Critique my video please

[Nitish]

Hi, I am getting back to playing tennis after more than a decade. Played a match recently. Few winners I managed to hit in the video (I am the one with the glasses) . My FH is much less stable than by BH in general and I hit buggy whip more often than not on the FH wing which I want to avoid. I am not sure what grip I use on the BH but since the last few weeks I have gotten back into tennis, it seems to hold up well, struggle a bit on low balls but overall I seem to be able to control the points much better with the BH, any tips/suggestions on both wings would be appreciated, Thanks.

 

[Chas Tennis]

Hi, I am getting back to playing tennis after more than a decade. Played a match recently. Few winners I managed to hit in the video (I am the one with the glasses) . My FH is much less stable than by BH in general and I hit buggy whip more often than not on the FH wing which I want to avoid. I am not sure what grip I use on the BH but since the last few weeks I have gotten back into tennis, it seems to hold up well, struggle a bit on low balls but overall I seem to be able to control the points much better with the BH, any tips/suggestions on both wings would be appreciated, Thanks.

You have the basic misunderstanding that mostly the arm and racket should be swung by the shoulder joint for racket head speed. High level tennis ground strokes - as seen in the ATP - produce racket head speed by both uppermost body turn plus the shoulder joint motions. Uppermost body turn (as seen by an imaginary line between the 2 shoulders) is very significant in ATP & WTA videos. Uppermost body turn occurs to start the forward swing and shoulder joint motion is seen later before impact. Your forehand and backhand show little movement of this line between the 2 shoulders. For your ground strokes, complete stroke rebuild from scratch with a well qualified instructor or by learning for yourself. See ATP videos and particularly observe uppermost body turn. See on TV at Wimbledon now!

REASON - Uppermost body turn includes accelerating shoulder joint mass with upper arm THEN the shoulder joint itself fires to add more racket head speed. See Djokovic forehand from side view.

WARNING- Twisting the trunk may be too stressful for some players.

You have a Waiter's Tray serve. This is the most common serve used by active tennis players. Requires a complete rebuild of serve technique for a high level serve technique with Internal Shoulder Rotation. Instructor needs to be well qualified.
Forum Search: Waiter's Tray Internal Shoulder Rotation
Member- Chas Tennis
Any practice to fix a flawed part of the serve, like the toss, is counter productive because you would be training with your other current flaws.

High level strokes as seen in the ATP have been studied and much is known.
Do-It-Yourself (DIY) techniques - like your ground strokes - have not been studied and nobody understands their biomechanics or safety. The Waiter's Tray is well known but it is a lower performance serve (corrected).

The question is - what stroke technique are you being taught? ATP or what other?

The Youtube video "Hammer That Serve" by Pat Dougherty discusses improving the Waiter's Tray serve. WT is a lower performance serve but can be effective for average tennis. It has a sort-of safety record by its very wide and long time usage in tennis.

ATP strokes can show a great deal by just your viewing high speed videos of the ATP strokes. You can single frame in Youtube by stopping the video and using the period & comma keys. Start now.

 

[Tranqville]

I like how your body is naturally relaxed and balanced. I think your biggest area of improvement is your footwork. I do not observe a pronounced split-step, unit turn, and recovery footwork. The serve needs improvement but it takes time.

 

[Nitish]

You have the basic misunderstanding that mostly the arm and racket should be swung by the shoulder joint for racket head speed. High level tennis ground strokes - as seen in the ATP - produce racket head speed by both uppermost body turn plus the shoulder joint motions. Uppermost body turn (as seen by an imaginary line between the 2 shoulders) is very significant in ATP & WTA videos. Uppermost body turn occurs to start the forward swing and shoulder joint motion is seen later before impact. Your forehand and backhand show little movement of this line between the 2 shoulders. For your ground strokes, complete stroke rebuild from scratch with a well qualified instructor or by learning for yourself. See ATP videos and particularly observe uppermost body turn. See on TV at Wimbledon now!

REASON - Uppermost body turn includes accelerating shoulder joint mass with upper arm THEN the shoulder joint itself fires to add more racket head speed. See Djokovic forehand from side view.

WARNING- Twisting the trunk may be too stressful for some players.

