One year later: Critique my strokes, Vol 3

[habib]

Greetings. Some time ago, I posted a few videos and accompanying threads asking people to critique my technique and offer me advice. It has now, rather surprisingly, been almost exactly a year since the last of those threads, and this past Sunday I was inspired to once again drag my camera out to the local ball wall and record myself hitting a few balls.

I know that Jeff and BBill will probably remember my earlier attempts, so any constructive thoughts in comparison would be greatly appreciated.

Here's the video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pw9-J-ito5Q

To start the discussion, one blatant thing I noticed is that I tend to open up the lead shoulder on my 1hbh too early - need to work on keeping sideways slightly longer.

Incidentally, note that I realize it's impossible to tell where exactly the ball is actually going from this perspective. I am, however, quite happy with where it's going, so that shouldn't be a concern.

For the reference of the curious, you can find my old threads at:
http://tt.tennis-warehouse.com/showthread.php?t=71896&highlight=video
and
http://tt.tennis-warehouse.com/showthread.php?t=76032&highlight=strokes

The video links in them no longer work, but I've uploaded relevant samples to the YouTube, so if any one is interested, here they are:
March 06: http://youtube.com/watch?v=m7LB2uZwfLQ
April 06: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e5UE5Tt-lb8

And thank you everyone in advance for all comments, criticisms, and suggestions.

 

[dr_punk]

you've improved quite a bit, congrats dude

 

[habib]

you've improved quite a bit, congrats dude

Thank you!

 

[TENNIS_IS_FUN]

Wow great improvement...the knee bend sticks out the most to me.

 

[racquetlab]

I was wondering what happened to you.

Looks like you made great improvements - I definitely notice a better balance and faster racquet speed. I always liked your backhand and you look very relaxed with it now. Greatest improvement however is your forehand, stance, balance and follow through look great.

 

[Solat]

the compacting of your strokes is fantastic, the old backhand take back was something im sure only a clay courter would have time to get away with

good work, im sure you can handle pace balls much better now that your racquet is closer to your body

also you look far more balanced in the new vids

 

[habib]

I have to say guys, I appreciate all the compliments. But they don't do me much good in terms of improvement.

 

[racquetlab]

ok ok.

uhm, get proper Tennis shorts??

 

[racquetlab]

seriously, get footage of hitting against an opponent and show a variety of strokes. Then we can better comment on footwork and flow...

 

[lancernrg]

Let's see those strokes against a real opponent.

Leave the wall alone man...

 

[habib]

seriously, get footage of hitting against an opponent and show a variety of strokes. Then we can better comment on footwork and flow...

This is my next project. It's just gonna take some convincing to get the girlfriend out to the courts to tape me hitting with someone.

 

[LarougeNY]

Did you change grips on your backhand? It looks amazing now, pretty fluid. You look more relaxed now as compared to last year, last year you looked like you were trying very hard to smack the ball-this year you're relaxed and you do it easily.
Congrats dude, its a big improvement for a year.

 

[35ft6]

Nice improvement. The only thing is although your backhand swing is more compact and in control, IMO you have a fuller, better follow through a year ago.

The few slice backhands you hit, I get the feeling they would go out if struck that way on a real court. Out by a lot.

 

[Marius_Hancu]

On many of the BHs the torso and the head aren't straight and in balance, too bent forward at the hip and neck. This is better on the FHs.

 

[fatboysmiles]

Nice shots but practicing on a wall isn't an effective way to show us your shots. Practicing on a wall is too easy to predict and last minute changes that a real opponent would have you make might change your form completely. Hitting on the wall is most effective just rallying it out with yourself practicing form.

But awesome improvement.

 

[Teh_pwnerer]

Let's see those strokes against a real opponent.

Leave the wall alone man...

yeah i bet it hurts

 

[SFtennisGG]

I havent seen your old vids but in your new vids your strokes look pretty darn good. I love the knee bends on the backhand.

 

[AJP]

Great use of legs. Looks like you're a fairly good mover on court. This is my strength as well. I as surprised at the strength of the 1 hander. I can see that you have a knack at keeping the racket head back and getting the but of your racket out in front before contact.

My critique would be on the slice. It's not up to par with the rest of your game. It looks a little bit like when you 'release' the racket head you do it out from your body & down. I'd prefer to see it knife through more (keeping the movement more horizontal). Get some video clips of Taylor Dent - or if you can find some old stuff, of Steffi Graph. Study their tecnique of this 'release'. If you do it through the hit you don't have to let the wrist get too loose. You can still keep it sort of cocked (racket to forearm angle near 90 through contact).