Increasing Racquet Head Speed With Less Effort
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- Опубліковано 28 вер 2024
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Excellent...you cut to the core of what so many people do wrong when first trying to learn the "modern" forehand...gripping the racket tightly prevents a player from getting the proper motion to really plow through the ball.
Really good video and insight. I was doing it all wrong exactly as you described how the lag was being taught wrong all over UA-cam, and that tension gave me golfer's elbow and now I'm trying to recover. Wish I saw this video first. Thank you!
Vince Duque you are most welcome. Happy hitting!
This video totally unlocked my forehand. Watched many videos but the move the fist forward in a relaxed move was the key . Thankyou.
Thanks for the feedback! Since I taught myself the sport I think I can see some important elements that the pros who don't remember what it's like not to be good forget haha
I bet it did. Can't wait to try it... :)
I saw a lot of videos how they teach approve your forehead but you are the best in this is the best what I know and I will teach my students also what you told me thank you very much it's very usable and you have to know you are the best thank you
You are most welcome! So glad it has helped :)
After watching hundreds of videos of explanation of racquet lag, yours was the best explanation of all.
michael Scaturro that’s kind to say and I do appreciate that!
Happy Holidays! I'm proud to let you know that I have finally finished my book that I've spent years of research and writing to finish. I think you will find the information useful as I wrote it in the lens of someone wanting to improve their tennis game through technique, mental toughness and fitness.
You can check it out here: www.amazon.com/dp/1693364743?ref_=pe_3052080_397514860 If there are other friends of yours that may be interested, please pass on the information. I appreciate it!
Best video on racket head speed.Thanks.
Thanks...took me awhile to figure it out myself :)
This is the best explanation of the motion I have watched. It helps a lot. I used to do the "take the racquet back" by turning the wrist as he mentioned not to do ... and that put a lot of unnecessary tension on my forearm and wrist. Good job and thank you, Ben!
jkh168 so happy to hear! Thanks for watching :)
Ben I hope the clip of Fed at the end does not get your video kicked off yotutube for copyright infringement. A man named Christophe Delavaut put out a lot of videos showing the lag with Federer and the other pros several years ago. ATP Media got them removed from youtube. If that happens to you, just use a video of an NCAA D1 player who lags.
I had no idea! I'll make sure to keep that in mind for future videos. Thank you for the heads up. I really appreciate it!
I have been wondering and searching this technique for last 20 years...I found the answer today thank you!!!!!
tried it yesterday.Was concerned re: ability to control my shot. I was able. Thanks
Glad it helped!
Happy Holidays! I'm proud to let you know that I have finally finished my book that I've spent years of research and writing to finish. I think you will find the information useful as I wrote it in the lens of someone wanting to improve their tennis game through technique, mental toughness and fitness.
You can check it out here: www.amazon.com/dp/1693364743?ref_=pe_3052080_397514860 If there are other friends of yours that may be interested, please pass on the information. I appreciate it!
Probably the best video out on Internet explaining about forehand and at the same time how to get to lag position position naturally. Truly amazing and I've been looking for this kind of explanation for many years. Thank you for your effort and time Ben.
So happy to help :) As a school teacher I think some personalities just click for some students and some it does not. I'm glad my delivery worked for you!
Me too. I totally agree. Thanks Ben:):)
Great explanation, nice that you didn't throw in the "lag" concept to overcomplicate things.
Thanks trying to make this as short and concise as possible :). I appreciate you watching and commenting!
I agree.
the concept is there - he just talked and showed it, just didnt use the word.
I think the best way to simplify this so people can easily remember when they are on court is to keep telling oneself:
"don't swing with the racket, swing with the hand!"
Amazing advice and it is quite literally something so overlooked, yet so essential to success. The best person to see this in effect with is Fed. On every great forehand he hits, he swings with the hand first, and the racket just follows. #effortless
Right on Sammy! I agree. Feds forehand makes tennis look so easy haha. Then trying it at full speed is very difficult. I hope it helps your game out!
