Some videos of my game

[nikae]

Hi all, been a while since last time I posted in this thread. Mostly because I was pretty sad that I couldn't play most of the summer due to injury but now I am ready to do some hard work again!

How's it going don_budge? Your last post was very helpful, thanks!

I am not sure I understand one thing though, i'll quote you
"And just one more thing...stop lifting the racquet as you begin your backswing. Just turn the shoulder and take the racquet back in that position. By lifting on the way back you must make a compensating move on the way forward or in the transition. It may be wiser to keep things as simple as possible."

Did you mean that I should turn the shoulder with hands still at starting position, and only after the turn I should start the back-swing loop?
Like Tim Henman in this clip : https://www.tennisplayer.net/tp_player/tim-henman/

Or you are simply saying that I should have straight back-swing like, say, James Blake?

And what would be that compensating move that you mentioned?

[don_budge]

It's the right track...

It looks to me that you finally on the right track.

In the front view if you stop the clip and .18 this is nearly the perfect model for you. You have put all of your ducks in a row so to speak...the racquet is lined up, the shoulders have rotated perfectly and your FOOTWORK most importantly has properly lined up your hips on the ball so that when you make your swing everything happens quite naturally. The evidence is in your follow through where you are now catching the racquet which gives your stroke a sense of stability, consistency and believe it or not...elegance. It gives a nice sense of balance throughout the entire motion...nothing forced.

If I was you...I would bust my behind to get myself in this position every single time I approached a ball on my forehand side...perhaps a bit more crouch in your stance. Bend the knees a bit and sit down into your seat some while leaning forward slightly. Every single time Nikae until it becomes second nature and you don't have to think of it...it just happens. Even when you are starting a rally make certain that your weight at least begins with your chest somewhat over your front foot. This is not to say that you will not be hitting open stance in matches where things more or less are happening much faster than practice but more and more you should find yourself in position to make this nice smooth swing with the racquet face passing through the path of the ball after it leaves your racquet. The key to hitting good solid swings with an open stance is to try and emulate the closed stance in term of weight distribution with the front foot fanned out.

Case in point...notice how after making such a nice swing you make a somewhat lackadaisical pass at the next two swings before finishing with another nice flourish. You cannot be like that Nikae...you must practice like you play. Every swing counts. It's do or die. Any good Serb knows that!

Another very important aspect of your post are the comments that you make about your swing and the points of criticism that you note. Absolutely good points and when you begin to learn to coach yourself, to study yourself, to know yourself, you are evolving into a student of the game. I agree with you points in general but I think that if you will start behaving with a little more sense of urgency as soon as you find yourself between those mystical lines of the tennis court you will find yourself more and more in a primal crouch as you make your approach on the ball. You must understand that in many senses the racquet is a weapon and you must have deadly intentions with it in terms of maximizing the efficiency of your technique in terms of control and power...in that order for the time being, and honing your tactical skills. Tactically speaking you should be training the shots that will pay off for you in matches and many times at the level you are playing at this is some combination of putting pressure on your opponents backhand and maneuvering him in general.

And just one more thing...stop lifting the racquet as you begin your backswing. Just turn the shoulder and take the racquet back in that position. By lifting on the way back you must make a compensating move on the way forward or in the transition. It may be wiser to keep things as simple as possible.

I believe that you have made some real progress since you last posted. Now get back to work...and make like a mean cat! You gotta be like that...Nikae!

[nikae]

Here are some recent videos:

-side view: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x3MERNNPtL8
-front view: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uYqTheuXqQQ
-2min rally: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2tfOtJNYySI

Those are still with my old grip (semi-western I would call it). I am working on less extreme grip but its taking some time to adjust too...more then I thought it will, but it sure looks very promising.

IMO I am not getting enough shoulder turn, I am arming the ball, not stretching the left arm all the way after the unit turn and not getting enough knee bend. But, I stopped jumping on almost every forehand, and it helped my consistency.

I will be working on all of those things in next month or two and then video myself again.

