Straight arm forehand.

[Bigforehand99]

Hi,

What are the upsides and downsides of a straight arm forehand? My coach learns me to hit with a bend arm but when I am hitting with a straight arm it goes much better.

Greetings,
Wesley

 

[torpantennis]

Benefits of SA: More energy efficient, i.e more spin and power with less effort.
Downside of SA: Harder to learn and time, tough when you are a bit late to a ball. Harder to hit high balls with.

Benefits of DB: Easier to learn, it's like a brute-force way of hitting a FH. Easier to control high-bouncing balls. Requires more fitness and overall strength.
Downsides of DB: A bit less reach and consumes more energy. Harder to execute on low bouncing balls.

 

[Bigforehand99]

Benefits of SA: More energy efficient, i.e more spin and power with less effort.
Downside of SA: Harder to learn and time, tough when you are a bit late to a ball. Harder to hit high balls with.

Benefits of DB: Easier to learn, it's like a brute-force way of hitting a FH. Easier to control high-bouncing balls. Requires more fitness and overall strength.
Downsides of DB: A bit less reach and consumes more energy. Harder to execute on low bouncing balls.

Thank you!

What do you recommend for a agressive player of 15 years.

 

[SpinToWin]

Thank you!

What do you recommend for a agressive player of 15 years.

whichever you prefer, both are used on the highest levels, so one is not inferior to the other. Based on what you said, it seems like the straight arm forehand is preferable for you (you mention playing better with it).

 

[torpantennis]

Thank you!

What do you recommend for a agressive player of 15 years.

Let's just state some pure facts: In top 50 of the men's game, there are only like 4-5 players using the straight arm technique (Federer/Nadal/Dimitrov/Del Potro/Verdasco). Most everybody else uses the double-bend technique. That's just simply because SA is much harder to master and time properly. OTOH, these SA FH guys are exactly the players with the biggest forehands on tour, so go figure.

TBH, I see it so that DB is more like a counterpuncher's FH, and SA is more like an aggressive player's FH. But if you decide to go for that SA, it'll be a risky choice in a way. Me, I'm just about ready to make a switch to SA, after multiple years on DB. Still, I'm not 100% sure if I'm ready to make that switch just yet.

 

[Fintft]

I'm the opposite, I've always used SA, but a recent change in tackeback (going straight into a position similar to "tap the dog" or "elbowing" someone behind you), kinda makes me hit DB more often then not (losing power, precision and fluidity?).

I'm going back to SA, by dropping the racket head from that "tap the dog" backswing position...

 

[Lance L]

For me, it is less about trying to hit SA or not. If I'm hitting well out in front and and releasing my arm through contact, and a nice smooth long followthrough, I end up hitting with a pretty straight arm. If I'm late, either because I'm rushed or poor form, the arm ends up bent.

 

[Fintft]

^^
My new coach agrees with you.

 

[5263]

Benefits of SA: More energy efficient, i.e more spin and power with less effort.
Downside of SA: Harder to learn and time, tough when you are a bit late to a ball. Harder to hit high balls with.

Benefits of DB: Easier to learn, it's like a brute-force way of hitting a FH. Easier to control high-bouncing balls. Requires more fitness and overall strength.
Downsides of DB: A bit less reach and consumes more energy. Harder to execute on low bouncing balls.

He is entitled to his opinion above, which is quite popular I might add, but I don't agree the DB has any of the limitations listed, And while You may not get Nadal's topspin (who does) Imo it is easier to produce bigger spin with the DB. It is just way more versatile Imo, has recorded most of the fastest Fhs and seems to be easier for most players.

Just another point of reference for you.

 

[Easy Rider]

Each to his own

 

[enishi1357]

Benefits: feels better to hit with the SA

Con: takes way too much time to learn and adjust to it

with straight arm, it feels like I can hit a variety of topspin shot.
with DH, the topspin is more or less the same.
this means I could attack using variety of topspin rather than hitting hard like most conventional players
recently a student ask me how to hit with so much topspin and I could only tell her to train for her strength. Not everyone can master this well and it is almost crazy to learn it for the recreational level.
I think people who couldn't hit SA shouldn't even comment in this thread. Observation is not the same as experiencing it first hand. Just because you couldn't see any difference doesn't mean SA is not better than DH. Of course everyone is entitled to their opinion but if someone can do both and you can't then you should really

 

[5263]

I think people who couldn't hit SA shouldn't even comment in this thread. Observation is not the same as experiencing it first hand. Just because you couldn't see any difference doesn't mean SA is not better than DH. Of course everyone is entitled to their opinion but if someone can do both and you can't then you should really

I don't know that they shouldn't comment, but I get your point. How could they comment on the SA if they couldn't do it themselves? We do see this type thing all the time though. Personally it's hard for me to believe that any player who can hit a good DB, doesn't already use the SA in quite a few situations very naturally without any thought. Maybe not new players, but experienced players with a well developed Fh.