Absolutely correct. That's how the pros can play heavy games without straining up the wrist muscles.
thank you thank you thank you.. you are the first to teach this.. or at least ot show this so clearly.
Thanks Bruno. I hope it helps your game out!
Racket head power is a more accurate (precise) term than racket head speed. Power is energy/time and energy is, in this case, in the form of kinetic energy, which has contributions from mass and velocity (speed). A heavier racket may move with slightly less speed than a lighter racket, but its momentum (mass times velocity) and therefore kinetic energy could be well worth the extra mass. Heavier rackets are also more stable as they move through the hitting zone and may in turn provide for better ball strikes.
love this video beyond words, very very helpful.
Nice video. A few points though. The relaxed wrist (actually your forearm muscles that control your wrist as there are no muscles in the wrist) is a very high level skill. It may be easier to practice this motion with a 30 inch long and 1/2 inch thick wood dowel from Home Depot. Second point is the poster demonstrated the relaxed wrist from a static position. If the racquet is moving back before the relaxed wrist as demonstrated above you get more lag, more wrist laid back, and more racquet speed from the rebound (like a pendulum). When I started teaching in my area 20 years ago, the local pros were still teaching classic tennis - step in from closed stance and swing low to high and keep the wrist firm as you shift your weight from the back leg to the front. I taught kids to rotate from open or semi open stance and to actually use the wrist. My students hit a lot more spin and were quicker getting out of shots and had a clear advantage over the closed stance classic players. When I taught kids to lag like the pros, their forehand in practice would be better than their old straight back forehands but I did not see a clear advantage over kids who did not lag. It is so hard to do well and just to get a little bit more racquet speed, I feel this swing is for tennis academy kids and pros. High school kids who just want to make their teams and then go to college should stick to an easier swing. If you don't lag it is okay to roll your wrist into the ball. If you lag your wrist will roll into the ball naturally. It is a better swing but it is not easy. Also I worry about how much more the wrist gets laid back and little kids. Your wrist lays back more than you can lay it back on its own without the momentum of the racquet. What medical studies have been done on whether this is okay for students especially very young students? I used to watch Federer and wonder how he could lay his wrist back so far. It is from the racquet momentum and lagging.
Thank you for your insight! I think that's definitely how a good coach like yourself should approach each student...how much work ethic they will have and understanding of the tennis swing before giving them too much info. Thanks for posting!
Here is another video that might help make this type of swing happen for you all: ua-cam.com/video/VWBbUpn6cZA/v-deo.html I hope it helps!
The BEST explanation of racquet head LAG and speed!!!
Thank you! Love your profile pic by the way. Wish I had a one-handed backhand too :)
Thank you 🙏🏾. You’re still young enough to make the transition to a single hander 😊. My backhand has always been natural and free with not much thought… perhaps from early table tennis training.
Finally I understood how to hit the forehand... very well explanation .. Thanks. you have a new subscriber.. :)
Great tip. The backswing places the racquet in-line with the desired path of the shot creating linear power opposed to rotational power. Aha moment.
So glad that helped!!
Superb explanation! Thank you Ben!
My pleasure!
A superb explanation. Thanks for providing.
Thanks Jeff! I appreciate that!
excellent explanation. you can learn something new every day. thanks.
Great attitude to have!
Hi very good point If I only know this my wrist wound no heart. Because if you hit late this method you are already in a better position. Thanks you
Robin Woodward thanks for watching!
I like this tip: "You need to relax a lot more that you think!"
When I started with tennis, I was stiffed as a robbot...🥴🙈😊
Daniel Drlja agreed! I still do that when I’m under stress again a good player. Have to remind myself to keep relaxing :)
Good explanation and presentation. thank you
Thanks for watching!
Wow what an explanation , just so easily explained
Thank you!
very interesting, so it’s compact & kind of like a push forward from the fist
It’s all about experimenting! I view push as the arm bending and unbending during the swing and that’s not correct. It’s more of a whip as you let the racquet head swing back as you’re moving your first forward. But again, all about experimenting and see what works best for you. Happy hitting!
