Did anyone check out how ugly Gulbis's new forehand is?

Clay lover · 01-01-2013, 07:01 AM

I mean, let's disregard results for the moment, just focus on the sheer HIDEOUSNESS of that stroke.

It's definitely one of the ugliest forehands I have seen, looks like one of those wacky topspin 4 forehand animations rather than a pro stroke.

2010 forehand
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ri7pVMr4HnA

2012 forehand
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fo7j9G3C8Qc

Why, Gulbis, why?
(Question asked from a pure aesthetic point of view)

Clarky21 · 01-01-2013, 07:03 AM

Yeah, this has been discusssed on here before. His forehand is awful now. I am not sure what he's trying to accomplish by changing it to the hideous style it is now.

SQA333 · 01-01-2013, 07:05 AM

I don't know what he's trying to achieve by INCREASING the length of his backswing. Sure, the old forehand was inconsistent, but at least it had more power. This one is useless.

Mike Sams · 01-01-2013, 07:08 AM

What difference does it make? It's not like he was accomplishing big things on the tour even with his old forehand. Still losing most of his matches anyway.

Clay lover · 01-01-2013, 07:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mike Sams

What difference does it make? It's not like he was accomplishing big things on the tour even with his old forehand. Still losing most of his matches anyway.

If you lose anyway, you might as well lose looking good.

Clay lover · 01-01-2013, 07:13 AM

His new reverse forehand looks exactly like Top Spin 4's rendition of Nadal's forehand.

One word:hideous :S

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tc5phchkobQ

Joko · 01-01-2013, 07:14 AM

Interesting topic.

Does anybody know when he started to change his motion?

All I know he started to work with Guenter Bresnik right before Wimbledon 2012 if I'm not mistaken. Bresnik is from Austria and the former coach of Stefan Koubek and current coach of Dominic Thiem.

I'm not sure if they still work together.

Here is a video where he is hitting a couple of forehands.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature...B4PENnkw#t=32s

TTMR · 01-01-2013, 07:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Clay lover

I mean, let's disregard results for the moment, just focus on the sheer HIDEOUSNESS of that stroke.

It's definitely one of the ugliest forehands I have seen, looks like one of those wacky topspin 4 forehand animations rather than a pro stroke.

2010 forehand
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ri7pVMr4HnA

2012 forehand
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fo7j9G3C8Qc

Why, Gulbis, why?
(Question asked from a pure aesthetic point of view)

Only a few full forehands were shown in the highlights of the second video. The forehand motion does not remain a constant even among a single player; it changes to some extent given the height of the ball. Hard to compare a match played on clay with a high bounce against a player known for his spin generation (Federer), with a match played on fresh first round grass with a low bounce against a player known for relatively flat trajectory strokes (Berdych). Not enough evidence to conclude he's definitively altered his stroke. You'll need slow motion practice videos from each 'forehand era' to demonstrate your claim.

But more to the point, is a long backswing always 'ugly', aesthetically? People here seem to think so, yet they also adored the look of Gonzalez's masterful forehand:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KZ8K6boqFT0

Clay lover · 01-01-2013, 07:34 AM

A long backswing can sometimes look good, yeah.

Well, the judgment of ugliness is subjective and spontaneous...but wow his new forehand, just wow.

dominikk1985 · 01-02-2013, 04:52 AM

I think this is a very good FH mechanically. he has a sort of strange loop but he creates a lot of racket lag and racket head speed. the FH is not the reason for his struggles

Sid_Vicious · 02-23-2013, 10:22 PM

Just thought I leave this in this thread....

The Meat · 02-23-2013, 10:44 PM

Edit: Ignore comment, my eyes were playing tricks with me while looking at his string pattern.

TTMR · 02-24-2013, 07:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sid_Vicious

Just thought I leave this in this thread....

I don't really understand the objection. The forehand is one of the few shots where players can differentiate themselves from others. Most players have a unique aspect of their takeback, swing length, and so on. The game would become rather dull if everyone had a nice, clean textbook Federer, Ferrer or Agassi forehand.

The variation among forehand styles (while of course, the fundamentals remain the same between all professional players) also helps recreational players, because they can choose more than one pro to copy from. If one approach doesn't work, they can switch to another pro's approach. They can also develop their own style, again so long as it does not compromise the fundamentals. Pointing to the diversity of pro level forehands is also a good defense against the money-grubbing coach that wants to "re-build" your stroke, requiring several additional lessons.

stringertom · 02-24-2013, 11:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sid_Vicious

Just thought I leave this in this thread....

