Forehand problem

[Ali Abdullah]

eive got a huge forehand problem and a slightly small forehand problem...the thing is that when i try n explode on a forehand i tend 2 jump before hitting the ball(small problem and can be fixed if i practise on intentionally jumping after i hit the ball)and the main problem is that when i explode on the ball my body and face turn away from the ball.... i dont have this problem when im not trying 2 hit hard..inorder 2 explain this look at the 2nd person on this site..the one under the girl..the one in the black cap and white shirt http://www.hi-techtennis.com/forehand/topspin.php ..his face is torwards the ball and so his shoulders..my face is almost opposite 2 where hes looking and shoulders turn alot before rlly hitting the ball... is dere ne way i can stop this...oh ya i think this might be because im NOT a very powerfull person and i try 2 use all my body power while crushing forehands...ive got a semi-western grip and im 6.1 foot tall...
thank you in advance

 

[Bagumbawalla]

You really should not be jumping at all, before or after hitting the ball. You want your body mass moving, basically, in the direction you want to hit the ball (with some variation, depensing on your stance). Leaping upward, naturally, forces your mass/momentum in a different direction. Also, once your feet leave the ground, you have nothing to force AGAINST, and if you know your physical laws, you are going to be actually losing power there.

So, if at all possible, keep your feet planted, move through the ball, transfer that mass/momentum to the ball. When you want to hit harder, keep your mechanics the same as for your regular strokes, just faster.

Often times, when something feels right (the leaping) it is really not right at all. Since body feedback can be deceptive, I suggest practicing in front of a mirror or reflective window. If you watch yourself executing the stroke a hundred times, correctly, you will begin to get good feedback- learn a new feel that, hopefully, you will remember on court.

Good luck,

B

 

[Ali Abdullah]

thanks but i see alot of pros that leap up while executing big shots from the forehand side....and when i keep my feel planted i cant seem 2 generate enough power...i use my arm 2 much instead ov the shoulders and all when i keep my feet planted

 

[raiden031]

Back when I was in college (D1 school), I used to watch the tennis team practice sometimes. Their #1 player was this guy who was AT MOST 5 feet tall. He would leap on practically every groundstroke when he was hitting with some serious pace. He was amazing to watch.

 

[Mahboob Khan]

thanks but i see alot of pros that leap up while executing big shots from the forehand side....and when i keep my feel planted i cant seem 2 generate enough power...i use my arm 2 much instead ov the shoulders and all when i keep my feet planted

With athletic stance, proper knee bent, and upper body turn, as you hit the ball the feet will push against the ground and the ground will push back (for every action there is an equal and opposite reaction); when this occurs correctly your knees will straighten up and you will lean into the ball, and the resultant socalled jump. Let's not call it a jump; let's call it "natural propelling action of hitting your forehand". I mean the jump is not deliberate .. it is unintentional and should happen automatically.

Are you from Pakistan? I thought you did attend my Camp and we had discussed this point during the PTF Camp held in Islamabad a couple of years ago.

 

[courtrage]

With athletic stance, proper knee bent, and upper body turn, as you hit the ball the feet will push against the ground and the ground will push back (for every action there is an equal and opposite reaction); when this occurs correctly your knees will straighten up and you will lean into the ball, and the resultant socalled jump. Let's not call it a jump; let's call it "natural propelling action of hitting your forehand". I mean the jump is not deliberate .. it is unintentional and should happen automatically.

Are you from Pakistan? I thought you did attend my Camp and we had discussed this point during the PTF Camp held in Islamabad a couple of years ago.

agree with MK...he beat me to it ;-) if you try to "jump" and hit anything it will be like trying to throw a stone from a rowboat...leaving the ground on shots, and your serve, are just that you are swinging up and that lifts you off the ground because to swing up you have to push down...

 

[Ali Abdullah]

yes im from Pakistan and i did attend your camp but maybe you're refering to some other camp where you explained this.Anyways i get what you mean about the leaning and jumping part.Thank you.My real problem is the turning away from the ball thing.I just cant stop turning away from the ball while trying to crush it.Instead ov going into the ball i turn away from it towards the left side.

 

[White_Rice]

to hit a power & consistent forehand, it's definitely all about your legs and torso--first getting you in proper position and second, driving power into the ball using your body, recoiling and exploding out of that prep position. You said you are 6-1 and that is tall compared to most so you really should have to jump into your shots. Pros do it because they play almost on a daily basis and have an excellent feel for their shots and know their positioning and balance well. Jumping can cause you to lose your balance and your contact point can be off so there is definitely more room for unforced errors and mishit shots off of your frame.

