Question for goofy-footed tennis players

[porchdoor]

For those who skateboard, snowboard, surfboard, or are just aware of their own footedness, for those who ride goofy-footed do you have a stronger backhand? And do you have a preference for an open-stance forehand?

I read about this correlation just now and found it extremely interesting.

Personally, I ride goofy-footed, and I generate more pace off my backhand side. And they mentioned the open stance forehand, but I think overall preference of an open stance forehand would be a natural implication of the modern game.

 

[Postiez]

Wow, that is really interesting. I ride goofy and not only is my backhand more consistent than my forehand but I picked it up far more quickly as well. My brother who rides regular, has had the exact opposite experience. I can't believe I never put that together before seeing this.

 

[LeeD]

I ride goof, surf, skate, or snowboard, hit a LEFTY open stance forehand, and a 1hb closed stance backhand.
Then again, I fire a slingshot lefty, while I bow rightie, golf rightie, hit a baseball rightie.

 

[Royce]

For those who skateboard, snowboard, surfboard, or are just aware of their own footedness, for those who ride goofy-footed do you have a stronger backhand? And do you have a preference for an open-stance forehand?

I read about this correlation just now and found it extremely interesting.

Personally, I ride goofy-footed, and I generate more pace off my backhand side. And they mentioned the open stance forehand, but I think overall preference of an open stance forehand would be a natural implication of the modern game.

Very interesting. I used to skateboard/longboard a lot as a kid in and in my teens but I did not ride goofy.

I have a strong and consistent one handed backhand and I prefer the open stance on the forehand.

I like to push from my left foot as opposed to my right, though, despite not riding goofy.

 

[gut wax]

Great subject - 1BH - Goofy Foots Rule.

 

[moopie]

I snowboard goofy and have a much stronger right leg than left (I'm right handed).

The open stance forehand especially moving towards the right has always been my best shot because the loading up is completely on the right leg.

Another point to consider for goofy tennis players... do you serve pin-point? I've found platform very difficult because loading up all my weight for the serve on my left leg alone was too much. I need to drag my right leg next to my left.

My theory is that left-leg dominant players should serve platform, because that right leg isn't going to add much. Right leg dominant players should serve pin-point because that left leg alone can't handle the load.

 

[dominikk1985]

I ride goof, surf, skate, or snowboard, hit a LEFTY open stance forehand, and a 1hb closed stance backhand.
Then again, I fire a slingshot lefty, while I bow rightie, golf rightie, hit a baseball rightie.

Goofy is about which foot is forward, right? (I never surfed or skated)

 

[LeeD]

Goof is right foot forward.
Reg is left foot forward.
I can windsurf wave ride waaaay better reg foot, even though I can surf OK goof.

 

[Fuji]

I've always been goofy and I skated for over a decade. My backhand is pretty solid. Not too sure of the correlation though.

-Fuji

 

[serb4life]

Surf and Skate goofy, but my fh is much stronger than my bh

 

[Power Player]

I ride goofy but I have no left foot in soccer. Right handed, but bat left and play hockey/Lax left.

My backhand is my weaker stroke.

 

[Maximagq]

What does goofy-footed mean? I'm right hand and right foot dominant.

 

[esgee48]

If you surf with your right foot towards the tip of the board, then you're termed 'goofy.' Non goofy is left foot first. Just terminology.

 

[LeeD]

Goofy foot means you like S swells in California, know all the S swell spots like Newport, C Street, Ranch, Fullers, Martin's Beach, and Patricks Point.
Reg means you love San Diego, Malibu, Rincon, Santa Cruz, and Pt.Arena/Big Flats, all right point breaks that work with big W or NW swells.

 

[julian]

How does it apply to tennis?

If you surf with your right foot towards the tip of the board, then you're termed 'goofy.' Non goofy is left foot first. Just terminology.

How does it apply to tennis?

 

[porchdoor]

How does it apply to tennis?

I think it has to do with footwork. Skateboard footedness shows preference in not only which foot is forward but also which foot you push off with. Riding goofy, you push with your leftfoot. With a clear preference like this, I think it makes sense that you push off with you'd left foot forward into your backhand more naturally.

