Tips - groundstrokes 9yo?

[Stokke]

Hello all,

my son (just turned 9) has been attending clinics for 1.5 years (2 hours a week) and private lessons for a little more than a half year (1 hour a week).

Forehand: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1jd8V9NZKTc

Backhand: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rGSDuTItWP4

What do you think - tips on improvement appreciated...

 

[Ash_Smith]

He's doing a going job so far, he must being put in some effort in!

If I was involved in his programme I would be looking at his backhand side, especially his use of his non-dom hand. I would like to see more extension from that arm though contact, for me his elbow breaks (bends) too early after contact so I would be working on keeping his non-dom arm straighter for longer. This would also help him with the "release" of his non-dom hand also, he tends to "hold" his non-dom hand at the moment.

I'm sure his coach is thinking about this anyway!

Cheers

Ash

 

[Stokke]

Ash - you are spot on. The backhand is where he needs improvement the most.

He and I started learning tennis at the same time so I have, unfortunately, not much experience to convey to him...

By "non-dom" hand on the backhand I suppose you mean his right arm? Ok - we will work on that (more extension through contact).

Thank you Ash...

 

[Ash_Smith]

non-dom = non-dominant = his left hand.

Cheers

Ash

 

[TennisCoachFLA]

Not bad at all. His forehand has all the basics, nice high takeback, extending the off arm down the baseline.. I would get him to exaggerate the off hand cradle of the racquet throat a little more. He could use a tad more core rotation and loading on the take back phase.

His backhand as you and Ash noted needs some work. He seems a little stiff in his core and shoulders. Boys especially do start to get stiffer at about his age, unlike when they are super pliable as 5-6 year olds.

I would get a trainer to improve his flexibility. The rest of the stroke, follow Ash's advice, although I prefer the kids keep the non dominant hand on the racquet all the way through the stroke and follow through. His backhand should be more flexible and loose and the follow through whip right around for him.

His 3rd backhand hit, at the 9-10 second mark....thats more like what his follow through should be. On the other backhands he is holding up his follow through.

Good luck!

 

[Ash_Smith]

Don't get me wrong, i'm not suggesting the non-dominant hand comes off the racquet...when I say he "holds" his non-dom hand I mean in the sense that he doen't "release" (golf term!), meaning he doesn't allow his left hand to come over his right until it's too late. Makes it more of a block at the ball than extension through.

This should illustrate what I'd be looking to see...

See positions 2 and 3 - these are the key positions for extension and therefore a great 2h backhand!

Cheers

Ash

 

[BSPE84]

Hello all,

my son (just turned 9) has been attending clinics for 1.5 years (2 hours a week) and private lessons for a little more than a half year (1 hour a week).

Forehand: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1jd8V9NZKTc

Backhand: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rGSDuTItWP4

What do you think - tips on improvement appreciated...

I suggest you try to get him to make better use of his legs by loading more (getting down) on the back leg then rotate the right hip through the shot. Looks to me like the grip might be a tad too far under the handle.

 

[TennisCoachFLA]

Good illustration Ash.

 

[Stokke]

Thank you for the tips - we will keep working on it

 

[Zefer]

His shots are looking pretty good, so well done to you both for that! Only things that stick out to me is that maybe he could:

1) Rotate his body a bit more on his forehand
2) Improve the mechanics of his backhand - it seems a bit stiff, so if he loosened his arms a bit more and hit more fluidly, he could improve it a lot.

However, his coach can give better more accurate information than I can.

 

[Pro_Tour_630]

sorry for bringing this into the discussion

Kid is from norway ( just like in denmark )and they have been training with green

We use them - my son (9) practices with them and use them when playing U12. He also uses orange balls when playing U10 and regulation balls when he hits with older kids.

He prefers green - and he plays his best with them. Yes, I think that they are very important for his tennis development.

 

[BMC9670]

sorry for bringing this into the discussion

Kid is from norway ( just like in denmark )and they have been training with green

Then don't. It's getting tiresome and frustrating. It's been discussed to death and you guys are needling into every thread with the same argument over and over. Enough already. Keep it in the thread it's discussed in so every thread doesn't end up in the same place. Thanks.

To the OP. I'm not a coach, but a parent training my son as well. Good advice here and congrats on a job well done so far! Seeking out good information and spending time with your son put you a long way down the road to success.

