My forehand video

[Quinn Lamontagne]

This isn't the first time I've posted on TW about my forehand (thread here) however, I finally have footage of my forehand and I'm hoping for some tips and clarification. After watching the clips I do think It has a lot of potential, but I keep dropping my rackuet too low almost as if it is 1000 pounds (during my forwards swing not my back swing) and this causes me to not make great contact. In the videos it looks like I'm hitting well, but in all honesty it wasn't that great because I'm missing out on a lot of power and my contact is iffy. Third video is a great example of what I'm doing wrong + the five second mark on the first video.


Example 1:

Example 2:

Example 3

 

[Limpinhitter]

This isn't the first time I've posted on TW about my forehand (thread here) however, I finally have footage of my forehand and I'm hoping for some tips and clarification. After watching the clips I do think It has a lot of potential, but I keep dropping my rackuet too low almost as if it is 1000 pounds (during my forwards swing not my back swing) and this causes me to not make great contact. In the videos it looks like I'm hitting well, but in all honesty it wasn't that great because I'm missing out on a lot of power and my contact is iffy. Third video is a great example of what I'm doing wrong + the five second mark on the first video.


Example 1:

Example 2:

Example 3

It would be helpful to see some video from the back view so that the ball flight can be seen. But, from what is shown in these videos, I like your forehand. What do you think you are doing wrong?

 

[Quinn Lamontagne]

It would be helpful to see some video from the back view so that the ball flight can be seen. But, from what is shown in these videos, I like your forehand. What do you think you are doing wrong?

I like the aesthetic of the forehand, I think it's very federeresque and has a lot of potential if I can make good contact with the ball. From the third video you can see the contact is definitely terrible and I can't accurately explain why very well except for a snapshot from (around 5 seconds before I make contact) in my first video , I drop the raquet low and I don't swing through the ball, almost like I'm trying to hit under it. As for the ball flight I don't get quite good penetration on the court and it's definitely not a cannon like I want it to be

 

[Limpinhitter]

I like the aesthetic of the forehand, I think it's very federeresque and has a lot of potential if I can make good contact with the ball. From the third video you can see the contact is definitely terrible and I can't accurately explain why very well, but just look at the five second mark on my first video, I tend to drop the raquet low and not swing through the ball, almost like I'm trying to hit under it. As for the ball flight I don't get quite good penetration on the court and it's definitely not a cannon like I want it to be

You could make contact just a bit earlier. Why do you think your contact is terrible? If you are talking about hitting off center, that's not apparent from these videos. Also, what do you think is wrong with your racquet drop? Your swing path looks good.

 

[Quinn Lamontagne]

You could make contact just a bit earlier. Why do you think your contact is terrible? If you are talking about hitting off center, that's not apparent from these videos. Also, what do you think is wrong with your racquet drop? Your swing path looks good.

This is what's wrong: https://flic.kr/p/Vf4tHA It's very hard to swing back up to make contact from this position I often shank it and it hurts my wrist. This is what i mean by dropping my racket too low. + plus i lose a lot of power because I'm not hitting through the ball. Like I look likeI'm playing ping pong

 

[Deleted member 120290]

Many amateur FH's have been ruined by trying to copy Federer's FH. Yes, it looks really nice but is useless in a real match.
There is a reason why even only a few top pros in the world hit Federer's FH. And even their FH is nowhere close to Fed's.
Try building from something like Agassi's FH instead.

 

[Limpinhitter]

This is what's wrong: https://flic.kr/p/Vf4tHA It's very hard to swing back up to make contact from this position I often shank it and it hurts my wrist. This is what i mean by dropping my racket too low. + plus i lose a lot of power because I'm not hitting through the ball. Like I look likeI'm playing ping pong

If the ball is below waist level, with your grip, from that perspective, that's about right.

Check out these video lessons from Mario Llano:

 

[Limpinhitter]

Many amateur FH's have been ruined by trying to copy Federer's FH. Yes, it looks really nice but is useless in a real match.
There is a reason why even only a few top pros in the world hit Federer's FH. And even their FH is nowhere close to Fed's.
Try building from something like Agassi's FH instead.

