How many things are wrong with my forehand!

Hi everyone,

This is my first post on here and I’d love nothing more then to hear about all the mistakes I’m making on my fore hand haha.

Just returning to tennis after a 6 year break and I’m noticing a lack of consistency in my strokes.I’m tackling the forehand now since it seems like the most used shot in tennis. Please feel free to add any constructive criticism. Thanks again

 
One thing I have noticed is I’m not “coiling” and using my legs enough but I’m interested to see what you all can notice.
 

mad dog1

G.O.A.T.
Hi everyone,

This is my first post on here and I’d love nothing more then to hear about all the mistakes I’m making on my fore hand haha.

Just returning to tennis after a 6 year break and I’m noticing a lack of consistency in my strokes.I’m tackling the forehand now since it seems like the most used shot in tennis. Please feel free to add any constructive criticism. Thanks again

Well, your first mistake is asking for advice here.
 

SystemicAnomaly

Bionic Poster
Where are the poll options? I was hoping there would be a poll with this thread.

I think I saw one neutral stance. Maybe more. Do you mostly hit open and semi-open? For the sake of your hip, you might consider mostly semi-open and neutral rather than semi-open and fully open.

Not a fan of pivoting on the heel. Sometimes you do it; sometimes you don't. Other than that, didn't see much that was all that bad. Maybe I'll take a closer look later.
 
Where are the poll options? I was hoping there would be a poll with this thread.

I think I saw one neutral stance. Maybe more. Do you mostly hit open and semi-open? For the sake of your hip, you might consider mostly semi-open and neutral rather than semi-open and fully open.

Not a fan of pivoting on the heel. Sometimes you do it; sometimes you don't. Other than that, didn't see much that was all that bad. Maybe I'll take a closer look later.
 
Where are the poll options? I was hoping there would be a poll with this thread.

I think I saw one neutral stance. Maybe more. Do you mostly hit open and semi-open? For the sake of your hip, you might consider mostly semi-open and neutral rather than semi-open and fully open.

Not a fan of pivoting on the heel. Sometimes you do it; sometimes you don't. Other than that, didn't see much that was all that bad. Maybe I'll take a closer look later.
Thanks for checking out the video. I tend to hit semi open most of the time.

I seem to have a hard time putting pace into my forehand and I’m wondering if I should be “coiling”

also I shank/frame the ball quite a bit as well. I’m assuming thats probably because I don’t watch the ball long enough
 

SystemicAnomaly

Bionic Poster
Thanks for checking out the video. I tend to hit semi open most of the time.

I seem to have a hard time putting pace into my forehand and I’m wondering if I should be “coiling”

also I shank/frame the ball quite a bit as well. I’m assuming thats probably because I don’t watch the ball long enough
Are you using an extreme version of the SW grip here? Might consider more conservative version of the SW grip to make it easier to hit thru the ball rather than putting a lot of spin on the ball. Or you could adjust your swing path so that it is more drive and less "brush".

Perhaps a bit more separation angle might help. That means your upper torso coils more than your hips to create an offset (separation angle). This offset should start a bit more potential energy in your core. If your separation angle is mild or inadequate, you might start uncoiling the hips a bit earlier than you uncoil your upper torso.
 

SystemicAnomaly

Bionic Poster
One thing I have noticed is I’m not “coiling” and using my legs enough but I’m interested to see what you all can notice.
This video from Patrick M appears to be applicable to your forehand:



If my earlier suggestions do not resonate or work for you, you might try taking a look at these other short videos from PM. He has great insight and a better forehand than I do




 

pencilcheck

Hall of Fame
Try to concentrate on how your entire body is received when you hit the ball, if you find a good feeling remember that feeling and try to recreate that when you hit.
 