Indelible in my brain is my first teaching pro's mantra to me while drilling me on FHs: "Keep your elbow tucked in!"

Relinquis · 02-24-2013, 02:21 PM

no idea why he made the change. is it and attempt to hit more spin and less flat/through?

i was discussing this with a friend and was making fun of the exaggerated left arm movement, until she mentioned that i kinda do the same thing with my forehand...

merwy · 02-24-2013, 02:58 PM

Damn you people are a bunch of girls.. Who cares if it doesn't look "pretty"? I don't think Gulbis himself changed it because of the way it looks. I think efficacy is the most important (and the only important..) factor here. He says he will train more and be more dedicated so perhaps his new forehand is something that will help him produce some results this year. He looked very good in Rotterdam.
Also, there is nothing wrong with a big backswing. It helps you set up for a bigger shot. It's just that I have no idea what the hell he's trying to do with his left arm. But I'm sure there's some thought behind it, he's not just making up random movements just for heck of it.

matchmaker · 02-24-2013, 03:42 PM

It is definitely an ugly motion, but I think it was actually designed to tone down his forehand, and maybe it helps him in that way. Gulbis forehand was a very powerful shot, but it was so powerful that he went for winners all the time and hit a lot of UEs. This new movement has such a long takeback that, unless it is a ball that sits up, he will normally not go for a winner.
I just think that this might help his game more tactically than technically in that it limits his choices. Gulbis could play so many shots that it drove himself crazy

Power Player · 02-24-2013, 03:54 PM

I know a guy from his country who hits with him and Gulbis told him back then that he was having mental blocks with his forehand and was slicing way too much.

Went and saw him in Miami and he was killing the ball. So I think he got it figured back out.

Relinquis · 02-24-2013, 04:15 PM

i would be more than happy to have his old forehand, even though it seems we use different grips...

db10s · 02-24-2013, 04:47 PM

It looked a little better today in Delray, where he has to play qualifiers at an event that he won a few years ago.

01-01-2013, 07:01 AM	#1
Clay lover Hall Of Fame Join Date: Nov 2007 Posts: 1,805	Did anyone check out how ugly Gulbis's new forehand is? I mean, let's disregard results for the moment, just focus on the sheer HIDEOUSNESS of that stroke. It's definitely one of the ugliest forehands I have seen, looks like one of those wacky topspin 4 forehand animations rather than a pro stroke. 2010 forehand http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ri7pVMr4HnA 2012 forehand http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fo7j9G3C8Qc Why, Gulbis, why? (Question asked from a pure aesthetic point of view)

01-01-2013, 07:03 AM	#2
Clarky21 G.O.A.T. Join Date: Apr 2011 Posts: 10,551	Yeah, this has been discusssed on here before. His forehand is awful now. I am not sure what he's trying to accomplish by changing it to the hideous style it is now. __________________ "Hopefully the Church of Fed will have mercy on my soul". - Namelessone "We are in the Fed warehouse(known as Nadal haters united)". - Namelessone

01-01-2013, 07:13 AM	#6
Clay lover Hall Of Fame Join Date: Nov 2007 Posts: 1,805	His new reverse forehand looks exactly like Top Spin 4's rendition of Nadal's forehand. One word:hideous :S http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tc5phchkobQ Last edited by Clay lover : 01-01-2013 at 07:20 AM.

02-23-2013, 10:44 PM	#12
The Meat Professional Join Date: Aug 2012 Posts: 1,309	Edit: Ignore comment, my eyes were playing tricks with me while looking at his string pattern. Last edited by The Meat : 02-23-2013 at 10:49 PM.

02-24-2013, 02:21 PM	#15
Relinquis Hall Of Fame Join Date: Dec 2012 Location: On the courts; hard & clay ... Posts: 4,326	no idea why he made the change. is it and attempt to hit more spin and less flat/through? i was discussing this with a friend and was making fun of the exaggerated left arm movement, until she mentioned that i kinda do the same thing with my forehand... __________________ Disclaimer: I'm NOT a coach... Real tennis: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yDqnkLJ9BtM