Critique my strokes

[sgrv]

I took a video earlier today of my forehand and backhand. This was taken during a casual practice session. Please take a look and share your feedback.

http://youtu.be/yVKxPJB0Ggk

There are few things that I observed

1. I can use more shoulder rotation in forehand

2. Couple of times I got a loose ball and was near the service line when I hit. Today, the hits went in but this is one stroke I need to master so that I can put it away. So, do let me know what I should do

3. The partner is about 0.5-1 point lower. So, our rallies are not that long. I was going from stokes when I could.

4. Backhand is a work in progress. So, please do specifically critique it. It seems I could use more non-dominant arm extension. However, the strokes are going in - so I am not sure if I should make the adjustment.

5. I was lazy to not use split step

 

[Ballinbob]

Things I noticed on your forehand:

1. You don't use your non-dominant (left) hand very well. You are "arming" the ball. To make the most out of your forehand you want some upper body rotation to add power.

Look at Novak's forehand in this video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QH6sJEJp5qM

Notice how at the 8 second mark his left arm is stretched across his body and how he turns his shoulder/body into the shot.

2. Make sure to complete a full follow through. Often you will abruptly stop the racket. And you also dont catch your racket with the opposite hand, you leave it dangling like at the 20 second mark in your video. Notice at 12 seconds how Novak catches his racket with the left hand



I cant comment on your backhand because i'm not a teaching pro nor do I hit a 2hbh, but it does look better than your forehand. Keep it up and good luck with your game buddy

 

[Bagumbawalla]

Your backhand was not very effecive, but its form was, I think, better than that of your forehand.

Most people would never think of going out for baseball, football, soccer... without a coach. Tennis is a much harder game to get started in.

I think you have potential, seem athletic, and would benefit by getting some instruction from a good coach before you ingrain these bad habits and make them more difficult to break.

 

[sgrv]

I have taken some lessons in past which have helped. In theory, I am aware of a lot of techniques, but it's been harder to execute on the court and reach a state where it becomes muscle memory. That is especially true for shoulder rotation on forehand, split step on all strokes (i do it for serve return right now).

Will appreciate more feedback. What adjustments should I make to 2HBH?

 

[ho]

As one poster said, you basically hit with your arm, the way we all hit now is hit with your body: arm and body just rotate in one unit FH as 2HBH.You will find that it's very easy to learn and execute. Power and consistency is good. There is many top player on youtube that you can emulate: DJ, Tsonga, Hewitt...plenty of them

 

[LeeD]

I think you hit very well, but your movement and recovery doesn't come close to your hitting ability. You hit, you stop your followtru a long time, and you stand there watching where your ball goes, and where your opponent is going, and how he hits the ball, and what he does after he hits his ball, and THEN you react to his ball.
Some here will comment about your lack of kinetics, lack of legs, torso twist, shoulder turn. I think you are quick but a little stiff in movement, and also, the ball hit to you is moving at a good clip. It's hard to employ kinetics when you are facing a fast imcoming ball.
But possibly, if you at least looked ready instead of passively watching the whole show, your shoulder would turn earlier, giving you more time to move the rest of the body chain.

 

[sportsfan1]

If you haven't already, I would highly recommend watching the Will Hamilton FYB videos on the Forehand basics and improvement. He breaks down the steps in terms of preparation, swing, follow through as well as what to do with the non hitting arm nicely and it becomes easy to follow.

 

[TheOneHander]

While I do agree with basically everyone else that you're arming your forehand, I have my own little way of putting it: your elbow is static. It moves maybe two, three inches during the stroke. Try finishing with your elbow out and away from you (it may help to think of it as pointing at your target when you finish), and I can guarantee you you'll be on your way to improvement.

 

[sgrv]

Great insights on forehand, thanks! I will try my best to implement them on the court. It may sound ironical that inspite of the limitation in technique, couple of 4.5 people that I have played with, acknowledged that it's a very effective stroke and they had trouble dealing with topspin and pace of the ball.

In summers, I get to play with people that have solid games. That results in improvement and learning from their game. Other times of the year, I don't get challenged much, usually I win 6-2, 6-1. I realized that unless you are challenged, it's hard to improve the game. I have realized myself that when I play with opponents that make me run, I am much more alert on the feet and don't wait for the ball to come my way - I try to anticipate..

Please also comment on 2HBH - gradually it is becoming an area where I can take a crack at the ball at times. It used to be liability couple of months ago. Any tips for improvement would be immensely helpful.

 

[Passion4Tennis]

and also, the ball hit to you is moving at a good clip. It's hard to employ kinetics when you are facing a fast imcoming ball.

I agree with most of your post, except for the above quote.
I'm not seeing this at all. The incoming ball looks fairly slow to me.

 

[LeeD]

Maybe I was mixing up the idea of the OP standing atop his baseline with the time you don't get if the opponent hits hard.
OP stands very close IN. Ball is normal for a vid, meaning much slower than real set and match play.
OP get's rushed.