Forehand- Loop or straight takeback?

Do you have a straight or loop takeback?

  • Loop takeback

    Votes: 45 71.4%

  • Straight takeback

    Votes: 11 17.5%

  • Other?

    Votes: 7 11.1%
  • Total voters
    63
B

Blake0

Hall of Fame
On the forehand, do you normally take the racket back straight, or do you tend to make a loop before you start swinging forward. (Normally, not in like special occasions where you have no time).

I've been wondering how many people really take straight takebacks on the forehand. Here, where i live, most people i've seen that have decent looking strokes have a loop takeback.
 
wihamilton

wihamilton

Hall of Fame
The loop is a fundamental of the forehand. All pros have some sort of loop. Exact size and shape doesn't really matter.

A loop allows you to have a continuous and consistent swing path, which = rhythm and timing. You lose that if you take the racket back, stop it, and start it again when you swing.
 
USERNAME

USERNAME

Professional
wihamilton said:
The loop is a fundamental of the forehand. All pros have some sort of loop. Exact size and shape doesn't really matter.

A loop allows you to have a continuous and consistent swing path, which = rhythm and timing. You lose that if you take the racket back, stop it, and start it again when you swing.
Click to expand...

Right on the dot!
 
L

LeeD

Bionic Poster
Yeah, Connors and McEnroe and stuttered, horrible groundstrokes. Both did straight takeback!
And Rosewall couldn't hit groundies either, he had straight takeback.
You who loop your takeback (as I do) can beat those guys easily, so keep doing it your way ..... :confused::confused:
I think you should takeback the way you want, the way that gives you time, and the way that supplies enough control and power to play your game.
 
Mick

Mick

Legend
for me, it seems that doing the loop would help me generate more power. i would only not do it when i don't have time to do it.
 
wihamilton

wihamilton

Hall of Fame
LeeD said:
Yeah, Connors and McEnroe and stuttered, horrible groundstrokes. Both did straight takeback!
And Rosewall couldn't hit groundies either, he had straight takeback.
You who loop your takeback (as I do) can beat those guys easily, so keep doing it your way ..... :confused::confused:
I think you should takeback the way you want, the way that gives you time, and the way that supplies enough control and power to play your game.
Click to expand...

They're obviously great players, but their forehands aren't "modern." There's a reason every single pro on tour nowadays has a loop in their backswing.
 
L

LeeD

Bionic Poster
Yeah, it is very important to look cool, modern, use the latest gear, wear the newest tennis clothes, and look the part.:shock::shock::shock:
 
B

Blake0

Hall of Fame
A quick question those who put other..are just u just kidding or do u take ur racket back some other way? If so what is this way? :shock:
 
USERNAME

USERNAME

Professional
The loop tackback allows the player to generate more pace and spin without having to really rev up swing speed which is key in MODERN tennis, it aint to look cool...
 
L

LeeD

Bionic Poster
You sound like a youngster who embraces all this new fandangled stuff.....
Are you?
Some people actually hit more accurately and with more power using a straight takeback.
You might not have seen it, but you haven't seen everything in this world.
I can argue that I've seen more. I'm sixty.
 
R

Ripper014

Hall of Fame
I learned to play tennis by taking my racket straight back... but then that was the 70's, we hit a much flatter ball back then. Back then it was more about depth and pace... you didn't get as much topspin with the smaller rackets. You could generate it... you just didn't get as much naturally.

No matter how you take the racket back you are going to generate some sort of loop... whether it is a small one or a larger one... and it will differ depending on what kind of shot you hit. You cannot hit a topspin shot without some sort of loop, the racket head has to somehow get below the level of the ball.

Even Mac would take his racket back and drop the head when hitting over the ball.

The new theories I believe are to hit with a looping swing, to keep the racket moving at all times. I am old school I take the racket back as early as I can and transfer my weight through my shot. I don't think it matters... if you could only see the tennis ball come over the net and not how it was struck... it would be about the quality of the shot... not the take back of the racket that would impress you.

And what is in vogue always seems to be how the world number one plays. ie. 70's two handed backhands Connors and Evert mid 70's heavy topspin Borg early 80's serve and volley Mac Enroe... etc... etc...
 
USERNAME

USERNAME

Professional
LeeD said:
You sound like a youngster who embraces all this new fandangled stuff.....
Are you?
Some people actually hit more accurately and with more power using a straight takeback.
You might not have seen it, but you haven't seen everything in this world.
I can argue that I've seen more. I'm sixty.
Click to expand...

I started off taking my racquet straight back but my COACH (USPTA Cert.) had me switch because, and I quote him, "it would be better and easier to generate pace, spin, and still control the ball." I doubt uv played longer then my coach and played as many different pros as my coach... And u talk about hitting flat like us "youngsters" dont know how, the flat fh is a very big part of my game fyi.
 
V

VaBeachTennis

Semi-Pro
Blake0 said:
Is there any one you do more often or does it just vary?
Click to expand...

From behind the baseline, the majority will be a loop (small loop). Mid-court, return of serve, approach shot, taking the ball on the rise, I tend to use a "straight take back". If my timing is off, I will use a "straight take back". I prefer compact strokes, I have plenty of power and the compact strokes help me gain more control.
 
ttbrowne

ttbrowne

Hall of Fame
I switched from staright to loop and I'm starting to get the result just now. I had a flatter ball that was easier for people to volley and I've noticed that the topspin is giving advanced players problems.

LeeD, I know what you are talking about...one of our women pros played Div 1 and her forehand is flat and she can nail that sucker.
 
lwto

lwto

Hall of Fame
I do both..

If I have to run up to the ball I do a loop, or if I want extra topspin, I do the loop..

When I return serve or sit back and want to pound the ball with heavy pace and spin, I go straight back, Like i"M cocking a gun before releasing the trigger.


I find loop shots good for getting out of trouble as it puts a very good margine for error into the shot.
 
B

bhkimm

New User
Looping helps me "brush" up on the ball more for more topspin, since I'm going from a low to high to hit the ball.
 
L

LeeD

Bionic Poster
I assume at higher levels, the loop is more for timing, unit turn, AND a more powerful stroke, in addition to lowering the head below the strikezone.
Straight takebacks, if taken back too early, can throw the whole chain akilter. Yes, slightly less power, but some powerful groundies were hit with straight takebacks, so maybe flatter ball, less spin.
 
tennytive

tennytive

Hall of Fame
I found by looping my take back, I can slice, hit flat, or roll over with almost the same starting position which helps disguise what shot I hit.
On the backhand I start with my racket more raised than a real loop, but the intent is the same.

At net it's all straight back and very abbreviated.
 
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