ballmachineguy

Hall of Fame
Ok. I will throw a couple of videos in here to support my position. I am on a phone where I am alternating between play and pause. Your unit turn is a lot like Jack Sock (nextgen). I stop the video where the racquet is horizontal and your face is seen in the hoop of the racquet. The elbow is back and up. It would be fine, if you, while relaxed, just let the elbow drop, have the racquet start to swivel just before the elbow gets to the lowest point (a sign that you are already moving toward contact) and keeping the momentum of letting the elbow drop, keep accelerating toward contact. This will keep the racquet on the hitting side of the body and give you a ton of lag. All good! What you are doing is setting up like that and instead going all Borna Coric to where you look like a road worker holding a stop sign to cars behind you. Borna hits from this position and is on the ATP tour, so it must be fine right? Where I think the problem comes in is that Borna has the racquet more vertical on unit turn, then when he turns the racquet to the back fence, there is no lifting of the racquet hoop to vertical, which puts a force on the racquet to go past vertical. This starts you into racquet lag prematurely, kinda like a WTA forehand, although you have created a stunted version. BC can just drop the racquet straight down and not get lag started until moving toward contact. Your current style has no ATP-type rapid change of direction to create lag. So, you can either go all compact and do the former or go all Borna and unit turn and proceed to finish the takeback with a vertical racquet.
If you try the above and they don’t clean things up, refer to post #4.
 
Ok. I will throw a couple of videos in here to support my position. I am on a phone where I am alternating between play and pause. Your unit turn is a lot like Jack Sock (nextgen). I stop the video where the racquet is horizontal and your face is seen in the hoop of the racquet. The elbow is back and up. It would be fine, if you, while relaxed, just let the elbow drop, have the racquet start to swivel just before the elbow gets to the lowest point (a sign that you are already moving toward contact) and keeping the momentum of letting the elbow drop, keep accelerating toward contact. This will keep the racquet on the hitting side of the body and give you a ton of lag. All good! What you are doing is setting up like that and instead going all Borna Coric to where you look like a road worker holding a stop sign to cars behind you. Borna hits from this position and is on the ATP tour, so it must be fine right? Where I think the problem comes in is that Borna has the racquet more vertical on unit turn, then when he turns the racquet to the back fence, there is no lifting of the racquet hoop to vertical, which puts a force on the racquet to go past vertical. This starts you into racquet lag prematurely, kinda like a WTA forehand, although you have created a stunted version. BC can just drop the racquet straight down and not get lag started until moving toward contact. Your current style has no ATP-type rapid change of direction to create lag. So, you can either go all compact and do the former or go all Borna and unit turn and proceed to finish the takeback with a vertical racquet.
If you try the above and they don’t clean things up, refer to post #4.
Thanks for the input! I hate what my non dominant hand does after the take back. A lot of matches people feel like I’m calling the ball out and it cause some confusion so definitely working on breaking that habit.
 

SystemicAnomaly

Bionic Poster
Thanks for the input! I hate what my non dominant hand does after the take back. A lot of matches people feel like I’m calling the ball out and it cause some confusion so definitely working on breaking that habit.
I'm not a big fan of the Jack Sock or Nick Kyrgios Next Gen takebacks for students. I'd go with something simpler. The Coric Fh uses a fairly large loop but seems to be clean and simple
 

a12345

Professional
To be honest youre hitting quite well. If youve been out for a long time and struggle for consistency that seems normal, so you just need to hit for hours and hours and 1000's of balls to get your positioning and timing back in tune.

Once youve got back into your consistency and are looking for a bit more, only then should you probably start adding to your game and changing stuff.
 

SystemicAnomaly

Bionic Poster
@Sweatii_yetii
looks good overall to me. I do question your positioning on court though - I never stand that far back for practice or match personally (but I know people do).
Good point. Perhaps the OP feels he needs a bit extra time for his takeback flourish. Or maybe he is initiating his unit turn (UT) a skosh on the late side. Dealing with consistently high-bouncing balls?

I generally advise starting the UT as the ball is crossing the net so that it is complete by the time the ball bounces or by the time the ball has reached the service line -- whichever of these events happens first. In the OP video, most balls are bouncing very close to the service line. So, in this case, both events (criteria) happen at the same time. So the UT should be complete by then (and the drop for the forward swing should be ready to commence).

