Want to meet new players & play more tennis? Try PlayYourCourt for free here: bit.ly/2HjZ0Gj Want more power and spin on your forehand? Grab our Forehand Mastery Course for free here: bit.ly/37mXTR6 Want to work with Scott & Nate? Check out upcoming live events and workshops here: bit.ly/36UGkXV
Oh my god!!! I literally was trying out the semi-western forehand grip (from using the eastern grip) and actually searching for the best hitting path. I kinda made a similar conclusion: pointing the racket tip to the back, swing downwards towards the front and ending up with racket tip over my left shoulder. Really want to go back to the court perfecting this new swing because it feels much more effortless, less prone to wrist injuries AND the reason why I switched grips: I feel like I can "rip it more" without hitting the ball out of bounds :)
Superb video! Most videos on the forehand specifically say NOT to "cross the plane" and take the racket behind you and to your left (for a right handed player) during the "slot" position, according to my understanding. However, I was having trouble with my forehand and did exactly what you are saying to do on the slot and, voila, a much better result! I also found myself sort of using the left hand to push the racket down into the slot a bit, not a lot, just a bit, and that also has been helpful. I'm not a natural at tennis, that is for sure!
Thanks Ivan, glad you enjoyed the video. Just a word of caution, you really want to avoid the racket going too far back behind you, especially if its on the non-dominant side. The slot occurs with the racket tip dropping behind the body and slightly on.the non-dominant side but not the arm or majority of the racquet. Just wanted to clarify as we certainly don't want to miscommunicate and have you focusing on the wrong mechanics. Hope this helps!
First off, great video - clear and concise with real life examples as well. My question is about position 2 (the drop) as I notice more and more players keeping the racquet head level throughout the forward swing. Is that the Next Gen forehand, if you look at these new young guys like Alcaraz and so on, they keep the entire racquet waist high at all times and then go higher. Much like swinging in a pool of water up to your knees. Thanks for a clarification and keep the great instruction coming please!
Thank ya sir, appreciate the kind words. On tour the athletes are predominantly driving the ball (taking the ball at the apex or before) so the racquet wont drop quite a far as on a shape where a ball is descending. The ball is moving too fast and or deep so the swing path becomes more linear, although the racquet will always go low to some degree to impart topspin. Hope this helps, thanks for watching!
This is awesome! This explanation about where the slot really occurs and the view from the top are a breakthrough for me! We tend to see the groundstroke in “2D”, but this “3D” explanation finally clarifies everything. Thanks! I just have one question - how do you tweak it on that flat, fast and low balls? We just go for the slice or volley?
Glad you enjoyed it! We grabbed the footage of Diego at the Open this year and we were thrilled with the way it turned out. When hitting flat, fast and low balls your racquet will still enter the slot unless blocking the ball. For a flatter shot the swing opath will be more linear while on low balls the swing path will have a larger arc. Hope this help!
Alternatively you can lower your body with the low ball and if you generate sufficient racket speed, you will most likely naturally finish with racket along left hip pocket for a righty. If you force this then it will not work and if there is not enough racket head speed, then you will not have enough power/control to play the shot well.
Hi, could you make a video to talk about how to fix the imbalance in serve especially kick serve? The imbalance means after hitting ball the body will go to left(for right hand player) since the toss of kick serve will be more left or to the back comparing with other serves. Thanks, your video is always informative and helpful!
The issue I have here is telling people to place the racquet into the slot position. You never do that. The racquet will naturally move into the lag position as long as the racquet is placed on the hitting side at around the 5:30 position and the hips begin moving before the arm swings. Then it will snap back and huge power is the result. Cocked wrists don’t produce as much power because it requires the arm to do most of the work.
I really like your videos. When you "drop" the racket, are you actually letting the racket fall on its own, or are you pushing it down to some degree? Also, when exactly do you begin the swing forward: before, during, or after the drop? Thanks!
Obviously the question was for Nathan, but I'll throw my 2 cents since I've been working on this. For me, you definitely let the racquet drop on its own since your arm is really relaxed. As to when do you begin the forward swing, most of the time it's during, you don't want to wait too long and develop a hitch. But as long as the motion is smooth waiting a little to begin forward motion will result in slightly lower to higher motion (spin) vs if you don't have time, you can begin earlier and will get a flatter shot.
For me, and I'm totally new to tennis so take this with a tablespoon of salt, I did find myself pushing the racket into the slot a slight bit with my other hand and it helped! So, good question to ask from my perspective.
In the video you showed....I dont see the racket going behind the body in most of the cases it stays in front....and thats what Rick Macci says ....it should stay in front....u dont want too big swing path as u wont have much time when u are returning a 120mph returns
I think most of the time, you are right since you won't have that much time, but if you have a sitter, I don't see anything wrong with winding up a little more
There is a big difference in that regard though between atp and wta. The women do tend to almost all have that backswing that goes further behind their body. Most men indeed keep it to the right of their body.
No...the racket tip NEVER goes behind and to the left on a right handed player... It should not break the sagittal plane behind your body... Instead it should drop down into the right on the right side of the body...i.e...federer, or any ATP pro forehand... You cannot be serious!... Chalk flew up!
