Open and Close backswing.

[Mountainman]

How many people close their racquet face on the backswing? I was trying to remember what my coach said about bring the racquet back. All he said was bring it back early and prepared. Well that was 3 years ago... Does the backswing really have an influence on the shot? This called for an experiment.
When I was hitting with my hitting partner, I closed my racquet face during the backswing. On my follow through, the racquet would naturally open up. The result, the ball cleared over the net about 5-8 inches. When I open my racquet on the backswing, ball landed out more often. The result showed that my racquet would naturally open up on follow through. There you have it, an open or close backswing will have an influence on the follow through.

The backswing never really bothered me. It was always perpendicular to the ground.

Did any of you know this from the basic forehand and backhand? I don't even know about it until I was analyzing pro's forehand and backhand. All my lessons I had taken did not mention anything about an open backswing or close backswing.

 

[BattleAxe]

Please explain open and closed? I only know these terms as referenced in golf. An open face means your face is aimed right of square, promoting a slice, and a closed face is the opposite. In this context, I can't imagine a "closed" backswing. I would think all backswings are "open" to generate more power.

 

[DragonFly]

Closed = Racquet face parallel to the ground
Open = Perpendicular

 

[BattleAxe]

Gracias Dragonfly. I never really paid attention, but after watching some home vids, I suspect I am slightly closed. Though to the OP, I promise you that doesn't mean you always clear the net by just 5-8" nor does it make you immune to sailing balls long. I am a perfect example of that. I can sail balls long with the best of them. :lol: I think your experiment might be flawed.

 

[Mountainman]

Well not everyone's human anatomy is the same. There are other factors like height. Abnormal bone formation like mine, just kidding.

Well you have to give a quantative anaylsis to the experiment. That's what I did. You can't expect every single ball to land in.