My hitting session video clips, any advices on my groundies?

Tennisfan212

Tennisfan212

Rookie
Dear, Tennis ware house message board members.
I have couple clips of my hitting sessions. Could you please check it out and tell me what I should do to improve ? I personally think after filming myself I'm dropping the racquet head too low, but I don't know
Any advices/tips to improve my game will be much appreciated :) Here is my link where you can see my clips
I am the one thats close to the camera :)



p.s- what are your thoughts on spreading the index finger out from third finger when you grip your forehand as supposed to all fingers attached together? Does it make a big difference on your shots?
 
If you like the speed and spin of your shots, your strokes can take you as far as you can go.
While tons of spin and moderate speed is good for a lot of players, some players choose to hit a faster ball with less spin, for more court penetration.
Both styles work, yours for a player with good conditioning, strong legs, long term determination, and great lungs. Nothing wrong with a Ferrer style of play, but it takes long hours on court.
Spreading the fingers should make you hit a little flatter, usually with more control, and less spin on the ball.
 
LeeD, thank you so much for taking time to review my clips
So what can I do to hit faster balls and more penetrating shots? and yes you are exactly I do get super tired after hitting just for like half an hour, and on a hot humid days I would be tired even after first 5 minutes LOL
And great point on spreading the fingers, I actually just came back from doing this experiment but yes it definitely allows me hit with more control
So what you are saying is that I am hitting too much spin and it would exhaust me fast on the court right? So I should try to hit it little flatter with more pace ?
 
Try to make your forehand one continuous motion...otherwise you are just robbing yourself of power.
I also think you should flatten it out a little. The three forehands from around 3:37 onwards were pretty good in this aspect.
 
I do believe in the continous loop for power.
But, Anke Huber at a TLM looking forehand, considered the second best in WTA to one Steffi Graf.
Some people are just more mechanical, while Federer is more artistic, than others. Both work.
 
eaglesburg said:
Try to make your forehand one continuous motion...otherwise you are just robbing yourself of power.
I also think you should flatten it out a little. The three forehands from around 3:37 onwards were pretty good in this aspect.
Click to expand...

You are right! I do have a little hitch on my take back, Its so strange I sometimes do the take back which allows me to kinda hit it in one motion but sometimes I don't. I guess the one continuous motion you are talking about is due to inconsistency of take back motion? If so what kind of take back do you recommend? more upward take back like racquet tip pointing sky or more towards back racquet tip facing the back fence?
 
LeeD said:
I do believe in the continous loop for power.
But, Anke Huber at a TLM looking forehand, considered the second best in WTA to one Steffi Graf.
Some people are just more mechanical, while Federer is more artistic, than others. Both work.
Click to expand...

I am sorry, what is TLM looking forehand? I am sort of new here so I don't understand some of the terms :) I have never seen Anke Huber play but you are saying that we have a similar game style?
 
Your strokes look way too muscled, reason why you are getting tired. I would not worry about technical things but your stroke should feel (and look) exactly the same as when you are shadow swinging - easy and relaxed.
Usually reason for muscling is bad timing, but because you are successfully muscling, you do not feel the bad timing. When you are able to do your shadow swing when ball approaches, and miss your shot totally (like Federer sometimes does), you will be on the right path. Then you see and feel if you need to start your swing earlier/later.

Most important, you need to be prepared early, feel that you are ready to hit and waiting for the ball. It does not matter too much if you are "waiting" while doing a loop (better) or with racquet static (not so good) but this "waiting" is essential, you can not time your swing while in rush to align with the ball.

At the moment when you will be really relaxed and can allow racquet to hit the ball without muscling, power will appear, as a surprise.
 
Tennisfan212 said:
You are right! I do have a little hitch on my take back, Its so strange I sometimes do the take back which allows me to kinda hit it in one motion but sometimes I don't. I guess the one continuous motion you are talking about is due to inconsistency of take back motion? If so what kind of take back do you recommend? more upward take back like racquet tip pointing sky or more towards back racquet tip facing the back fence?
Click to expand...
For smoothness and an easier to time stroke racket tip up. You complete the shoulder turn before the elbow really starts to separate from the body.
For a more jerky shot with maybe a touch more spin and power talks it back with the tip pointing forward Towards the net. Your elbow elevates earlier in the swing.

