Windshield Wiper Forehand: Any Cons?

If there's one thing that has improved my game the most, it's switching to the windshield wiper forehand. It's so much easier to create head speed with this motion compared to a traditional swing. My depth, pace and spin have all improved greatly since switching to it last year. People that I play against say my shots feel heavier now. The only drawback I have found is that it's hard to hit flat anymore, but I guess it's an acceptable loss given the overall gains. What do you guys think about it in general? Anybody gone back to a traditional swing after using it?

Why would you employ a WW finish when you're hitting a flat forehand?
Would you employ a slice swing when you're trying for a flat first serve?

Other than hitting low balls and unclear arm issues down the line, nope, it is modern tennis.

LeeD said:

Why would you employ a WW finish when you're hitting a flat forehand?
Would you employ a slice swing when you're trying for a flat first serve?

Click to expand...

What's your point exactly?

Syfo-Dias said:

What's your point exactly?

Click to expand...

He's saying there are different finishes for different shots.




The problem that most amateur players is that they don't realize that the windshield wiper is both a horizontal and a vertical stroke. Most tend to do a true windshield wiper motion, when it should be more of a diagonal arc type motion.

NamRanger said:

He's saying there are different finishes for different shots.




The problem that most amateur players is that they don't realize that the windshield wiper is both a horizontal and a vertical stroke. Most tend to do a true windshield wiper motion, when it should be more of a diagonal arc type motion.

Click to expand...

So, you're saying that most people who aren't pros don't use the windshield wiper stroke correctly? No offense, but that sounds a bit condescending. It seems like some people, especially traditionalists, are super critical of this particular stroke. Like if you don't do it exactly one way then it's totally wrong. I've seen quite a bit of variation on this stroke that seems to work well for different people. Hell, even Fed's forehand is pretty unique. He uses a strong eastern grip with elements of a traditional and windshield wiper stroke all in one. And no I'm not comparing myself or anybody else to Federer, but I'm just saying there's more than one way to look at things.

Syfo-Dias said:

So, you're saying that most people who aren't pros don't use the windshield wiper stroke correctly? No offense, but that sounds a bit condescending. It seems like some people, especially traditionalists, are super critical of this particular stroke. Like if you don't do it exactly one way then it's totally wrong. I've seen quite a bit of variation on this stroke that seems to work well for different people. Hell, even Fed's forehand is pretty unique. He uses a strong eastern grip with elements of a traditional and windshield wiper stroke all in one. And no I'm not comparing myself or anybody else to Federer, but I'm just saying there's more than one way to look at things.

Click to expand...

I don't think you quite understand.



What separates the pros between me and you is that they are playing at a level where the ball is jumping at them with 2k+ rpms and about 60-100 mph. Plus, these balls are placed on the dime. They have no choice but to use the windshield wiper.



Plus, a professional tennis player uses the wind shield wiper effectively and has had years of training in drilling that shot and has the strength to be able to generate his own pace from that shot. Most amateur tennis players simply do not have the strength to be able to generate a huge shot off the windshield wiper motion.







Most people don't realize all of this, and tend to try and copy the professional players. The problem they run into is that they lack the solid and basic fundamentals, so when they run into someone who has those solid and basic fundamentals who also has elements of the professional game, they get blown away.




To be quite honest with you, male professional tennis is a totally different type of game. It is not the same game that me and you play. This is why Lee's suggestion is not a bad one at all. Heck, most women on the WTA don't use a windshield wiper motion, and they could crush most of us without losing a game. I'm not saying it is impossible to generate pace with the windshield wiper motion, but it is much more difficult then hitting a with a flat finish.

Anyways if you insist on sticking to the windshield wiper motion exclusively, then you must understand that it is a diagonal motion that goes forward.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uZ7vHxe6XTY



Will explains it perfectly. If you turn over too much that results in spin but not alot of pace. From about 3:45 you can see that Will does not just turn over the ball, he does still come through it.

