Forehand kinetic chain

[gangster33]

When hitting a forehand in an open stance (right handed), do you first push off with the right leg, then rotate your whole body, leave the arm and racquet trailing behind, then eventually hit the ball using the energy from the jump and rotation. So basically no or very very little arm is involved? Wrist is loose?

Or is the forehand meant to be hit differently?
thanks for reading

 

[Solat]

thats the basics of it yeah, its a very advanced technique and should only be used if you have solid control of a more traditional style forehand (IMO)

check out this pic of fed (thanks will!) and you will see how he has rotated to square his arm is now leading the body and the racquet is still trailing by a long way

 

[gangster33]

awesome thanks. I find if i do this my forehand is alot more accurate and powerful. If i just use my arms, its somehow not as accurate and obviuusly not as powerful.

By traditional, do you mean a flat forehand instead of heavy topspin?

 

[wihamilton]

thats the basics of it yeah, its a very advanced technique and should only be used if you have solid control of a more traditional style forehand (IMO)

check out this pic of fed (thanks will!) and you will see how he has rotated to square his arm is now leading the body and the racquet is still trailing by a long way

NP! I want that shirt.

 

[SystemicAnomaly]

awesome thanks. I find if i do this my forehand is alot more accurate and powerful. If i just use my arms, its somehow not as accurate and obviuusly not as powerful.

By traditional, do you mean a flat forehand instead of heavy topspin?

I assume by "traditional", he is referring to a FH hit with something close to a square stance, a classic weight shift into the shot, and no jumping. This can be hit relatively flat, with moderate topspin, or with heavy topspin.

Whether hitting with a square stance, fully open stance, or a semi-open stance, it is important to use the legs & a hip rotation that is followed by a torso rotation before the power is transferred to the shoulder and arm links (of the kinetic chain).

My own preference is to use a semi-open stance or a square stance rather than relying too heavily on a fully open stance. An over-reliance on the latter stance may put too much stress on the hip (right hip for a righty) and the shoulder according to some reliable sources.