@@teachyourselftennis you’ve got a great communication style bro😎 .
Nice & easy! Good channel
@@b-dogs1038 thank you for the kind words! I’ll keep that up the best I can :)
Excellent explanation. Thanks!
You’re so welcome!
wonderful Ben. this was an issue can't wait to practise this advice.
Peter Kavanagh let me know how it goes!
This is an epiphany for me. Thank you and more power to your channel.
Wta4hand appreciate that! More videos are coming. Stay safe during these troubled times.
Will this be applicable to the DH backhand?
Good video
Good question! It's very hard to do it with a two hander but players like Jannik Sinner show that it can be done! Give it a try but if you do, focus on the top hand being the main mechnism for the racquet head speed.
Your tips are very usefull. Thanks a lot for this video. For me it is a revelation
Thanks! I made another video that might help with this: ua-cam.com/video/VWBbUpn6cZA/v-deo.html
very helpful thanks a lot !!
Can’t wait to try this out tomorrow!!
Nancy Hernandez Let me know how it goes!
Ben Wolfe hmmm I think it went well. Just need to practice it some more so I can do it without thinking.
Nancy Hernandez yep that’s not easy. It’s learning a new “feel” with the racquet. Glad you’re working on it!
Very helpful. Thank you.
Awesome vid Ben!
Just want to mention one thing about Federer.
I think his inside out - shots over the years have been so damn Good, because he does this whip motion better than anyone else! Agree? :)
zizou357 agreed! He is ridiculous. I think I can relate more to players like Murray who are hard workers rather than pure striking ability which is why fed is my favorite. Incredible shot maker!
Yes and the disguise is the best part. He moves way over to the ad court to hit the forehand many times but the beauty of this stroke is the opponent can't tell which way he is going until the last second! He can go inside out or inside in...
Straight fax 2:21
Great video on RHS. That said not all shots are like this as shown in RF video. You need the racket to lag behind the body, then your theory comes into play. Also I would also focus on snapping at contact by that I mean almost flicking the racket with top two fingers on of grip. Dropping the racket by your side is perfect for when your short on time and generating RHS tho.
Thanks for the input. I do know what you mean but like to shy away from the word snap as that makes it seem like the wrist is tightening to do the action. Maybe whip is a better way to describe it? Either way great points and thank you for the added value to this video!
Ben Wolfe ive been playing a year and absalutly love the game. I felt that I took off pretty good but hit a wall with my forhand and it hasn't improved much in the last few months. I didn't know what you explained in this video. In give it a try I'll let you know thanks alot! Good video.
Either way is correct- either a prelaid back wrist or not provided it is loose and relaxed.
Loose is definitely important! Thanks for the comment, I appreciate it!
very useful tip
Hey Ben great video. I think the set up/load might be slightly different for a bent-arm FH as opposed to straight arm. I was brought up hitting with a straight arm, so your explanation seems normal (how else to get full extension at contact?). Would be great if you could comment on differences. Thx
youngmyth Great question! In my experience it seems the straight arm approach gives you more power but hard to time because you have to hit the ball so much more out in front. The bent arm seems to be easier to time but also you can get faster raquet head speed since the swing itself is a little faster with a shorter swing. What do you think?
Nice tips, one more advice to relax the wrist. I see Kyrgios do that, am I correct?
I would say pick any pro and you would probably see it. Kyrgios is definitely a good example!
Good video. Can you put a video on double handed back hand please?
Yes I actually found something pretty cool with my own experience on the backend. I'm going to post a video on serving that relates to this first and then I'll do a backhand video. Been a little behind with all the instruction I'm doing the summer but I'll be on it very soon! Thanks for watching!
GREAT vid. Just undid 5 years of tennis form me!
Raymond Lee I’m super happy to hear it helped! Keep me posted on the progress :)
Ben Wolfe definitely. Never took lessons before. Thank God for UA-cam.
@@rxl77 right?!? I wish I had this when I started playing!