 

[WildVolley]

I don't know that the differences between the two strokes are completely understood, or necessarily consistent from player to player.

The spacing issue may be a wash. SA players tend to hit DB if jammed. Perhaps, DB players switch to SA if they have to reach more?

The idea of elbow extension into the transition from back-swing to forward swing was given a lot of emphasis by SpeedMaster in a number of blog posts, but it seems that movement can be accomplished with a double bend as long as the bend is less during the hitting phase than the takeback phase.

Lastly, we have freaky swings like Gulbis who sometimes will go straight arm at the end of the backswing and then hit with a major bend at contact. That's one of the weirdest FHs on tour.

 

[sez]

I'm not sure if it's just me but the SA I feel requires better footwork for the majority of balls received.

 

[Tight Lines]

Tennis is a game of errors. Why don't you have someone or a ball machine feed you 100 relatively difficult balls that you have to hit on the run. Use SA for the first 100 and DB for the next 100. Count how many you missed for each.

That will give you the answer.

Harry

 

[TennisCJC]

I am mostly self-taught with many lessons through the last 40 years, but I disagree that SA is significantly more difficult to time. I read books with photos and sequences when I was learning almost 40 years ago and they stressed extension and getting the arm extended. My FH is SA for most shots with some adjustments if I am jammed. I can see where working farther from your body and more in front could be more difficult but I also think it is what you are used too. If I tried to use a bent arm, it would be difficult for me. So, either is good.

 

[Tight Lines]

I am mostly self-taught with many lessons through the last 40 years, but I disagree that SA is significantly more difficult to time. I read books with photos and sequences when I was learning almost 40 years ago and they stressed extension and getting the arm extended. My FH is SA for most shots with some adjustments if I am jammed. I can see where working farther from your body and more in front could be more difficult but I also think it is what you are used too. If I tried to use a bent arm, it would be difficult for me. So, either is good.

I think simple geometry would disagree with you. By definition, the point of impact for SA is further away from you, which means it is more difficult to time.

Harry

 

[Ash_Smith]

I think people who couldn't hit SA shouldn't even comment in this thread. Observation is not the same as experiencing it first hand. Just because you couldn't see any difference doesn't mean SA is not better than DH. Of course everyone is entitled to their opinion but if someone can do both and you can't then you should really

If you extend that premise across all topics in this forum then only about 5 posters will be eligible to comment on anything.

 

[sez]

If you extend that premise across all topics in this forum then only about 5 posters will be eligible to comment on anything.

Imagine if commenting on a 1hb vs a 2hb thread required a citation video of you performing both strokes at an intermediate level.

 

[enishi1357]

If you extend that premise across all topics in this forum then only about 5 posters will be eligible to comment on anything.

I mean the guy is asking a question that needs real answer. Imagine going to class and learning some bogus facts. The poster at least to me seems like he thinks he knows straight arm forehand when he in fact does not provides enough facts to prove such. Sure, if it is about tennis in general then I wouldn't comment on it but this is specifically about straight arm. Also, I understand if no one is commenting on this thread then yeah someone less qualify can chime in but there's actually people who does do straight arm. We do not need less qualify people putting down the comments of those who does know how to do straight arm to a fair extent. Satisfy your own ego in a productive way please

 

[sundaypunch]

Imagine if commenting on a 1hb vs a 2hb thread required a citation video of you performing both strokes at an intermediate level.

That would actually be helpful. It's funny to read threads and see people comment on intricate details concerning technique and racquets. Then you eventually see a video of them and they have horrible strokes and play at a very low level.

 

[Bendex]

I think it's easier to sync your body weight with a bent arm, because the elbow is closer to the hip. But the straight arm forehand is certainly faster if you get it right.

 

[sez]

That would actually be helpful. It's funny to read threads and see people comment on intricate details concerning technique and racquets. Then you eventually see a video of them and they have horrible strokes and play at a very low level.

Yup, but sometimes those who get it naturally can't break it down unlike those who understand the concept but aren't able or don't have the manual dexterity.

 

[WildVolley]

That would actually be helpful. It's funny to read threads and see people comment on intricate details concerning technique and racquets. Then you eventually see a video of them and they have horrible strokes and play at a very low level.

I don't find it difficult to differentiate between technique in the abstract and how I play.

Recognizing excellence in a technique performed by a pro doesn't necessarily mean that the person who recognizes it thinks they can play that well.

As discussed in another thread on this topic, the success of Federer, Nadal and Del Potro has caused a lot of interest in the SA FH. I don't think that's at all unusual.

 

[Spanglish72]

I feel the STRAIGHT ARM forehand is easier to hit when playing with an Eastern or Extreme Eastern grip.

BENT ARM forehands seems more natural when hitting with a Semi-Western or Western grip.

 

[SpinToWin]

I feel the STRAIGHT ARM forehand is easier to hit when playing with an Eastern or Extreme Eastern grip.

BENT ARM forehands seems more natural when hitting with a Semi-Western or Western grip.

Yeah, I had written a whole thread on that already