Question for the technique experts about laid back wrist in FH

[oldhacker]

I am trying to sove a problem I have with my forehand which I think results from a physical problem I have in laying back my wrist. I damaged my right (racquet hand) wrist in an accident some years ago and since taking up tennis have discovered that it is much less flexible than my other wrist to the extent that I can only lay it back slightly. This causes me problems in my forehand in terms of maintaining a closed racquet face throughout the backswing and forward swing to contact. It is a real strain for me to lay my wrist back enough to do this and so sometimes my wrist has a reaction to lay forward (away from the pain) and the general strain makes it hard for me to keep my arm loose.

Does anyone have any tips on how I may modify the forehand to overcome this etc ? Is there anyone else with a similar problem and how do you overcome it?

One thing I have noticed is that the most strained position for me is at the end of the backswing with the racquet tip pointing at the back fence, butt cap pointing at the ball and hitting strings facing down. This requires a compination of a supinated forearm, wrist laid back and flexed towards the elbow which is very hard for me.

I have noticed some pros do not get to this point during the backswing but rather keep the wrist and forearm in a more neutral position such that the racquet tips points more to the sidefence at the furthest back point of the backswing and the butt cap is not pointing at the ball. The inertia created by the pull forwards of the arm at the start of the forward swing then supinates the forearm, fully lays back the wrist etc. to align the butt cap with the ball.
I think this may be easier on the wrist. Does this make sense and is this technique harder to execute? Any tips on how to switch to this.

Thanks for any tips.

 

[stormholloway]

Sounds like you don't need a wristy forehand. Use an eastern grip. You won't need to have such an extreme break in the wrist with this grip and you won't find the butt cap pointing at the ball.

Copy the Sampras forehand.

 

[Bagumbawalla]

If you are consciously thinking about all those things when you are preparing for a stroke it is surprising that you can play at all (much like a centipede that stops to think about which leg moves next).

Get yourself to a good practice wall and just practice hitting medium-paced fairly loose, smooth forehands- paying particular attention to the basics-- of getting into position, transfer of weight, smoothness of stroke and solid contact at impact.

Don't even think about your wrist. Your stroke should (almost unconsciously) find its rhythm.

 

[oldhacker]

I Bagumbawalla - don't worry I do not think about all those things ! It is just that I am thinking about them now to try to correct a problem - ie I have an inflexible wrist which has an impulse reaction to flex forwards from time to time when it is laid back too much for comfort.

If you are consciously thinking about all those things when you are preparing for a stroke it is surprising that you can play at all (much like a centipede that stops to think about which leg moves next).

Get yourself to a good practice wall and just practice hitting medium-paced fairly loose, smooth forehands- paying particular attention to the basics-- of getting into position, transfer of weight, smoothness of stroke and solid contact at impact.

Don't even think about your wrist. Your stroke should (almost unconsciously) find its rhythm.

 

[FiveO]

Bagumbawalla's advice is sound.

Your own analysis of the "problem" revealed to you that, whether consciously or sub-consciously, you are injecting an action with your wrist.

The wrist is and should be passive on the fh. There's a stretch as the mass of the racquet lags behind the hitting hand, under acceleration the natural elasticity of the wrist will recover to a more toward neutral position, like a rubber band regaining its "resting" position, naturally.

It's not an action caused by conscious input.

Your range of motion, the degree of flex or stretch vs. recovery may be shorter but you shouldn't interrupt it with an active "snap".

Also that forward "snap" you find yourself doing is most commonly a symptom of being late. You might not be aware of it but it's conscious input.

Babumbawalla's advice is also founded in a practical sense in that it is easier to make changes trying to DO rather than trying NOT TO DO.

The DO? Be well positioned, in balance and ON time in order to allow yourself to relax through the forward part of the stroke to allow your lower arm to stretch/recover most efficiently.