Unbelievable teaching video!

[hockeyscout]

Check out this video:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MhjzBoPoTJg

Great teaching video

Anyone have any other links like this that loops for a good period of time.

[worldsbesttenniscoach]

With his unit-turn forhand (that is sadly taught to so many players today), Dmitrov lets the ball come to him rather than flowing forward & impacting the ball at the peak of the bounce. I notice that at times, Dmitrov (with his big, backwards unit-turn preparation on the forehand) retreats almost to the back fence before he hits a shot for which he should be close to the baseline.

On a short low ball to his forehand, Dmitrov almost stumbles because he is used to letting the ball come to him, rather than flowing forward with his stroke. On a wide ball to the forehand, Dmitrov hits it very awkwardly. It is difficult to move well when you prepare early with that unit-turn that is taught today.

Dmitrov's topspin backhand is better than his slice backhand, which has a number of flaws.

[hockeyscout]

Great stuff!

With his unit-turn forhand (that is sadly taught to so many players today), Dmitrov lets the ball come to him rather than flowing forward & impacting the ball at the peak of the bounce. I notice that at times, Dmitrov (with his big, backwards unit-turn preparation on the forehand) retreats almost to the back fence before he hits a shot for which he should be close to the baseline.On a short low ball to his forehand, Dmitrov almost stumbles because he is used to letting the ball come to him, rather than flowing forward with his stroke. On a wide ball to the forehand, Dmitrov hits it very awkwardly. It is difficult to move well when you prepare early with that unit-turn that is taught today. Dmitrov's topspin backhand is better than his slice backhand, which has a number of flaws.

Great post, as usual. Why do you think he isn't more aggressive with his great tool set? His hands are insane. Do you have a link which shows a player flow to the ball? Something, a play, an example, where you go, perfect!!?? Which flaws do you see in his top spin backhand. Please, tell me EVERYTHING you see that is wrong, and we'll watch even closer now. Obviously what he does now is excellent, however, in ten to twelve years it'll be outdated, and I'd love to hear you thoughts on what the next is, and what areas you'd like to see this excellent young player get better in as it relates to that video.

[10splayer]

With his unit-turn forhand (that is sadly taught to so many players today), Dmitrov lets the ball come to him rather than flowing forward & impacting the ball at the peak of the bounce. I notice that at times, Dmitrov (with his big, backwards unit-turn preparation on the forehand) retreats almost to the back fence before he hits a shot for which he should be close to the baseline.

On a short low ball to his forehand, Dmitrov almost stumbles because he is used to letting the ball come to him, rather than flowing forward with his stroke. On a wide ball to the forehand, Dmitrov hits it very awkwardly. It is difficult to move well when you prepare early with that unit-turn that is taught today.

Dmitrov's topspin backhand is better than his slice backhand, which has a number of flaws.

For the sake of clarity, what is your definition of unit turn...

[gzhpcu]

This is how Lendl used to play his forehand:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z3dZ0rnouhk

Dimitrov's looks pretty good, I find, much more follow-through, less stiff...

[10splayer]

This is how Lendl used to play his forehand:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z3dZ0rnouhk

Dimitrov's looks pretty good, I find, much more follow-through, less stiff...

The kid has a great looking game...I can't even begin to fathom what WBC is saying.

[hockeyscout]

The kid has a great looking game...I can't even begin to fathom what WBC is saying.

I agree, the kid does have great looking game! I'd be very interested in learning what specific things WBC believes to be problematic. Again, his strokes won't look so good in ten years, so it's great when someone like WBC isn't in love with his game yet.

[worldsbesttenniscoach]

When I say "unit turn," I just mean the immediate preparation of the racket to the incoming ball -- the way famous coaches Rick Macci & David Nainkin teach the preparation for the topspin forehand. Macci & Nainkin used the term, so I thought the term "unit turn" was standard. In this month's issue here, in Yandel's article on forward motion in the 1-hand topspin backhand, John Yandell used the term "unit turn" for the backhand -- first time I have heard that. I didn't exactly understand the term for the backhand.

Unit turn for the forehand is all parts preparing at same time: hips sideways; shoulders sideways; racket slightly back tracking the ball on edge with racket tip up; free hand pointed to sideline. I think the teaching of this unit turn has hampered American & world tennis, even at the pro levels.

For the topspin forehand, Lendl lined up (tracked the ball with racket strings) far more out in front, towards the net, than Dmitrov does. In other words, Lendl has set his swing more out in front than Dmitrov does. Therefore, it is probably easier for Lendl to flow forward, catch the ball early, at the peak of the bounce, whereas Dmitrov's backward-set forehand forces Dmitrov to let the ball drop & come to him.

I am not going to defend Lendl's backswing -- a flippy floppy figure 8. However, Lendl got used to that type of swing & the timing of it worked for him. Lendl's racket, during the backswing, passed successfully through some key slot points needed for power & control. Certainly, Lendl was far more successful with his topspin forehand passing shots than Dmitrov is. Dmitrov makes more unforced errors on his forehand than did Lendl.