[nikae]

Stepanek has some weird looking forehand though. After he makes contact wit the ball, he starts bending the elbow, its like his upper arm kinda stops and his lower arm continues forward, why is that? What grip does he use?

I also like James Blake's forehand, simple back swing, and normal looking follow through.

EDIT: I am still working on my forehand, not jumping any more, trying to hit more from neutral stance with less spin and a bit more penetration... My backhand has become much better too.

This is great conversation we got here, its helping my game so much!

[bottle]

This is getting pretty personal rather than generic. But I don't see why one can't be interested, say, in trying out these Stepanek forehands while retaining one's knowledge of a Ferrerfore. I challenge, in other words, the notion of specialization in tennis. "Hit the same old boring shot," says Vic Braden, but Bill Tilden says, "Variety is the spice of life." I'll go with Tilden on that one, thanks.

[don_budge]

Radek Stepanek's footwork and YOUR grip...

https://www.tennisplayer.net/tp_player/radek-stepanek/

https://www.tennisplayer.net/tp_player/radek-stepanek/

A very nice choice of models in my book nikae...particularly with regard to the footwork. If you can make the same type of move into the ball as this fellow you will find that you will not sacrifice anything in power and you will gain much more balance, control and therefore consistency in your shots. Nice crouching semi-sitting position engaging the lower body...three lines formed by his feet, shoulders and racquet as he begins his move into the ball. Keep in mind that consistency is the hallmark of a good tennis player. Simple you say...and more easily repeatable too!

With regards to the uncomfortable nature of the "new" grip on high balls...when the ball gets that high on you, simply resort to the old grip. Afterall that is where your hand will feel most comfortable with your racquet in that position. There is no rule that says your hand is glued to your racquet in a certain position when you hit a forehand.

The object of finding the right grip is the grip that will best fit your hand, arm and body when you are playing the ball where you decide it is to be optimally played. If you decide it will generally be played higher than your waist and around chest level you find that the western is the best fit. If you decide that the best height to play the ball is at waist level you have found that the eastern or strong eastern is the right fit.

[nikae]

I just couldn't hit a forehand without jumping, I couldn't find a problem, it was very frustrating. Now that I got new racket, it actually has a grip size 1 size bigger then my normal (my normal is 2), I couldn't hold it the same way I do.

Lets say my normal grip is semi-western, but now that my racket grip is bigger, I have to hold it more to the east side, so its more of an eastern grip, or more like Federer grip...I was surprised that I don't have to jump on my forehands any more to generate the same power!

Looks like I needed way more body rotation with that semi-western grip (maybe even full western). But with more conservative grip, I don't have to rotate my body as much to get the same power. My directional control improved right away. The only problem I had (other then weird feeling because of new grip) was dealing with high balls.

I'll do some work for next few days and let you guys know how it goes.
Ferrer is really a bad model for club players such as myself I guess.
My new favourite model is Radek Stepanek....so simple yet effective even on high levels!

Thanks a lot for helping me out guys!

[bottle]

~

Such conversation helps. It really does. Of course I want to apply these ideas to myself rather than to Nikae. Perhaps I'm not as generous as Steve, who is out on a court teaching every day. The good teacher gives and gives and gives.

Me, I want to be self-interested and a taker. On the other hand, Nikae, you and I are working on a similar forehand. So, Nikae-- Steve Navarro in Sweden and Don Brosseau in Los Angeles, California, U.S.A., are telling us both to tone things down a bit and not hit so hard-- for a while-- and stay on the ground more to build 1) consistency and 2) accuracy and 3) a variable but precise amount of weight going through the ball every time. I like the idea of catching the racket, too-- a subtle approach.

Personally speaking, Nikae, I have my Ferrerfore, pretty close to yours and which I've been thinking of as my best shot-- a mistake? Probably shouldn't use it quite so much. The forehand that wins singles matches is neutral stance and stays on the ground and produces a slightly slower ball. I love the inchworm effect of inside foot, outside foot, inside foot again-- skipping forward toward the net. But when should you splay outside foot? As part of an initializing unit turn that occurs on EVERY ground stroke? That appears the conventional wisdom. I've never been so sure however when it comes to a closed or neutral forehand like this one. Can one do better through earning time by gradually turning like a dancer as one skips forward? I seem to win more if I do that.

