Wrist flick/snap is a must

[shindemac]

I think sometimes people's minds tell them they are seeing certain things, but if they really studied the footage, would see what's actually
happening and not what they think they saw.

This is Drawing 101. Artists see more than non-artists.

Keep this is mind when 2 people can look at the same video (or image) and see different things. Experts see more than the average person. I use expert loosely, and it can mean tennis, art, basketball, skateboarding, etc.

 

[Todd Hicks]

Can't imagine why you would want to have anterior pelvic rotation though - it can cause all kinds of horrible injury complications.

@Todd Hicks needs to clarify???

If you are right-handed and want to hit the ball with your forehand, thrust your left hip forward as you hit the ball. If you are right-handed and want to hit the ball with your backhand, thrust your right hip forward.

 

[SystemicAnomaly]

If you are right-handed and want to hit the ball with your forehand, thrust your left hip forward as you hit the ball. If you are right-handed and want to hit the ball with your backhand, thrust your right hip forward.

Does this hip thrust happen at contact or is it earlier during the forward swing? Is it subtle or is it very obvious? Which direction is forward? Toward the net? Forward with respect to the body or to the hip itself? I see the hips rotating but I do not see this thrust that you speak of. Perhaps you can provide a video of a top player that illustrates this.

 

[Curiosity]

Wholly crap! I think you're "Curiosity's" alter-ego, his anti-hero, this is the stuff of comic book legend.

Laugh.

 

[Todd Hicks]

Does this hip thrust happen at contact or is it earlier during the forward swing? Is it subtle or is it very obvious? Which direction is forward? Toward the net? Forward with respect to the body or to the hip itself? I see the hips rotating but I do not see this thrust that you speak of. Perhaps you can provide a video of a top player that illustrates this.

I rotate my hips and body toward the net as I go for the ball. This is especially handy if you want to hit the ball down a line with oomph.

 

[SystemicAnomaly]

I rotate my hips and body toward the net as I go for the ball. This is especially handy if you want to hit the ball down a line with oomph.

Rotating (uncoiling) the hips toward the net in the forehands in the video above, we see that the right hip comes around moving forward. Not seeing the left hip thrust forward that you mentioned. I have seen the front hip pushed or thrust forward on many serves, but I have not noticed the front hip doing this on groundstrokes. Am I missing something?

 

[Todd Hicks]

Rotating (uncoiling) the hips toward the net in the forehands in the video above, we see that the right hip comes around moving forward. Not seeing the left hip thrust forward that you mentioned. I have seen the front hip pushed or thrust forward on many serves, but I have not noticed the front hip doing this on groundstrokes. Am I missing something?

I should have written "rotate" instead of "thrust".

 

[GuyClinch]

Straight arm vs. Bent.. I think too much is made of this - seriously. Years ago Tricky I think figured out this..

Federer "pronates" through the takeback. This gives you wild wiping action and additional acceleration through the line of swing. That's the "wristy" action of Fed's FH. Hard to control, but if you can get it working, well . . .

The idea here is that this pronation in the setup is kind of the spring board for the rest of his stroke.. It's why his forehand is hit with a straighter arm - its why his 'flip' looks more pronounced. Remember Fed hits with an eastern grip - so you would expect his racquet to drop more on edge..

Now IMHO:

That being said even 'bent' arm forehands are hit with the arm fairly straight near contact..and even bent arm forehands on the men's side have a flip. Bent forehands feature a lot of ISR on the men's side - so all in all - they are pretty similar..

Elevating the straight arm forehand to this super superior status is causing a lot of men to hit some ugly forehands..but I digress.

 

[Surion]

Straight arm vs. Bent.. I think too much is made of this - seriously. Years ago Tricky I think figured out this..



The idea here is that this pronation in the setup is kind of the spring board for the rest of his stroke.. It's why his forehand is hit with a straighter arm - its why his 'flip' looks more pronounced. Remember Fed hits with an eastern grip - so you would expect his racquet to drop more on edge..

Now IMHO:

That being said even 'bent' arm forehands are hit with the arm fairly straight near contact..and even bent arm forehands on the men's side have a flip. Bent forehands feature a lot of ISR on the men's side - so all in all - they are pretty similar..

Elevating the straight arm forehand to this super superior status is causing a lot of men to hit some ugly forehands..but I digress.

Yea, very straight...

And Fed doesn't hit a pure Eastern, more of a modern version shifted towards SW.

 

[GuyClinch]

The bend varies..you can find shots with Fed with bent arm now and then..

Considered one of the premiere bent arm forehands -generally hit fairly straight compared to your picks.

 

[rkelley]

I like to keep things as simple as possible. For whatever it's worth, IMO if you want to hit something a pro like fh, with all the spin and racquet whip that entails, then:
- Get into a decent load position (left arm across the body, some bend in the legs, open to neutral stance with the back leg behind the ball)
- Swing the edge of the racquet across the path of the ball. The swing path follows the edge. Generally your racquet face will be somewhat closed. How closed depends on a bunch of stuff - you'll figure it out.