In this thread, I did not criticize Dmitrov's topspin backhand. Maybe I will discuss that, later. But I easily see major flaws in the video (& on TV) in Dmitrov's slice backhand.

[gzhpcu]

Here is Jack Kramer's forehand:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZWUFM5nTxVs

[10splayer]

When I say "unit turn," I just mean the immediate preparation of the racket to the incoming ball -- the way famous coaches Rick Macci & David Nainkin teach the preparation for the topspin forehand. Macci & Nainkin used the term, so I thought the term "unit turn" was standard. In this month's issue here, in Yandel's article on forward motion in the 1-hand topspin backhand, John Yandell used the term "unit turn" for the backhand -- first time I have heard that. I didn't exactly understand the term for the backhand.

Unit turn for the forehand is all parts preparing at same time: hips sideways; shoulders sideways; racket slightly back tracking the ball on edge with racket tip up; free hand pointed to sideline. I think the teaching of this unit turn has hampered American & world tennis, even at the pro levels.

For the topspin forehand, Lendl lined up (tracked the ball with racket strings) far more out in front, towards the net, than Dmitrov does. In other words, Lendl has set his swing more out in front than Dmitrov does. Therefore, it is probably easier for Lendl to flow forward, catch the ball early, at the peak of the bounce, whereas Dmitrov's backward-set forehand forces Dmitrov to let the ball drop & come to him.

I am not going to defend Lendl's backswing -- a flippy floppy figure 8. However, Lendl got used to that type of swing & the timing of it worked for him. Lendl's racket, during the backswing, passed successfully through some key slot points needed for power & control. Certainly, Lendl was far more successful with his topspin forehand passing shots than Dmitrov is. Dmitrov makes more unforced errors on his forehand than did Lendl.

In this thread, I did not criticize Dmitrov's topspin backhand. Maybe I will discuss that, later. But I easily see major flaws in the video (& on TV) in Dmitrov's slice backhand.

yeah, we're not using it in the same context. It really has more to do with the body....more to come.

[hockeyscout]

For the topspin forehand, Lendl lined up (tracked the ball with racket strings) far more out in front, towards the net, than Dmitrov does. In other words, Lendl has set his swing more out in front than Dmitrov does. Therefore, it is probably easier for Lendl to flow forward, catch the ball early, at the peak of the bounce, whereas Dmitrov's backward-set forehand forces Dmitrov to let the ball drop & come to him.

Now, what skill set work would you do to solve this issue, and improve it? I need to watch this video now through your eyes closer. I also have a question, why is Grigor's video such "eye candy" in your opinion (at least to a few of us here). What do you think we're looking at, seeing and liking that maybe we should be thinking more about, and re-assessing. You've kind of told us, however, I'm sure their's more.

[stotty]

Lendl

Lendl...whose unit turn looks classic and fine...is comical in the clip Phil posted. He says he steps in with the left foot, which in the video he does time and again. On the few wide balls he hits he closes his stance (it looks contrived), yet he rarely did this in battle. Like a lot of great players he is saying and demonstrating one thing but doing another in real life.

In this clip, we get an open stance backhand follow by a semi-open stance forehand in his first two shots...with plenty more after that.

The second point sees a real bazooka of a forehand return which is equal to anything on offer today, no question. I wonder how fast that was going?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ajg4tkJtG6k

[stroke]

I agree, the kid does have great looking game! I'd be very interested in learning what specific things WBC believes to be problematic. Again, his strokes won't look so good in ten years, so it's great when someone like WBC isn't in love with his game yet.

I'm not at all certain Grigor's game will look dated in 10 years. It looks to me on his forehand he is pretty close to a textbook example of the Gordon/Macci endorsed type 3 forehand, which Gordon explains as the most efficient way to hit a forehand. His backhand, serve, and movement look great too. If he does not reach number 1 at some point with his game, it would be surprising to me.

[hockeyscout]

I'm not at all certain Grigor's game will look dated in 10 years. It looks to me on his forehand he is pretty close to a textbook example of the Gordon/Macci endorsed type 3 forehand, which Gordon explains as the most efficient way to hit a forehand. His backhand, serve, and movement look great too. If he does not reach number 1 at some point with his game, it would be surprising to me.

Agreed. Perhaps it'll take 20 years for it to look dated.

[10splayer]

I'm not at all certain Grigor's game will look dated in 10 years. It looks to me on his forehand he is pretty close to a textbook example of the Gordon/Macci endorsed type 3 forehand, which Gordon explains as the most efficient way to hit a forehand. His backhand, serve, and movement look great too. If he does not reach number 1 at some point with his game, it would be surprising to me.

As per the groundstrokes, technically speaking, it's not going to get much better then this. In spite of what worldsbest says, this is the antithesis of a backward emphasis stroke. It couldn't be shorter and more linear in the backswing, while still coiling fully.

The real technical evolution over the next 5 yrs will be on the women's side....