Practice video: me vs D1 player
- Thread starter michaelk
- Start date
SpinToWin
Talk Tennis Guru
My first impressions:
- From what I saw, you have a tendency to have your bodyweight moving backwards out of the shot rather than forwards into it, particularly on your backhand. This results in a generally high trajectory and less court penetration, as well as a tendency to lack control. What you should focus on (in terms of the backhand) is that your weight is loaded on your front (right) foot and that your bodyweight is going forward into the shot. You will essentially pivot the left leg forward around the right leg rather than transferring your weight from the right to the left leg. In simpler terms, the body weight remains on the right foot throughout contact. It is possible to play a good shot on your forehand with your bodyweight moving backwards, but it's better for the shot if your bodyweight is behind it, so working on this aspect will be beneficial to you.
- Another problem with you doing the above is that you open your shoulders/torso too much at times, again, particularly on the backhand, thus over-rotating and losing your balance somewhat. Keep your head still (eyes focused on the contact point) and you will feel much more balanced overall (off both sides).
- You have a very long forehand stroke; if it suits you and you don't have timing issues, then all is ok, but you may consider a more abbreviated take back, as this will help on half volleys and hard shots where you're pressed for time.
njhmusicman
Semi-Pro
What racquet are you using, michaelk? It looks like you are using a Wilson Pro Staff 6.1 Classic.
Dartagnan64
G.O.A.T.
How can you improve? By wearing a shirt. This ain't beach volleyball.
J/k.
BH needs a lot of work but since I use a 2Her I can't say much. I see him win a lot of points with his BH CC into your BH.
J/k.
BH needs a lot of work but since I use a 2Her I can't say much. I see him win a lot of points with his BH CC into your BH.
Thanks guys!
@SpinToWin: very good observations, I'll try to follow your suggestions tonight. It was a surprise for me to see that I don't use my body weight on my BH. Definitely got to work on that. Regarding the FH: would taking the racket back earlier have the same effect as a shorter take back?
What else feels awkward to your eye?
@njhmusicman: yes, and I also use PS Tour 90 occasionally.
@SpinToWin: very good observations, I'll try to follow your suggestions tonight. It was a surprise for me to see that I don't use my body weight on my BH. Definitely got to work on that. Regarding the FH: would taking the racket back earlier have the same effect as a shorter take back?
What else feels awkward to your eye?
@njhmusicman: yes, and I also use PS Tour 90 occasionally.
One thing I see with your BH is that you are still swinging from the elbow when your hand is already close to contact. While Federer has this aspect in his BH, he is the only one to do so and almost all instruction emphasizes the swing from the shoulder.
Personally, I used to do the same thing, but it led to a lot of inconsistency (1 more segment to time) and I improved a lot when I started straightening the arm out, before the forward part of the swing.
There was recently a thread by someone, who was asking about this based on a video from some coach that you can probably find. It had several posters discussing this and several videos about it.
One thing to remember though, straightening it out does NOT mean locking the elbow. Otherwise, you risk tennis elbow.
Personally, I used to do the same thing, but it led to a lot of inconsistency (1 more segment to time) and I improved a lot when I started straightening the arm out, before the forward part of the swing.
There was recently a thread by someone, who was asking about this based on a video from some coach that you can probably find. It had several posters discussing this and several videos about it.
One thing to remember though, straightening it out does NOT mean locking the elbow. Otherwise, you risk tennis elbow.
I just played a match against a decent player, and I tried to move into the ball on my BH, or at least to stay down, and keep my head still. I noticed two things: my BH becomes more aggressive, but the margin for error decreases. The reason for my falling back is that it gives me more time to make contact with the ball, or to put it another way, more time to prepare for the shot. If I don't fall back, I have to create that time somehow, mostly with better anticipation, and better footwork.
I also thought about my FH, and I think the reason for the long swing might be me experimenting with heavy rackets - I used to put weights on my frames. Now my racket is 30 grams lighter, but it seems like I make just as much effort to swing it as I did before. I definitely feel "arming" my shots.
@Gyswandir: I will pay attention to that aspect of my BH next time I play, thanks. What was that thread you've mentioned?
I also thought about my FH, and I think the reason for the long swing might be me experimenting with heavy rackets - I used to put weights on my frames. Now my racket is 30 grams lighter, but it seems like I make just as much effort to swing it as I did before. I definitely feel "arming" my shots.