 

onehandbh

G.O.A.T.
This video from Patrick M appears to be applicable to your forehand:



If my earlier suggestions do not resonate or work for you, you might try taking a look at these other short videos from PM. He has great insight and a better forehand than I do




I like a lot of his videos. He explains things in a way that seems to get across to the students.
 
@Sweatii_yetii

Good point. Perhaps the OP feels he needs a bit extra time for his takeback flourish. Or maybe he is initiating his unit turn (UT) a skosh on the late side. Dealing with consistently high-bouncing balls?

I generally advise starting the UT as the ball is crossing the net so that it is complete by the time the ball bounces or by the time the ball has reached the service line -- whichever of these events happens first. In the OP video, most balls are bouncing very close to the service line. So, in this case, both events (criteria) happen at the same time. So the UT should be complete by then (and the drop for the forward swing should be ready to commence).

Great point. I do typically feel most comfortable behind the baseline to allow for more time to get ready. I was using the slinger ball machine which does shoot balls out with quite a bit of topspin so the ball was bouncing a bit high. For training purposes I think I should set it further back so I could practice in a more match like position on the court.

I do agree that I think I’m a bit late in preparation so I’ll definitely keep that in mind!
 

ballmachineguy

Hall of Fame
I'm not a big fan of the Jack Sock or Nick Kyrgios Next Gen takebacks for students. I'd go with something simpler. The Coric Fh uses a fairly large loop but seems to be clean and simple
Yeah, I was going to say something about not trying to hit like Sock but forgot during my long-winded post(he doesn’t even use this forehand anymore if matches earlier this summer are any indication), but he was using that take back and the only reason to is if you want to hit a compact **** like him or Nick. Using it for a bigger loop like Coric (mixing and matching styles) is what I believe is causing the trouble. I believe his lag is pretty much set as he starts from that highest point behind him and it isn’t enough to to meet the ball squarely in front and causes the shanks. A lot to try to determine from one angle and not seeing where the balls are going.
 
Yeah, I was going to say something about not trying to hit like Sock but forgot during my long-winded post(he doesn’t even use this forehand anymore if matches earlier this summer are any indication), but he was using that take back and the only reason to is if you want to hit a compact **** like him or Nick. Using it for a bigger loop like Coric (mixing and matching styles) is what I believe is causing the trouble. I believe his lag is pretty much set as he starts from that highest point behind him and it isn’t enough to to meet the ball squarely in front and causes the shanks. A lot to try to determine from one angle and not seeing where the balls are going.
Next time I go out I’ll record myself from a reverse angle and post it.

also with you saying the lag being set from the peak of the swing do you believe that’s caused from my wrist not being loose or loose enough? Thanks again.
 

RVT

Rookie
everything looks good to me except that as you already noticed, you're body is pretty straight--not much loading and unloading from the legs. The other thing is your position on the court. And as someone who also started playing after an even longer layoff, it get it...but if you're actually going to play from that far back on a hard court, you're going to get into trouble against any good player.

OK, one other thing: I'd practice how you play. And while you're just hitting forehands here, do you always hold a forehand grip? If so, that's fine--but it's pretty unusual. One thing I noticed is that even hitting just forehands off of the machine, I always go back to my neutral grip (continental). Most players tend to hold a backhand grip in a neutral position. Again, if your neutral grip is a forehand then I wouldn't change it--but if not, you want to practice the grip change on the start of the shoulder turn (when most folks switch grips).
 
everything looks good to me except that as you already noticed, you're body is pretty straight--not much loading and unloading from the legs. The other thing is your position on the court. And as someone who also started playing after an even longer layoff, it get it...but if you're actually going to play from that far back on a hard court, you're going to get into trouble against any good player.

