Key elements of an inside out Forehand

[thecode]

Originally Posted by SystemicAnomaly

It might be optimal in many cases but is not absolutely necessary. I have seen elite players hit the IO shot on the inside as well as the outside of the ball. If the OP is having difficulty keeping the ball out of the alley, I would suggest going primarily for the outside of the ball for a while. Here is Gary Sakuma (hi10spro) hitting IO forehands. While he hits some of them on the inside of the ball, many are on the outside (particularly in the 1st part of this video):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3SqE8WWlBYk

While these may fit the technical definition of an I/O, Imo you would be far better off hitting a good backhand than these in the vid, which mainly just seem to pull him out of position without gaining much of the advantages of what imo is a real I/O forehand. I guess if you don't have a backhand, this beats hitting a very poor shot.

[LeeD]

Sounds to me, a little practice might be in order for this agenda to succeed.
No shot comes with no practice.
Just have your bud feed you a couple buckets of short balls for you to hit inside out forehands, and you'll amazingly figure it out.

[OpenStance]

Watch Federer. His is phenomenal.

[OpenStance]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o_CuXqNBr2c

[OpenStance]

Check out the 5:30 mark on this one....

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=au03gL-1PNA

[OpenStance]

Actually the 7:57 mark is a better view of another great IO FH by Fed above.

[LeeD]

Play doubles, stand inside your doubles alley when you're back at the baseline.....

[Nellie]

To me. the key to running around your backhand to hit a forehand (my image of an inside out forehand) is the footwork:

1) turn sideways, as if you are going to hit a forehand (even though the ball is still well to your backhand side) , and then
2) back pedal **explosively** to line up the forehand with the ball

You will see this footwork in many of the above videos in this thread.

This footwork pattern allows you to get set and move forward, during the stroke, into the ball for greater power,