 

[LeeD]

But do we push off with the backfoot on any stroke? Or do we push upwards and sideways instead?

 

[julian]

Omg

I think it has to do with footwork. Skateboard footedness shows preference in not only which foot is forward but also which foot you push off with. Riding goofy, you push with your leftfoot. With a clear preference like this, I think it makes sense that you push off with you'd left foot forward into your backhand more naturally.

Do you agree with post number 6 above?
He/she said that goofy means the right foot is stronger

 

[LeeD]

One of the tests to which foot is forward is to have you stand at a precipice, then take a step down. Whichever foot naturally steps down, is the stronger foot, because it bears the load.
Worked for me.

 

[cjs]

I'm left handed but skate/surf natural. My forehand is more dominant than my backhand.

I suspect being natural or goofy has very little to do with how you play tennis.

I do skate a lot however and I think skating is great for tennis in general.

 

[cjs]

I like to push from my left foot as opposed to my right, though, despite not riding goofy.

Bad habit. I'd try and break it and learn to push with your back foot, even if its not the natural foot for you to push with.

 

[LeeD]

Some great skateboarders around here push with their FRONT foot, the back staying in place on the board.
Makes little difference.
We've skated most of SanFrancisco's hills, all the big 7, and quite a few of the smaller, flatter one's as well, back in the later '60's and early '70's.

 

[cjs]

Some great skateboarders around here push with their FRONT foot, the back staying in place on the board.
Makes little difference.

Pushing mongo makes everything from foot breaking to doing tricks harder. Its a bad habit. Its like hitting a serve with a frypan grip. Bad technique should be corrected before it becomes habit.

 

[porchdoor]

But do we push off with the backfoot on any stroke? Or do we push upwards and sideways instead?

Maybe it's me being bad with words and describing in the context of tennis, but yeah I do think we use the backfoot on groundstrokes, definitely. The classic mechanics of a groundstroke involves moving into a shot and ultimately ending with your weight on your front foot, which would involve pushing off from the backfoot. Here's an example video of what I'm trying to say, at the very first shot: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wlmhJTUFEfM

For me, this sequence of steps mimics me commencing skateboarding.

I think the words I'm looking for is weight shifting, now that I think about it.

 

[porchdoor]

Do you agree with post number 6 above?
He/she said that goofy means the right foot is stronger

Honestly, I don't really know. I'm not really a skateboarder, I only used to do it when I was in middle school (I can still pull a sick ollie though). I do see a similarity in the two mechanics (goofy skateboarding and a right-handed backhand), pushing off with the left leg, transferring the weight onto the front foot.

This was just an observation I found on another forum that I found interesting. It may be a stretch, but I just wanted to share.

The reason I found it interesting is because the footwork of the backhand comes more naturally to me than the footwork of the forehand, and that natural tendency may be related to how I skateboard. And I think this can help illustrate just how big of a role good footwork is in developing into a well-rounded player.

 

[porchdoor]

Honestly, I don't really know. I'm not really a skateboarder, I only used to do it when I was in middle school (I can still pull a sick ollie though). I do see a similarity in the two mechanics (goofy skateboarding and a right-handed backhand), pushing off with the left leg, transferring the weight onto the front foot.

This was just an observation I found on another forum that I found interesting. It may be a stretch, but I just wanted to share.

The reason I found it interesting is because the footwork of the backhand comes more naturally to me than the footwork of the forehand, and that natural tendency may be related to how I skateboard. And I think this can help illustrate just how big of a role good footwork is in developing into a well-rounded player.

I also wanted to add that even though the footwork of the backhand is more natural to me, the actual stroke (upper body movement) of the forehand comes more natural.

 

[BlueB]

I snowboard and skate a lot. Goofy.
I suck at surfing, which I can do both goofy and regular.
I like hitting semi open FH, but I hit the classic closed one stronger and more precise.
My 1HBH is flatter then my FH. I can offload like crazy into it, but rarely do.

Another interesting one: I can back cast and side cast really well when I fly fish.