OK, one other thing: I'd practice how you play. And while you're just hitting forehands here, do you always hold a forehand grip? If so, that's fine--but it's pretty unusual. One thing I noticed is that even hitting just forehands off of the machine, I always go back to my neutral grip (continental). Most players tend to hold a backhand grip in a neutral position. Again, if your neutral grip is a forehand then I wouldn't change it--but if not, you want to practice the grip change on the start of the shoulder turn (when most folks switch grips).
Ahhh I’ve never given any thought about that. I feel like I probably hold a SW grip naturally? I think my natural positioning in the court is probably about 1’ behind the baseline. Thanks
 

ballmachineguy

Hall of Fame
Next time I go out I’ll record myself from a reverse angle and post it.

also with you saying the lag being set from the peak of the swing do you believe that’s caused from my wrist not being loose or loose enough? Thanks again.
Probably not from not being loose enough. If you watch the Sock forehand (just for visual, not great to emulate), you will see that from elbow toward back fence, racquet head toward target, he drops the elbow as the start of the forward swing, and the racquet head draws away from target toward the back fence, the forearm supinates and as the hand accelerates towards contact the weight of the racquet lays the wrist back.
On Borna’s, he has the racquet vertical behind him, as it was at unit turn. From there, he pulls it down/let’s it fall and as it is dropping (not after it drops all of the way, that would be too late) he supinates/swivels and accelerates toward contact. This change of direction throws the wrist back. On both forehands, the racquet is ready for contact, the angle is set, it just needs to be brought to the ball.
You, OTOH, start like Sock, (here, your lag is pretty much set) you move through where Borna is, but, since you don’t stop at that “stop sign holding position” you can’t get the same rapid change of direction of coming straight down and firing toward the ball. You are just making a WTA type loop only in an ATP type environment. This compact loop from the nextgen start isn’t letting you get the benefits of the WTA loop either.
In the end, you just need to come up with that move that creates the proper lag, which has more to do with the shot than simply laying the racquet back. Right now, from that viewing angle, I don’t see it.
 
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mrmarble

Rookie
Probably not from not being loose enough. If you watch the Sock forehand (just for visual, not great to emulate), you will see that from elbow toward back fence, racquet head toward target, he drops the elbow as the start of the forward swing, and the racquet head draws away from target toward the back fence, the forearm supinates and as the hand accelerates towards contact the weight of the racquet lays the wrist back.
On Borna’s, he has the racquet vertical behind him, as it was at unit turn. From there, he pulls it down/let’s it fall and as it is dropping (not after it drops all of the way, that would be too late) he supinates/swivels and accelerates toward contact. This change of direction throws the wrist back. On both forehands, the racquet is ready for contact, the angle is set, it just needs to be brought to the ball.
You, OTOH, start like Sock, (here, your lag is pretty much set) you move through where Borna is, but, since you don’t stop at that “stop sign holding position” you can’t get the same rapid change of direction of coming straight down and firing toward the ball. You are just making a WTA type loop only in an ATP type environment. This compact loop from the nextgen start isn’t letting you get the benefits of the WTA loop either.
In the end, you just need to come up with that move that creates the proper lag, which has more to do with the shot than simply laying the racquet back. Right now, from that viewing angle, I don’t see it.
Man none of this garbage matters, OP. It only validates the post below lol
There’s zero problem with your forhand tecknique


Well, your first mistake is asking for advice here.
 

SystemicAnomaly

Bionic Poster
@Sweatii_yetii
Well, your first mistake is asking for advice here.
Man none of this garbage matters, OP. It only validates the post below lol
There’s zero problem with your forhand tecknique
Disagree. Strongly. It is a very decent forehand technique but the OP has identified several problems with his Fh strokes that might not necessarily just magically go away with a lot of (uncorrected) practice. Or maybe they will.

He indicated that he is concerned because his strokes lack consistency. Later he reveals that he quite often frames / shanks the ball. He also has indicated that he does not find it easy to put pace on his forehand. He appears to be getting decent speed on the ball but, apparently, it is not reasonably effortless from what he is saying. It has also come out that he is playing awfully deep and might be executing his unit turn and preparing somewhat on the late side.

But mostly, the OP appears to be looking for different insights or perspectives on his strokes. So that is what he is getting.
 
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SystemicAnomaly

Bionic Poster
... also I shank/frame the ball quite a bit as well. I’m assuming thats probably because I don’t watch the ball long enough
I did not see it in this video but, perhaps, you are sometimes moving your head during the contact phase.