Good video. Would like to see video of you actually hitting balls with your technique
Yes I have some footage in the courses I'm going to release soon but also humbly know that there are countless players that can strike a ball better than me so that's why I like to use the best for examples :).
Great lesson. Thanks
Alexandre Ulhoa you are welcome. Hope it helped!
Help me a lot!!!!
Thanks
You’re welcome!
damn true, but i realise you have to relax certain parts and tense the grip on the racket grip at the same time, which is difficult and kinda weird
this same explanation applies to serving I am sure, when you dont forcefully drop the racket, but it stays there and lags, while your legs push your core up, leaving a spring effect where the energy is released...
You got it! Try this video for serving: ua-cam.com/video/1u7KKgK2Hr8/v-deo.html
thanks~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
When you rotate the opposite shoulder the wrist lag occurs automatically.
Good point! I made a vid on that concept as the timing is bit tough. Great insight though!
Roger's arm goes "back" but only because his torso is turning to say 90 degrees while his hips are to 30 degrees. His arm though remains in line with his shoulders (turned with his torso at 90 degrees).
Now this 'degree' notion is often mentioned. Sounds nice. Looks nice. How do I get a feel for it though?
Another one ids pacing myself so that I hit the ball at the correct distance while using this swing path (mine obviously is most of the time different and not so effective, lol, like with arm close to torso and forearm moving = producing a pitiful short and weak shot). So how do I train myself to extend my arm?
Bruno Coutant Great question and I'll make a follow up video on this to help. As of now if these words help try this: line your racquet to the side of you, parallel to the ground with your strings facing down. Drop feed a ball in front of you and hit from that position by bringing your wrist forward and extending out as you swing. I know the explanation is not the best so I'll try to make a video soon as possible on it!
Try this: ua-cam.com/video/VWBbUpn6cZA/v-deo.html
Great tip !!!!!
Daniel Gomez thanks man!!
Hello, I saw the forehand swing of del potro at slow motion, it is clear that he does not do the right movement that you explained. Isnt it ?
He doesn't do it because he set his wrist before hitting the ball like Agassi.
I would like to go a bit further with this to the best of my knowledge. First of all very good eye! Del Potro hits a lot flatter by getting the racquet behind the ball and swinging forward with an angle, creating slight spin but more forward momentum that makes the pace of the ball so fast. The lag is more for spin. The lag creates super fast racquet head speed so you can hit up on the ball with a lot of spin. This doesn’t work when you want to hit flat as you need the racquet head to stay behind the ball longer to hit through the ball. I hope that helps!
do you think it's for intermediate players also? it makes sense but it sounds pretty difficult
Good question....I would think that it's worth a try just because it will help with having too tight of a grip on your swing which can reduce tennis elbow. You're right though, this is not easy to do! Kind of cool to know how the pros do it though :)
this is great video, but big question is , how to develop this move. I've practiced lots of hours with self videoing , but still not weeping racquet as I want it to be. so hard :-(
Alex Goshtaei did you check out my other video on this? It's not going to solve all the problems but it might get your mind in the right place to find better results with your efforts!
great tip
thx
SFR SanFranciscoRider thanks for watching!
But many of the women have a C shape swing coming from behind their body, having "a tail" as you've mentioned in one of your previous videos. They don't keep the racket on the same side of their body like the men/ATP style swing. Are you saying in your video that they are leading with their fist like the men?
poida smith the extra racquet take back is possibly more natural as they get a lot of energy from their hips? I do think they have a lot of racquet lag though otherwise they wouldn’t be able to hit the ball with much pace. Just my thoughts!
I tried for few weeks to increase my racquet head speed but my wrist and elbow starts hurt quite bad. What could be the cause of that pain?
Hoàng Trần Việt thanks for asking. Sorry to hear that! This is a pretty aggressive swing and there are a lot of variables to it. You might of tried this with too much tension and that can cause a prob. Also not building strength in the arm can be an issue too. Rest the arm and take it slow and methodical. Don't do this step until you break it down and feel good about it in slower motion. Let me know how it goes!
