Off arm tuck and use

[ChaelAZ]

AS mentioned in the other good thread on smoothly tucking the off arm, I have a high "gay" hand wave that I have been trying to use more effectively (and make it less visually awkward lol). Went out this weekend and was trying my darnest to get that thing down and use more of a swipe and tuck form, but that is a tough habit to break. I also think the added leverage will help with my overall load and rotation, so it is worth working on.

Here is some of the attempt.
Of course, camera was acting up this weekend so sorry for the blurry video. You get the idea though.

Anyone have examples of their swing for the forehand and how they include the off-hand in the stroke motion?

 

[Deleted member 23235]

looks good (with some awkward "hugs" at like 1:41)... this shouldn't be an issue if you get into the habit of catching the racquet over the shoulders (ie. you have to tuck to catch it).

 

[ChaelAZ]

looks good (with some awkward "hugs" at like 1:41)... this shouldn't be an issue if you get into the habit of catching the racquet over the shoulders (ie. you have to tuck to catch it).

Thanks. I notice I get the "hug" when I position wrong and my elbow comes in on the swing - everything gets compacted in. EDIT: Just looked. That one was lack of rotation on that lean. Gotcha.

Overall I am getting the hand down more, but my goal is to tuck the arm towards the chest and pull across with the elbow to improve rotation. I think that will help me finish my rotation and catch the racquet over or at the shoulder fully turned, where now I think having the hand up as I do stops it just past parallel to the net.

 

[IowaGuy]

Seems to be less of an issue on your stroke when you're hitting 100%?

i.e. 0:59 compared to 1:15

 

[ChaelAZ]

Seems to be less of an issue on your stroke when you're hitting 100%?

i.e. 0:59 compared to 1:15

Hmmm, maybe. I think I do better at more pace because the added, faster rotation kinda forces that way. Thanks.

 

[Deleted member 756272]

How about literally catching the racquet with your left hand for a while? It'll reprogram what your left hand is doing during your forehand follow-through. Even if you dont want the finished product (aka your eventual forehand style) to include catching the racquet, it'll reprogram you temporarily and then you can continue to develop the stroke.

I developed this weird habit of doing a 360 windshield wiper follow-thru (instead of coming around my body) when attempting heavier topspin forehands and was ending the swing path with the head pointing towards the ground in front of my body. Decided to catch the racquet with my left hand near the left shoulder forcing the groundstroke path to change.

For you, this could help your brain automatically pull your left elbow back b/c it is physically impossible to catch the racquet with your left hand without tucking the elbow in.

Whenever in doubt, I go all the way back to the tennis basics, like when I was 5 or 6 years old playing tennis for the first time. 2 steps forward, 1 step back.

 

[Dartagnan64]

Your FH is not your problem.

 

[FiReFTW]

Looks like a good FH to me, but its true that your arm looks a bit gay sometimes lol.

 

[ChaelAZ]

Your FH is not your problem.

There are lots of other things I am working on too, yup. But that thread had me thinking about it this weekend so figured I would try to see if I could change that habit.

 

[SystemicAnomaly]

May or may not help:

 

[ChaelAZ]

May or may not help:

I started out by doing the catch thing but somehow got off track. I was watching a bunch of vids of pros yesterday and it is really a mixed bag of catching, tucking, and whatnot. My forehand is decent overall, but I think being able to tuck and open my body more will allow more consistent forward contact, so all the tips and thoughts are helpful. Thanks!

 

[webtennis]

I think your forehand looks pretty good. When my topspin forehand gets in trouble is when I open my front shoulder too early. My cue when that happens is to catch my racket. That keeps my front shoulder in the hit a hair longer and really helps me keep my swing path aligned to swing out towards my target and not across the ball.

 

[SystemicAnomaly]

I started out by doing the catch thing but somehow got off track. I was watching a bunch of vids of pros yesterday and it is really a mixed bag of catching, tucking, and whatnot. My forehand is decent overall, but I think being able to tuck and open my body more will allow more consistent forward contact, so all the tips and thoughts are helpful. Thanks!

The racket catching is more of a drill than anything else. Some players prefer catching, some do not. And as you have seen, some players use it at times but not always. Whether you adopted the long run it's not really important. For now you just want to use it as a means to make yourself more aware of what that other arm is doing.

One added benefit of catching the racket is that it allows you to keep your dominate arm more relaxed since you are offloading your weight to your other hand. That should help to expect that from and help you keep generating adequate power play audio match for hitting session.

