I'm changing my mechanics because I don't think i am getting enough speed on my ball and I want to go back to hitting a classic Pete Sampras style forehand. Over the shoulder finish. Are there any areas of concentration or tips I need to concentrate on so I can hit a fast powerful forehand?
Tips and instruction on how to emulate Pete Sampras's forehand
- Thread starter Roddicked
- Start date
This. Pete's FH is a indiosyncratic, so here's some points to it
1) Your front arm stays "low." Unlike most FHs, your hitting arm will travel above the height of your front arm. Point to the ball with your hand as you take racquet back.
2) Use a smile-pattern, or initiate the takeback by bringing the racquet underneath the ball.
3) Keep wrist relaxed through takeback.
4) Swing across the body, rather than down-to-up.
darthpwner
Banned
Pete led with his elbow on his forehand. I actually wouldnt recommend Pete's forehand in the modern game. It is too flat in my opinion
Most male FHs are set where the front shoulder is "higher" than the back shoulder. This is also true of Roddick.
Sampras is more like the women, preferring to have the front shoulder "lower" than the back/hitting shoulder. Basically you point your fingers or your palm at the ball.
Yeah, that's the thing. He does finish over the shoulder, but he swings across the body. Usually when people swing across the body, this leads to a lower finish. However, because he uses the smile pattern in his takeback (which is usually associated with the BH), he ends up with a over-the-shoulder finish.
When you run to your right, use a smile pattern takeback, and swing across the body, you end up with a very whippy reverse FH finish. The classic Sampras running FH.
Again, it's an idiosyncratic swing.
SirSweetSpot
Banned
This is where I feel, and some may disagree, that it is practical to learn 2 different grips/styles on the forehand wing. Sometimes there's an opportunity to blast that FH winner down the line, hard, accurately, and flat, with the Eastern FH, an opportunity that may or may not be lost using a SW or W grip.
The disparity is incredible when your opponent is unaware that you have 2 forehands, and is expecting a SW reply...then gets blistered with an Eastern laser beam winner down the line. Now he is unsure of how much court he can leave open at any given time. Even just changing the pace and angles in a regular baseline exchange will prove daunting for him because he isn't getting the same predictable trajectories and pace all the time.
The wall is your friend in honing a new grip. It doesn't have to be an either/or thing...but an AND/AND thing. More weapons in your arsenal gives you a better chance.
The disparity is incredible when your opponent is unaware that you have 2 forehands, and is expecting a SW reply...then gets blistered with an Eastern laser beam winner down the line. Now he is unsure of how much court he can leave open at any given time. Even just changing the pace and angles in a regular baseline exchange will prove daunting for him because he isn't getting the same predictable trajectories and pace all the time.
The wall is your friend in honing a new grip. It doesn't have to be an either/or thing...but an AND/AND thing. More weapons in your arsenal gives you a better chance.
Mahboob Khan
Hall of Fame
You may like to watch Pete Sampras video at www.tennisplayer.net. This is the best way of learning.
Here are some pointers:
Grip: Eastern FH grip. The base knuckle of the index finger on the right panel i.e. panel 3.
The stance:
Square: Right foot at 6 left foot at 12 o clock positions.
Open: Right foot at 3 and left foot at 9 o clock positions.
The stance is dictated by the hitting situation. For wide ball use open, for normal ball use square.
For hitting cross court you may use open stance, for hitting down the line you may use square.
It is also possible to hit both cross and down with open stance.
As you see the ball coming to your FH side, your left arm should aid in pushing your racket back and up in a loop C, with that your upper body will also turn. If done correctly, your left shoulder will be at 1230 and right shoulder be at 1830 positions. The tip of the racket will be higher than your head. Basically, it is a high backswing.
From this high position, the racket will descend, and will move forward into contact. As you initiate your forward swing, your wrist should be relax and laid back.
The contact is out in front, between your knee and midsection, the racket is vertical at contact, you hit through the ball as if you are hitting 3 balls in a row, and forward-upward follow-through generally over your left shoulder.
At finish, your right shoulder should replace the left shoulder.
Watch the vid at tennisplayer.
Mahboob Khan
Here are some pointers:
Grip: Eastern FH grip. The base knuckle of the index finger on the right panel i.e. panel 3.
The stance:
Square: Right foot at 6 left foot at 12 o clock positions.
Open: Right foot at 3 and left foot at 9 o clock positions.
The stance is dictated by the hitting situation. For wide ball use open, for normal ball use square.
For hitting cross court you may use open stance, for hitting down the line you may use square.
It is also possible to hit both cross and down with open stance.
As you see the ball coming to your FH side, your left arm should aid in pushing your racket back and up in a loop C, with that your upper body will also turn. If done correctly, your left shoulder will be at 1230 and right shoulder be at 1830 positions. The tip of the racket will be higher than your head. Basically, it is a high backswing.
From this high position, the racket will descend, and will move forward into contact. As you initiate your forward swing, your wrist should be relax and laid back.
The contact is out in front, between your knee and midsection, the racket is vertical at contact, you hit through the ball as if you are hitting 3 balls in a row, and forward-upward follow-through generally over your left shoulder.
At finish, your right shoulder should replace the left shoulder.
Watch the vid at tennisplayer.
Mahboob Khan
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