Thank you so much. I tried re-string with lower tension and slow down my whole swing a bit and it helps a lot. Will try to build more arm strength.
Great
good man
Jean Grey I appreciate you taking the time to watch!
Wrist lag.
Simply changed bent arm to straight arm
Dean Ma hitting the ball better?
@@teachyourselftennis The main advantage of straight arm forehand is that you needn't twist your upper body to make the room for hitting the ball , while it require more accurate or precise footwork . Just my personal view.
Awesome
Thank you for watching!
Happy Holidays! I'm proud to let you know that I have finally finished my book that I've spent years of research and writing to finish. I think you will find the information useful as I wrote it in the lens of someone wanting to improve their tennis game through technique, mental toughness and fitness.
You can check it out here: www.amazon.com/dp/1693364743?ref_=pe_3052080_397514860 If there are other friends of yours that may be interested, please pass on the information. I appreciate it!
Lol, watched all of this, definitely good for people who dont know this technique or whatever you want to call it, but in 1 word, its called having a leverage, and u can loads of videos about this in the internet...
Alex Poustovit thanks for watching. I wouldn't cal it that. It's adding racquet head speed without straining your wrist. Check out my video on the physics of a lever and centripetal force that relates more to your comment.
I think that is called lag. They move arm forward and racquet catches up so need to move even faster
Yes! English wasn't my best subject haha. The science part I know though. Thanks for clarifying.
Increasing Racquet Head Speed With Less Effort: I think you mean with less effort wasted. I've been trying to convince you of the power of physics know-how in tennis (and other sports). Perhaps this article will be of interest to you: NY Times 2018: www.nytimes.com/2018/05/11/sports/tennis/don-mueller-rackets.html
Body whip, not wrist whip. Got it.
studfindingball let me know how the training goes!
Happy Holidays! I'm proud to let you know that I have finally finished my book that I've spent years of research and writing to finish. I think you will find the information useful as I wrote it in the lens of someone wanting to improve their tennis game through technique, mental toughness and fitness.
You can check it out here: www.amazon.com/dp/1693364743?ref_=pe_3052080_397514860 If there are other friends of yours that may be interested, please pass on the information. I appreciate it!
my man your missing the number one reason the pros get acceleration...good stuff on the fist forward although.
Point the butt to the ball, right?
Yes and as you start your forward motion towards the ball the butt should face forward until the strings face forward naturally in the motion.
Pls I
What a crock of s...! This guy is a coach?! And all the bots that think this vid was so great and made them better?! I dread to think what they were like before!!
Total Tennis I’m so sorry that you feel that way. I was just trying to share some knowledge that helped me personally. I suppose this channel isn’t for you. Thanks for watching anyways!
totally wrong if u use your hip correckly u will lag naturally
It could be in your view point but from my experience it’s more related to a loose grip to get that lag. Using your hips definitely is a good tip though!
So Federer in not really making a loop they way some players, older generations were taught? It’s not a “C shape”.
poida smith yeah seems more like a half box where it’s straight back straight down and straight forward but I think it has some “C” to it too keep the momentum of the racquet going. Maybe I’m off?
Ben Wolfe Definitely some C shape, people get confused by the racket. Watch 👉 ua-cam.com/video/HeqjUS-X0rg/v-deo.html
poida smith I remember seeing this! Such a great vid. Thanks for sharing!
Why don't you spell 'racket' correctly?
Kins Kins good point looks like my version is for racquetball. I'll make sure to change that for the future. Thanks!
+Ben Wolfe Nah, no need, Ben! Racquet is an easier distinction, since racket (technically more common) can refer to noise/disturbance. Both would be correct, and it doesn't seem to cause much confusion around others who play, so you can spell it how you please!
I would keep it. I prefer racquet.
FALSE!!! Great conceptually, but NOT COMPLETELY TRUE! Watch the Federer slow motion forehand, he definitely takes the racquet BACK and then starts to bring the wrist forward! Good try though.
