Good point about the spacing - easier to get it right when you need to move AWAY from the ball than when you need to move TOWARDS it but stop before getting too close. For me, anyway - and clearly for you too. Nice lefty forehand for just 15 weeks.
Wow, didn't realize at first you were right handed. The shots were looking really funky but now I understand why. Funny enough I think you hit a lot better than most club players using their dominant hand lol.
I have to un-learn my forehand and start over. First coach had me taking too much of a backswing- next coach was terrific but he left the club and took a coaching job in another state- 4 lessons in. Current coach is teaching me spacing - but I feel like I cannot reach the ball! So I feel like I am reaching for the ball. Is it beneficial to get a ball machine? Between well meaning tennis friends and their 'tips' and coaches - I would like to practice what I have been taught in silence
I would take even a further step back (not literally!), and frame the question with regard to your aim in tennis and your level. Perhaps if you just want to win more matches in your weekly club competition, you don't need to re-work the fundamentals, and it's more about leveraging your strengths and working on strategies. Or maybe you're an intermediate player who has good timing and spacing already but still can't get to the next level because the swing is fundamentally "faulty". The other issue is that with all these players you see at the club, who do have issues with spaces and timing for example, some of them have been playing that way for a long time. The forehand is kind of a complex movement. It may be that spacing is the issue for someone for example, but fixing that would require a lot of commitment and work, even with good regular coaching - I would be surprised to see that person fix the issue by just being told to make space. And timing is a much more complex issue to tackle really.
I completely agree with everything you just said! The forehand (and all strokes) are complex and there are lots of potential variables. Changing any of the variables requires a lot of energy expenditure, so it's up to the individual to decide if it's worth it to make the changes. I'm certainly not one for advocating chasing "perfect technique". If the goal is to win more, maximizing what you've got as generally the fastest route. Having said all that, when a player improves their vision and coordination, everything improves.
I would definitely give the free vision program a go. These used to be my main issues as well and addressing the visual issues was game changing for me.
The problem with the forehand is you can hit it in so many different ways, many of them wrong and get away with it. I am not a coach but looking at that video the reason you have to focus so much on spacing and timing is because of how you swing - I think you have watched too many Fed videos and attempted to copy him but not quite got it all right and anyway you aren't Fed with his amazing timing. The whole straight arm swing you have imo is the primary problem - it both makes spacing hard (as you are swinging straight you can't adjust easily) and timing (you don't really have your wrist back and arm behind the ball swinging so wide until the very very end, which means you will have an unstable racket if you even slightly miss time it). You also look like you are muscling the ball with your arm not using your legs/torso to generate the power first and transfer that into the arm (classing "throwing action" kinetic chain). You have power due to the straight arm and big arm muscles yet look at someone like Raducanu - little muscles, swings with a bent arm but has the correct chain and hence has loads more power than you. However what do I know, I am not expert, you would do very well to go to another coach for instruction (e.g. TPA Tennis or Feel tennis - submit a video to them).
Thank you for you comment, but with respect I think you missed the point of the video. Most people struggle to improve their forehand because they either focus on the wrong thing or because they simply don't have the hand to eye coordination to do it any better. The aim of the video is to encourage people to focus on basics first. Precise spacing depends on the style of forehand (straight / bent arm, grip & grip) and the specific shot (high / low, flat / slice etc.). But spacing is fundamental to using optimal biomechanics. And a lot of people don't set up in the right position, which prevents them for improving. So i was using my LEFT HANDED forehand practice as an illustration to help people understand the process of focusing on something basic. I'm not focusing on them too much. Quite the opposite, I need to focus on them more, because when I get it right, the shot is effortless. Does that make sense?
@@TennisHacker Kind of but my first sentence still stands - there is a lot of ways you can be hitting forehands and lots of potential problems. You highlight spacing and timing as a particular problem and I just said that's made much worse due to the way you are attempting to hit. If you don't have amazing hand/eye coordination then the first step would be to avoid trying to hit like that in the first place, not spend lots of hours trying to overcome it by doing focused practice. Then it might not be such a major problem.