[10splayer]

Nikae,

Ok, before we get into some old school vs new school, forward vs not debate, you need to get a feel for where you're at in the court. Nobody, and I mean nobody, could "move forward", if there starting position is inside the baseline. Of course you have to move backwards to play most shots.

Your movement patterns are ass backwards. Start well behind the baseline, and try to cut the ball off. At least you will have a chance.

[don_budge]

The weight...the balance!!!

Nikae,
I may be a little too old school. I just took a few minutes to look at a bunch of side views of Ferrer's forehand in the archives and it was really hard to find more than a couple where even one foot stays on the ground. I really like the sixth of your forehands on the first clip, and I think you should be more able to stay on the ground, but if you have the energy to do it, don't get carried away with my predeliction for the styles of the past. Just be sure you rotate into the ball and don't try to "jump" it over the net.

don

The sixth shot in the following clip is the way forward and your best bet for achieving some semblance of consistency in your forehand.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=htnhtsHmhiM

I may be a little too old school...not. Why shouldn't I get carried away with your predilections for the styles of the past...if I share them? Energy, you say? After all, that is where the answer lies.

Nikae...there is only one way to make this clear to you, and that is in person. I will get there come hell or high water.

tennis_chiro is absolutely right. His eye don't lie...the sixth stroke in the first video segment is your only hope. For the sake of consistency, that is. You are moving forward to meet the ball and in practically all of the other shots you are actually moving backwards to meet an approaching object...where is the logic in that? All of that other movement is only going to serve as a means to incorporate unnecessary variables and movements into your stroke...resulting in inconsistency. For that matter the backswing is way too high and the fact that you are playing on a surface that is twice as fast as grass should illustrate that to you. But of course this is the way that modern tennis is "rigged"...for high bounces so that you will buy "their" strings and the latest information on how to hit a tennis ball.

Relax...it's a simple thing and no big deal. My original questions about coaching were on the mark and our conversations about that question serve only to reinforce my belief that you are trying very hard to mimic what you see from the pros and of course gleaning from the new methods of teaching tennis. One must learn to walk before one can run. One must learn to crawl before they can walk. You are swinging away at a full gallop, my friend.

Your changes are in the right direction but it's not enough. Radical changes in philosophy are needed and chief among these is that you must understand what having your weight on your front foot when you are making contact means in terms of transferring your energy into the ball and achieving control through balance and therefore control of your body...and control of your intentions and control your shots. How many times did I just use the word control? Get the picture? Consistency is the hallmark of a good tennis player. Can you hit one hundred forehands in a row in play? A thousand? Twenty- five? The good news is that these radical changes are not so radical at all...it's common sense. Common metaphysics. Retool for more consistency.

On the other hand...I love your energy and your determination. You have adequate ball sense to learn and develop. Your curiosity and love for the game are admirable and shall serve you well in the long run. You already possess some of the most important ingredients in the recipe for making a tennis player. What you need is a map.

1. Backswing...racquet no higher than your face.

2. Position of your feet at contact...standard operating procedure is front foot slightly ahead of your back foot.

3. Follow through...tone it down. I would recommend learning to catch your racquet with your left hand before it goes over to the other side and concentrate on the next ball. By catching the racquet you can directly assume your ready position and get ready for the next shot.

4. Don't swing so hard...aim at something, a target perhaps. Your opponents weakness perhaps. In the beginning control is the issue and once you begin to achieve more control and placement you can build power upon that. The reverse is much more difficult and perhaps unachievable.

5. Crouch down in your stance and in the position where you are reacting to the ball (just before your opponent hits his shot) and maintain this lower center of gravity throughout your swing...perhaps coming up and out of it after contact. Think cat like...feline instinct to pounce on its prey.

