Late racket take back on forehand. how to fix this?

BirdWalkR

Rookie
I tend to get jammed on the forehand side and i know its because i start my swing really late... especially on faster balls or heavy topspin balls. My question is when do you take the racquet back? While your on the move for the ball or when you've set your feet and know where the balls going?
 

anchorage

Rookie
The unit turn is your first move. It also provides a good part of your takeback on the forehand - probably all of it against really fast balls!

You need really good shoulder rotation on the ground strokes. A lot of the time, getting jammed/too close to the ball results from a weak shoulder turn. So, assuming you're right handed, try getting the left shoulder right around on the forehand so that it's pointing at the contact point; you should feel yourself coiled over the right leg (open, semi-open stance, up to you). That, right there, is a really strong position. Now, all you have to do is unwind transfering the weight from the right to the left foot. The coiling/shoulder rotation will give you all the power you need.
 

skiracer55

Hall of Fame
What he said...

The unit turn is your first move. It also provides a good part of your takeback on the forehand - probably all of it against really fast balls!

You need really good shoulder rotation on the ground strokes. A lot of the time, getting jammed/too close to the ball results from a weak shoulder turn. So, assuming you're right handed, try getting the left shoulder right around on the forehand so that it's pointing at the contact point; you should feel yourself coiled over the right leg (open, semi-open stance, up to you). That, right there, is a really strong position. Now, all you have to do is unwind transfering the weight from the right to the left foot. The coiling/shoulder rotation will give you all the power you need.

...and do it early, too. What do you do first when you read that your next shot is going to be a forehand? Most players say "Start running, of course!" Wrong answer. Make the unit turn, then start running. Once you're running, all you can think about is running some more. If you didn't make the unit turn first, I promise it'll happen late, if at all. If you make the unit turn and then start running, your prep is done...
 

Funbun

Professional
It's pretty important, and pretty useful, to do the unit turn and get the racquet up and prepared at the same time.

This way, if something stupid happens, like, a net cord hit, you can still run a bit forward with the racquet still up and prepared, then start the loop and swing.

The problem is, many people take the racquet back all the way, sometimes, too soon. It's better to start the racquet up immediately on the unit turn, then do the loop when the ball comes around. It's much easier to time, and you won't be rushed. In fact, you get more power from all that time to prepare.

Check this out: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1ImeQaAyFPc&feature=related

From 0:00 - 0:07, you can easily hold that position for a while if you get a slower ball. Federer's rallying against an apparently faster ball, so obviously he doesn't need to hold up that position, and just quickly transfer from unit turn/racquet up to loop and swing.

You can see Kei actually hold this position a bit longer in this practice session: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I5TXfkRS38Q

Notice how he puts up his hand and racquet, somewhat in a pause? That's what I'm talking about. Just remember to keep everything in motion; once you get your other hand and racquet up, you gotta keep it moving. You can, however, keep it moving slowly, exactly like how Kei does it.
 
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