Before the ball crosses the net try to determine, by visually tracking it, where the ball will bounce. You can either track the ball to that bounce or you can perform a saccadic jump -- let your eyes jump ahead to the expected bounce point waiting for the ball to arrive at that location. I have often used this later technique for serve returns -- quite successfully.

Also, as the ball is crossing the net and bouncing, you are also determining where you need to be to intercept the incoming ball. Once you have started your forward swing, you should have a pretty good idea exactly where that contact point will be.

You will usually still be tracking the ball for a while after it bounces. But shortly before the ball reaches you, your eyes can no longer see or track the ball in most cases. Some time shortly after you started your forward swing, fix your gaze at or near the contact point -- and keep your head "quiet" once you do this.

You can fix your gaze a bit in front of the expected contact point, is Andre Agassi would do. Or you can turn your head a bit more, before the ball reaches you, to fix your gaze behind or at the contact point -- as Roger F would do. This works well for some players but many find the RF implementation a bit difficult.

But in either case, stop turning your head shortly after you have started your forward swing and do not be tempted to look up to follow the ball for a short while after contact -- for a short time after you feel and hear the impact. This will help to ensure that you are not moving your head prematurely and sabotaging your swingpath
 

ChaelAZ

G.O.A.T.
Hi everyone,

This is my first post on here and I’d love nothing more then to hear about all the mistakes I’m making on my fore hand haha.

Just returning to tennis after a 6 year break and I’m noticing a lack of consistency in my strokes.I’m tackling the forehand now since it seems like the most used shot in tennis. Please feel free to add any constructive criticism. Thanks again



Well, with 6 years off the timing and flow will be off and cause consistency issues. Mechanically it ticks the boxes to me. I personally prefer to see more forward push into the ball in that open stance, and did see a few you did semi-open which forces more forwarded momentum, but that is just me most likely. Overall, I say just hit a bunch of balls to pracitce. play some matches and then you will know what is breaking down and be able to figure out better what might be causing it in the stroke. More times it is just footwork and set up to apply the stroke, than the stroke itself in what I have seen. Cheers.
 
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mrmarble

Rookie
He indicated that he is concerned because his strokes lack consistency. Later he reveals that he quite often frames / shanks the ball. He also has indicated that he does not find it easy to put pace on his forehand. He appears to be getting decent speed on the ball but, apparently, it is not reasonably effortless from what he is saying. It has also come out that he is playing awfully deep and might be executing his unit turn and preparing somewhat on the late side.
Lol
None of that means his teknique is the issue
He has no fundamental problem with teknique
So all he needs is hit more and more balls with focus and intensity
Nothing is more important than placing the ball where you need to
Their is a thousand ways to hit a forehand but only a few fundamentals which he already has
 
Lol
None of that means his teknique is the issue
He has no fundamental problem with teknique
So all he needs is hit more and more balls with focus and intensity
Nothing is more important than placing the ball where you need to
Their is a thousand ways to hit a forehand but only a few fundamentals which he already has
Thanks, I appreciate that. Even if the fundamentals are there I know I’m still not where I want to be. Just want to know where to start to change things….

I do like the advice on the unit turn as well as looking at the contact point even slightly after contact

The”stop sign” non dominant hand has to go. That’s embarrassing haha
 

mrmarble

Rookie
Thanks, I appreciate that. Even if the fundamentals are there I know I’m still not where I want to be. Just want to know where to start to change things….

I do like the advice on the unit turn as well as looking at the contact point even slightly after contact

The”stop sign” non dominant hand has to go. That’s embarrassing haha
Ok up to you
Just a warning focusing on trivial details is a waste of time. I didn’t want you to realise this after wasting that time lol
There no shortcuts man in learning this game

fundamentals + work your butt off that’s it
No systemic abnormality or ballmachine fellow can help you lol
 

ballmachineguy

Hall of Fame
The”stop sign” non dominant hand has to go. That’s embarrassing haha
If you are talking about the comment I made, I was talking about the racquet arm when you take the racquet to its farthest back point. No probs with your non dom hand. Also, the way you finish is excellent. I forgot to mention that before.
 

pencilcheck

Hall of Fame
I can only suggest one thing and I think that would improve your strokes:
1. Move forward, your left leg should be super in front and into the ball instead of going backwards after the shot.
 

ballmachineguy

Hall of Fame
Thanks, I appreciate that. Even if the fundamentals are there I know I’m still not where I want to be. Just want to know where to start to change things….

