Is bent arm FH really more stable than straight arm FH?

[Jonesy]

Nik from IT is back, bringing amazing concepts like flatspin and other interesting nuggets to justify why Djoker's bent arm FH breaks down less than Alderal's straight arm FH.

 

[baowow]

Mostly agreed. Is not as bent as most people think. Nothing like Iga. Fognini and Nalbandian are very similar. Simple and easy. Most rec players should try to replicate rather than Fed's forehand.

 

[ppma]

I agree with Nick, especially regarding the lesser margin for adjustments of fully-extended elbow at 7:10. One of the biggest differences of fh and bh (remarks on 1hbh) is precisely the possiblity to make short-time adjustments once footwork for the approach of the contact point is finished, and semi-bent elbow maximizes this advantage of the shot.

 

[johnmccabe]

Nik from IT is back, bringing amazing concepts like flatspin and other interesting nuggets to justify why Djoker's bent arm FH breaks down less than Alderal's straight arm FH.

Agree with Nik

 

[Jaferd]

I don't think Federer's nor Nadal's arms are locked at the elbow. Infact, most of the time they are slightly bent, especially Federer's. He may be right about Djokovic's forehand being more consistent but I doubt it's because it a bent vs straight arm issue. My 2 cents.

 

[Jonesy]

Mostly agreed. Is not as bent as most people think. Nothing like Iga. Fognini and Nalbandian are very similar. Simple and easy. Most rec players should try to replicate rather than Fed's forehand.

In fact i see a lot more players with bent arm FHs at the rec level than straight arm FH. Perhaps it is indeed a more natural movement to the body.

 

[Jonesy]

Strangely enough Zverev used to have a BA FH but changed to a SA arm FH along his career.

 

[chrischris]

Strangely enough Zverev used to have a BA FH but changed to a SA arm FH along his career.

Straight outta Deutschland.

 

[AnyPUG]

Nicola will soon be releasing many videos on why Djokovic has the best backhand, the greatest serve technique and the finest net skills and the best ever drop shots.
He is a fan boy of Djokovic.

 

[Jonesy]

Nicola will soon be releasing many videos on why Djokovic has the best backhand, the greatest serve technique and the finest net skills and the best ever drop shots.
He is a fan boy of Djokovic.

No idea, been watching most of his videos since the beggining of the channel and he always striked me as Fed fan even when he claimed to be the biggest Rafa fan. Guess he is just a fan of tennis in general, big 3 being only one part of.

Yet, he never claimed Novak's to be the most powerful FH, only that he valued consistency more in his criteria than just winner count.

 

[WeekendTennisHack]

I'm thinking slightly bent like Fed is even more stable than more bent like Djoker. Think about holding up a wall that's falling down, can you hold it longer with almost straight slightly bent arms or much more bent at the elbow? I would say the former.

 

[ballmachineguy]

What are people seeing that makes them think Rafa and Roger’s arms aren’t straight?

 

[eah123]

I think most people hit with a bent arm. A straight arm is really an anomaly, like being ambidextrous.

However, most people below 4.0 hit with arms that are too bent. Meaning they are hitting too close to the body, and missing out on the leverage/power/racket head speed that a longer lever arm enables.

 

[Jonesy]

I'm thinking slightly bent like Fed is even more stable than more bent like Djoker. Think about holding up a wall that's falling down, can you hold it longer with almost straight slightly bent arms or much more bent at the elbow? I would say the former.

Do you have some video or pic to show the slightly bent arm of Fed FH? I always believed it was a straight arm FH.

 

[WeekendTennisHack]

Do you have some video or pic to show the slightly bent arm of Fed FH? I always believed it was a straight arm FH.

 

[Jonesy]

There is some bending. I wonder if there is someone who teaches SA FHs for pros that could clarify if this changes anything technique wise.

 

[Dakota C]

I agree with Nick, especially regarding the lesser margin for adjustments of fully-extended elbow at 7:10. One of the biggest differences of fh and bh (remarks on 1hbh) is precisely the possiblity to make short-time adjustments once footwork for the approach of the contact point is finished, and semi-bent elbow maximizes this advantage of the shot.

Agreed - I would push even more and say that using a straight arm forehand effectively requires exceptional footwork, whereas you can get away with a lot worse footwork to use a proper bent arm effectively.

 

[ballmachineguy]

There is some bending. I wonder if there is someone who teaches SA FHs for pros that could clarify if this changes anything technique wise.

Maybe, just maybe, he is trying to produce topspin here.
Also, arm has to start bending around contact to keep rhs. Keeping arm straight through contact zone would lead to decel, especially the higher the ball being struck
Let’s look at some more still pictures and make judgements on entire strokes.

 

[Jonesy]

Mouratoglou vs Nik from IT... they need a podcast to discuss technique.

 

[optic yellow]

Mouratoglou vs Nik from IT... they need a podcast to discuss technique.

I'd rather watch them play a 5 setter for $50K to charity.

 

[johnmccabe]

Delete

 

[johnmccabe]

I'd rather watch them play a 5 setter for $50K to charity.

PM has zero chance

 

[optic yellow]

PM has zero chance

What if we forced Nik to use an RF90?

 

[onehandbh]

What if we forced Nik to use an RF90?

How about Nik vs TTW's @TonLars ?

 

[optic yellow]

How about Nik vs TTW's @TonLars ?

Dude hasn't been on the forums in 2 years. And anyways Mouratoglou is what gives it the real star power.