Forehand Tip: Keep arm in fixed position once backswing is complete

[HunterST]

My forehand had gone a little off recently and this tip helped bring it back to life.

So the traditional steps to hit a forehand are as follows:

1. see the ball/ complete the unit tun (while hopefully creating some space between body and elbow).
2. extend the arm. Some call this the "pat the dog position."

Here's my tip that may be obvious to some: Once you extend the arm, keep everything in that same position throughout the swing. Don't go from a bent arm to a straight arm during the swing or attempt to "extend" through the shot by straightening the arm.

I see a lot of players making the mistake of changing the amount of bend in their elbow throughout the swing. It doesn't matter how much bend you have: it could be a straight arm or bent arm forehand. It just has to stay the same from the backswing on.

 

[Gazelle]

Agreed. And you can also add that after the pat the dog, people shouldn't rotate their forearm to make the racket head face towards the ball (like Coric does I think). Racket head will come into correct position automatically by swinging upwards (but point of contact, where racket head faces the ball, might differ depending on the grip).

 

[LeeD]

Provided you spaced yourself correctly when the incoming ball is still on the other side of the net.

 

[Gazelle]

Provided you spaced yourself correctly when the incoming ball is still on the other side of the net.

Of course. Otherwise it either goes straight into the net or sailes long. But that's always the case, regardless of which technique you apply.

 

[FiReFTW]

I think a better tip is to drop the racquet, than to extend the arm, extending the arm means more like ur holding the racquet and moving it down using ur muscles, that won't provide as much racquet speed as if you drop it using gravity, if you watch videos of top players like Federer you can clearly see how fast the racquet goes from the top position downwards and into the swing, they basically "let go" in a sense, simply relax the arm so the gravity pulls the racquet down and then go into the swing, that drop provides alot of momentum into the swing and alot of racquet speed.

 

[HunterST]

I think a better tip is to drop the racquet, than to extend the arm, extending the arm means more like ur holding the racquet and moving it down using ur muscles, that won't provide as much racquet speed as if you drop it using gravity, if you watch videos of top players like Federer you can clearly see how fast the racquet goes from the top position downwards and into the swing, they basically "let go" in a sense, simply relax the arm so the gravity pulls the racquet down and then go into the swing, that drop provides alot of momentum into the swing and alot of racquet speed.

I do like that wording better for the extension/drop. I would just add my tip on. To whatever degree you drop the racquet, keep the arm in that fixed position throughout the swing.

 

[enishi1357]

I had the same idea, then I realize it is easier when the swing path is longer. And the way to have a longer swing path is setting my front foot near parallel to the baseline (sorta like swinging a baseball bat). This way, I keep my swing the same with the added fixed position.