Have a Question for Me?

[johnyandell]

Harry no, not that I know of, other than a few thousand video clips of 20 players... And I agree it is hard to see. But when I have looked long enough and hard enough especially at the arm actions I have always been able to figure it out in close proximity. If you want to teach the semi-western fh grip maybe you are the trailblazer. In my opinion, that's just not the way the good men and good junior players are now doing it. There may be a reason for that or a player may come along and show they had it all wrong.

[uspta4201423750]

grips

OK, but my 2 primary questions remain: is there a definitive resource on what grips pros actually use (i can't get a good enough view in the stroke galleries), and is there anything wrong with a semiwestern left hand if the right hand is eastern lefty forehand. I read an article on your site that siad the continental right hand helped tilt the raquet face down, but many look for a dominat left hand and why not let the left hand tilt the face just like the right hand on the forehand does? thanks, Harry

[johnyandell]

None. Except in the case of Venus who hits almost a left-handed forehand. Think even Serena is stronger. Disatrous for a player like Roddick, who is bent/straight. That one needs a strong initial pull with the bottom hand in my opinion. So a stronger grip is better--but Andy can't and so starts the swing way to far from his body. Barely swings inside out on a lot of balls. Not to mention the slice transition issue...

[uspta990770809]

What about that bottom hand?

Most players with two handers are more conservative on the backhand side for a reason. The shot is hit flatter with more spin and also at lower contact heights. Hingis was the exception, Venus may be that way somewhat as well. Everyone else is somewhere between a mild continental and at most an extreme eastern. I agree with the coach.
But some version of a backhand grip with the bottom hand is also critical.

What I try to get my players to do is right in line with what you are saying here. What I find more difficulty with is the players who are ok with the top hand, but have learned to hit a decent 2hbh very little change in the bottom hand beyond maybe an Eastern forehand. I try to get them to change at least to a continental, preferably somewhere between a continental and an Eastern backhand, but as a minimum between an Eastern forehand and a continental. But somethimes they are already having some success with that Eastern forehand on the bottom hand even though it puts them through positions which I consider biomechanically unsustainable in the long run. I.E. They will end up with injuries to their wrists. What is the reality about how many of the good pro 2hbhs are hit without moving that bottom hand over to at least a continental.

thanks,
don

[johnyandell]

Most players with two handers are more conservative on the backhand side for a reason. The shot is hit flatter with more spin and also at lower contact heights. Hingis was the exception, Venus may be that way somewhat as well. Everyone else is somewhere between a mild continental and at most an extreme eastern. I agree with the coach.
But some version of a backhand grip with the bottom hand is also critical.

[uspta4201423750]

grips

Hey John, just wondering if there were anything out there as a definitive source of info about professional players' grips--specifically the left hand on the 2handed backhand: Nadal, Murray, Daveydenko, Nalbandian and the williams sisters are the ones I'm interested in. My son's pro wants to switch him from a semiwestern forehand grip with his left hand to an eastern forehand grip. I like the semiwest and so does everyone else on the forehand, why not the backhand? What do you think?

Thanks, Harry Kingsley

[alexandrafranco]

Sampras animations

John,
Thank you!
I have been going back on all your forum threads but can't find the Sampras animations.Could you please tell me where they are.
Thank you,
Alexandra

[johnyandell]

Well there is no such thing as a "flat" serve literally, or shouldn't be. The differences are all slight variations in the way the racket head approaches the ball--not something I think you can control with the legs, torso etc.

A little more across (more slice)

A little more up (more topspin)

A little more straight thru (flatter)

You can see this in the Pete Sampras animations we posted a while back in the forum.

If you read the recent Federer serve article you know this is something I plan to revisit in the future with the new footage.

[alexandrafranco]

Slice serve

Hi John,
What is the main difference in racquet path to serve slice as opposed to the flat serve? how do we achieve this? By remaining more sideways at contact?or pronating later?or...?PS-Is there any article on the site that i could check?
Thanks.alexandra

[johnyandell]

If you have a deep kneel coil and then focus on the racket path to the ball, you will just explode off the ground as opposed to any conscious jump.

[thad]

serve

in the power serve by burce elliott pt 1 pg 1
in the section on leg drive
remember, you do not jumb off the ground under any circumstances
you drive yourself off the ground

what is the diffrence between jumping off the ground
and drive yourself off the ground

thanks

[johnyandell]

Yep! We'll get that up soon.

[rosheem]

Can't find October 2010 Issue

John,

The 10/10 issue is not showing up in the "Past Issues" link.

Quite possible I might be missing something since I've just returned, but I wanted to check with you.

Thanks!

[johnyandell]

Great question but I am not sure. Our previous filming showed no big difference over a couple of dozen examples in the spin--maybe we'll find one later in new matches. It helps him defend when he is running like a maniac? Again one of those msyteries that everyone has opinions about.

[gzhpcu]

John,
Watching the masters match Roddick - Nadal, I noticed that Nadal was practically only using the reverse finish on his forehands. Never saw any other player use it so much. You mentioned this in your Advanced Tennis section article on Nadal's forehand. Do you feel he was doing it that much (more than usual for him, it seemed to me), to get more of a high bounce due to the surface, which is detrimental to his topspin?