FH issues

[Egoista]

Hello All,

Wondering if anyone can help.

Recently especially as I have gotten older when returning hard hit shots I cannot seem to hit it back on the forehand side with topspin. Either I smash it out or frame the ball or lob a weak return back.
Which of course the opposition then pummels.

I have always wondered how people can hit through the ball yet impart topspin on it so that the ball lands in.
When I hit the ball I tend to use alot of wrist and do not seem to do the above yet lob forehands back with topspin but not that insane flat power that many of the top people do.

Any advice please?
P.s. my FH is semi western and considered my weapon through my college days in the states as well as my childhood. But lately cant handle it against the big shots.
thanks

 

[Egoista]

Anyone?

 

[Dragy]

Hey Egoista, I'd say it's hard to give tips basing just on the description of problem. Can you make some footage and post a video? I'm sure you'll get feedback!

Some general thing I can suggest is ensure that when you are hitting your powerful forehand your racquet head comes under the ball before contact and goes low to high, while still mainly driven by your core muscles, not just arm brushing. Use your foot push and hip-shoulder turn to produce main power, your arm to support low to high swingpass, your forearm to control racquet face angle (slightly closed).

 

[SystemicAnomaly]

Without seeing your FH, it's difficult to know what the issue might be. If I had to guess, I'd say it is possibly a late preparation or an large (excessive) loop or backswing. Many fast-court ATP players have a fairly compact takeback. This makes it easier to deal with deep balls or fast incoming balls. Think Agassi or Federer fro examples of compact backswings. The Kevin G video below might help with an early preparation. He also has a very compact takeback.

 

[Egoista]

Hey Egoista, I'd say it's hard to give tips basing just on the description of problem. Can you make some footage and post a video? I'm sure you'll get feedback!

Some general thing I can suggest is ensure that when you are hitting your powerful forehand your racquet head comes under the ball before contact and goes low to high, while still mainly driven by your core muscles, not just arm brushing. Use your foot push and hip-shoulder turn to produce main power, your arm to support low to high swingpass, your forearm to control racquet face angle (slightly closed).

Hi I am working on the videos and post it at some point..
some questions: Which arm should to support low to high swingpass and what do you mean by it...
Could you show me some video that shows accurately front foot push and the shoulder turn ? I seem to be pulling my hips first then hitting out with the shoulder
thanks

 

[Egoista]

Without seeing your FH, it's difficult to know what the issue might be. If I had to guess, I'd say it is possibly a late preparation or an large (excessive) loop or backswing. Many fast-court ATP players have a fairly compact takeback. This makes it easier to deal with deep balls or fast incoming balls. Think Agassi or Federer fro examples of compact backswings. The Kevin G video below might help with an early preparation. He also has a very compact takeback.

love this video.been working on it and over the last few days seem to generate some topspin and seemed to improve the FH but when I am pulled out wide or against some flat shots still seem to be having issues ..trying to memorize this guy's backswing and am confused whether it is high behind his head or just parallel to his body on the take back.......
are there some more good videos ?

 

[Dragy]

Could you show me some video that shows accurately front foot push and the shoulder turn ?

Not the front foot. Back foot (same side as your dominant hand). You can check this video by TTT:

Simon is talking of starting below the ball, brushing the ball from low to high (which is done mostly with his arm, that's what I meant), and also about using your legs.

 

[5263]

Anyone?

are you hitting "up and across" at contact for topspin or do you try to brush straight up the back of the ball?

 

[SystemicAnomaly]

love this video.been working on it and over the last few days seem to generate some topspin and seemed to improve the FH but when I am pulled out wide or against some flat shots still seem to be having issues ..trying to memorize this guy's backswing and am confused whether it is high behind his head or just parallel to his body on the take back.......
are there some more good videos ?

Not clear on the issue(s) on wide FHs. And whose flat shots are your referring to -- your own or your opponent's?

On his unit turn (backswing), Kevin G appears to bring set behind (to the right) if his head. The racket head is, more or less, even with his right shoulder. Roger F takes his racket back with his left hand almost this far back in the image below.

​

On the shots out wide, what stance are you using? An open (semi-open) stance is often employed for shots out wide. Take a look at what Jeff S has to say about what stance to use for various locations around the baseline.