@Gyswandir: I will pay attention to that aspect of my BH next time I play, thanks. What was that thread you've mentioned?
This is the thread http://tt.tennis-warehouse.com/index.php?threads/single-handed-backhand-technical-questions.556398/
There's a LOT of technical discussion that is over the top and some posters' own BHs, which you can ignore.
Also, these 2 videos are very good for some checkpoints
There's a LOT of technical discussion that is over the top and some posters' own BHs, which you can ignore.
This is the best post. Pay attention to stage 5. In my opinion, your elbow is still bent here.Okay... some simple teaching progressions to build a solid single hander... (to be taught in this order). Of the coaching notes very few of those need be discussed on court.
Also, these 2 videos are very good for some checkpoints
SpinToWin
Talk Tennis Guru
You can try taking the racquet back earlier, but the problem is that when you're rushed for time it will still make the timing difficult (though it is the simplest fix technically wise). You could try an abbreviated take back, keeping the racquet to the side of your body rather than taking it all the way behind you. If you then initiate the swing with your body while keeping the forearm loose, the racquet will naturally c0ck backwards, which puts you in what I like to call a "power position". From there you can accelerate the racquet head into contact quite extensively. Take any top ATP forehand (in slow motion) as a reference and you'll see what I'm talking about.
I think most of the awkwardness comes from the lack of stillness of your head, which results in you being off balance quite often.
I think you're still accustomed to a too late contact point. You need to make contact fairly up front with the one handed backhand to get the right results, though most players achieve that by having a very closed stance instead. Try hitting what you would call "too early" on the backhand, doing what you just did. Start out on feeds and then move on to increasingly harder and more varying balls. This little exercise helped a guy in my club who had similar problems with depth control and topspin generation off his backhand. The earlier contact will make you "brush" the ball more rather than slapping it flatly, leading to more of the energy being transferred into spin rather than speed.
See what I said above. Your shot should be initiated from your legs thrusting up/forwards, followed by the torso coming around (think of it as rotating your right shoulder into the shot, that makes it easier to imagine/execute), then your arm begins accelerating and finally your "wrist" finishes the stroke off (I say "wrist" because it really is you rotating the lower arm around the elbow, but for most people the wrist seems like a more intuitive term to use). There is a seamless transition between each component, so don't think of it as a order to follow, but rather try to incorporate all parts into your shot so that it feels natural.
On another note, you will feel that you're doing work with the arm, that's normal. Arming the ball refers to overcompensating with your arm due to not doing the other parts I just explained.
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PrinceMoron
Legend
Air your armpits
pushing_wins
Hall of Fame
Textbook wta fh
Mareqnyc
Hall of Fame
Some good hitting there for sure sir!
And some good advice in this thread already.
Two things I would work with you right away would be:
1) as others mentioned above the backhand needs some work it is clearly a liability, you open up too much too quickly and don't utilize left hand at all. Try to stay sideways just a bit longer and let that racquet fly through the ball instead of rolling over it
2) solid split-step and more explosive first move. This will get you much quicker to the ball and in position specifically when those stronger players hit heavier cross court shots
3) this "wta style" forehand is not bad at all, check out Jeremy Chardy practice: he does an exaggerated version of this motion. What I would suggest you work on here is building up acceleration - slow to very fast through contact. It might be the camera but it looks like you swing at constant speed. Practice that to get extra weight on your shots. Also utilize loading from your legs to get extra depth and spin.
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tennisdad65
Hall of Fame
A Textbook WTA FH is better than 100% of the forehands on this forum.
Good points, thanks @Mareqnyc, I do need to make that split-step, and faster movement. I think it's more of a fitness issue, I just don't have the energy sometimes. Lack of sleep does not help either...
BH videos @Gyswandir posted really help, I had no idea 1HBH technique of those 6 top pros is almost identical. I will definitely watch it closely again before I go out on the court next time.
@SpinToWin: to summarize what you said about my BH - shift weight forward and move through the ball, hit the ball early, keep my head still to avoid over-rotating. Thanks!
p.s. it's interesting that I have completely different feel of the ball on my FH compared to my BH. FH just feels so natural... That might be because I switched from two handed BH to one handed as a junior.