Read this thread especially posts by tricky:
http://tt.tennis-warehouse.com/inde...g-about-the-windshield-wiper-forehand.296824/
 
villis said:
Your strokes look way too muscled, reason why you are getting tired. I would not worry about technical things but your stroke should feel (and look) exactly the same as when you are shadow swinging - easy and relaxed.
Usually reason for muscling is bad timing, but because you are successfully muscling, you do not feel the bad timing. When you are able to do your shadow swing when ball approaches, and miss your shot totally (like Federer sometimes does), you will be on the right path. Then you see and feel if you need to start your swing earlier/later.

Most important, you need to be prepared early, feel that you are ready to hit and waiting for the ball. It does not matter too much if you are "waiting" while doing a loop (better) or with racquet static (not so good) but this "waiting" is essential, you can not time your swing while in rush to align with the ball.

At the moment when you will be really relaxed and can allow racquet to hit the ball without muscling, power will appear, as a surprise.
Click to expand...

Yes this was one of the things that I wanted to fix in my stroke, so I actually have tried relaxing and have this shadow swing you are talking about, but I was miss hitting the balls more as supposed to when I was little bit more muscled...Hopefully this new spreading out the index finger could help me swing with ease. I hit once already trying this new technique and it definitely allowed me to hit more on the sweet spot with less effort .

Also what you are saying is that I need to get the racquet back pretty much even before the ball bounces yeah? and I need to make my loop smoother?
Am I way late in my preparation?
Im really confused in this whole preparation thing....:( So i really have to work on making that loop smoother and once I'm done with loop it should have transition right to impact?
 
Really nice hitting. You're really smacking the ball. Great pace and spin on both sides.


Agree with the comments about the hitch on the fh side. You're using that racquet down position as a hold position for timing, but at that point the motion should be continuous. What I see most pros do is hold (if they're going to hold) the after the unit turn but the left hand is still on the throat of the racquet. You have a timing point on you bh too, but on that side you're in the position where your hand is still on the racquet throat (like Wawrinka - very pronounced on him) so it's good.

Overall you could to tidy up your foot work. Be more deliberate and consistent with how you set-up for the ball.

You sometimes open up a bit too much on your bh before contact. Still, a really nice stroke.

Don't agree with the comments that you're muscling the ball. I see the racquet whipping into the ball with a nice swing path on both sides giving you the excellent spin and pace that you're getting.

The finger spread thing can make a difference and LeeD described it well I think. I don't know that I'd be super concerned about it from what I'm seeing on your strokes. The feet (consistent set-up) and the hitch on the fh side are the two areas I'd work on. Third might be to watch how much you open up before contact the bh.
 
rkelley said:
Really nice hitting. You're really smacking the ball. Great pace and spin on both sides.


Agree with the comments about the hitch on the fh side. You're using that racquet down position as a hold position for timing, but at that point the motion should be continuous. What I see most pros do is hold (if they're going to hold) the after the unit turn but the left hand is still on the throat of the racquet. You have a timing point on you bh too, but on that side you're in the position where your hand is still on the racquet throat (like Wawrinka - very pronounced on him) so it's good.

Overall you could to tidy up your foot work. Be more deliberate and consistent with how you set-up for the ball.

You sometimes open up a bit too much on your bh before contact. Still, a really nice stroke.

Don't agree with the comments that you're muscling the ball. I see the racquet whipping into the ball with a nice swing path on both sides giving you the excellent spin and pace that you're getting.

The finger spread thing can make a difference and LeeD described it well I think. I don't know that I'd be super concerned about it from what I'm seeing on your strokes. The feet (consistent set-up) and the hitch on the fh side are the two areas I'd work on. Third might be to watch how much you open up before contact the bh.
Click to expand...