Thomas J I appreciate the feedback. I think you’re missing the point. I’m trying to emphasize that the wrist is relaxed in the swing and to do that you don’t use it to take the racquet back. I hope that makes sense.
Ben, you're right! I originally interpreted it as you saying that there is NO backswing, but you only stated that there is not a LARGE, looping backswing... I sit corrected. Good job!
Thomas J thanks for the feedback though. I enjoy learning more and getting feedback. I’m definitely not an expert :)
This is piss poor frankly. He hasn't watched much tennis thinking players use their wrists
Hey Zac. I actually say you DON'T use your wrists. If you did, tension would have to occur which would cause injuries. I apologize for not making it more clear but also appreciate your constructive criticism. I think we all can agree we are just trying to improve on a sport that can never be perfected :)
So tired of non-professional tennis players looking at videos of Federer and watching his slow motion swing path and assume they know all aspects of the their swing and upload a video on the little they figured out. You may have seen a fraction of what they are doing bit it does not make you an expert or even understand what or how they are doing it or understand a few links in kinetic chain. Go to a professional who can teach the swing path in its entirety so you won't injury yourself.
Chrysippus Camper lucky for you you don't have to watch them then yeah? Also these videos are for rec players not pro players. I love the game (that's why I created my own non profit that gives tennis to low income kids at www.returnofserve.org) and I enjoy sharing ideas to the tennis community that enjoys playing as well. Feel free to ignore my videos and with that, not leave comments like these that do nothing to help others. Thanks!
Ben Wolfe I admire that you love tennis and much respect to you for helping low income kids learn to play. But you are responsible for the ideas you put into the tennis community. I'm suggesting if you want to have good quality ideas then think about getting certified by a professional tennis organization like ITF, USPTA or if you want to set your standards higher LTA or find reputable sources ideally college or professional players or coaches. I have known many people gotten injured from bad tennis advice. Don't be one of those people. All the best with your Tennis journey.
I'm a recreational player. I had to search long and hard to find good quality tennis instruction. I have injured myself and seen others injured from bad advice. After years I found online sites Top-Tennis Training, OTI (Online Tennis Instruction), Fuzzy Yellow Balls, and finally Kevin Anderson current ATP pro has a site Reallifetennis.com that just started has good content with more to come. Lastly Mark Kovacs Ph.D in exercise science explains the kinetic chain really well his site is itpa-tennis.org. Hope these sites help you like they helped me. All these sites have affordable comprehensive programs in many areas of tennis.
I'll definitely take a look at this thank you!
Thanks for the advice....I know how you feel as I have met many crossfit instructors who have injured people big time. I would get certified but the certification (I have talked to the heads of the USTA by the
way) is a joke. Outside of the US is a much more comprehensive program which I will definitely do in the near future along with other areas of certification that builds my knowledge on the sport. Also I've interviewed the top physical trainers, tennis instructors and nutritionist (even the Denver Bronco's nutritionist) in my area to help with the book I've almost finished writing in regards to teaching yourself the sport. I'm a certified health coach and take someone's health and well being very seriously. I have taught tennis for over 12 years at multiple clubs and academies all over the U.S with many great instructors to learn from. I take pride in my work and would never give advice that I am not confident about. I think what is missing on UA-cam are videos for rec players through the lens of a player who has done it themselves. After hitting with a lot of college players in the area I've realized that I'm unique in that I have gotten to a 5.0 (and climbing hopefully!) level on my own. Most of these videos are way too advanced and vague to give real pointers for rec players that just want to enjoy the sport injury free. I encourage you to keep watching the videos I have and spot anything that I am saying that would injury someone. As you can see from the responses on this video, people have found less stress on their arm, not more. All I'm saying is that just because I'm not a pro doesn't mean I don't understand how the physics of the technique. I have a masters degree in education, specifically science. Thanks again for the time you took to reply.
wow, simple advice that really makes sense. "Move your fist forward" is a clear instruction that keeps your arm more relaxed on take back, and helps to create racket head speed. And it makes sense of what the pros seem to be doing ( and I am not doing). I look forward to trying out your advice on the court!