I do like the advice on the unit turn as well as looking at the contact point even slightly after contact

The”stop sign” non dominant hand has to go. That’s embarrassing haha
Any progress on the view from behind? I have a couple of pics on my phone that, unfortunately, I am too technologically stupid to get into my posts. One is of you post-contact with the ball one foot off your strings, the other is from the same angle of Novak D with the ball one foot off his strings. His hand is still leading the racquet hoop. Your racquet hoop is ahead of your hand. He is encouraging crisp contact, yours less so. I believe that you would benefit from either a way more compact swing or just go full Medvedev (he actually start similar to you). Something was possibly lost in translation on my first post, so trying to explain in this forum may not work. Maybe watch Nick Kyrgios for example of the compact style or Medvedev, especially from behind for a bigger loop style (WTA). Either works. You look to have the ability to have a great forehand either road you travel.
 

Dragy

Legend
His hand is still leading the racquet hoop.
There are different options to this. Move tends to fade most of his FHs, but Rafa, for example, uses both “draw” (when racquet head is released earlier from the lag) and “fade” (where handle is pushed further through). Each option is optimal for various cases and intentions.

Compare these two shots:
07FOREHAND-articleLarge.jpg

1421910601880.jpg
 
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ballmachineguy

Hall of Fame
There are different options to this. Move tends to fade most of his FHs, but Rafa, for example, uses both “draw” (when racquet head is released earlier from the lag) and “fade” (where handle is pushed further through). Each option is optimal for various cases and intentions.

Compare these two shots:
07FOREHAND-articleLarge.jpg

1421910601880.jpg
The first pic looks like him hitting a drive on a ball in his strike zone. The OP’s pic was of a ball he was well set up for. The second pic of Novak (different angle btw) looks nothing like his normal forehand technique. For sure, you sometimes have to deviate from normal technique to get the strings on the ball. Don’t know the situation of the second pic but he looks forced to improvise to me.
 

Power Player

Bionic Poster
Thanks for checking out the video. I tend to hit semi open most of the time.

I seem to have a hard time putting pace into my forehand and I’m wondering if I should be “coiling”

also I shank/frame the ball quite a bit as well. I’m assuming thats probably because I don’t watch the ball long enough

You don't use your legs enough and your head needs to stay still.

Load up more on your back foot before the shot. You are kind of upright and not really getting enough leg drive.

On the head, just keep it still longer so your shoulder touches your chin after the shot.
 
Any progress on the view from behind? I have a couple of pics on my phone that, unfortunately, I am too technologically stupid to get into my posts. One is of you post-contact with the ball one foot off your strings, the other is from the same angle of Novak D with the ball one foot off his strings. His hand is still leading the racquet hoop. Your racquet hoop is ahead of your hand. He is encouraging crisp contact, yours less so. I believe that you would benefit from either a way more compact swing or just go full Medvedev (he actually start similar to you). Something was possibly lost in translation on my first post, so trying to explain in this forum may not work. Maybe watch Nick Kyrgios for example of the compact style or Medvedev, especially from behind for a bigger loop style (WTA). Either works. You look to have the ability to have a great forehand either road you travel.


This was actually from the same session but I was about 1.5hrs into forehand training and things got real…..sloppy. I would say this is below my average performance which is why I didn’t post it but it has phenomenal examples of top shelf quality shanks haha. I went out and hit yesterday and really focused on using my legs more. Didn’t record myself since there were a lot of people at the courts and it just felt awkward. I plan on going out there again tomorrow and will record more. Thanks again for all the advice everyone.
 

vex

Legend
This video from Patrick M appears to be applicable to your forehand:



If my earlier suggestions do not resonate or work for you, you might try taking a look at these other short videos from PM. He has great insight and a better forehand than I do




Lots of good stuff but I dunno if I like the way he explained the FH in video 2 where he’s talking about swooshing with the wrist…
 

SystemicAnomaly

Bionic Poster
Lots of good stuff but I dunno if I like the way he explained the FH in video 2 where he’s talking about swooshing with the wrist…
Yeah, I do not really like some of the explanation or "technical" reasons that Patrick M provides. But he's great at getting his point across even with flawed instructional cues.
 
