After adding more knee bend, Forehand now going slightly long.

[Raul_SJ]

Been trying to add a bit of knee bend to my forehand. This has definitely resulted in more power but shots are going about a foot long.
My normal forehand (relatively upright with little knee bend) was pretty consistent and landed deep, so I don't think I have any issue of racquet face being too open.

I'm thinking the fix for this is 1) Close the racquet face a bit more or 2) Make the swing path steeper -- more low to high.

But #1 might be tricky as I am already used to a certain racquet face tilt.

 

[LeeD]

Aim lower over the net.
You and I are not good enough to claim we are grooved.

 

[5263]

Been trying to add a bit of knee bend to my forehand. This has definitely resulted in more power but shots are going about a foot long.
My normal forehand (relatively upright with little knee bend) was pretty consistent and landed deep, so I don't think I have any issue of racquet face being too open.

I'm thinking the fix for this is 1) Close the racquet face a bit more or 2) Make the swing path steeper -- more low to high.

But #1 might be tricky as I am already used to a certain racquet face tilt.

the knee bend for rally shots should help in lifting into the shot for more low to high topspin....if you are up in the court to attack, it is more about a level swing and lower net clearance in general unless it gets too low.

 

[Raul_SJ]

the knee bend for rally shots should help in lifting into the shot for more low to high topspin....if you are up in the court to attack, it is more about a level swing and lower net clearance in general unless it gets too low.

That makes sense... I want to get more power from the baseline at my 3.5 level. When I try to rally cooperatively with 4.0 players, their rally shots are like 45-50mph and mine are 35mph. The only way I can increase the pace is push off the ground more. Ground Reaction Force... I think that is what the 4.0 players are doing to get that extra pace.

 

[LeeD]

They swing faster with a heavier racket too.

 

[Topspin Shot]

That makes sense... I want to get more power from the baseline at my 3.5 level. When I try to rally cooperatively with 4.0 players, their rally shots are like 45-50mph and mine are 35mph. The only way I can increase the pace is push off the ground more. Ground Reaction Force... I think that is what the 4.0 players are doing to get that extra pace.

When you push up off the ground, don't lean back and don't open your racket face.

 

[mad dog1]

When you push up off the ground, don't lean back and don't open your racket face.

Based on past videos and gifs of @Raul_SJ forehand, the way his left arm isn’t used properly does adversely affect his balance. I have a student who has the same problem with his off arm on the fh and have been showing him how the off arm affects his center of gravity and balance.

In Raul’s case, there are many other things to be improved upon first before addressing what he doesn’t do with his off arm.

 

[FiReFTW]

Without a video to compare itd hard to judge, adding the knee bend could be doing many different things, leaning back, changing contact zone etc

 

[ptuanminh]

Been trying to add a bit of knee bend to my forehand. This has definitely resulted in more power but shots are going about a foot long.
My normal forehand (relatively upright with little knee bend) was pretty consistent and landed deep, so I don't think I have any issue of racquet face being too open.

I'm thinking the fix for this is 1) Close the racquet face a bit more or 2) Make the swing path steeper -- more low to high.

But #1 might be tricky as I am already used to a certain racquet face tilt.

This happens to me when I focus too much on the knee bend and forget about positioning myself, so I'm late

 

[heninfan99]

 

[time_fly]

Been trying to add a bit of knee bend to my forehand. This has definitely resulted in more power but shots are going about a foot long.
My normal forehand (relatively upright with little knee bend) was pretty consistent and landed deep, so I don't think I have any issue of racquet face being too open.

I think we need video here. As @heninfan99 pointed out above, normally there is not a lot of knee-bend in a tennis swing. Often the pros leave the ground on their forehands, but this is more to keep the ball in center of their strike zone than to add power. Baseball players are swinging for as much power as possible, and they have only a modest knee bend and never jump. You just need enough knee bend to facilitate back-to-front weight transfer.

Of course I am leaving out the special case of dealing with very low balls.

 

[tdk]

Thanks folks for this awesome thread and discussion. I have been trying to figure out how much knee bend and if there is extension or not. Now I know. Thanks.

 

[Born_to_slice]

Bend knees as much as the height of the ball demands, not arbitrarily.

 

[J011yroger]

B.S. Pros bend their knees far more than the average rec player despite hitting balls at a higher average contact point.

The average rec player is in such poor shape they can't stay down for three balls in a rally, and grossly overestimate how much they bend their knees, perpetually reach down to the ball and don't notice that they constantly hit balls into the net.

J

 

[Chas Tennis]

Look at a high speed video of your stroke and compare it to high level forehands. Deep & in or long & just out will probably be hard to distinguish. But you never know.

