[Video] - Groundstrokes and Serves Critique

[NotAtTheNet]

Hey guys, really tried to improve on my groundstrokes and serve after coming off the leg injury. Just want everyone to take a look bc I need a fresh set of eyes on things I'm not catching. I go over my videos over and over while bored out of my mind at work trying to make notes on things to work on.

Groundstrokes here (w/ Slow Mo, backhands at 1:15)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V4X_GLRg2xg

Serve Here (w/ slow mo, 2nd serves to start, flat serves about 2:50 in)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K7FLRRfwY3c

I was really wondering if I've progressed as a player so I took a forehand and a backhand from each of my vids from the last 5 months (video taped myself about every week or so) and put them together back to back to see if there's any noticeable difference. Unfortunately to my untrained eye, maybe after 2 months in, I don't see much improvement form-wise but I personally know i've gotten much much more consistent so thats a good thing.

Progression
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4POQAf4XAMo

it's pretty funny and kind of sad seeing how jumpy and poor my form was.

Question about Kick serves, I want to gain more pace on my kick serve, am I not following through enough or do I just need to ramp up the racquet head speed some more? Learning the kick serve the last month was tough enough, I'm trying to work in some more leg action but I just feel uncoordinated with it.

Question/note about ball machines, I like to time my split step right before my opponent makes contact, so I'm primed to spring at the ball after he makes contact and I know which way to move. With the ball machine I can't really do that unless i'm trying to anticipate when the machines about to shoot out a ball. Is that correct?

I'd say I'm about a solid 3.0, but my mental toughness is about a 1.5 (get angry and down on myself if I flub up Safin-wise). Especially if I'm exhausted I mentally lose focus and don't split step and get sloppy. Anyone have any mental drills that'd be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance.

 

[split-step]

what is your grip on your 2HBH? your racquet face seems overly closed on your take back and it looks like you end up bending back and pulling upwards to compensate.

That being said I liked the very last backhand you hit. It looked very well timed and it sounded like you hit it cleanly.

 

[TropicThunder]

how much time has it been since your injury?

 

[NotAtTheNet]

how much time has it been since your injury?

I was out for a Month, been back for about a month.

 

[TropicThunder]

So you've been playing for a month now?

Well, which grip do you have on your serves?

 

[NotAtTheNet]

So you've been playing for a month now?

Well, which grip do you have on your serves?

Continental on all serves, SW on FH, not quite sure on BH but pretty sure its a SW as well.

 

[NotAtTheNet]

what is your grip on your 2HBH? your racquet face seems overly closed on your take back and it looks like you end up bending back and pulling upwards to compensate.
If you are going to use extreme grip like that, you should contact the ball more in front.

I would slow down your ball machine. It seems it is coming too fast/deep for you at times.

Set it to bounce at your service line but with topspin (If you have this setting) so you can be in good position to hit all your groundstrokes with your weight into the shot. Then we are seeing the best stroke you can hit.

Good eye on the BH, I hadn't realized I was hitting late not making contact in front.

The ball machine is tough since I have a big mix of new, newer, and old balls, the different level of felt kind of mixes up how the ball is shot out. In anycase variation is good since it keeps me on my toes kind of.

 

[Zeppy]

Well, I shouldn't be one to criticize because you're better than I am, but it seems like for your 2 hand backhand, you're hitting it a bit late. So I guess what I'm trying to say is, you're making contact with the ball a bit after when you're supposed to (If that makes sense).

It may be just the camera angle, but uhh, your follow throughs for your forehand seems a bit choppy. Are you turning your wrist when you're following through?

About your serves, it doesn't seem like you're following through across your body. I'll like to show you a picture, but I can't seem to find one. And I guess you're not really "exploding" into the ball when you're serving, but then you just got out of a leg injury, so that's probably why.

But other than that, I really like the fluidity of your groundstrokes. Your followthroughs might be a thing to pay attention to, I'm not too sure on this, so ask for someone else's opinion. I'm not too good myself. I like your songs. Pretty chill. But yeah, I hope you didn't get insulted by my criticism.

When I get a video of myself, hopefully you'll do me back the favor.

 

[Nellie]

If you want you serve to kick, yuo need to hit up and through the ball. now you are hitting the ball pretty flat - if you notice, for example, between 12 and 14 seconds in the serve video, you are essentially hitting straight at the ball. It is like you are throwing the racquet to the other side of he net. If you want the ball to kick up, you need to bend your knees and get you racquet speed moving up. think if it like tossing your racquet as high as you can.

 

[NotAtTheNet]

If you want you serve to kick, yuo need to hit up and through the ball. now you are hitting the ball pretty flat - if you notice, for example, between 12 and 14 seconds in the serve video, you are essentially hitting straight at the ball. It is like you are throwing the racquet to the other side of he net. If you want the ball to kick up, you need to bend your knees and get you racquet speed moving up. think if it like tossing your racquet as high as you can.

Hmm well it feels like I'm hitting up bc the ball definitely feels like it spins off the racquet and a lot of the pace is gone (the "boom" power gets converted to spin), I thought I would try to start hitting through a bit more to give my 2nd serve a bit more pace. Definitely want to get the knees involved but I feel unstable enough, but every one else I play with who has a great kick serve almost gets their body horizontal with the knee and body bend. I think what I tend to do now is come over to the right too much (like 6 - to 2 o'clock). definitely need to keep working on it.... that and everything else.

 

[counter_puncher]

you should go the the net more ...

 

[onehandbh]

Nice music. Makes me want to get up and dance.

Nice progression on the groundstrokes. FH really improved and looks good.
backhand still has a bit of a baseball bat kind of swing.

the main thing on the serves is that you're not getting enough coil and
storing enough energy. The right shoulder should be much lower than
the tossing shoulder at the trophy pose.

 

[TooMuchFun13]

Looks Good!

Your groundstrokes look pretty good over all but theres some minute details I gotta pick on. On your forehand it appears from what I can see in the video you are sometimes a little too close to the ball. Give yourself a little more space so you can swing fully and out in front of you. Have you seen Federer's forehand? Have you noticed the extension his arm has when he hits? Try to find some videos and imitate that extension. It will give you more power and consistancy because it requires you to give yourself space.

On the backhand you need to turn a little more sideways and cross your right foot over. This will help you get more power because it forces you to rotate your upper body. Also try to keep your arms extended throughout the swing until you make contact this will give you more depth and consistancy. If you need an example, David Nalbandian has a great backhand to imitate.

For your serve you seem to know your stuff. You just need to relax your arm more as you bring it back for the racquet drop. You keep it too stiff and your arm lags behind your body and toss. If you watch you will notice that as you go into the "trophy position" your elbow is not high enough reducing your power. Keep loose and make sure your arm is fluid and ready by the time you go to swing. To help, try to imagine the racquet is a rocket and point the buttcap up during the racquet drop. Keep your tossing arm up longer and straight. As you go to swing bring it down and tuck it to your side like you are cradling a football. This will facilitate shoulder turn which will give you power. Also as you coil your legs you should go onto the balls of your feet. In the video you are still flat footed as you propel yourself into the serve.

Good Luck and Keep Practicing.

 

[chrisf]

Your groundstrokes look pretty good over all but theres some minute details I gotta pick on. On your forehand it appears from what I can see in the video you are sometimes a little too close to the ball.

This. They look good but if you moved your contact point on your forehand about a foot farther in front of you it will force you to use your body to hit and not your arm. This will give you much greater consistency and power. Btw, your forehand looks better than a 3.0. If you lean into that shot it looks like it could easily be your 4.0 stroke. Just my $0.02