Do You Really Suffer From A Feeble Capacity to Design?
Tom Allsopp's review of my book at tpatennis.net has made me better appreciate my possible niche in tennis-- "niche" being a word advanced by Steve Navarro and earlier indicated to me by Doug King-- an idea man if ever there was one. Tennis pure and simple can use more people coming up with personal thoughts and new ideas.
But this is Dec. 31 when all ideas can dry up in hope of resurgence if not madmen's "surge" in the coming year. Actually, that's a bad idea. Ideas come whenever they want and will if you make yourself open to them and refuse to be silly, backward and feeble-brained about this.
Today's design has once again to do with one hand backhand. I almost could re-name this thread or start a new one called "A New Year's Backhand" but won't. A "New Year's Serve" stands in my book for a new year's backhand and everything else new in tennis for anybody in any coming year especially if willful and self-inaugurated.
ELBOW shall move smoothly from beginning to end of the forward stroke. How then? Slow to contact and slow beyond contact-- one speed the whole way. Racket head acceleration shall be relegated to arm twist only.
GRIP: Here's the formula in dreary song that doesn't scan: "Free grip in the free world." Extreme as hell if you so choose and don't be scared. I choose extreme grip right now since I want some karate with edge of hand on ball, at contact, a good "bonk" with a hunk of hand behind it. Also, I'm going to fan the strings up the back of the ball. Extreme grip with delayed arm roll will do it.
RACKET TIP: Extremely low and far around at end of the backswing because of the extreme grip. Slightly below hand at contact. Forming a roof at end of followthrough.
ARM EXTENSION: Passive from hips rotation, shoulders rotation, weight shift forward and initial travel toward net by elbow (four-part simultaneity).
ARM ROLL: Forearm may contribute but this action comes mainly from the elbow which can travel at a constant slow speed to contact while still twisting abruptly at the last instant and continue at its one speed afterward.
Tom Allsopp's review of my book at tpatennis.net has made me better appreciate my possible niche in tennis-- "niche" being a word advanced by Steve Navarro and earlier indicated to me by Doug King-- an idea man if ever there was one. Tennis pure and simple can use more people coming up with personal thoughts and new ideas.
But this is Dec. 31 when all ideas can dry up in hope of resurgence if not madmen's "surge" in the coming year. Actually, that's a bad idea. Ideas come whenever they want and will if you make yourself open to them and refuse to be silly, backward and feeble-brained about this.
Today's design has once again to do with one hand backhand. I almost could re-name this thread or start a new one called "A New Year's Backhand" but won't. A "New Year's Serve" stands in my book for a new year's backhand and everything else new in tennis for anybody in any coming year especially if willful and self-inaugurated.
ELBOW shall move smoothly from beginning to end of the forward stroke. How then? Slow to contact and slow beyond contact-- one speed the whole way. Racket head acceleration shall be relegated to arm twist only.
GRIP: Here's the formula in dreary song that doesn't scan: "Free grip in the free world." Extreme as hell if you so choose and don't be scared. I choose extreme grip right now since I want some karate with edge of hand on ball, at contact, a good "bonk" with a hunk of hand behind it. Also, I'm going to fan the strings up the back of the ball. Extreme grip with delayed arm roll will do it.
RACKET TIP: Extremely low and far around at end of the backswing because of the extreme grip. Slightly below hand at contact. Forming a roof at end of followthrough.
ARM EXTENSION: Passive from hips rotation, shoulders rotation, weight shift forward and initial travel toward net by elbow (four-part simultaneity).
ARM ROLL: Forearm may contribute but this action comes mainly from the elbow which can travel at a constant slow speed to contact while still twisting abruptly at the last instant and continue at its one speed afterward.
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