The following link http://www.tennisone.com/club/lessons/braden/backhands/bh.free.php offers a free vidclip of Federer's and Clijster's backhand with the added instructional bonus of the players and strokes rendered in digitized form, or stick figures. This timely evidence that shows Federer's one handed backhand is offered by Vic Braden via the Ariel Performance Analysis System, or APAS, and we all should thank him for this. The photo sequence below taken off this vidclip shows how Federer's arm starts out bent, or folded across his stomach, and as the racket progresses to the contact spot the arm in effect unfolds, or unbends. In this example, as well as in many others, the arm clearly does not straighten to swing.
I know for a fact Vic would say he has groundstroke shots of Federer with a slight bend in the elbow as well as shots with a fairly straight arm, and that Federer's choice for these different approaches is an interesting open question to be answered. I'm sure you all would add it depends on the situation, the shot, the spin, the time, those kinds of things, and you'd be absolutely correct, but the thing to note is we can have both endings, slightly bent or fairly straight, and yet each Federer backhand clearly begins with the bending, unbending arm.
It is crystal clear here the arm bends and unbends throughout the stroke. In no way does Federer straighten his arm to swing the racket down or up into the ball from the nadir of the swing, and neither does the butt cap go straight to the ball. This evidence vindicates http://www.revolutionarytennis.com/step9.html that describes how the arm works to produce this stroke.
But there is certainly much, much more here to be enjoyed. An enthusiastic TW reader brought this vidclip to our attention but one self appointed bb tennis expert classlessly belittled the guy for his enthusiasm, and neither he nor a second "expert" could see this evidence right before them.
When you view the clip for yourself you will see many things, including an interesting twisting of the racket, validating wrist movement. But a large gem shown in the stills above uncovers the cornerstone to all one handers, be they flexible like Federer's or seemingly-straight like Robredo and Gasquet: the hand turning the racket face into the ball, no matter if you hit up the line or crosscourt. Photos 5 to 6 the body remains the same and the arm has moved imperceptibly, but what has occurred from 5 to 6 is the racket face has been turned into the ball for contact (as pros call it). Dramatically. How? The hand is responsible. The shoulder does not swing the racket, the arm does not swing the racket, it is the hand doing the heavy lifting throughout to ultimately turn the racket face into the ball.
In this manner all one handers share this core element - the hand turning the racket head into the ball - and it's a process that's being setup from the beginning. Some may actually straighten the arm to swing the racket or straighten it halfway through the upward/forward swing itself while retaining stroke fluidity as you see in some pros but this places a heavier load on that final turn than does retaining flexibility in the arm (and gives the false impression the butt cap or a straight arm plays a central role). As a teacher I try to counsel arm flexibility instead of rigidity for this, and as a player I never try to straighten the arm, or even think about straightening it when swinging at the ball.
Mark Papas
revolutionarytennis.com
rocking the boat
I know for a fact Vic would say he has groundstroke shots of Federer with a slight bend in the elbow as well as shots with a fairly straight arm, and that Federer's choice for these different approaches is an interesting open question to be answered. I'm sure you all would add it depends on the situation, the shot, the spin, the time, those kinds of things, and you'd be absolutely correct, but the thing to note is we can have both endings, slightly bent or fairly straight, and yet each Federer backhand clearly begins with the bending, unbending arm.
It is crystal clear here the arm bends and unbends throughout the stroke. In no way does Federer straighten his arm to swing the racket down or up into the ball from the nadir of the swing, and neither does the butt cap go straight to the ball. This evidence vindicates http://www.revolutionarytennis.com/step9.html that describes how the arm works to produce this stroke.
But there is certainly much, much more here to be enjoyed. An enthusiastic TW reader brought this vidclip to our attention but one self appointed bb tennis expert classlessly belittled the guy for his enthusiasm, and neither he nor a second "expert" could see this evidence right before them.
When you view the clip for yourself you will see many things, including an interesting twisting of the racket, validating wrist movement. But a large gem shown in the stills above uncovers the cornerstone to all one handers, be they flexible like Federer's or seemingly-straight like Robredo and Gasquet: the hand turning the racket face into the ball, no matter if you hit up the line or crosscourt. Photos 5 to 6 the body remains the same and the arm has moved imperceptibly, but what has occurred from 5 to 6 is the racket face has been turned into the ball for contact (as pros call it). Dramatically. How? The hand is responsible. The shoulder does not swing the racket, the arm does not swing the racket, it is the hand doing the heavy lifting throughout to ultimately turn the racket face into the ball.
In this manner all one handers share this core element - the hand turning the racket head into the ball - and it's a process that's being setup from the beginning. Some may actually straighten the arm to swing the racket or straighten it halfway through the upward/forward swing itself while retaining stroke fluidity as you see in some pros but this places a heavier load on that final turn than does retaining flexibility in the arm (and gives the false impression the butt cap or a straight arm plays a central role). As a teacher I try to counsel arm flexibility instead of rigidity for this, and as a player I never try to straighten the arm, or even think about straightening it when swinging at the ball.
Mark Papas
revolutionarytennis.com
rocking the boat