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Dragy

Legend
This was actually from the same session but I was about 1.5hrs into forehand training and things got real…..sloppy. I would say this is below my average performance which is why I didn’t post it but it has phenomenal examples of top shelf quality shanks haha. I went out and hit yesterday and really focused on using my legs more. Didn’t record myself since there were a lot of people at the courts and it just felt awkward. I plan on going out there again tomorrow and will record more. Thanks again for all the advice everyone.
You have one issue which will, once fixed, make everything easier: late prep.

Here you are by the ball bounce, still taking racquet back:
WXdHCx6_d.webp

Now here’s where you wanna be to not feel rushed by the ball and attack it with authority:
cEqpvRO_d.webp

Your most secure approach is to rush this full load, racquet arm high and back position, and slow down there if you need. Then drop arm and racquet aligning the intended swing to the incoming ball:
nQMudc1_d.webp

And then accelerate by leg action and torso rotation:
BGZjqnv_d.webp
 

mrmarble

Rookie
You have one issue which will, once fixed, make everything easier: late prep.

Here you are by the ball bounce, still taking racquet back:
WXdHCx6_d.webp

Now here’s where you wanna be to not feel rushed by the ball and attack it with authority:
cEqpvRO_d.webp

Your most secure approach is to rush this full load, racquet arm high and back position, and slow down there if you need. Then drop arm and racquet aligning the intended swing to the incoming ball:
nQMudc1_d.webp

And then accelerate by leg action and torso rotation:
BGZjqnv_d.webp
Dom’s incoming ball is probly much faster though
 
Hey again, posting new videos of my forehand practice from this morning. 1 from a reverse angle as well as 2 from the side angle.

I tried to put an emphasis on my position on the court as well as using my legs a bit more. After watching it back a few times I noticed that my swing looked a bit more compact with less wrist lag. I feel like that was happening because I was a bit more conscious of what I was doing therefore making me tense up. Let me know if you guys see anything better or worse. Cheers


 

mucat

Hall of Fame
You have a nice long swing with loose arm. Just need to control it better. I suggest practice hitting targets, left, center, right and also hit different trajectory, high ball, low ball. Once you can create different shots with consistency, your control should be improved.
 
You have a nice long swing with loose arm. Just need to control it better. I suggest practice hitting targets, left, center, right and also hit different trajectory, high ball, low ball. Once you can create different shots with consistency, your control should be improved.
I’ve started placing things in the back corners of the court. For the longest time I could not for the life of me hit a forehand down the line and now I’m getting it. I’m trying to get out 3-4 times a week to practice.
 

jz000

Semi-Pro
Not bad strokes. Just remember - different strokes for different folks.
How 'comfortable' would it feel hitting vs a strong flat hitter for you?
 

slipgrip93

Professional
As mentioned, your form 'fundamentals" look good. It kind of looks similar to how I like to hit it. Maybe one thing I can suggest in my lay opinion (i'm just 3.0 or less so far) , is maybe you could "use" the ground more, as in bending your leg a little (meaning, engaging and activating the muscles in the legs and foot more on prep, not necessarily a big bending of the knees) in the timing to get more initial force from your feet and legs pushing off the ground, transferring the 'kinetic chain' momentum into your uncoiling torso and eventually to your swinging arm. As others mentioned, you may just need a more smooth overall swing in timing from takeback to hit and follow through.

edit: I just saw your latest videos above. Looks smoother already with more 'plowthrough'. gj.
 
Last edited:
Hey everyone, a month or so has passed and I decided to go out and record some forehand’s to see if it’s starting to look a bit different. One thing I can say is that I seem to be shanking the ball a lot less which has been nice lol I feel I’ve added a bit more pace to my shots but I’d still like your input on things to focus on. Thanks again!
 
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