Forehand Videos - Advice Welcome!

[Fusker]

I took advantage of some 60 degrees temps here in Denver to get outside for the third time of 2013. I'm still shaking off the winter rust a bit, but felt like a (mostly) forehand session on the ball machine.

Here's the backstory: The forehand I'm hitting is about two years old. I always played with the classic forehand, usually closed stance and typically finishing by catching the racquet in my left hand. A couple years ago I had enough of sailing balls long here at 5,280 feet above sea level and decided I needed more spin and consistency. I took one lesson last year, but for the most part have just watched a lot of videos on these boards and Youtube (plus Lock 'n Roll and FYB - thanks guys) and cobbled this forehand together.

Overall, I'm pretty happy with it for how long I've been working on it, but I'm always looking to improve it. I'm not great at identifying things to work on from video, but here's what I can tell from when I'm hitting. #1 - when I hit the ball out in front, good things happen. #2 - I have a tendency to watch where I plan to hit, and don't see the ball into the racquet. When that happens, I let the ball get in too close, so this has a direct effect on #1.

So feel free to critique anything you think I could work on:

Video #1: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yeAifLQ4pgM
Video #2: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zn2i4X-Fdks

Thanks!

[psv255]

Not bad at all for 2 years!
You are correct, you need to get that contact pt a bit more in front.

Please see this vid: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cum1-iTP4cU

In general, with a more extreme fh grip like yours, a windshield-wiper finish might serve you better than over-the shoulder (which I assume is a by-product your classic fh).

Also, it's hard to see from this angle, but your elbow might be a little too close to your body in the fwd swing.

[LeeD]

Looks good, try to keep your right foot from wandering all over the place as you hit and after you hit.
It's ok to move the right foot forwards only, but your's goes everywhere.

[Fusker]

Originally Posted by psv255

Not bad at all for 2 years!
You are correct, you need to get that contact pt a bit more in front.

Please see this vid: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cum1-iTP4cU

In general, with a more extreme fh grip like yours, a windshield-wiper finish might serve you better than over-the shoulder (which I assume is a by-product your classic fh).

Also, it's hard to see from this angle, but your elbow might be a little too close to your body in the fwd swing.

Thanks for the feedback!

It's the first time I've seen my forehand on video so some of my technique is surprising to me. But last year my lesson instructor had me work on finishing higher over the shoulder. I think that I was probably finishing really low (around the hip) and had a tendency to dump the ball into the net. There's probably a happy medium because I think my best shots (ex. At 0:37 and 0:40 of video #1) had me hitting he ball in front and finishing just to the side of the shoulder. Those balls were pretty heavy if I recall.

It's a semi-western grip for what it's worth.

[Mahboob Khan]

Some basic things that go with the semi-western grip forehand:

Stance: Open or semi-open

With the taking back of the non-hitting arm, complete shoulders' turn so that the right shoulder is at 6 and left shoulder at 12 o'clock positions; the racket head is higher than your head and in a loop,

the racket descends, get below the level of the incoming ball, and then rises to meet the ball out in front and at chest height, if possible,

If your hitting position is behind the baseline the racket will finish over the left shoulder,

however, if your hitting position is inside the baseline the racket will finish below the level of the left shoulder. It all depends on what you like to do with the ball.

I gave you some general characteristics of the semi-western forehand because I can't see the vids because YouTube is banned in Pakistan.

[psv255]

Originally Posted by Mahboob Khan

I gave you some general characteristics of the semi-western forehand because I can't see the vids because YouTube is banned in Pakistan.

Mahboob -- have you tried using a proxy?

[Fusker]

Where do you guys think the finish point should be on the inside-out forehand, relative to your normal finish? For example, if you normally finish to the side of the shoulder, do you finish higher, or lower?

[kopfan]

Originally Posted by Fusker

Where do you guys think the finish point should be on the inside-out forehand, relative to your normal finish? For example, if you normally finish to the side of the shoulder, do you finish higher, or lower?

There's not a definite answer on where you would finished in comparison to your usual finishing path. More relatively in how much spin you intend to impart into the shot and striking the ball contact above or below the net level. The higher the contact point and increase spin will normally finish lower.

[Mahboob Khan]

Originally Posted by psv255

Mahboob -- have you tried using a proxy?

I shall appreciate if you show me how to do it. I really want to use the YouTube. Can you send me the link on my email: makhan67@hotmail.com and list the steps for me. Do I need to install any program? If yes, list out the steps for me.

[pushing_wins]

arms city

10 char

[rkelley]

Originally Posted by pushing_wins

arms city

10 char

It's true, the OP has arms.

The fh looks nice.

[LeeD]

Watched you video 2.
Really good for rallying.
Just remember when you play, you need wider base (wider feet) and you're set to go.

[Fusker]

Originally Posted by LeeD

Watched you video 2.
Really good for rallying.
Just remember when you play, you need wider base (wider feet) and you're set to go.

Thanks - I appreciate both sets of comments you gave.

[Fuji]

I think it looks really solid, just a nice clean forehand. I really wouldn't bother about with worrying about finishes at this stage in the game, as long as you are comfortable hitting that forehand during a match it should be good to go.

The biggest thing is more active feet. I know you are on a ball machine and the ball should bounce to near the same spot every time, but the ball machine is a great way to practice setting up your footwork on the fly. Not really a critique, but it's always good to practice footwork when possible!

-Fuji