Thank you so much for pointers, yes one of the local coaches pointed out that biggest thing I have to work on is my footwork. That I am flat footed most of the time between shots so I will definitely try to improve on that. Also that I am opening up way too soon for my bh for sure. So to fix that I just have to have better turn on bh and keep it that way as long as possible through the swing and not open up fast right ?
Also you said that my left hand on throat of the racquet is good ? That I am keeping it there even after the u it turn? I think that really helps with shoulder turn and prevents early opening up but in my case it doesn't help a lot with taking the racquet back set up

So like many people have said here that it should be continuous motion so where should be the pause where I track the ball and in my case you said that the pause is right before the contact i have my racquet head below the ball and I'm holding it there ? And that's not good because that's a hitch right ? For me I've always make a small loop then I just have my racquet ready there then swing. So I have to fix this problem ?
I'm sorry it might sound very confusing the way I am explaining it but hope you will get the point :)
 
Tennisfan212 said:
Dear, Tennis ware house message board members.
I have couple clips of my hitting sessions. Could you please check it out and tell me what I should do to improve ? I personally think after filming myself I'm dropping the racquet head too low, but I don't know
Any advices/tips to improve my game will be much appreciated :) Here is my link where you can see my clips
I am the one thats close to the camera :)



p.s- what are your thoughts on spreading the index finger out from third finger when you grip your forehand as supposed to all fingers attached together? Does it make a big difference on your shots?
Click to expand...
On video #1 you
Tennisfan212 said:
Dear, Tennis ware house message board members.
I have couple clips of my hitting sessions. Could you please check it out and tell me what I should do to improve ? I personally think after filming myself I'm dropping the racquet head too low, but I don't know
Any advices/tips to improve my game will be much appreciated :) Here is my link where you can see my clips
I am the one thats close to the camera :)



p.s- what are your thoughts on spreading the index finger out from third finger when you grip your forehand as supposed to all fingers attached together? Does it make a big difference on your shots?
Click to expand...
On #1 video you should rotate first before you move your arms and have the left hand rotate around more. You but it in the slot well but done rotated and pull the forehand. You left should uncoil and pI'll back. Your arms shouldn't cross at finish. This mean por roration usually. I hope I made some sense
 
All your strokes including serve seem very solid except that takeback on your forehand. You take it upwards quite well and fluid but you should arc from that position in a continuous move and without going that low (and certainly not stopping down there) and shoot.
 
Alien said:
All your strokes including serve seem very solid except that takeback on your forehand. You take it upwards quite well and fluid but you should arc from that position in a continuous move and without going that low (and certainly not stopping down there) and shoot.
Click to expand...

Would this be a good take back to copy? Hewitt doesn't go too low and has a pretty fluid C( the arc you were talking about) motion. What do you think?
 
Tennisfan212 said:
Would this be a good take back to copy? Hewitt doesn't go too low and has a pretty fluid C( the arc you were talking about) motion. What do you think?
Click to expand...

Well all pros have obviously solid technique with few exceptions but the start of your takeback reminds me more of Nishikori or even Stan the man, so maybe better to start there rather than Hewitt.

If we want to go even deeper and more demanding maybe you should be lighter or faster on your feets but that is more conditioning than technique.
 
Alien said:
Well all pros have obviously solid technique with few exceptions but the start of your takeback reminds me more of Nishikori or even Stan the man, so maybe better to start there rather than Hewitt.

If we want to go even deeper and more demanding maybe you should be lighter or faster on your feets but that is more conditioning than technique.
Click to expand...

Haha really? my take back is similar to Nishikori, and Stan the man? I have never even thought of that before
I would have to try to copy their take backs now. So here is another question so Im guessing Nishikori, and Stan also doesn't drop the racquet head too low but how are they able to generate such heavy spin? I think thats another reason why I put the head too low.
 
Say Chi Sin Lo said:
Why do you stand so far back behind the baseline?
Click to expand...
haha my close friend was just telling me this, I've always hit it this way I don't know. Just having full western grip, I need little bit more time to prepare and its harder for me to have such compact swing from baseline like agassi
Also i used to watch lot of Roddick because I liked his serve and forehand, and he was standing so far behind the baseline so I started doing the same
it just gives me extra time to set up for the shot and feel more comfortable than staying right within the baseline
 
Tennisfan212 said:
Haha really? my take back is similar to Nishikori, and Stan the man? I have never even thought of that before
I would have to try to copy their take backs now. So here is another question so Im guessing Nishikori, and Stan also doesn't drop the racquet head too low but how are they able to generate such heavy spin? I think thats another reason why I put the head too low.
Click to expand...