 

[FiReFTW]

B.S. Pros bend their knees far more than the average rec player despite hitting balls at a higher average contact point.

The average rec player is in such poor shape they can't stay down for three balls in a rally, and grossly overestimate how much they bend their knees, perpetually reach down to the ball and don't notice that they constantly hit balls into the net.

J

True, most people think they go very low with legs but are pretty much upright.

Nothing wrong with having not alot of leg bend specially in practice and casual hitting as long as you do load with legs and unload, you can hit good shots.

But when playing serious matches its benefitial to get lower and use more leg bend and stay low center of gravity most of the time at least for for better balance, loading, recovery etc if nothing else

 

[J011yroger]

Nothing wrong with having not alot of leg bend if you are not good and don't want to get better.

FTFY

J

 

[FiReFTW]

FTFY

J

Well, Federer has almost none in practice sessions but when it comes to matches its like hes a different player.

As long as you know how to properly do it when you have to, I don't see a problem if your more casual with legs when just hitting casually (Only that it might be benefitial to always do it for leg endurance and conditioning), but if its making it a habit for you to not do it when you are serious or playing matches then its a problem.

 

[J011yroger]

Well, Federer has almost none in practice sessions but when it comes to matches its like hes a different player.

As long as you know how to properly do it when you have to, I don't see a problem if your more casual with legs when just hitting casually (Only that it might be benefitial to always do it for leg endurance and conditioning), but if its making it a habit for you to not do it when you are serious or playing matches then its a problem.

Whatever you want to tell yourself.

J

 

[Dondon]

Knee bend only when u need extra power

 

[undecided]

Regardless of knee bend or not your racquet should go through the ball and towards target. If it goes long that means your racquet is probably pointing more upwards which probably means your torso may be getting tilted. As you push off the knee bend try to push towards the ball, do not push up. If you watch the pros, their body leans towards the ball off the knee bend. So, you need to push into the ball not up.

 

[Raul_SJ]

Based on past videos and gifs of @Raul_SJ forehand, the way his left arm isn’t used properly does adversely affect his balance. I have a student who has the same problem with his off arm on the fh and have been showing him how the off arm affects his center of gravity and balance.

In Raul’s case, there are many other things to be improved upon first before addressing what he doesn’t do with his off arm.

Yes, I have that problem.
The left arm should point to the side fence on the takeback. The primary purpose of this is to get proper shoulder/torso rotation into the shot.
But I don't see how "dangling left arm" error is connected to balance.

 

[mad dog1]

Yes, I have that problem.
The left arm should point to the side fence on the takeback. The primary purpose of this is to get proper shoulder/torso rotation into the shot.
But I don't see how "dangling left arm" error is connected to balance.

Have to show you in person. Little details can make a big difference in tennis.

 

[Chadalina]

Been trying to add a bit of knee bend to my forehand. This has definitely resulted in more power but shots are going about a foot long.
My normal forehand (relatively upright with little knee bend) was pretty consistent and landed deep, so I don't think I have any issue of racquet face being too open.

I'm thinking the fix for this is 1) Close the racquet face a bit more or 2) Make the swing path steeper -- more low to high.

But #1 might be tricky as I am already used to a certain racquet face tilt.

Your doing it the hard way. Just string your racket a few pounds tigher and dont change a thing mechanically

Equipment caters to you, not the other way around

 

[Raul_SJ]

Look at a high speed video of your stroke and compare it to high level forehands. Deep & in or long & just out will probably be hard to distinguish. But you never know.

There is a lot of variety out there in terms of degree of knee bend... Rule of thumb is mimimum of 15 degrees of knee flexion?
I did a shadow swing with a "C" loop takeback but noticed that swing with actual ball was completely different.
No loop. Sort of similar to Mac.
Having trouble with what to do with the left arm and how to tuck it in. I tried to think of "catching raquet" with left arm.

 

[J011yroger]

There is a lot of variety out there in terms of degree of knee bend... Rule of thumb is mimimum of 15 degrees of knee flexion?
I did a shadow swing with a "C" loop takeback but noticed that swing with actual ball was completely different.
No loop. Sort of similar to Mac.
Having trouble with what to do with the left arm and how to tuck it in. I tried to think of "catching raquet" with left arm.

Think of starting a lawnmower.

J

 

[Raul_SJ]

Think of starting a lawnmower.

J

Ok, I will try that. Maybe I am not tucking in the left arm soon enough, and letting it dangle. Think of starting a lawnmower. But still try to catch the racquet with off hand at finish... Catching the racquet at the verry end of the finish helps to ensure there has been torso rotation into the shot. Also reduces tension and creates space.

When you catch the racket at the end you can take the hand off the racket to remind yourself to reduce tension. ​

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