 

[TennisCoachFLA]

Then don't. It's getting tiresome and frustrating. It's been discussed to death and you guys are needling into every thread with the same argument over and over. Enough already. Keep it in the thread it's discussed in so every thread doesn't end up in the same place. Thanks.

To the OP. I'm not a coach, but a parent training my son as well. Good advice here and congrats on a job well done so far! Seeking out good information and spending time with your son put you a long way down the road to success.

Its a one way discussion now. I said several days ago I won't get into Quickstart debates anymore and I haven't and won't.

 

[Pro_Tour_630]

Nope op asked a question about his kid I noted he plays green. we are not debating , he says so in another thread , though might be helpful to note what kid is playing with

 

[TennisCoachFLA]

Nope op asked a question about his kid I noted he plays green. we are not debating , he says so in another thread , though might be helpful to note what kid is playing with

The corrections needed seen by Ash, other posters, and myself are the same. He needs more core loading and rotation on his forehand, his backhand needs to loosen up.

If I was his dad, all I would care about is that his coach makes those corrections ASAP, whether he uses a balloon, purple polka dot ball, or a bouncing grapefruit!

 

[Ash_Smith]

Sorry PT630 - not relevent to a thread in which the OP asked for suggestions to help his son improve and I am assuming he meant technically. If there was an agenda for bringing up the ball he uses perhaps it was misguided in this particular thread.

Cheers

Ash

P.S. Sorry OP - back on track from here...

 

[Pro_Tour_630]

Hello all,

my son (just turned 9) has been attending clinics for 1.5 years (2 hours a week) and private lessons for a little more than a half year (1 hour a week).

Forehand: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1jd8V9NZKTc

Backhand: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rGSDuTItWP4

What do you think - tips on improvement appreciated...

My tip on improvement is to stick playing green for a little while, it will help him with his strokes just like you said,

 

[TennisCoachFLA]

My tip on improvement is to stick playing green for a little while, it will help him with his strokes just like you said,

Since biting clear through my tongue would really, really hurt I think I will just head off to practice now!!

 

[Ash_Smith]

My tip on improvement is to stick playing green for a little while, it will help him with his strokes just like you said,

Maybe, but maybe if i'm his coach I'll find he needs to use a yellow ball to feel the changes I'd like to make to his backhand. Or, maybe he needs to use a dense sponge red ball to feel those same changes in the first instance. Perhaps we need to use a yellow ball as it gives him good feedback on the contact and extension (it is heavier after all) while we learn the feelings (shapes) and then we need to switch to an orange ball for a bit, to give him some time to create those feelings (shapes) whilst tracking and moving to the ball.

Maybe, just maybe, the ball isn't a magic pill that makes players better but actually another tool at the coaches disposal to help their players get good!

Would you make any technical (racquet head) suggestions for the young man in question?

Cheers

Ash

 

[Pro_Tour_630]

My tip on improvement is also to change his racquet, if it is 26 babolat it is too small for him and if it is the standard it is too heavy, I would suggest the lite.

I am s gear expert, dad asked about improvement in the Jr section had he done so in the tip section I would understand had he asked in the racquet section I would as well but it is in the Jr section so any tips should be welcomed even the type of shoe had he was playing on clay. So all you technique buff need to tone it done. I accepted your suggestion and I agree with them, now you want to belittle my tips go right ahead. I am not debating just giving what I can see. The kid has most likey given those same technical advice a million times it it is up to the kid if he wants to listen or not.

 

[Ash_Smith]

Nobody is belittling your tips! I was simply pointing out that using a green ball, on it's own, will not help a players strokes. Perhaps if you had elucidated on why you feel he should keep green ball training for a while, on what aspects of his strokes you feel it would benefit? That would give the player a more informed judgement on whether he wants to listen to the advice or not?

 

[Pro_Tour_630]

Nobody is belittling your tips! I was simply pointing out that using a green ball, on it's own, will not help a players strokes. Perhaps if you had elucidated on why you feel he should keep green ball training for a while, on what aspects of his strokes you feel it would benefit? That would give the player a more informed judgement on whether he wants to listen to the advice or not?

No one said using green on it's own will help a players strokes, of course technique will help as well. It is given.

My tip was stay green for a little more, if he wants to take my advice fine. He said he was using green and agrees to the improvement as noted earlier, so i was merly suggesting staying with green for little more, because from the video it shows that he needs it. 6 months at least. he prefers green and plays. Best with them nothing to add