Lol, that is the secret of their level ! I said the start of the take back haha.
Check for instance:

 
By the way, take a look at my recent service practice
with my new stick Yonex Vcore Tour G
I can hit my flat okay sometimes but not consistent, also I want to improve my kick better
any tips with that ?


 
Alien said:
Lol, that is the secret of their level ! I said the start of the take back haha.
Check for instance:

Click to expand...

Im going to practice this today !! haha thanks for the clips
Also this other member said that my arm shouldn't cross at the finish, I didnt quite get what he was saying... Am i doing something wrong with the finish?
 
Tennisfan212 said:
haha my close friend was just telling me this, I've always hit it this way I don't know. Just having full western grip, I need little bit more time to prepare and its harder for me to have such compact swing from baseline like agassi
Also i used to watch lot of Roddick because I liked his serve and forehand, and he was standing so far behind the baseline so I started doing the same
it just gives me extra time to set up for the shot and feel more comfortable than staying right within the baseline
Click to expand...

We're coming from two different school of thoughts, so of course it would look weird to me. (Easternish grip, hugs baseline, spanks the ball early)

I think it's fine when you're just rally. I even stay way back just to get my rhythm and timing down for the session. But in a match, you're giving up a LOT of court. Just something to be aware of. If you can find ways to counter your less-than-desirable court positioning, more power to you!
 
Nice serves, very solid, very straight forward takeback and swing, just like your groundies.
You like to do things direct, and have the power to do it without resorting to a big loop to get the power.
 
Say Chi Sin Lo said:
We're coming from two different school of thoughts, so of course it would look weird to me. (Easternish grip, hugs baseline, spanks the ball early)

I think it's fine when you're just rally. I even stay way back just to get my rhythm and timing down for the session. But in a match, you're giving up a LOT of court. Just something to be aware of. If you can find ways to counter your less-than-desirable court positioning, more power to you!
Click to expand...

You are absolutely right about giving up lot of court when I stay too far behind the baseline, thats why my friend who hugs the baseline toy around with me when we are hitting and I am the one who is doing all the running LOL

Honestly, sometime i wish i knew how to hit with eastern grip, more flat and more authority on the ball
I will defintely try to come little closer to the baseline and start hitting this way

By the way, Can you name any players who actually hugs the baseline and still has western grip?
 
Tennisfan212 said:
You are absolutely right about giving up lot of court when I stay too far behind the baseline, thats why my friend who hugs the baseline toy around with me when we are hitting and I am the one who is doing all the running LOL

Honestly, sometime i wish i knew how to hit with eastern grip, more flat and more authority on the ball
I will defintely try to come little closer to the baseline and start hitting this way

By the way, Can you name any players who actually hugs the baseline and still has western grip?
Click to expand...

The only pro that I know of that uses a full western grip is Nadal. Of course, he doesn't really hug the baseline.

But I personally think hitting the ball early is achievable with ANY grip (it's not exclusive to easterner or the continental people). Look at Andre Agassi, he uses a semi-western, he hugs the baseline and hits the ball earlier than most other players with an eastern grip.

It's all mental really. "I'm not giving away the court", and you'll find a way to get there.
 
Possibly, direct short strokes and staying well back indicates a passive approach to tennis, making no mistakes and giving yourself the longest look at the incoming ball. Most passive players, and some were in the top 2 of ATP in the world, don't look to approach net position to WIN the point outright, and would prefer to stay well back, trade endless baseline shots, and use their concentration, conditioning, strong legs, and will power to win points...rather than "simply" hitting a clean winner.
The top "style" of the past 12 or so years is the "Spanish" style, staying well behind the baseline, pounding heavy topspin shots, running laterally along the baseline from side to side, and avoiding the net unless provoked by a drop shot or a weak service line depth return, upon which the spanish style player just pounds the ball to one corner or the other, not bothering to switch to a volley grip whatsoever.
A somewhat valid style of play, which at appears close to half the ATP pros play this way.
 