NamRanger said:

I don't think you quite understand.

What separates the pros between me and you is that they are playing at a level where the ball is jumping at them with 2k+ rpms and about 60-100 mph. Plus, these balls are placed on the dime. They have no choice but to use the windshield wiper.

Plus, a professional tennis player uses the wind shield wiper effectively and has had years of training in drilling that shot and has the strength to be able to generate his own pace from that shot. Most amateur tennis players simply do not have the strength to be able to generate a huge shot off the windshield wiper motion.

Most people don't realize all of this, and tend to try and copy the professional players. The problem they run into is that they lack the solid and basic fundamentals, so when they run into someone who has those solid and basic fundamentals who also has elements of the professional game, they get blown away.

To be quite honest with you, male professional tennis is a totally different type of game. It is not the same game that me and you play. This is why Lee's suggestion is not a bad one at all. Heck, most women on the WTA don't use a windshield wiper motion, and they could crush most of us without losing a game. I'm not saying it is impossible to generate pace with the windshield wiper motion, but it is much more difficult then hitting a with a flat finish.

Click to expand...

I see what your driving at. The thing is that for me at least, I can actually create more pace with the windshield wiper forehand. Maybe I'm just wired differently, but it's easier for me to create more racquet head speed with it than a traditional swing. Don't get me wrong, this isn't something I just started doing yesterday. I've been playing tennis about 7 years and have been working on this stroke a lot over the past year or so. I just decided to make a post about it today. Obviously, it doesn't make for a complete game, but it's definitely helped improve one aspect of my game at least. BTW I've seen that FYB video before. That's a pretty cool site. That guy actually says that switching to a windshield wiper forehand is something everybody should do as they get better. It seems like a natural progression in today's game.

Syfo-Dias said:

I see what your driving at. The thing is that for me at least, I can actually create more pace with the windshield wiper forehand. Maybe I'm just wired differently, but it's easier for me to create more racquet head speed with it than a traditional swing. Don't get me wrong, this isn't something I just started doing yesterday. I've been playing tennis about 7 years and have been working on this stroke a lot over the past year or so. I just decided to make a post about it today. Obviously, it doesn't make for a complete game, but it's definitely helped improve one aspect of my game at least. BTW I've seen that FYB video before. That's a pretty cool site. That guy actually says that switching to a windshield wiper forehand is something everybody should do as they get better. It seems like a natural progression in today's game.

Click to expand...

The windshield wiper IS an integral part of the professional modern game, but it is not impossible to succeed with a traditional follow through today as an amateur. Plus, because you have been playing for so long, you most likely had solid fundamentals before starting using the WW motion. Most people that start out today try to jump straight to the WW motion before learning the basics, and because of this they lose alot of pace and never learn to hit through the ball.



WBF is a perfect example of an amateur that plays at a high level without the use of a windshield wiper motion. He uses an eastern forehand and a classic follow through.

A ww finish can hit pretty much any type of ball. Just keep the racquet head on a more horizontal plane through contact for a flatter shot. There will still be time to turn the arm over and catch the racquet head. It's pretty simple!

Sorry....
WW finish on the forehand is for topspin, either soft and high, hard and low, or any combination...
But the question is how to hit a FLAT FLAT FLAT FLAT not topspin forehand with the WW finish. No, don't try.
Just like you can't hit a WW forehand and underspin the ball, the WW is for topspin.

I recommend having varying techniques of forehands. WW for getting the topspin that you need for short angles etc.. and then learn to follow through straight out in front of you to get the flat shot that you want. A very good video to watch is Federers practice sessions in slow-mo. It shows Federer follow through out in front of him most of the time.

In my experience the WW forehand seems best for rally balls as it allows for good net clearance with plenty of topspin and pace. But obviously it can't be used for everything and I wasn't trying to say it should be. For easy put aways I'll go hard and flat. For backhands I like to mix it up with slices and drives.