You have a Waiter's Tray serve. This is the most common serve used by active tennis players. Requires a complete rebuild of serve technique for a high level serve technique with Internal Shoulder Rotation. Instructor needs to be well qualified.
Forum Search: Waiter's Tray Internal Shoulder Rotation
Member- Chas Tennis
Any practice to fix a flawed part of the serve, like the toss, is counter productive because you would be training with your other current flaws.

High level strokes as seen in the ATP have been studied and much is known.
Do-It-Yourself (DIY) techniques - like your ground strokes - have not been studied and nobody understands their biomechanics or safety. The Waiter's Tray is well known but it is a lower performance ground stroke.

The question is - what stroke technique are you being taught? ATP or what other?

The Youtube video "Hammer That Serve" by Pat Dougherty discusses improving the Waiter's Tray serve. WT is a lower performance serve but can be effective for average tennis. It has a sort-of safety record by its very wide and long time usage in tennis.

ATP strokes can show a great deal by just your viewing high speed videos of the ATP strokes. You can single frame in Youtube by stopping the video and using the period & comma keys. Start now.

Thanks, let me follow

I like how your body is naturally relaxed and balanced. I think your biggest area of improvement is your footwork. I do not observe a pronounced split-step, unit turn, and recovery footwork. The serve needs improvement but it takes time.

Thanks, footwork definitely needs a lot of improvement. If you have any drills etc to practice please do share.

 

[Dragy]

Are you ping-pong player?

 

[Nitish]

Are you ping-pong player?

I do play ping-ping, but not a regular.

 

[Dragy]

I do play ping-ping, but not a regular.

And how heavy is your racquet?

 

[Tranqville]

Thanks, let me follow

Thanks, footwork definitely needs a lot of improvement. If you have any drills etc to practice please do share.

Most important is to learn the right technique. Just basic SLOW rallying through the middle with deliberate, strong focus on ready position, split step, unit turn and recovery footwork will work. Watch everything Ean Meyer has on footwork, he's fantastic.

 

[Nitish]

And how heavy is your racquet?

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265 grams

 

[Dragy]

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265 grams

Yeah, that’s exactly what it looks: using ping-pong technique with light racquet

It’s not first thing to change the racquet, of course, but you might want to be aware that facing heavier hitter (not exactly a pro-player, just someone rolling deep bouncing balls at you) you might struggle.

And while you can do what you do know with this racquet and this opponent, if you want to progress you should focus on proper technique — as guys above described.

If you used 300g+ racquet, you’d be forced to swing different, that’s why I asked.

 

[Tranqville]

Yeah, that’s exactly what it looks: using ping-pong technique with light racquet

Nice work, detective Dragy!

 

[Jono123]

I was going to raise you unorthodox backhand and late take back etc....

But given your opponent didn't win a single point, just stick with it.

 

[Nitish]

Yeah, that’s exactly what it looks: using ping-pong technique with light racquet

It’s not first thing to change the racquet, of course, but you might want to be aware that facing heavier hitter (not exactly a pro-player, just someone rolling deep bouncing balls at you) you might struggle.

And while you can do what you do know with this racquet and this opponent, if you want to progress you should focus on proper technique — as guys above described.

If you used 300g+ racquet, you’d be forced to swing different, that’s why I asked.

Ah makes sense! Thanks a lot.

 

[Nitish]

Most important is to learn the right technique. Just basic SLOW rallying through the middle with deliberate, strong focus on ready position, split step, unit turn and recovery footwork will work. Watch everything Ean Meyer has on footwork, he's fantastic.

Thanks these are helpful!

 

[Spin Diesel]

Hi, I am getting back to playing tennis after more than a decade. Played a match recently. Few winners I managed to hit in the video (I am the one with the glasses) . My FH is much less stable than by BH in general and I hit buggy whip more often than not on the FH wing which I want to avoid. I am not sure what grip I use on the BH but since the last few weeks I have gotten back into tennis, it seems to hold up well, struggle a bit on low balls but overall I seem to be able to control the points much better with the BH, any tips/suggestions on both wings would be appreciated, Thanks.

Imo the first thing you should do is start using a ready position. You have both arms hanging down til you hit the ball, which makes it more difficult to hit with somewhat correct technique, timing and consistency. Hold your racket in front of you with your left hand on the racket throat. Initiate all your strokes from there.
I‘d say more particular changes of technique only make sense after that.