm using my hitting arm passive all the time. I can't give it a loop because i don't feel any muscle stress in the non hitting arm. The backswing happens with the sudden turn of the shoulder and pushing the hitting arm with non hitting one. After this, when i turn my hip, i can clearly feel the kinetic chain pushing the racquet forward. Looks a bit like marcel granollers's straight takeback;

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nUcymJTm0gs

Do you think that kind of backswing can improve my game, or i should just find another solution to the problem ?

[10isfreak]

Preparation-wise, people tend to use their non-hitting hand to set up. Pros keep both hands on until the very last minute... all they initially do is turn their shoulders.

As for your takeback, the point is to bring the racket in the right place while using some momentum so that you do not start the swing from zero.

[NLBwell]

If it works for you, do it. As you get comfortable with it, it will probably start to vary some until you get it grooved to what you like best.

[ShoeShiner]

I do not understand the point of passive backswing.

Let's share some experiences, please see Date vs Venus in Wimbledon 2011 highlight.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GbLq2BcntLg

Kimiko Date's backswings on both BH and FH, she has racket head down+short backswing, and non-loop swing. Kimiko Date, the former world no. 5, retired and came back, now she is 42 years old.
Her swings are suit for her game, she takes the ball early and hit rising balls very well.

Venus William's BH backswing, she has racket head down+long backswing, non-loop swing. She can hit very hard.

Racket head up backswing + Loop swing is not suit for me(I had tried, may be playing once a week was not enough).

I use racket head down backswing, non-loop swing on both BH & FH :
● Behind the base line → take long backswing(like Venus).
● Inside the court → take short backswing(like Date).

My opinions in racket head down backswing + non-loop swing
Pros :
● Easy to setup backswing.
● Short backswing can hit rising ball easier.
● Response to speed ball quite well.
Cons :
● Less power shots.
● Short backswing can be read racket face(to predict shot direction).
● Easy to be read shot type,
- top spin → racket head down,
- under spin → racket head up.

[dominikk1985]

on the FH most use a Loop which means Lifting the racket up. this usually cannot be totally passive but you still can have a relatively lose arm. you just Need enough Tension in the forearm to Keep the racket from dropping.

with the 2 hander you will see both a small Loop and down backswing which can be passive just with the shoulder turn.

[TomT]

Originally Posted by isilra

I have lost my mind with that wrist whipping action but you need to be relaxed and use the kinetic chain. When i'm thinking about pat the dog, etc. i just can't be relaxed and it effects my game.

So now i'm using my hitting arm passive all the time. I can't give it a loop because i don't feel any muscle stress in the non hitting arm. The backswing happens with the sudden turn of the shoulder and pushing the hitting arm with non hitting one. After this, when i turn my hip, i can clearly feel the kinetic chain pushing the racquet forward. Looks a bit like marcel granollers's straight takeback;

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nUcymJTm0gs

Do you think that kind of backswing can improve my game, or i should just find another solution to the problem ?

Well, Granollers is playing tennis at the world class level, so everything is ridiculously fast. In answer to your question, yes, if you can hit like Granollers, then do that.

Whatever feels best and produces the best results ... for you. Requires lots of experimenting and lots of concentrated practice.

For myself, I've found that low or high prep isn't the key. What seems to be important, at least for me, is early prep, and keeping both hands on the racquet for as long as possible. In addition, pointing to the ball with my left hand on the forehand (I'm a right hander) seems to produce more reliable shotmaking. The pat the dog should come sort of naturally no matter if you use a high or low initial prep. Great world class players have used both the C prep and the U prep. The modern trend being mostly the C prep. Experiment. See what you feel most comfortable with and what produces the most reliable shots.

And of course keep in mind that these comments are coming from someone who couldn't hit his way out of a wet paper bag. But I have nothing else to do right now and don't feel like going to sleep, so hopefully you'll get some more, and better, comments. It's just that I have dealt with what you seem to be going through, and at this point it isn't really my strokes that I'm most concerned with. It's movement, conditioning, and, even more importantly, my inner or mental game. I want to learn to quiet my mind so that I can play the best tennis that I'm capable of (which won't be all that good, but I figure at least about a .5 level above my results to date).

Post some vids of your stuff. We all love vids of TT posters.