@@NamesAreRandom When I started learning, I had the choice of learning to hit a bent arm of straight arm. We can make arguments either way, based on the number of pro's hitting with each variation. Radakanu hits with a bent arm, Fernandez hits with straight. Djok has a more bent arm, Fed and Nadal hit with straight. I made my choice to learn to hit with a straight for 2 reasons. With a straight arm, there is less to go wrong biomechanically (see the work of Dr Brian Gordon). And when you are modelling people, you need to consider not just performance, but also longevity. So although there are more players on the pro tour hitting with a bent arm, when it comes to longevity Fed and Nadal are great models. So that is why I chose to hit the straight arm variation. With all that said, I'm 40 years old and I've only been learning to play lefty for 15 weeks. My forehand is improving week by week and I'm now starting to be able to attack high balls with decent consistency during point play. And I'm competing well with decent 4.5 players in the area. So I don't feel like I have a problem. I'm learning and in this video I was trying to illustrate the process of learning.
It's all relative. None of us will be Federer or Djokovic. With that said, even players who started playing as adults can make huge improvements if they use focused practice and address the physical limitations like hand to eye coordination.
Easier said then done! Get a good coach, go to the court and hit the ball at least 1,000 hrs. then may be you would be good. ALL TALKS ARE JUST NONSENSE! EVERY BODY, ALL PROS HIT THE BALL DIFFERENTLY. If you are jammed all the time, and you don't know, YOU ARE AN IDIOT and you should abandon the game: the distance from you to the ball AT THE CONTACT POINT is BOTH LATERALLY (sideway) and how far the ball is from you FRONTALLY (and how high the contact point is): a THREE DIMENSIONAL matter, NOT ONE DIMENSION (only sideway) like taught in this video. Capisce? Makes sense? Thank you.
If you go to any tennis club in any country you will see plenty of players that are jammed on their shots. Including players that are working with high quality coaches. Does that mean all these people are idiots and shouldn't be allowed to enjoy playing tennis? This video DOES NOT CLAIM that all pro's hit the same OR that tennis movement is only lateral. I think you missed the point of what I was saying. But thanks for your comment
![The PERFECT tennis forehand [ MYTH ]](/img/n.gif)
Nice calves bro !! great lessons to clarify our tennis perspectives . Hugs from Brazil
I should have sold calf programs :-)
Good point about the spacing - easier to get it right when you need to move AWAY from the ball than when you need to move TOWARDS it but stop before getting too close. For me, anyway - and clearly for you too. Nice lefty forehand for just 15 weeks.
Glad you enjoyed the video. A lot of people I've spoken to find the same.
Wow, didn't realize at first you were right handed. The shots were looking really funky but now I understand why. Funny enough I think you hit a lot better than most club players using their dominant hand lol.
My right handed shots look funky to :-)
But thanks, I appreciate your kind words.
Great tips. I enjoy watching your narration of your hitting session. Your left handed game is coming along nicely!
Thanks you. It's improving steadily, but I can't lie it's a frustrating process :-)
I have to un-learn my forehand and start over. First coach had me taking too much of a backswing- next coach was terrific but he left the club and took a coaching job in another state- 4 lessons in. Current coach is teaching me spacing - but I feel like I cannot reach the ball! So I feel like I am reaching for the ball. Is it beneficial to get a ball machine? Between well meaning tennis friends and their 'tips' and coaches - I would like to practice what I have been taught in silence
Ball machines can be helpful for grooving technique is peace 😀
Just make sure to record yourself, so you can feedback on what you are doing.
I would take even a further step back (not literally!), and frame the question with regard to your aim in tennis and your level. Perhaps if you just want to win more matches in your weekly club competition, you don't need to re-work the fundamentals, and it's more about leveraging your strengths and working on strategies. Or maybe you're an intermediate player who has good timing and spacing already but still can't get to the next level because the swing is fundamentally "faulty".
The other issue is that with all these players you see at the club, who do have issues with spaces and timing for example, some of them have been playing that way for a long time. The forehand is kind of a complex movement. It may be that spacing is the issue for someone for example, but fixing that would require a lot of commitment and work, even with good regular coaching - I would be surprised to see that person fix the issue by just being told to make space. And timing is a much more complex issue to tackle really.
I completely agree with everything you just said!
The forehand (and all strokes) are complex and there are lots of potential variables. Changing any of the variables requires a lot of energy expenditure, so it's up to the individual to decide if it's worth it to make the changes.
I'm certainly not one for advocating chasing "perfect technique". If the goal is to win more, maximizing what you've got as generally the fastest route.
Having said all that, when a player improves their vision and coordination, everything improves.
Why do you think your forehand isn't improving?
Exactly those two factors, spacing and timing.