Tennisfan212 said:
You are absolutely right about giving up lot of court when I stay too far behind the baseline, thats why my friend who hugs the baseline toy around with me when we are hitting and I am the one who is doing all the running LOL

Honestly, sometime i wish i knew how to hit with eastern grip, more flat and more authority on the ball
I will defintely try to come little closer to the baseline and start hitting this way

By the way, Can you name any players who actually hugs the baseline and still has western grip?
Click to expand...

Djokovic hugs the baseline and takes it early, and he has the most extreme grip out of the Big Four. I would try to copy his forehand. Very good fundamentals.
 
Novak has eagle quality eyes, the reactions of a cheetah, the speed/strength ratio of the best athletes in the world, constant coaching and a full time trainer, and for first 5 years in ATP, he stood back and allowed his opponent's to dictate the action.
Now, after 6 years of ATP tennis, backed by well over 15 years of junior tennis, he's standing IN closer to the baseline.
 
LeeD said:
Novak has eagle quality eyes, the reactions of a cheetah, the speed/strength ratio of the best athletes in the world, constant coaching and a full time trainer, and for first 5 years in ATP, he stood back and allowed his opponent's to dictate the action.
Now, after 6 years of ATP tennis, backed by well over 15 years of junior tennis, he's standing IN closer to the baseline.
Click to expand...

Even at the recreational level, it is possible to take the ball early and stand on the baseline with a western grip. It is easier to do it with an eastern grip, but it doesn't take professional level skill to hit on the rise with a more extreme grip. It just takes good timing and practice.
 
Advice is easy to give, really hard to embrace. You can give it easily, and correctly. HE will have trouble embracing the idea, even if he knows he SHOULD stand a little closer to the baseline.
Old habits and all that.
Couple of guys I play with, 4.5 and 4.0, use a western grip, hug the baseline, often come to net, use the same racket face for all groundies and volleys, and play as well as their peers, so it's possible.
 
Don't mess with it, it's fine. You basically start your swing from the low position and the loop you have is adding nothing to the stroke - but you're getting good racquet head speed anyway. The only thing I'd work on is getting more push off with the legs.
 
JonC said:
Don't mess with it, it's fine. You basically start your swing from the low position and the loop you have is adding nothing to the stroke - but you're getting good racquet head speed anyway. The only thing I'd work on is getting more push off with the legs.
Click to expand...

I was messing around and experimenting spreading out the index finger a little and first day I was hitting unbelievable but yeaterday it was really messing up my stroke. Plus I was so focused on not dropping the racquet head too low and tried to have the continuously images of hitch

It really threw me off :(
 
Tennisfan212 said:
I was messing around and experimenting spreading out the index finger a little and first day I was hitting unbelievable but yeaterday it was really messing up my stroke. Plus I was so focused on not dropping the racquet head too low and tried to have the continuously images of hitch

It really threw me off :(
Click to expand...


Everybody hits the ball a little differently - look at Gulbis. If you add some legs you can rely less on rotation and you won't tire yourself out as much. On a lot of your shots, you are deciding really late which forehand you're going to hit - open or closed. I think deciding as early as possible on the stance and on what you're trying to do with the ball (height over net, left, right) is very important.
 
In your videos you never once hit the ball long or into the net. :)

Honestly there's not alot to work on based on that. You can generate good pace and good spin on both wings.

If I was able to see how you're missing your shots maybe I can help you out with why. It's good to show where your weaknesses are so that we can help improve them.
 
Haha excellent point! So next time I'm making a video, I'm going to edit only the ones I'm missing :)
And you guys can see the mistakes and tell me what I'm really doing wrong
But I'm little obsessed about take back and stuff especially on my forehand sode. Like other members have mentioned that it's not fluent and I go down too low.
BurnNotice said:
In your videos you never once hit the ball long or into the net. :)

Honestly there's not alot to work on based on that. You can generate good pace and good spin on both wings.

If I was able to see how you're missing your shots maybe I can help you out with why. It's good to show where your weaknesses are so that we can help improve them.
Click to expand...
excellent
 
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