Obviously there's a lot more stuff that can be said, but if you do those two things you will get a ton of spin and the shot should feel pretty good. It will feel way different than hitting through the ball flat. You'll also shank a lot of balls at first. You even don't need to swing fast - just edge of the racquet across the ball's path. It's a lot easier if you keep the rest of your body as quiet as possible near contact.

 

[FailBetter]

I like to keep things as simple as possible. For whatever it's worth, IMO if you want to hit something a pro like fh, with all the spin and racquet whip that entails, then:
- Get into a decent load position (left arm across the body, some bend in the legs, open to neutral stance with the back leg behind the ball)
- Swing the edge of the racquet across the path of the ball. The swing path follows the edge. Generally your racquet face will be somewhat closed. How closed depends on a bunch of stuff - you'll figure it out.

Obviously there's a lot more stuff that can be said, but if you do those two things you will get a ton of spin and the shot should feel pretty good. It will feel way different than hitting through the ball flat. You'll also shank a lot of balls at first. You even don't need to swing fast - just edge of the racquet across the ball's path. It's a lot easier if you keep the rest of your body as quiet as possible near contact.

what people mean with the "edge of the raquet" ? I'm not quite sure..

 

[rkelley]

what people mean with the "edge of the raquet" ? I'm not quite sure..

The edge of the racquet - the side - the thin part. In contrast, the face of the racquet is the big, flat area where the strings are.

 

[FailBetter]

The edge of the racquet - the side - the thin part. In contrast, the face of the racquet is the big, flat area where the strings are.

so in fact the frame?

 

[rkelley]

so in fact the frame?

Yes.

 

[SystemicAnomaly]

so in fact the frame?

If you move the racket "on edge" or "leading with the edge", the movement is primarily in the direction of the plane of the racket face. Capisce?

 

[rkelley]

If you move the racket "on edge" or "leading with the edge", the movement is primarily in the direction of the plane of the racket face. Capisce?

Yes, that's the idea. Set that angle before contact and maintain it well through contact.

 

[tlm]

I like to keep things as simple as possible. For whatever it's worth, IMO if you want to hit something a pro like fh, with all the spin and racquet whip that entails, then:
- Get into a decent load position (left arm across the body, some bend in the legs, open to neutral stance with the back leg behind the ball)
- Swing the edge of the racquet across the path of the ball. The swing path follows the edge. Generally your racquet face will be somewhat closed. How closed depends on a bunch of stuff - you'll figure it out.

Obviously there's a lot more stuff that can be said, but if you do those two things you will get a ton of spin and the shot should feel pretty good. It will feel way different than hitting through the ball flat. You'll also shank a lot of balls at first. You even don't need to swing fast - just edge of the racquet across the ball's path. It's a lot easier if you keep the rest of your body as quiet as possible near contact.

This is a very accurate description. I think that just focusing on these few points will help most people with their forehand. Like rkelly says you will shank some balls for a while and there is more to it but if you stay with his suggestions you should be able to figure out the rest with practice and time.

 

[sureshs]

I used to be a believer in this idea of rkelley but could not make it work all the time. I then watched a video where the coach broke up the forward swing into an initial part and an adjustable second part (I cannot find the video now). This allows for the response to start quickly, but later make slight modifications to account for the actual path of the incoming ball. I will post the video if I can find it.

 

[enishi1357]

so I played a casual hitting with some friends one of which play league. It goes without saying they would probably kick my ass. I realize my lack of practice in real hitting with people shows my inexperience. Although I think my stroke technically is better, I don't practice enough to make sure every mechanic is present during the swing. I realize 3/4 of the way through that my strokes sucks is not because I'm tire but because I did not extend my left arm out fully to provide the extra power. Once I realized it I neglect my footwork which caused my level to drop back down. My serve in the practice game was on point though. Was able to place it well on all four corners in a single game. Sucks that I reached this level but I have all these other obligation to take care of so I can't play like consistently .

 

[user92626]

ensi,

That's an age old problem for recreational players. As soon as we remember one thing, we forget 10 other things.

To play well you need a live reminder who gives you feedback constantly. You can't go astray.

 

[nguyendat9]

windshield wiper with your wrist not with whole arm motion.

 

[rkelley]

windshield wiper with your wrist not with whole arm motion.

Yandell has data that shows that in a pro fh swing the majority of wiper motion near contact happens with ISR - i.e. the shoulder, not the forearm.

 

[ARKustom93]

Yandell has data that shows that in a pro fh swing the majority of wiper motion near contact happens with ISR - i.e. the shoulder, not the forearm.

Can't generalize that. Most of the pros with a wrap-around FT hit with more forearm pronation/wrist movement.