Forehand

ashtonm60

New User
I'd like to see a video of your eastern grip forehand, personally.
I will post one of my modified eastern which I in between eastern and semi western I believe it is what fed uses. Should I turn my racquet face more closed or should I leave it in its natural open place ?
 

MisterP

Hall of Fame
I will post one of my modified eastern which I in between eastern and semi western I believe it is what fed uses. Should I turn my racquet face more closed or should I leave it in its natural open place ?

This is the exact forehand grip that I use. I don't like to think about the racquet face angle very much because you achieve the correct angle by feel and repetition rather than thinking "open" or "closed". But that is just me. If the ball is sailing on you (going way long) then it might be too open, but you should be able to correct that intuitively by just trying to think about hitting lower over the net. As opposed to thinking you need to subtract 4 degrees of racquet face angle or something crazy like that.

Post a vid and we'll go from there.
 

ashtonm60

New User
This is the exact forehand grip that I use. I don't like to think about the racquet face angle very much because you achieve the correct angle by feel and repetition rather than thinking "open" or "closed". But that is just me. If the ball is sailing on you (going way long) then it might be too open, but you should be able to correct that intuitively by just trying to think about hitting lower over the net. As opposed to thinking you need to subtract 4 degrees of racquet face angle or something crazy like that.

Post a vid and we'll go from there.
Alright it is dark here right now I will post another vid of me hitting an eastern
 

ByeByePoly

G.O.A.T.
Have to agree with Donnybrook -

1) He is arming the ball. I have noticed that most beginners and even some decent players don't understand that. It took me ages to understand that criticism. It's not just empty criticism - its a real thing. And once you get it - you can't unsee it. It's the #1 problem in groundstrokes..

2) Modern forehand #1 most overblown idea in sports. For rec players there are basically two forehands - mostly arm - and correctly hit. A correctly hit forehand will allow the shoulders to rotate and pull the racquet. The only difference with a so called 'modern' forehand IMHO is that the wrist is more relaxed (on the men's forehand) and on the women they tend to fix in a laid back position.. But the fundamentals - almost identical - in that they use angular momentum of upper rotation to power the forehand and they allow the entire arm to lag this rotation..

"and they allow the entire arm to lag this rotation.."

I kept hearing that here (TT) ... but when I watch pro FHs in super slow motion, I never see the upper arm lag from the shoulder turn. It always moves as a unit of the shoulder turn. I see the racquet lag behind the hand, but I see entire arm move with the shoulder.

I'm not trying to argue ... just like watching pro techniques and discussing it. If you have a good video as an example, give me a link. I keep looking for torso/arm lag ... and I keep seeing players stiffen arm muscles enough for the arm and hand to move with shoulder.

Watch @00:11 and 00:45 ... to me Fed's upper arm goes immediately with shoulder turn ... and rest of arm starts to extend at that moment.

 

5263

G.O.A.T.
I'd dump the modern forehand concept if I was you. Develop a sound predictable FH that could get you 5.5 level. Only people I see with decent modern FH are national reps and challenger circuit level or above. Looks like an uncontrolled slap. Look at Agassi style FH. Less to go wrong. More control.
(Agassi = 90s style, Courier, Chang, Stich, Sampras, most current Wta, etc. Anyone pre poly male or most female.}
you just admitted that nearly every good player level uses the Modern Fh, so why would you suggest he dump it? Especially since this young man is off to a pretty good start from the looks of it.
 

ashtonm60

New User
you just admitted that nearly every good player level uses the Modern Fh, so why would you suggest he dump it? Especially since this young man is off to a pretty good start from the looks of it.
Thanks you for that compliment about being off to a good start
 

5263

G.O.A.T.
Modern forehand #1 most overblown idea in sports. For rec players there are basically two forehands - mostly arm - and correctly hit. A correctly hit forehand will allow the shoulders to rotate and pull the racquet. The only difference with a so called 'modern' forehand IMHO is that the wrist is more relaxed (on the men's forehand) and on the women they tend to fix in a laid back position.. But the fundamentals - almost identical - in that they use angular momentum of upper rotation to power the forehand and they allow the entire arm to lag this rotation..
Lots of confusion here for the Op to sift thru. Guy above here seems to be confusing the [ATP vs WTA].... with the ....[Modern vs Traditional(classic)] discussion.

So yes, both the atp and wta Fhs share a ton of fundamentals and are BOTH modern Fhs although they are 2 subtly different styles of modern Fhs. If someone want to hear the difference in Modern vs Traditional, we can discuss that, but traditional is mostly dead, even in training and never really lived on tour.
 

Marmaduke

New User
To the OP - perhaps engage legs more - wider athletic stance - load legs more when setting up to hit shot - u look in vid to be standing quite upright at start of shots and feet not that wide apart. Make more use of force from ground by loading legs. Just my 2p.
 

Chas Tennis

G.O.A.T.
Here's an updated vid of me hitting it's longer than the last one and it's a back view

Your ball machine is feeding balls with little delay between balls. Maybe that affects the strokes that you attempt? Also give yourself easy set ups - with more time between each ball - and practice hitting winners.

To get a slow ball that reaches the baseline, try placing the machine near the T. There may be better ways to get a very easy ball from a ball machine........?
 
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RetroSpin

Hall of Fame
Especially since this young man is off to a pretty good start from the looks of it.

I agree. He has a nice fluid stroke. Maybe he could engage his core a little more and get his elbow away from his body, but I expect that will come. I couldn't tell what is happening at PTD.
 

ashtonm60

New User
Perhaps a little higher preparation, racquet head a bit more up. From there develop more of a pronounced drop into the hit.
Do I consciously drop my racquet head or is it just a result of driving your shoulder and hips into the shot
 
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