I disagree completely. If you are having trouble copying Federer's forehand, then I suspect it is because you don't understand what you are looking at.

 

[Quinn Lamontagne]

Many amateur FH's have been ruined by trying to copy Federer's FH. Yes, it looks really nice but is useless in a real match.
There is a reason why even only a few top pros in the world hit Federer's FH. And even their FH is nowhere close to Fed's.
Try building from something like Agassi's FH instead.

I never attempted to copy him I just said it was federesque. I recently went to a nike camp and every good player has a swing path similar to federer, just not the exact same.

 

[Quinn Lamontagne]

If the ball is below waist level, with your grip, from that perspective, that's about right.

Check out these video lessons from Mario Llano:

WOW! This is a eureka moment thank you so much for linking these.

 

[Limpinhitter]

WOW! This is a eureka moment thank you so much for linking these.

You're welcome. FYI, there's a third video that I added after you replied.

 

[Deleted member 120290]

I disagree completely. If you are having trouble copying Federer's forehand, then I suspect it is because you don't understand what you are looking at.

Another one of your clueless posts to add to your work of body. I suspect you don't even actually play tennis.

 

[Quinn Lamontagne]

Another one of your clueless posts to add to your work of body. I suspect you don't even actually play tennis.

You can't pull **** out of your ass and call out someone for a "clueless post" when you don't say why it is a clueless post and honestly I think YOU are clueless for coming up with a statistic such as "many rec players technique have been ruined from copying federer. Also pros don't "hit the federer forehand" there is no such thing, federer has a forehand and everyone's is different, sure pros may have similarities in their swing but no one hits the federer forehand but federer.

 

[Deleted member 120290]

You can't pull **** out of your ass and call out someone for a "clueless post" when you don't say why it is a clueless post and honestly I think YOU are clueless for coming up with a statistic such as "many rec players technique have been ruined from copying federer. Also pros don't "hit the federer forehand" there is no such thing, federer has a forehand and everyone's is different, sure pros may have similarities in their swing but no one hits the federer forehand but federer.

Calm down little boy. As far as trying to copy Fed ruining many rec players' FH's, your FH is a classic example. Your FH is not federeresque. Get real.

 

[Quinn Lamontagne]

Calm down little boy. As far as trying to copy Fed ruining many rec players' FH's, your FH is a classic example. Your FH is not federeresque. Get real.

My forehand has been like this for a while and sure I've watched many pros hit a forehand, but I never directly copied federer. If anything I've learned a lot about technique from the forehand of the pros and it has personally brought my game up not down. As for the federeresque thing maybe I was a bit cocky to say that, however I've seen much worse been described as federeresque. I'm done replying to you from here on out because you are distracting me from why I actually came on to this forum which was to play better tennis and I suggest you do the same.

 

[Deleted member 120290]

My forehand has been like this for a while and sure I've watched many pros hit a forehand, but I never directly copied federer. If anything I've learned a lot about technique from the forehand of the pros and it has personally brought my game up not down. As for the federeresque thing maybe I was a bit cocky to say that, however I've seen much worse been described as federeresque. I'm done replying to you from here on out because you are distracting me from why I actually came on to this forum which was to play better tennis and I suggest you do the same.

Fair enough. Good luck in your endeavor. Agree or not, I can't hate on anyone who is trying to improve his tennis.

FYI this is the FH I see very advanced juniors hit these days:

 

[Quinn Lamontagne]

Fair enough. Good luck in your endeavor. Agree or not, I can't hate on anyone who is trying to improve his tennis.

FYI this is the FH I see very advanced juniors hit these days:

Yeah, a lot of my friends tend to be much less loose and hit more like that.

 

[Chas Tennis]

The video quality can be much better.

What is your camera?