You should have placed yourself on the baseline, instead of in almost next to the net facing sideways. It is difficult to get a sense of the body position on the swing. Easier to see with the Federer swing. TKS
Great points! I'll keep note of that on any future videos. I appreciate it!
You just made my forehand come alive.! I'm in my living room swinging my racquet and you have concisely explained the way this is supposed to work. I've heard bits and pieces from many people over the years "coaches" etc and no one ever focuses on fluency! You clearly pointed out the root cause followed by reaction. Of the racquet. This is Gold! For every action there is a reaction. Incorrect teaching builds so many bad habits. This helps with so many other aspects of the game. I feel that ican now focus on what I want to do with the ball and how to send the ball with clear directions on how to behave! Thank you!!
You are most welcome! So glad it helped :) Remember to be patient when you can get on a tennis court. Timing is tough to figure out at first. The contact point is way more in front of you!
Thanks so much I will keep that in mind!
Update on the gold?
Federer video..should be noted that he's not pushing his hand forward..he's shifting his weight forward and the hand lags a bit before moving forward first before the lagging racket
Coach Ben, this is an excellent discovery. 40 years ago I witnessed a friend go to national level with this wrist motion. He passed away early after working for a Saudi prince. I never tried it because our wooden rackets then weighed at least 14 ounces and would surely hurt my wrist.
I tried this today and found I can do it with my 10 ounce racket. The only caveat is you have to really relax your wrist and you will experience what another teaching pro describe as prying the ball at full extension....i.e., Federer.
Very true! "Less is more" is very true with grip tightness. Takes awhile to get used to. I'm glad you find it useful!
Thanks, buddy! Really helped me to understand how they produce the whip motion. I will try and practice it till I master it.
Perfect! Scrub all other explanations - this is the one you gotta practice! Also, arm preferably straight on contact for max power. Well done Ben.
Maybe 2 players on the top 100 that use straight arm for hitting the ball. It's not that important...
Having the hand go first instead of forcing the racket back makes all the difference. I am crushing my forehands now. Thanks! Any advice for unlocking one handed backhands?
That's awesome to hear! The best advice I ever got with my backhand is footwork. Using my back leg in an open stance to swing the hip along with the swing or when you can, step into it. Regardless you need to put your body into the ball more than you think. Hope that helps a bit!
Exactly. I have been forcing my forehand for years. Now thanks to videos including this one I am seeing and feeling what has to happen to produce a relaxed motion. Just need to process the info shown by righties it as I am a lefty.... :)
Best explanation on the racquet lag, cheers mate! And love the clip of Roger hitting the ball. Clear shot of how it happens, in my experience much harder with a lighter sw, making you have to concentrate on moving the handle first, what you cleverly called the fist
Yeah I agree! This is where physics is fun to use to explain some of us :-)
Yes! Great job man!
Thanks, very helpful video. It clearly explains how we get to the loading position of wrist and helped me reduced my wrist pain.
You are quite welcome and I'm so glad to hear you are pain free when playing :)
Omg. This is the best explanation of the whippin motion. Ive been trying different swings while tryin to remember what the previous videos say. Ive been taking the racquet bk myself instead of how moving the fist forward.. Thanks to you I cant wait to use the ball machine to try this. Lol
Let me know how it goes!
Thanks for the info.. can't wait to try it out!! Plus I totally get that point about wrist injuries in pt.2👍
h4rms good luck! It's a lot of fun swinging like this once you figure it out!
The rotation of the left shoulder initiates the lag of the wrist. It also allows the arm to straighten and drive the ball. The more bend in the elbow the greater the chance you have to hit across your body incorrectly and smother the shot. Having the arm straight is sometimes the most un-natural aspect of the forehand for amatures. Mastering this action will, however, allow your forehand to become much more explosive and create a fantastic speed/spin combo.
Thanks for the tip. Great insight!
You got it...Nice job on video.