Also improving your strength and therefore increasing your swing speed can definitely help this.

 

[Mahboob Khan]

yes im from Pakistan and i did attend your camp but maybe you're refering to some other camp where you explained this.Anyways i get what you mean about the leaning and jumping part.Thank you.My real problem is the turning away from the ball thing.I just cant stop turning away from the ball while trying to crush it.Instead ov going into the ball i turn away from it towards the left side.

A bit of turning away does occur. Let's say you hit the ball with power; to do this your right shoulder will move forward and will eventually replace the left shoulder .. when this occurs, your right shoulder is toward the net and the left to the back fence, thus a bit of turning away from the shot. It should happen in a natural and controlled way.

In the camp, on a short mid-court easier balls, I have demonstrated this technique in which the entire right side of the body .. the right hip, right shoulder move forward to replace everything the left side offers. May be you forgot or maybe you were absent that day.

 

[Ali Abdullah]

Oh yes,i arrived late and had to sit out for the session :grin: .I get what you mean now.Thank you Mahboob Khan and the rest.

 

[Mahboob Khan]

Oh yes,i arrived late and had to sit out for the session :grin: .I get what you mean now.Thank you Mahboob Khan and the rest.

Oh, yes, the discipline part!!! ha, ha, ha. I am glad that it helped you. And you may like to watch some models at www.tennisplayer.net to learn from. Are you going to Lahore to play the IC Pakistan Open starting Dec 19? Insha'allah, we will be there!

Say my Salam to your father, Brig Sadozai. BTW, I was the one who taught tennis to him in 1981 in Lal Kurti Ordnance Club. He used to be very young, athletic person, and I do recall that I played with him then and gave him useful tips. However, it appears that he forgot all this (In Karachi, June/05 he failed to recognize me. I was with my daughter, Sarah).

 

[krprunitennis2]

thanks but i see alot of pros that leap up while executing big shots from the forehand side....and when i keep my feel planted i cant seem 2 generate enough power...i use my arm 2 much instead ov the shoulders and all when i keep my feet planted

That's why you use your chest, hips, knees, and possibly toes. I heard that with an open stance, the key is rotation of your knees, hips, and chest with a steady (but not stiff) arm.

 

[paulfreda]

Minor points which may help

Ali
Two minor thoughts which may help you.
1/ If you take the ball a little later [not so far out front] you may not be concerned with your face/body turning away as the hit will be over sooner.
But this may require a minor grip or swing mechanics adjustment such as weaker grip or less closing of the face on backswing.
2/ If you are hitting with a windshield wiper action you will not get the pace you desire. Try incorporating a Lansdorp type swing finishing with the racquet tip facing the target, your arm extended out toward the target and the string plane near or at vertical. This will force you to propel your energy at the target and reduce a tendency to fall away.

Hope this helps.

 

[Mahboob Khan]

Ali
Two minor thoughts which may help you.
1/ If you take the ball a little later [not so far out front] you may not be concerned with your face/body turning away as the hit will be over sooner.
But this may require a minor grip or swing mechanics adjustment such as weaker grip or less closing of the face on backswing.
2/ If you are hitting with a windshield wiper action you will not get the pace you desire. Try incorporating a Lansdorp type swing finishing with the racquet tip facing the target, your arm extended out toward the target and the string plane near or at vertical. This will force you to propel your energy at the target and reduce a tendency to fall away.

Hope this helps.

Good advice.

Get the balance and control and then copy the Pros!

 

[Ali Abdullah]

Ali
Two minor thoughts which may help you.
1/ If you take the ball a little later [not so far out front] you may not be concerned with your face/body turning away as the hit will be over sooner.
But this may require a minor grip or swing mechanics adjustment such as weaker grip or less closing of the face on backswing.
2/ If you are hitting with a windshield wiper action you will not get the pace you desire. Try incorporating a Lansdorp type swing finishing with the racquet tip facing the target, your arm extended out toward the target and the string plane near or at vertical. This will force you to propel your energy at the target and reduce a tendency to fall away.

Hope this helps.

Thank you.This Lansdorp style has benifited me alot

 

[paulfreda]

Thanks for the feedback and glad I was able to help.

 

[Dashbarr]

jumping up isnt going to help anything. jumping backwards is a bad habit and can mess up shots. jumping forward can be very useful, and from what ive seen, can actually make high balls go faster and harder. as mentioned earlier, there's the lansdorp technique that was one of the tips in my tennis bible (47 tips from Tennis Magazine)