 

[ChaelAZ]

I think your forehand looks pretty good. When my topspin forehand gets in trouble is when I open my front shoulder too early. My cue when that happens is to catch my racket. That keeps my front shoulder in the hit a hair longer and really helps me keep my swing path aligned to swing out towards my target and not across the ball.

Thank you Brent.

 

[ByeByePoly]

Still so gay ...

 

[ChaelAZ]

Still so gay ...

Are you inferring something is wrong with my Medulla Oblongata Coronal Sanders?

 

[ByeByePoly]

Are you inferring something is wrong with my Medulla Oblongata Coronal Sanders?

I think your fh deserves equal rights, and hope it has a loving tucking relationship. That said ... female gay FHs are hot ... male ... not so much.

Have the gay pride organizers ever contacted you about a tennis float?

 

[Raul_SJ]

I would first want to clearly establish the look I am going for. Even when you do the shadow swing there is sort of a "wave" going on.

Would consider keeping the palm down and never opening the palm outwards. But as others have said, it is mostly an aesthetic issue.

 

[Doc Hollidae]

Try using your offhand to push your racket back, or at least keep it close, when you are taking your racket back. It helps with keeping your shoulder closed longer and ensures a proper unit turn. The gif above of Federer is a perfect example.

Also as stated above in numerous posts, catching your racket helps as well.

 

[ChaelAZ]

I would first want to clearly establish the look I am going for. Even when you do the shadow swing there is sort of a "wave" going on.

Would consider keeping the palm down and never opening the palm outwards. But as others have said, it is mostly an aesthetic issue.

Try using your offhand to push your racket back, or at least keep it close, when you are taking your racket back. It helps with keeping your shoulder closed longer and ensures a proper unit turn. The gif above of Federer is a perfect example.

Also as stated above in numerous posts, catching your racket helps as well.

Thank you and thank you. I know some of it is aesthetic, but it also can be a hinderance of not allowing me to open up across the body as much. It especially breaks down when I hit with higher level players with pace and don't get loaded as quick and rotate as much, so I think both suggestions will help.

Cheers.

 

[ByeByePoly]

Might be a tell. I'm in the middle of second season of Grace and Frankie, and Martin Sheen came out at 70. Probably not the constructive input you were looking for.

 

[Bender]

AS mentioned in the other good thread on smoothly tucking the off arm, I have a high "gay" hand wave that I have been trying to use more effectively (and make it less visually awkward lol). Went out this weekend and was trying my darnest to get that thing down and use more of a swipe and tuck form, but that is a tough habit to break. I also think the added leverage will help with my overall load and rotation, so it is worth working on.

Here is some of the attempt.
Of course, camera was acting up this weekend so sorry for the blurry video. You get the idea though.

Anyone have examples of their swing for the forehand and how they include the off-hand in the stroke motion?

I say you should own the gay hand wave. Maybe adopt a grunt that sounds like '"HEYYYYY" or something.

It's mostly an aesthetic thing anyway. Lots of pros do something similar. Here, you can see Andy Roddick doing the Indian 'changing the lightbulb' dance:

 

[ByeByePoly]

I say you should own the gay hand wave. Maybe adopt a grunt that sounds like '"HEYYYYY" or something.

It's mostly an aesthetic thing anyway. Lots of pros do something similar. Here, you can see Andy Roddick doing the Indian 'changing the lightbulb' dance:

I wonder if Brooklyn knew about that before she married him. Chael's wave is tame compared to Roddick's.

I thought the same thing ... Chael should just own it. I started trying to lose my sunny side up 2hbhs (thx @TenFanLA ) ... and then decided ... that's my thing, own it.

 

[ChaelAZ]

I say you should own the gay hand wave. Maybe adopt a grunt that sounds like '"HEYYYYY" or something.

It's mostly an aesthetic thing anyway. Lots of pros do something similar. Here, you can see Andy Roddick doing the Indian 'changing the lightbulb' dance:

I wonder if Brooklyn knew about that before she married him. Chael's wave is tame compared to Roddick's.

I thought the same thing ... Chael should just own it. I started trying to lose my sunny side up 2hbhs (thx @TenFanLA ) ... and then decided ... that's my thing, own it.

Margaret Court is totes NOT amused with you two.

 

[ByeByePoly]

No doubt ... BBP and @Bender are an aquired taste.

 

[BlackTatsu]

have you tried facing your palm not towards the ball but flat or inwards? I tried it outward "catching the ball" and it really made me open up too much on my forehand.

 

[BlackTatsu]

have you tried facing your palm not towards the ball but flat or inwards? I tried it outward "catching the ball" and it really made me open up too much on my forehand.