The 4G Forehand: Maximizing Acceleration through Disassociation, by Donald Pompan

[joeldrucker]

You’ll be hard-pressed to find a more thoughtful explanation on how forehand technique has evolved over the last 50 years than when you read Donald Pompan’s new article, “The 4G Forehand: Maximizing Acceleration through Disassociation.” Please join in and share your thoughts:

https://www.tennisplayer.net/article...isassociation/

[Vera Rocha]

What causes the dissociation? Is this the same model as Brian Gordon's atp forehand? It seems that doctor Pompan is saying to force the lag by supinating the forearm while the hip is rotating forward. I actually feel that my timing is off in type 3 forehand from Gordon but if I deliberately supinate while rotating hips forward it seems to work for me. Can anyone please explain if there is a difference between this 4 G fh and Gordon type 3? Thank you

[Vera Rocha]

I just had Pompan video on, and tried to imitate.. so it feels like, the type 3 fh? I just set the hand to the outside, rotate the hips fully and the racquet drops to the lag position, and this is what he calls dissociation,as the hips have fully rotated and only then the racquet starts the forward swing. Doctor Pompan or anyone else can you please confirm if this is correct? Thank you

[Don Pompan]

Hello Vera: Excellent question. What you are saying is correct. The "dissociation" is that the arm (and racket) in the 4G is no longer working as one unit with the shoulders/torso and hips as in the 2G or 3G--the racket loop, and "flip" are delayed such that the shoulders/torso and hips are done rotating (chest facing the net) just as the racket completes the loop and flips and starts coming forward. Thus- the hips, shoulder, and arm are not in sync as in the 3G, but all the energy from the shoulders and hips are transferred to the arm just as the flip occurs and then the arm whips forward. Study the videos of the pros in the article which illustrates the concept. Also--the spin is achieved through the acceleration and the "low to high" strike on the ball as opposed to forced pronation (there is no supination- which would open the racket face). I believe that forcing pronation is a set-up for injury---if the 4G is done correctly, pronation will occur naturally.

Thank you for the questions.

Best,

Don Pompan, M.D.