1) Place the camera closer so that your image is much larger.
2) Video yourself in bright sunlight so that the automatic exposure control will select a faster shutter and the motion blur will be minimal.
3) I believe that your camera does not have good edges in the center of the frame for the camera's automatic focus to focus on. ? Maybe the sharp angle up from the ground does not allow the camera to focus well on where you will be - what is the distance to focus on?
4) Get a cheap tripod. If smartphone, get a smartphone-to-tripod camera adapter, both about $20 total. Be careful that your camera does not get hit. A rope from the tripod to fence may help if the tripod gets hit.
5) Take a test video before the strokes to see the video quality. Adjust to improve the video.
6) Take a close up video or picture of your forehand grip & from more than one angle.

Federer has a straight arm forehand and uses an Eastern Forehand Grip. Most ATP forehands use a bend at the elbow as yours does and probably a Semi-Western Grip.

Macci has some longer instructional videos with forehand details. Macci uses Federer as a model in this video. Search for other Macci videos. Search bent elbow forehands. There is variety in forehand techniques.

Compare your techniques to similar high level forehands using high speed video and similar camera angles. Your grip, arm, wrist and racket, etc. angles & locations probably have a flaw.

Don't practice with any pain and especially if you get wrist pain. The wrist is frequently injured and can be very difficult to heal.

 

[StringSnapper]

Fair enough. Good luck in your endeavor. Agree or not, I can't hate on anyone who is trying to improve his tennis.

FYI this is the FH I see very advanced juniors hit these days:

POMO?

 

[Limpinhitter]

Another one of your clueless posts to add to your work of body. I suspect you don't even actually play tennis.

I'm sorry you feel that way. Many others on this board would disagree with you. And, for the record, I've been playing this game for almost 50 years.

 

[Limpinhitter]

Yeah, a lot of my friends tend to be much less loose and hit more like that.

Actually, his forehand isn't that much different than yours in the important aspects. He is very loose and relaxed. He employs more internal/external shoulder rotation e.g.: Djokovic, Sock, Kyrgios, whereas you employ more forearm supination/pronation e.g.: Federer and Nadal. BTW, did you notice how low his racquet drop is before contact? His racquet is almost vertical.

 

[Deleted member 120290]

I'm sorry you feel that way. Many others on this board would disagree with you. And, for the record, I've been playing this game for almost 50 years.

I'm sure many disagree with me. I may have posted more clueless posts than you with fewer total posts.

 

[Deleted member 120290]

POMO?

EDMO or KHAKO.

 

[Quinn Lamontagne]

Actually, his forehand isn't that much different than yours in the important aspects. He is very loose and relaxed. He employs more internal/external shoulder rotation e.g.: Djokovic, Sock, Kyrgios, whereas you employ more forearm supination/pronation e.g.: Federer and Nadal. BTW, did you notice how low his racquet drop is before contact? His racquet is almost vertical.

Yes very true however he's able to pull it off I guess maybe I'll just have to practice more. It takes an insane amount of hand eye coordination.

 

[Quinn Lamontagne]

The video quality can be much better.

What is your camera?

1) Place the camera closer so that your image is much larger.
2) Video yourself in bright sunlight so that the automatic exposure control will select a faster shutter and the motion blur will be minimal.
3) I believe that your camera does not have good edges in the center of the frame for the camera's automatic focus to focus on. ? Maybe the sharp angle up from the ground does not allow the camera to focus well on where you will be - what is the distance to focus on?
4) Get a cheap tripod. If smartphone, get a smartphone-to-tripod camera adapter, both about $20 total. Be careful that your camera does not get hit. A rope from the tripod to fence may help if the tripod gets hit.
5) Take a test video before the strokes to see the video quality. Adjust to improve the video.
6) Take a close up video or picture of your forehand grip & from more than one angle.

Federer has a straight arm forehand and uses an Eastern Forehand Grip. Most ATP forehands use a bend at the elbow as yours does and probably a Semi-Western Grip.

Macci has some longer instructional videos with forehand details. Macci uses Federer as a model in this video. Search for other Macci videos. Search bent elbow forehands. There is variety in forehand techniques.

Compare your techniques to similar high level forehands using high speed video and similar camera angles. Your grip, arm, wrist and racket, etc. angles & locations probably have a flaw.

