What can I improve to hit a better forehand in longer rallies?

[JRinUSA]

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Video link attached for your review. (filtered points that were 9+ shots and longer).
I'm the one in darker cap. I realize the color scheme of our outfit is pretty similar so apologize for that.

Lost the practice match 4-6 4-6 as I was struggling to find rhythm against my neighbor friend. I either aimed for the risky shots too early in the rally or got too passive as the rally gets longer.

I've been aiming to hit the ball closer to its highest point (or apex) of its trajectory and change my grip a little more semi-western.
This court is noticeably bouncier than any hard courts around my area (north Dallas) and I find that condition to really make me struggle to the time the ball right.

I am thinking I need to set up for my forehand a bit earlier with more exaggerated feel of unit turn and having the racket strings face the back fence... otherwise I think I am arming the ball too much.

Any constructive criticism or inputs would be highly appreciated!

Thank you,

 

[zoingy]

Do you feel like your backhand feels more solid in this regard? From here it sort of looks like you're able to step in and meet the ball at contact. But on some forehands it looks like you might be setting your feet early & waiting for the ball, which would make consistent spacing and timing more difficult. Just a guess.

 

[JRinUSA]

Do you feel like your backhand feels more solid in this regard? From here it sort of looks like you're able to step in and meet the ball at contact. But on some forehands it looks like you might be setting your feet early & waiting for the ball, which would make consistent spacing and timing more difficult. Just a guess.

I think there's truth to that. I definitely think a lot more on the forehand side. Backhand feels a little more natural in a sense, I think of the ball I want to hit and I either execute or know something went wrong immediately. Maybe it's just the grip changing that's making me a nervous on the forehand's side?

 

[zoingy]

I think there's truth to that. I definitely think a lot more on the forehand side. Backhand feels a little more natural in a sense, I think of the ball I want to hit and I either execute or know something went wrong immediately. Maybe it's just the grip changing that's making me a nervous on the forehand's side?

Yeah personally my feet definitely tend to freeze up a bit when I have too much upper body stuff to think about. I have to tell myself to "prepare early, commit late", and use more momentum transfer to hit the ball, especially in more defensive situations.

 

[Dragy]

Two things I would work on technically, particularly to play those higher bounces:

1. Load your back foot. You don't do it at all, compress it with your whole body weight before initiating the swing - you need upward+forward body momentum for proper high swing.

2. Unlock your wrist, start "releasing" the racquet. Not exactly throw it, but get to semi-throw, while still guiding the swing.

As bonus suggestion, I'd learn to fall back and play those higher balls on descent. It's something many hard-court players miss, as you kind of don't have time... but you do, even on ATP level you can (doesn't mean you should) play far back like Medvedev and comfortably blast balls after peak, if the peak is too high. Taking them early is a solution, but not the only one, not for every ball.

When you can hit a deep heavy ball from 1+ meter behind the baseline, off a falling ball, you are instantly in much better shape. Now he has to deal with deep fast high bouncers.

PS. I don't think you do something too bad actually, mostly just uncomfortable. Strive for more prep/loading, more freedom in swings, and adjust your position a bit, and you are back to good.

 

[JRinUSA]

Two things I would work on technically, particularly to play those higher bounces:

1. Load your back foot. You don't do it at all, compress it with your whole body weight before initiating the swing - you need upward+forward body momentum for proper high swing.

2. Unlock your wrist, start "releasing" the racquet. Not exactly throw it, but get to semi-throw, while still guiding the swing.

As bonus suggestion, I'd learn to fall back and play those higher balls on descent. It's something many hard-court players miss, as you kind of don't have time... but you do, even on ATP level you can (doesn't mean you should) play far back like Medvedev and comfortably blast balls after peak, if the peak is too high. Taking them early is a solution, but not the only one, not for every ball.

When you can hit a deep heavy ball from 1+ meter behind the baseline, off a falling ball, you are instantly in much better shape. Now he has to deal with deep fast high bouncers.

PS. I don't think you do something too bad actually, mostly just uncomfortable. Strive for more prep/loading, more freedom in swings, and adjust your position a bit, and you are back to good.

Thanks for the feedback!
You're right - I think I am definitely missing that little compression motion to the ground/core on my shots. I've read your comment before hitting the court with the ball machine and keeping the sinner-esque ready motion in mind made the forehand a lot more consistent. The only downside... tired legs.

 

[10sbeast888]

Two things I would work on technically, particularly to play those higher bounces:

1. Load your back foot. You don't do it at all, compress it with your whole body weight before initiating the swing - you need upward+forward body momentum for proper high swing.

2. Unlock your wrist, start "releasing" the racquet. Not exactly throw it, but get to semi-throw, while still guiding the swing.

As bonus suggestion, I'd learn to fall back and play those higher balls on descent. It's something many hard-court players miss, as you kind of don't have time... but you do, even on ATP level you can (doesn't mean you should) play far back like Medvedev and comfortably blast balls after peak, if the peak is too high. Taking them early is a solution, but not the only one, not for every ball.

When you can hit a deep heavy ball from 1+ meter behind the baseline, off a falling ball, you are instantly in much better shape. Now he has to deal with deep fast high bouncers.

PS. I don't think you do something too bad actually, mostly just uncomfortable. Strive for more prep/loading, more freedom in swings, and adjust your position a bit, and you are back to good.

the lack of a wrist release.... so you don't get much spin on the ball, so you have to be tentative on these low balls.

likely the cause is open face. from the unit turn to pad the dog to the initial part of the flip, during this stage you need to have a mindset of attacking the ball with the leading edge, not the sweet spot.

in other words during this stage you can pretend you will cut the ball in half with the leading edge.

in other words if you never open the face, you'd hit a ball so low it will land on YOUR service line and roll to the net.... but your tennis instinct will take over after the flip and the face will open up by itself to do the windshield wipe.

knowing the ball will never go long - because your starting target is near your own service line, is what will allow you to whip this shot with unlimited acceleration (but limited by your physical ability).

then the wrist release will happen, as there is no more need to hold it back.

attacking the ball with the sweet spot, is a universal problem among adults, before they understand how the fh works.

 

[JRinUSA]

the lack of a wrist release.... so you don't get much spin on the ball, so you have to be tentative on these low balls.

likely the cause is open face. from the unit turn to pad the dog to the initial part of the flip, during this stage you need to have a mindset of attacking the ball with the leading edge, not the sweet spot.

in other words during this stage you can pretend you will cut the ball in half with the leading edge.

in other words if you never open the face, you'd hit a ball so low it will land on YOUR service line and roll to the net.... but your tennis instinct will take over after the flip and the face will open up by itself to do the windshield wipe.

knowing the ball will never go long - because your starting target is near your own service line, is what will allow you to whip this shot with unlimited acceleration (but limited by your physical ability).

then the wrist release will happen, as there is no more need to hold it back.

attacking the ball with the sweet spot, is a universal problem among adults, before they understand how the fh works.

Interesting point.. Another item to my long list here on the forehand side lol