Have a Question for Me?

[johnyandell]

To me Nadal (remember small grip handle) is definitely centered on 1 as is Agassi.

Djokoivic is slightly weaker, and looks like Murray is also.

[leis]

Inside_Out Swing For Extreme Cross-Court

If this has been discussed earlier, my apologies. When using a step-down footwork pattern to hit a down-the-line forehand, my swing thought is to swing parallel with my shoulders prior to contact. A golf swing thought came to mind. I closed my shoulders a little(probably contacted the ball later) and tried to swing parallel with the now closed shoulders which made the swing inside-out. This made it very easy to hit an extreme crosscourt. With a little dip of the racket head and the inside-out swing, I could hit the extreme crosscourt dip. The same principle applied to hitting a normal crosscourt shot, but with a little less shoulder closure and a less extreme inside-out swing.

I recall watching a pro manuever a closed shoulder at the last second to hit what seemed to be a down-the-line backhand shot. However, he swung inside-out and hit the extreme crosscourt dipper (which is so effective in clay doubles when the opponents are both at net and you can hit at their feet).

I don't know how this might translate with an open stance. This swing thought helps me to remember how to hit this shot. Am I way off base on describing this??

[johnyandell]

Leis,

One thing that is important to know in addressing this question is that all groundstroke swings are inside out in tennis. You'll see a remarkable demonstration of this in Jeff Counts' new article in May.

I believe that on both sides the hand and racket start relatively in the same place from ball to ball, at least as far as distance from the body goes.

Obviously there have to be differences in the arc of the swing to account for different shots.

I wouldn't be surprised if Brian Gordon has already accumulated data on it, but so far as I know it's never been measured and analyzed.

In the absence of that data I think the best we can do is visualize the swing paths and the flight paths of the shots, and let the images control what happens. Definitely on the short or dipping angles this can include more rotation of the hand and arm.

Regarding your shots specifically. First, as is probably well known, I don't like analogies to other sports. But beyond that we would need some video to determine whether the factors you mention are happening or not happening for sure in the way you describe.

That may not matter though if you have found an effective way to key the shot. Keys don't always have to correspond with reality exactly, they just have to work!

[leis]

Inside/Out

Thanks for the analysis John!

[tennisfan04]

Locating A Serve

John,

Kudos for an absolutely terrific site.

Could you point me to any articles on the site or the forum that discuss how to locate a serve (forehand, backhand or into the body)? Whenever I have asked this question to smart minds, I have never really gotten a good answer.

It is awesome to read absolutely clear and incisive analysis in the advanced tennis section that does away with so many myths, and which breaks the complex strokes down into small segments. It would be great if we could get your insight on how to place a serve.

Thanks

[johnyandell]

The difference is probably very slight in terms of the path of the racket, and even if it could be measured, would be very difficult to manipulate mechanically. You have to have a sound motion, obviously, with a toss that isn't too far right for sure, and unless we looked at your serve on video there is no way to tell this.

Assume that, however, and then basically what Nick says on the wide and T serves holds. It's a matter of visualizing the racket and ball path.

In general the body serves are hit with more topspin. So the image is of the racket brushing up the back of the ball and then continuing out toward the target. You can take the racket to the contact point and create an image if you wish.

On the court, use target. Imagine the racket and the ball traveling on the path to the target and take that feeling into the swing.

[malice]

John , could u direct me to an article on key positions to achieving a swing path that is more in line with the ball.

I seem to have developed a habit of breaking of the line of the shot with an unwanted external arm rotation which im hoping to get rid off as it seems to dissipate my energy into spin rather than pace.

Watching some strokes from the archives (hewitt/sampras), i've noticed some players move the racquet in a fashion whereby the racquet comes inside out , straight into the ball and end up pointing directly at the net/opponent in it's path where the arm does not rotate at all and the racquet is kept almost entirely on edge. I've tried it out and it feels rather un-natural for me to shadows-swing this path but is it advisable to stick with this over-compensation ?

[johnyandell]

Look at the Advanced Tennis forehand article on Commonalities Across the Grip styles.

I isolate the finish position for the forehand drive. Wrist at eye level. Right hand at edge of left shoulder. About 18" to 2 feet spacing between the hand and the torso. This position shouldn't be straight out, but somewhat across.

There will be hand and arm rotation, but the amount varies with the grip. There is also a good representation of this position in the Osmosis forehand article.

[malice]

Alright , Thanks again.

And keep up the great work on the site ! Best thing that ever happened for my tennis

[malice]

Have a question regarding the extension and follow through of the forehands swing plane.

Been watching some footage on Agassi and i do notice he uses a variety of forearm rotation , sometimes finishing on edge and sometimes turning the entire racquet over.

I am aware that forearm rotation , especially when done on such a severe degree is usually an independent factor of the arm (?) , however , when he (agassi) decides to hit flatter and come through on the ball on edge , is it a conscious effort to maintain the hitting face on edge thru the shot much like when heavy rotation is used to extend the line of the shot ?

[johnyandell]

I'm not sure Andre Agassi knows what he is thinking when he's hitting forehands. If he knows I certainly don't!

But whether it's conscious or not, yeah, the flatter shots are with the racket more on edge, in my opinion, although we need to (and plan to) corelate some of our spin data with stroke footage to really say that with more confidence.

I'm not sure hand and arm rotation function to extend the shot line. Those are different factors. You can go out on edge or rotate and make the point of maximum extension. But often times the players rotate and break off much shorter.

Andre may or may not be aware, but what I think the average player should do is have a clear mental image of the finish he is shooting for and visualize that as a mental blueprint for the physical swing.

[malice]

Alright , thanks yet again John , for answering my questions.

[hughof]

head-to-head!

John, I want to know if you have ever played against Bungalow Bill. If so:
(a) Who won, and
(b) Did any "trash talking" take place? Perhaps a Kieferesque stare-down?

[johnyandell]

No, but we had a couple of beers together with Robert Lansdorp at Indian Wells a couple of years ago.

[bigguy333]

2007 Men's French Open Final Analysis

John - I just read your analysis of the French Open Men's Final. Your detailed analysis as well as your overall perspective and comments were outstanding.

I found myself going back to my Tivo and watching some of the points over that you discussed in the article.

An awesome analysis and article. You're an incredible student of the game.

Keep up the fabulous work.