Have a Question for Me?

[johnyandell]

Harry,

This is one of those questions where I would not comment unless I saw video of the stroke. Not sure what early hip engagement means to you or if I would think it was a positive thing without seeing video.

John Yandell

[johnyandell]

I'd suggest you actually explore the materials on the website before making angry, inaccurate statements about what is here, and especially about the quality.

For example the two detailed articles on Federer's serve in Advanced Tennis, or the 2 on Roddick's. Or the serve articles there in the Myth series. Or the multi-part series on Sampras's serve in Tour Strokes. Or the practical serving implications in Heavy Ball. Or the groundbreaking series by Brian Gordon in Biomechanics. Or Scott Murphy's in Classic Lessons. Or how about Chris Lewit's 3 Part article on the Kick Serve. Or the 10 serve articles in Your Strokes. There is still a lot more beyond that if you actually look.

You say you want video--have you even looked at the Stroke Archive? There are hundreds and hundreds of serve clips of dozens of the world's top players.

If you study that information and still prefer fyb, I think I can live with that.

[oliensis]

Vfishman,
Have you not checked out Brian Gordon's articles on biomechanics of the serve?

http://www.tennisplayer.net/members/biomechanics/scienceofbio.html

Bruce Elliott's articles are also good, also at the link above.

Also, go the stroke archives and go frame by frame through any of the great serves that are there.

FYB is a good site. But this one has much deeper analyses of really important technical issues.

I am trying to improve my serve. The lesson on serve I looked at is good, but is way too short. Serve is the most difficult element of the game, especially for 3.5-4.0 players, like myself. I would expect to see more slow motion videos explaining all phases of serve. And I can find all this on fuzzyyellowballs.com. And it is free. Are you going to improve the quality of instruction on this web site?

[vfishman]

I would like to see more video materials in your lessons

I am trying to improve my serve. The lesson on serve I looked at is good, but is way too short. Serve is the most difficult element of the game, especially for 3.5-4.0 players, like myself. I would expect to see more slow motion videos explaining all phases of serve. And I can find all this on fuzzyyellowballs.com. And it is free. Are you going to improve the quality of instruction on this web site?

[uspta4201423750]

the hip in the forehand

Hey John,
My son hits open stance forehands and forward (or neutral/semi-closed stance whatever you call it). In the forward stance (set like a baseball player or golfer) he easily gets hip rotation, but in the open, which he uses more often in matchplay, he gets little or none although he gets good shoulder rotation. How do I get him to engage the hip the way Bollitieri shows on tennis channel's academy show on the open stance forehand?

Thanks, Harry Kingsley

hey know you love that closed face at the top...

Guilty as charged! Great double issue, I look forward to next month's as well.

[johnyandell]

hey know you love that closed face at the top...

Great issue John, I still think Delpo is the exception in terms of his racket position, but it does prove there is wiggle room in terms of the racket face angle during the backswing.

I noticed that Murray has closed his off more than the past as well as Ernest Gulbis, Delpo is the only player off the top of my head in the current gen that uses this "style". Nadal once again seems to have gone back to the more closed face position. I believe Delpo would be the only player in the top 10 with this position. I also agree with you that the more mild grips tend to cause the face to be in more of an on edge position like with Agassi and Delpo.

As good as his US Open win was, it will be interesting to see as you pointed out in your work if he'll be able to continue along that path. I don't feel his recent fall form is a reflection upon his overall level of play. The 2010 Aussie Open should be a great tournament with 5 legitimate contenders.

What I'm really interested in is the straight arm forehand, it seems like quite a few players have now been captured in the stroke archive with this hitting arm structure. Any data on the possible benefits? It seemed as though Paradorn and Flip were the first two, but now Nadal, Fed, Delpo, and Verdasco seem to be doing it as well. I've thought about trying to hit it myself purposely, but I'm not sure how well that would go as I'm a natural double bender.

[johnyandell]

Not sure if it is...I'll check.

[jperedo]

Yeah we've got a bunch of video of Mardy--just not so sure he is site worthy...to be completely honest. But eventually we might put him up. I think we did put his serve in the Interactive Forum. But not sure you'd want to spend time looking at his forehand--backhand maybe though.

That's what makes it so interesting. Considering all the hype the straightarm forehand config is getting on these boards, it would be neat to analyze why Mardy's straightarm forehand is such a weakness.

[johnyandell]

yeah well that's one reason kids use huge loops they just can't get the racket going...what does that thing weigh??

[uspta4201423750]

Big loop

Well, he's got the rafa aeropro, and I know that probably seems a lot for an 8 year old, but I worked him up to it so gradually that it doesn't seem to bother him, and he competes with smaller/weaker kids with the same raquet. I actually started yesterday just as you said to. So far so good. He's not playing another match until we get this down. Thanks for the help harry

[johnyandell]

Yeah we've got a bunch of video of Mardy--just not so sure he is site worthy...to be completely honest. But eventually we might put him up. I think we did put his serve in the Interactive Forum. But not sure you'd want to spend time looking at his forehand--backhand maybe though.

[johnyandell]

First Harry make him start his swing already in the bottom of the backswing.
We he can do this, stand behind him and use your racket or a tennis tube. Put it over him at the backswing height you want and then he'll crash into it if he goes higher. How heavy is his racket btw?

I've said this before but this type of question really requires video of the stroke for a valid answer.

[jperedo]

Mardy Fish

Any plans to have this guy's strokes captured in the future? Some similarities to the Federer/Verdasco model but seems to be missing something. Would be interesting to compare.