The video doesn't really touch on the idea of grips. Roger's grip is very different than Nadal's or Djoker's. This is why Roger tends to have a straighter arm in the stroke. The more western your grip you have to bend the elbow a bit or you'll start hurting your shoulder. Also note because of his grip, Roger has a more through shot than a brushing up shot. This gives him the heavy ball and spin which is different than the old school fan technique.
Joel W You can do a straight arm stroke for any grip - Nadal is actually a straight arm forehand hitter and he hits with a semi-western. Not a lot of people use eastern anymore, but if they did, many more would have the bent elbow, which is OK - that isn't a wrong way to hit a ball.
Great analysis.But may I add the role of the torso to facilitate the stroke: The torso stops facilitating the "snap" that is passive not intentional. The video shows Roger stopping his torso rotation and allowing the racket to catch up which is not an intentional snap. You allude to this in your reference to the shoulder reaching the end of it's motion? Thanks
Love the insight! That is definitely a big part of it. After all our lower body is the strongest so we better use it! Thanks for the insight :)
R. Bick good point! The legs and hips are the key drivers of the whole stroke. The video shows the effect of this action when the hand and are set up properly and allowed to transfer energy to the ball. What is needed however is a video showing and isolating how this "engine" works and how to learn the lower body movement. Just pulling the racket forward as illustrated in this vid won't deliver enough energy.
Great discussion guys...thanks for the valuable insight!
Finally. You explained it clearly. Thanks.
So glad to hear that. Let me know how it goes Terry!
this is a great tip, I've watched so many wrist lag videos, but yours really nailed it
So happy it helped! Get on the court and see how it goes :)
Ben thanks for the explanation very good. Can you explain the wrist bend once the ball is gone? This has always confused be because some players do it and some don't.
Gavin Mason sure! I would say the bend is dependent on the trajectory of the ball you want to hit. A more looping ball will mean the bend of the wrist stays the same so that the racquet goes as far up on the ball as possible but if you want to drive the ball then the angle of the wrist increases as the racquet tip is facing your target more. Hope that helps!
Priceless pro advice🎉
Very good explanation of what the "wrist lag" is all about. But you incorrectly DEMONSTRATE the elbow close to the body, in frames 3:50. Elbow must be ELEVATED, away from the body. Watch Rick Macci - top scientific tennis instructor. Another "deficiency": you are demonstrating the classic Beginners' "Arming It" swing. Perhaps, it is ok for explanation of one tiny part of Forehand Swing - the wrist lag part, but the entire Forehand Swing depends 99% on another very important thing. I will not mention it here. Perhaps, you intentionally omitted that other element which comprises 99% of Forehand Swing mechanics.
Great point! Thanks for the added insight as I'm sure others will gain a lot from that tip. Thank you again for taking the time to comment!
Looks like it's the elbow which moves forward and rotates inwardly first and gets locked which allows us to move the fist forward simultaneously. It's similar to the serve where leading by the elbow cause the racket head to drop behind the head and not forcing the racket to drop.
As long as you’re thinking of the arm as one unit and not bending or straightening throughout the swing you’re good to go!
The Bolleteri FH - ie the modern FH. Nick says - yank the racket as to strike the ball with the butt cap and LET the racket head come through. That´s it in a nutshell. You nailed it in a more convoluted way. Check Nick´s DVDs.
Minor point - The hand moves away from the body - sort of forward and out, not just forward - makes a big difference
Great insight! Thanks for adding that as I’m sure some viewers will get some better practice. I Appreciate the time you made to comment.
I myself have been studying the blow for a long time. It seems to me that pronation of the forearm is responsible for the final movement. Pronation is initialized almost at the very beginning, when the rocket head is lowered below the wrist.
After contact, the braking starts, which leads to the bending of the relaxed wrist.
!!!The movement of the wrist does not participate in the dispersal or rotation of the ball.!!!
Sorry, I do not speak English well.
Beyond word the best lesson to unleash ur forehand you are the best teacher
So so glad that helped! I appreciate the kind words.