Don't practice with any pain and especially if you get wrist pain. The wrist is frequently injured and can be very difficult to heal.

I'm using a iPhone 7 and the quality was fine on my phone to evaluate only when I uploaded to YouTube was there a problem. I have closely compared it to other players and what I have found is that I have an unnecasary drop in my raquet headthat is causing me most of my problems. https://flic.kr/p/Vf4tHA.

 

[Quinn Lamontagne]

Yes very true however he's able to pull it off I guess maybe I'll just have to practice more. It takes an insane amount of hand eye coordination.

I know nadal is a bad example however we both have a big back swing and his raquet hits the ball more horizontally through his forehand lag. His raquet definitely doesn't dip as far as mine.

 

[Limpinhitter]

I'm using a iPhone 7 and the quality was fine on my phone to evaluate only when I uploaded to YouTube was there a problem. I have closely compared it to other players and what I have found is that I have an unnecasary drop in my raquet headthat is causing me most of my problems. https://flic.kr/p/Vf4tHA.

Once again, I think your racquet drop is a good thing. Many players who are trying to learn the modern forehand (especially those who originally learned a traditional drive forehand), struggle relax enough to achieve sufficient racquet drop for the swing path that they intend. Considering the height of the ball, your grip, and the perspective of the camera, I don't think it's excessive. A good back view of your forehand during point play may reveal something else.

 

[Limpinhitter]

I know nadal is a bad example however we both have a big back swing and his raquet hits the ball more horizontally through his forehand lag. His raquet definitely doesn't dip as far as mine.

Remember, the amount of racquet drop needed to achieve the proper swing path depends, in large part, on the height of the incoming ball at contact. If the ball is below waist level, the racquet drop has to be lower than if the ball is at shoulder level.

PS: Look at the racquet drop at about 1:24 where Nadal takes a ball at about waist height. Like the Edmond forehand, above, the racquet is almost vertical going into the upward swing path.

 

[Quinn Lamontagne]

Remember, the amount of racquet drop needed to achieve the proper swing path depends, in large part, on the height of the incoming ball at contact. If the ball is below waist level, the racquet drop has to be lower than if the ball is at shoulder level.

PS: Look at the racquet drop at about 1:24 where Nadal takes a ball at about waist height. Like the Edmond forehand, above, the racquet is almost vertical going into the upward swing path.

Yeah I see it now, I guess he is really wiping the raquet from that point which allows him to make good contact

 

[Quinn Lamontagne]

Next time I'll play I'll have a back view camera.

 

[Limpinhitter]

Next time I'll play I'll have a back view camera.

If you use your iPhone, mount it horizontally, not vertically.

 

[Quinn Lamontagne]

If you use your iPhone, mount it horizontally, not vertically.

Okay The only really way I could prop it up without falling was vertically but next time I'll bring sometjing else to support it horizontally

 

[Chas Tennis]

I'm using a iPhone 7 and the quality was fine on my phone to evaluate only when I uploaded to YouTube was there a problem. I have closely compared it to other players and what I have found is that I have an unnecasary drop in my raquet headthat is causing me most of my problems. https://flic.kr/p/Vf4tHA.

An iPhone 7 has high speed video mode!

http://www.hispeedcams.com/iphone-7-slow-motion-remains/

help

 

[Todd Hicks]

This isn't the first time I've posted on TW about my forehand (thread here) however, I finally have footage of my forehand and I'm hoping for some tips and clarification. After watching the clips I do think It has a lot of potential, but I keep dropping my rackuet too low almost as if it is 1000 pounds (during my forwards swing not my back swing) and this causes me to not make great contact. In the videos it looks like I'm hitting well, but in all honesty it wasn't that great because I'm missing out on a lot of power and my contact is iffy. Third video is a great example of what I'm doing wrong + the five second mark on the first video.


Example 1:

Example 2:

Example 3

From a distance, it appears you have the right stroke. However, closer footage would make it easier to critique where your hands are on your racket as well as the finish of your strokes.