Backswing help

[Bach3387]

i have been watching a lot of videos of pros (especially on the uspta website). i have noticed that most of the pros, on the backswing, bring the racquet above their head, but they don't take it back too far. they never really let it get behind their turned body. Should an average player do his or her backswing above his or her head, but not going to far back?

also i noticed that the pros bring the racquet up and when they are about to start their forward swing, the drop their wrist back in the cocked position, and it seems like the tip of their racquet head is facing strait behind them when they drop it back. and some pros have the racquet face towards the ground right before they start their forward swing, and others have the racquet face facing the side (i.e. perpendicular to the ground) right before they start their forward swing. it is almost like they are dropping the racquet back into the "slot" and then they would start the swing from their legs, then hips, then shoulders, then arm, then elbow, then butt cap, then racquet. which one should be done, or is it just personal preference (i.e. where should the racquet head be when dropped back)? and should this even be attempted by an average player?

 

[Bungalo Bill]

I think you would do well to copy that. It is exactly what you want to do.

the racquet head facing down is what I refer to as placing the racquet in a position to pat a dog on the head. The racquet going straight back allows a player to generate racquet head speed but keep their timing and control of the racquet head in tack during incredible swing speeds.

Braden used to teach us that if you stand perpendicular with the baseline, your racquet take back should not go farther then the imaginary line your toes are making from the fence to the net. I think that is one of the issues about Venus Williams. She takes the racquet back behind her and if you are standing in front of her you would see the racquet behind her on the otherside of her body. She sprays a lot which tells me she is not squaring in time.

Usually, the laid back wrist "during" the backswing and before the forward swing is a mark of an advanced player. They have developed enough feel as to know when to do this. For one that is learning or getting better, I usually tell them to get the laid back wrist feel earlier - then build from there.

But great insight! You saw things correctly.

 

[Bach3387]

thank you very much BB for your help, and i appreciate it very much.

i have a few follow up questions, during your backswing should you be telling yourself, consciously, to "pat the dog" or should it come naturally?

when should an average player lay his or her wrist back?

should you pat the dog on every shot or should some shots, should u have the racquet perpendicular (it looks like Agassi does it this way)?

should you bring the racquet above the height of your head on the takeback?

should you swing at height of ball or from under it?

thanks again BB

 

[Bungalo Bill]

thank you very much BB for your help, and i appreciate it very much.

i have a few follow up questions, during your backswing should you be telling yourself, consciously, to "pat the dog" or should it come naturally?

when should an average player lay his or her wrist back?

should you pat the dog on every shot or should some shots, should u have the racquet perpendicular (it looks like Agassi does it this way)?

should you bring the racquet above the height of your head on the takeback?

should you swing at height of ball or from under it?

thanks again BB

Actually, I lay back my wrist on the backswing and I am an advanced player! So it depends. Pros who put a lot of time on the court obviously can integrate more "feel" into their shots without it hurting their consistency. I am not on the court that much so I will build room for error and so should you. As soon as I take the racquet back my wrist is laying back the racquet for the forward swing.

The bottom line to a backswing is you want to keep the handle of the racquet within reason. The takeback for the forehand will bring the hand back outside of your body width. The onehanded backhand should have the hand within the width of the body. The twohander acts inbetween this. You dont want an excessive backswing otherwise you will have a hard time timing your shot. Agassi is a great model of racquet takeback.

The racquet should go no higher then your head as a guideline. If it goes higher then you are back into the potential timing problems. I am not saying it cant be done. I am saying it adds to the complexity of meeting the ball in time.

Hitting the ball hard (IMO) has little to do with the big backswing and more to do with your timing and meeting the ball in front of you.

Look at Agassi to determine how high and how far your backswing should be, he is a great model for us "non" pros.

 

[Rickson]

I see Roddick take his backswing with the racquet face facing the ground, but Coria takes his backswing with the face already square. Does the closed face backswing add more topspin in the forehand and if so, why?

 

[Bach3387]

bb, thanks again and i have yet 3 more questions.

i am not sure if i had ever 'petted the dog' on my FH b4. how would i kno (video tape i guess) but when u hit a FH should u consciously tell urself "pet the dog' or should it come naturally?

and, did u ever hear of having the racquet perpendicular at that point instead of petting the dog?(agassi and haas and kuerton look like they do it that way)

do u pet the dog on every FH?

thanks again for you time.

 

[Rickson]

Some players pat the dog(Roddick, Federer) and some players don't(Coria, Agassi). Patting the dog isn't absolutely necessary in the forehand imo, but I also wanted to know why it's done so often. Perhaps the western grip makes the pat the dog takeback feel more natural and the pronating on the followthrough comes out better?

 

[horridvolley]

personally i hate bringing it back that far, it seems in most if not all sports, the simpler motion is always the one that produces less errors (which is what we're after, isn't it?)