Should I give up straight-arm forehand technique?

[*Val*]

I have been having trouble settling on a comfortable forehand motion for quite some time, the result being that I actually feel my forehand is the weaker shot. Recently my whole game has been coming together so that I feel comfortable competing (about a year or two ago I'd beat myself too easily, didn't have consistent enough strokes), in particular I am extremely pleased with my backhand (single hand) and have been hitting a lot of winners off that side recently. It seems with the single-handed backhand there is only one proper way to play it, and once you crack the preparation and swing motion the only thing it depends on is correct execution.

I think what is holding my game back is my forehand. It has become a lot more consistent but I just don't feel comfortable hitting winners off that side - I often hit too long or too short. Unlike the backhand, it feels like you can play the stroke in a variety of different ways, depending on the height of the ball, the angle, and so on. I just can't settle on a comfortable motion I can repeat each time it comes to hitting the ball on that side.

I've given it some thought and think it's due to trying to hit it with a straight-arm technique for the past few years. I mostly self-taught myself the game by watching tons of instructional videos and watching the pros, especially Federer, and then going out and practicing. I always tried to emulate his technique and mechanics, and this worked wonderfully on the backhand side. Though I didn't try to emulate him so exactly on the forehand, I think sub-consciously I have always been trying to hit it like him, with has stunted my development on that side.

I think the straight-arm technique is just too hard to master at this level. I tried to emulate him by using an eastern forehand grip (which really does require a straighter arm at contact), and using his visual technique. But I've found myself naturally sliding over toward a more semi-western grip and striking with a bent elbow at contact (like Djokovic), and I seem to get a much cleaner hit, with better power, depth, and pop on the ball. More recently the length of my stroke has improved on that side, as I always try and finish with the racquet whipping round my body.

A lot of it depends on the height of the ball. If the ball bounces lower it is much easier to hit eastern with straight-arm. But the problems become especially pronounced on high balls. I am pretty tall (6 foot) yet have always struggled to hit high balls on my forehand side (I actually seem more comfortable on my backhand!). Again I think this is due to trying to hit with straight-arm technique. It is just too difficult. When the ball bounces high I instinctively bend my elbow even more and tend to slide over to full western, with a very compact stroke. This works much better, but again means I don't have a definite technique for every ball/situation.

So I think that is what I need to develop - a definite technique. Obviously you do have to hit the ball slightly differently depending on situation, but with my backhand the fundamentals always remain virtually the same. On my forehand it feels like I'm playing several different forehands in a game without being able to settle on one, and I am always thinking about technique during the stroke (which is good when you're an amateur learning, but not when strokes should become second nature). Should I just ditch the attempts at straight-arm technique, and run with the bent elbow which seems more natural? Should I try and settle on SW grip no matter what? Is there a particular player whose forehand mechanics I might want to try emulate?

Thanks guys, I'll see if I can get some footage of my strokes up at some point, though I might not be playing for a few weeks.

 

[5263]

This is a good example of looking at them as two separate strokes really hurts.
The straight arm Fh is just a double bend extend for a different contact point.
Most guys with a normal double bend will hit a straight arm at times and players
with straight arm Fhs will his doubles at times.

Strt Fh gets you trying to force the straight arm when you are not in position and could have just hit a nice double bend. Just remember that the straight arm can often happen due to position and your work here will make it real easy when it's right for you, but go with the double bend as a basis and be more consistent.
If you find you are hitting more and more straight, then gravitate that way. The straight arm is just one end of the spectrum that is the modern Fh, with the double bend covering the rest. Why restrict to one small part of the spectrum?
Double benders don't and use all the spectrum.

 

[rkelley]

This is a good example of looking at them as two separate strokes really hurts.
The straight arm Fh is just a double bend extend for a different contact point.
Most guys with a normal double bend will hit a straight arm at times and players
with straight arm Fhs will his doubles at times.

Strt Fh gets you trying to force the straight arm when you are not in position and could have just hit a nice double bend. Just remember that the straight arm can often happen due to position and your work here will make it real easy when it's right for you, but go with the double bend as a basis and be more consistent.
If you find you are hitting more and more straight, then gravitate that way. The straight arm is just one end of the spectrum that is the modern Fh, with the double bend covering the rest. Why restrict to one small part of the spectrum?
Double benders don't and use all the spectrum.

Totally agree with the above.

I use a strong E grip (in between E and SW). Just like 5263 says, I sometimes hit straight arm though I'm not trying to. I've tried to do the straight arm all the time stroke and it just didn't work for me. I suspect Fed's just on the straighter end of the spectrum and most of his fh's come out straight because of his ability to more consistently set-up on the ball than an average player.

SW is a great grip and the most popular on both tours. With a SW and a double bend you can still hit through the ball really well when you want to, low balls aren't too challenging, but high balls are easier and there's loads of topspin if you want it. I'd say don't fight it and go with the SW double bend.

 

[Limpinhitter]

I think it's counterproductive to think about hitting with a straight arm vs a bent arm. Stop trying to immitate Roger Federer, and start working on YOUR forehand. If you have comptetent technique, then the most important aspect of your shot is your settup, your shot preparation. Execute your shot preparation, execute your technique, and forget about hitting with a straigtht arm.

Having said all that, IMO, hitting with a straight arm on the forehand is primarily a function of how far ahead your hips and upper body are than your hand in your turn forward when you make contact. The more ahead they are, the more likely your arm will be straight at contact. But, again, IMO, you will do more harm than good over exaggerating the separation of your unit turn forward from your arm, just to look like Roger Federer.

 

[BevelDevil]

You don't need to use an Eastern grip to use a straight-arm forehand. You seem more comfortable with SW, so stick with that. (Besides, Fed doesn't use a true Eastern. He uses what amounts to an extreme Eastern.)

Make that grip adjustment first, then reassess. From there you can decide whether to keep the straight arm or not.

Btw, I think one of the keys to hitting with a straight arm is to stay relaxed through the swing. Tension and fear make you want to keep your arm in.

One other thing to consider: A simplified version of Fed's forehand is Delpo's forehand. Del Potro is basically Federer minus the pronation at the start of the forward swing. It doesn't generate the same topspin, however, but I think it's easier to learn and execute.