Interactive Forum March 2021: Danill Medvedev Forehand

[jeremy93]

He follows through a lot like how many pros teach it to beginners. He doesn’t stretch his off arm as much as most players. He has a very high hitting hand at end of preparation. He has limited extension at and after contact. Less of a pronounced windshield wiper then most of the top men. What do you all see?

my observations..

[jeffreycounts]

https://youtu.be/595uvVbPHw8

reminds me a lot of Florian Mayer. I guess it is closer to a WTA type 2 than anything else, but he if very consistent with it. It just goes to show technique is not the end all be all. I don't think BG is going to use it as any kind of model for learning.

You're right! Never seen Mayer's forehand before but saw a clip. Very similar looking strokes,

[stroke]

Jeff, good stuff, I would say not easy on the eye.

[jeffreycounts]

In the last clip there is no extension whatsoever. The elbow breaks quickly after contact and his arm is in close to his body. It's quite unusual. He has a windshield wiper. but it looks like it comes more from the wrist and elbow breaking rather than from shoulder/hand extension and rotation. His full finish looks like he's choking himself with the racket wrapped around his neck.

medvedev_choke.jpg Looks like he's choking himself in the follow through.

The one player it reminds me of is Osaka. She has almost no extension and just seems to whip across. Both seem like real anomalies to me.

Normally you'd think these follow through positions would be awful. But clearly they are on to something with it. Especially Osaka. Her forehand is a cannon. With Medvedev my guess is his forehand is almost impossible to read because it's so compressed.

osaka_medvedev.jpg Racket close to the face in the follow through. Elbow bend is extreme. Complete lack of extension.

[stroke]

https://youtu.be/595uvVbPHw8

reminds me a lot of Florian Mayer. I guess it is closer to a WTA type 2 than anything else, but he if very consistent with it. It just goes to show technique is not the end all be all. I don't think BG is going to use it as any kind of model for learning.

[John Yandell]

Danill Medvedev Forehand

Danill Medvedev is probably at the top my list of players to film myself if the world situation ever allows. But in the meantime here are a few clips we found.

It’s no Federer style ATP forehand, that’s obvious. But what fundamentals does it share with other good forehands? Pay attention to his turn, and the timing of the turn in relation to the bounce on the court.

What about that huge loop? His hitting arm structure? Or the over the shoulder finish on almost every ball? What’s it all say about technique on the tour? Are there implications for the rest of us?