Point of contact for ground stroke

Printer099

New User
When hitting my ground strokes I am always extending and hitting the ball in front. I was recently told I need to bring the point of contact in a little bit and not be fully extending at my point of contact. That I am losing and giving up my power by doing this and I should be bringing my point of contact closer in. I am just talking about the horizontal distance point of contact. Can anyone shed any light on this?
 

LeeD

Bionic Poster
Reaching forwards, you don't have whip and don't accelerate around your shoulders as the pivot point.
It's grip specific also, western grip gets forward contact, conti the latest.
Try some shadow swings and LISTEN to your racket tell you how fast you swing as you change the imaginary contact point.
 

ProgressoR

Hall of Fame
i switched from EFH to SW and had to have a contact point further infront. It makes for a much better stroke for me in terms of control and spin and easier access to pace.
 

BU-Tennis

Semi-Pro
My bet is that you are hitting just fine, most people tend to hit not far enough out in front and i dont think i've ever seen anyway hit too far out in front.
 

SystemicAnomaly

Bionic Poster
My bet is that you are hitting just fine, most people tend to hit not far enough out in front and i dont think i've ever seen anyway hit too far out in front.

Would not be too sure about this. I have some students that tend to hit a bit too far in front. As LeeD indcates, the OP may be sacrificing some power (or racquet head speed) with a sub-optimal contact point. As mentioned above, the contact point location is grip specific. Western grips will be further forward, in general, than Eastern grips.
 
Would not be too sure about this. I have some students that tend to hit a bit too far in front. As LeeD indcates, the OP may be sacrificing some power (or racquet head speed) with a sub-optimal contact point. As mentioned above, the contact point location is grip specific. Western grips will be further forward, in general, than Eastern grips.

*Waits for someone to come in with the whole Federer forehand analysis*

I know what you mean though.
 

SystemicAnomaly

Bionic Poster
^ Good point. Glad that I had qualified that statement with "in general". Fed is something of an anomaly in this respect. He does hit his FH with his elbow straighter than most and his wrist laid back more than most other players.
 

LeeD

Bionic Poster
Not that I place any real importance to shadow swings, but TRY IT!
Shadow swing with super early contact point, needing Western grip to solidly contact the ball. Then try EFH grip, usual front of non hitting shoulder, and LISTEN.
Best yet, try conti grip late contact inside your non hitting shoulder. It can swing the FASTEST, but reality says, you can't replicate the ball into the court very often.
 

GPB

Professional
I typically hit too close, and when I have time to set up correctly and remember to hit out front, my shots are SWEET.
 

LeeD

Bionic Poster
Too close means too close to your torso, sideways. Short on leverage.
Too far in front means reaching FORWARDS to intercept the ball before it's in your hitting zone.
 
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