I would definitely give the free vision program a go. These used to be my main issues as well and addressing the visual issues was game changing for me.
The problem with the forehand is you can hit it in so many different ways, many of them wrong and get away with it. I am not a coach but looking at that video the reason you have to focus so much on spacing and timing is because of how you swing - I think you have watched too many Fed videos and attempted to copy him but not quite got it all right and anyway you aren't Fed with his amazing timing. The whole straight arm swing you have imo is the primary problem - it both makes spacing hard (as you are swinging straight you can't adjust easily) and timing (you don't really have your wrist back and arm behind the ball swinging so wide until the very very end, which means you will have an unstable racket if you even slightly miss time it). You also look like you are muscling the ball with your arm not using your legs/torso to generate the power first and transfer that into the arm (classing "throwing action" kinetic chain). You have power due to the straight arm and big arm muscles yet look at someone like Raducanu - little muscles, swings with a bent arm but has the correct chain and hence has loads more power than you. However what do I know, I am not expert, you would do very well to go to another coach for instruction (e.g. TPA Tennis or Feel tennis - submit a video to them).
Thank you for you comment, but with respect I think you missed the point of the video. Most people struggle to improve their forehand because they either focus on the wrong thing or because they simply don't have the hand to eye coordination to do it any better. The aim of the video is to encourage people to focus on basics first. Precise spacing depends on the style of forehand (straight / bent arm, grip & grip) and the specific shot (high / low, flat / slice etc.). But spacing is fundamental to using optimal biomechanics. And a lot of people don't set up in the right position, which prevents them for improving. So i was using my LEFT HANDED forehand practice as an illustration to help people understand the process of focusing on something basic. I'm not focusing on them too much. Quite the opposite, I need to focus on them more, because when I get it right, the shot is effortless. Does that make sense?
@@TennisHacker Kind of but my first sentence still stands - there is a lot of ways you can be hitting forehands and lots of potential problems. You highlight spacing and timing as a particular problem and I just said that's made much worse due to the way you are attempting to hit. If you don't have amazing hand/eye coordination then the first step would be to avoid trying to hit like that in the first place, not spend lots of hours trying to overcome it by doing focused practice. Then it might not be such a major problem.
@@NamesAreRandom
When I started learning, I had the choice of learning to hit a bent arm of straight arm. We can make arguments either way, based on the number of pro's hitting with each variation. Radakanu hits with a bent arm, Fernandez hits with straight. Djok has a more bent arm, Fed and Nadal hit with straight.
I made my choice to learn to hit with a straight for 2 reasons. With a straight arm, there is less to go wrong biomechanically (see the work of Dr Brian Gordon). And when you are modelling people, you need to consider not just performance, but also longevity. So although there are more players on the pro tour hitting with a bent arm, when it comes to longevity Fed and Nadal are great models. So that is why I chose to hit the straight arm variation.
With all that said, I'm 40 years old and I've only been learning to play lefty for 15 weeks. My forehand is improving week by week and I'm now starting to be able to attack high balls with decent consistency during point play. And I'm competing well with decent 4.5 players in the area. So I don't feel like I have a problem. I'm learning and in this video I was trying to illustrate the process of learning.
Everyone can only improve so much, else everyone would end up like federer. UA-cam videos don't cut it, learning properly from young age does.
It's all relative. None of us will be Federer or Djokovic. With that said, even players who started playing as adults can make huge improvements if they use focused practice and address the physical limitations like hand to eye coordination.
Easier said then done! Get a good coach, go to the court and hit the ball at least 1,000 hrs. then may be you would be good. ALL TALKS ARE JUST NONSENSE! EVERY BODY, ALL PROS HIT THE BALL DIFFERENTLY. If you are jammed all the time, and you don't know, YOU ARE AN IDIOT and you should abandon the game: the distance from you to the ball AT THE CONTACT POINT is BOTH LATERALLY (sideway) and how far the ball is from you FRONTALLY (and how high the contact point is): a THREE DIMENSIONAL matter, NOT ONE DIMENSION (only sideway) like taught in this video. Capisce? Makes sense? Thank you.
If you go to any tennis club in any country you will see plenty of players that are jammed on their shots. Including players that are working with high quality coaches. Does that mean all these people are idiots and shouldn't be allowed to enjoy playing tennis?
This video DOES NOT CLAIM that all pro's hit the same OR that tennis movement is only lateral. I think you missed the point of what I was saying.
But thanks for your comment