Medvedev making the bent arm forehand cool again

[Rubens]

Yes it's a funky shot. But it's an absolute weapon, and the most iconic motion since JMac's serve, precisely because it is so funky, and yet such a weapon. It is bringing the cool back to the bent arm forehand (in fact I don't think it has ever been cool in the past). The Sock/Kyrgios FH is also funky, but those two players never had the kind of success that Med is having.
This may become the next shot that rec players will imitate. Technically, there are actually several upsides. Notably, bent arm is easier to learn than straight. Contacting the ball closer to the body may make the shot more reliable than the Fedal imitation. AND most importantly it is not a wta FH, so we insecure males can safely imitate it without feeling emasculated. Any takers?

 

[socallefty]

Prefer the Djokovic bent-arm ATP forehand which is a textbook shot.

 

[Deleted member 765152]

I like it. Of course it helps to be 6' 6" with a reach of a giant octopus to hit Med's FH.

I'm all for any legal shot that will help me win. Right now I'm debating between Osaka's FH and MEP's FH.

 

[Rubens]

Prefer the Djokovic bent-arm ATP forehand which is a textbook shot.

Yes it is textbook. Unfortunately I don't think most people consider his forehand to be cool or exciting enough to copy his technique, even though they would benefit from it.

 

[socallefty]

Yes it is textbook. Unfortunately I don't think most people consider his forehand to be cool or exciting enough to copy his technique, even though they would benefit from it.

It is the most common shot that coaches teach these days and all the juniors at my club hit it - both boys and girls which was not the case ten years ago. I almost never see a straight-arm ATP forehand on TV or in real-life apart from Federer and Nadal. Most of the younger ATP pros have a bent-arm ATP FH also.

I’m not saying that they are all copying Djokovic, but it has become established as the most efficient way to hit a good FH amongst younger coaches and so that is what they teach to their students.

 

[Cashman]

I never really understood the fad for straight-arm forehands. Bent-arm is so much easier, and any loss of power is negligible.

 

[HuusHould]

I had a discussion about bent vs straight arm fh power potential, with one of my fellow players. His argument was that the straight arm fh has more leverage, mine was that the bent arm fh can generate more racquet head speed. When the iceskater tucks themself in, they spin faster. I spoke to a biomechanist and he said we're both right.

 

[Dragy]

Yes it's a funky shot. But it's an absolute weapon, and the most iconic motion since JMac's serve, precisely because it is so funky, and yet such a weapon. It is bringing the cool back to the bent arm forehand (in fact I don't think it has ever been cool in the past). The Sock/Kyrgios FH is also funky, but those two players never had the kind of success that Med is having.
This may become the next shot that rec players will imitate. Technically, there are actually several upsides. Notably, bent arm is easier to learn than straight. Contacting the ball closer to the body may make the shot more reliable than the Fedal imitation. AND most importantly it is not a wta FH, so we insecure males can safely imitate it without feeling emasculated. Any takers?

In today’s match commenters discussed how Med’s FH is less reliable and strong than his BH, and how Nole went for his FH on and on... Not that it’s that discrete, but some truth to it is there. It’s evidently an interesting phenomenon, though, to consider - for its adaptability and unpredictability. Still conventional techniques holds its advantages, particularly, spin production in line with high pace to shape the shots for better margins and heaviness. Danya relies on his good hands and body usage and precise decision making more while some other players hit 5 shots in a row with same intent, where some come out decent, some come out great - all due to combination of heaviness and built in margins. Well, a bit simplified, but hope you get what I’m trying to say.

 

[Rubens]

In today’s match commenters discussed how Med’s FH is less reliable and strong than his BH, and how Nole went for his FH on and on... Not that it’s that discrete, but some truth to it is there. It’s evidently an interesting phenomenon, though, to consider - for its adaptability and unpredictability. Still conventional techniques holds its advantages, particularly, spin production in line with high pace to shape the shots for better margins and heaviness. Danya relies on his good hands and body usage and precise decision making more while some other players hit 5 shots in a row with same intent, where some come out decent, some come out great - all due to combination of heaviness and built in margins. Well, a bit simplified, but hope you get what I’m trying to say.

I'm not sure if if it is inherently a less reliable technique than Djokovic's, or Medvedev's execution of it? Many variables to consider, but interesting to think about.

 

[Rubens]

.

 

[Fintft]

Yes it's a funky shot. But it's an absolute weapon, and the most iconic motion since JMac's serve, precisely because it is so funky, and yet such a weapon. It is bringing the cool back to the bent arm forehand (in fact I don't think it has ever been cool in the past). The Sock/Kyrgios FH is also funky, but those two players never had the kind of success that Med is having.
This may become the next shot that rec players will imitate. Technically, there are actually several upsides. Notably, bent arm is easier to learn than straight. Contacting the ball closer to the body may make the shot more reliable than the Fedal imitation. AND most importantly it is not a wta FH, so we insecure males can safely imitate it without feeling emasculated. Any takers?

We don't want to immitate that tucked elbow into his body at contact though:

3:10 min here:

http://tt.tennis-warehouse.com/index.php?threads/medvedev-forehand.690930/post-15075723