BH videos @Gyswandir posted really help, I had no idea 1HBH technique of those 6 top pros is almost identical. I will definitely watch it closely again before I go out on the court next time.
@SpinToWin: to summarize what you said about my BH - shift weight forward and move through the ball, hit the ball early, keep my head still to avoid over-rotating. Thanks!
p.s. it's interesting that I have completely different feel of the ball on my FH compared to my BH. FH just feels so natural... That might be because I switched from two handed BH to one handed as a junior.
Mareqnyc
Hall of Fame
When you split step properly and at the right time (watch Murray for a nice "both feet in the air" splisteps) your movement will follow naturally and will get you a lot of those crucial milliseconds of reaction time. A lot of 3.0/3.5s keep practicing their strokes thinking their technique is at fault when they simply arent in position half the time: they reach for the ball or get jammed, the whole stroke breaks apart. 4.0/4.5 have better strokes, anticipation etc. so they can get away with more but if they don't split step they are doomed with anyone who knows how to take advantage of it.
Next time you come out exaggerate your split step and practice it deliberately, see what it does to your game
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Disgruntled Worker
Professional
For what it's worth, you might want to actually see footage of these supposed experts before following their advice 100 percent. Of all the people who've posted in your thread only LeeD has actually posted footage of himself hitting. It's easy to give criticism when you've never actually put yourself out there. I rarely give criticism because I don't have footage that's all that great. Not saying their advice isn't valid. But be wary of a lot of horse crap not only in this forum but the entire internet.
Curious
G.O.A.T.
It's still lower quality than ATP forehand though.
DoctorBackhand
Rookie
Only if you hit with ATP players. Otherwise, it really doesn't make too much of a difference.
DoctorBackhand
Rookie
Many of the best coaches in America look like horrible players. Doesn't mean they can't see what's wrong with someone's technique. It's far easier to catch flaws in other's strokes than one's own, and there are things that just look odd (like the mentioned backhand stroke) that, when you compare it to what you see from high level players, you know is incorrect.
I've got an old video on here of me hitting, and I know its horrible. Doesn't mean I can't see that that the backhand is a weak link here. The OP can choose to discard whatever advise he finds invalid, but if 3 pairs of eyes see the same flaw, regardless of their level there has to be something to it.
Curious
G.O.A.T.
You've got a point there but most of us try to improve and achieve our best instead of just hitting at the same level, don't we?
DoctorBackhand
Rookie
True, but the specific mechanics of the forehand don't matter as much as the overall quality of shot. A strong, forceful shot can be hit with either technique, so there is no reason for the OP to spend time changing a shot he is comfortable and effective with when there are other things he could be working on. Just my 2cents.
Todd Hicks
Rookie
The strokes for both of you look good but it looks like the player on the rear doesn't get his racquet back quickly enough - this can throw your timing off.
pushing_wins
Hall of Fame
I'm constantly searching for the perfect and I get annoyed when I feel that there might not be a single version of it
it feels completely different
to hit even one ball properly makes it all worthwhile
Lance L
Semi-Pro
I'll make one comment about court movement. Watch the video but only look at the legs, or more specifically the knee bend. I see him maintaining that athletic stance better than you, & as a result I think he is better positioned & quicker to react.
That said this is a bear to improve, but I also think really small improvements can make a big difference.
That said this is a bear to improve, but I also think really small improvements can make a big difference.
Not knocking you, you're better than me.
But, it seems you hit floaty rally balls most of the time, shown by your shots much higher than his, and you 6' high shots all land short, while a lot of your 8 foot high shots land inside the baseline.
More pace would push your opponent back on his heels.
But, it seems you hit floaty rally balls most of the time, shown by your shots much higher than his, and you 6' high shots all land short, while a lot of your 8 foot high shots land inside the baseline.
More pace would push your opponent back on his heels.
pushing_wins
Hall of Fame
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pushing_wins
Hall of Fame
wta
pushing_wins
Hall of Fame
you know how you can easily move your game to the next level
switch to an eastern grip. your whole swing is geared towards an eastern grip.
Moveforwardalways
Hall of Fame
Has already been covered, but you are late on every shot and hit off your back foot. This all starts with inadequate movement, gotta move those feet. And nothing good comes from hitting a head-high backhand, one handed or two. Gotta move and get it in your strike zone.
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