6. Go forwards to meet the ball whenever possible, just like your main man Djokovic. Just like in shot #6 in video clip number one of your stuff. Of all of the discussion regards Djokovic vs. the Spanish conquistador, the aggressive movement going forwards is paramount to his control and therefore his success over Nadal. Djokovic is on his toes or rather in the front part of his feet whereas Nadal is on his heels...and he is getting rocked all over the court by the more aggressive Serbian. You gotta be like that...Nikae.

Look at some of the Petr Korda video clips that bottle is sharing with us about backhand...but let me steer you to his forehand catch follow through. This is the real anomaly. Now there is an interesting interpretation.

[bottle]

No, prepare late only after you've thoroughly evaluated the oncoming ball. Configure strokes so as to make more waiting possible.

[nikae]

You are probably right. Jumping could also cost me some consistency. I'll work on staying more on the ground and preparing earlier for the next month or so.

I think those two goals should be my priorities.
Everyone else agrees?

[tennis_chiro]

Too old school?

Actually its funny that you mentioned Ferrer, because I was trying to model his forehand (or at least most of stuff that I can actually duplicate). Its also interesting that my next racket will be the one Ferrer uses.
Yes ,surface is 2x faster then grass, but when spring comes, I will play on clay and clay only.

It was really frustrating to improve my forehand, nothing seamed to work, but all of the sudden everything clicked, so I ran and grabbed camera to recorded asap.
Thanks for the kind words. I have tendency to jump into shots too much, that's another thing I am having trouble with for a long time. Maybe bending my knees more could fix the problem.

Nikae,
I may be a little too old school. I just took a few minutes to look at a bunch of side views of Ferrer's forehand in the archives and it was really hard to find more than a couple where even one foot stays on the ground. I really like the sixth of your forehands on the first clip, and I think you should be more able to stay on the ground, but if you have the energy to do it, don't get carried away with my predeliction for the styles of the past. Just be sure you rotate into the ball and don't try to "jump" it over the net.

don

[bottle]

I love where Nikae gets his racket just before the forward rotation begins. It's
just a bit farther back from where I've been taking it. This has to fascinate me since I've been working on a Ferrerfore for a long time (not exactly a David Ferrer imitation but a stroke that says, "Hey, this is a simple, usable form that very well might work for me").

I see a lot of reverse action in this stroke. Nikae's racket is not only farther back but the tip is farther up. This all creates a lot of whip and extra racket head speed in my view.

[nikae]

I'm really impressed, Nikae. You really took the input you got here and put it to good use. I think a lot of those forehands look terrific. I'm very curious to see what some of the other contributors here have to say, but that's the kind of thing you want to see in a before and after commercial. Of course the ball is not always sitting there for you to "jump" into it. You don't really want to jump, you want the momentum of your natural lift into the ball to perhaps take you off the ground; but you are doing a great job of that in most of those shots. It's tough on that fast a surface, but some of the balls where you don't get to leave the ground tell a more important story. When you are hitting the ball less aggressively and staying on the ground, you would like to be able to finish on the front side rather than backing up; you could do a little work there. See if you can get as full a transfer of weight even when you don't leave the ground. Of course, a lot of balls are hit backing up, but that is not preferable. I also imagine once the weather improves and you are playing outside, the courts will be a lot slower. But take a good look at some video and you will see the players are hitting a lot of balls with both feet on the ground. Especially watch guys like Djokovic and Murray and Berdych and Ferrer. It's almost unfair to watch Federer; he's from some other planet. Nadal's footwork is great too, but he uses so many reverse forehands it's not a great model. Probably Ferrer is the best model for you.

But you are to be congratulated. In a mere 30 days, you have made tremendous progress!

don

Actually its funny that you mentioned Ferrer, because I was trying to model his forehand (or at least most of stuff that I can actually duplicate). Its also interesting that my next racket will be the one Ferrer uses.
Yes ,surface is 2x faster then grass, but when spring comes, I will play on clay and clay only.

It was really frustrating to improve my forehand, nothing seamed to work, but all of the sudden everything clicked, so I ran and grabbed camera to recorded asap.
Thanks for the kind words. I have tendency to jump into shots too much, that's another thing I am having trouble with for a long time. Maybe bending my knees more could fix the problem.