Have a Question for Me?

[uspta2712824457]

Pinpoint vs. Platform-injuries

John,

As I have said in the past via email correspondence, I love the site and love what you guys are doing for players and tennis teaching professionals around the world. You were in fact a major positive talking point at the recent 2009 USPTA florida convention. Only good things though so no need to worry. But I digress.

I have a question about which serving stance is more injury prone. A platform stance or a pinpoint stance? I've spoken to a few pros and we have looked into the possibility of the pinpoint stance being more harmful to the shoulder because more of the shoulder/arm seems to be pushing up, and through as opposed to a platform stance which is more of a full body rotation. As a pinpoint server I am a bit defensive on this topic and slightly bias. But am very curious as to your thoughts and opinions as I will always hold them in high regard. Looking back at some of my favorite players and guys I have tried to model my game after, Krajicek, Rafter, Edberg to name several. Rafter and Krajicek have had numerous shoulder troubles. Sharapova also has struggled with her shoulder and is a pinpoint server. Coincidence? you tell me.

Thanks.

[johnyandell]

That's one of those questions that probably cannot be answered. I doubt stance is relevant anyway but how would you establish it? Have one server serve half his career with one and then the other and do an mri every month?

You get my point. The question is how does your shoulder feel? In my experience it's things like late contact and muscling the ball that make people's shoulders hurt.

[uspta2712824457]

pinpoint vs. platform

Thanks John,

My feelings are the same. It would be very difficult to test that hypothesis unless we measured the pressure and force put upon the shoulder ligaments during the motion and contact.
Either stance woks just fine obviously. bad technique, poor fundamentals, and straining are all the main factors. Thanks for the answer.

It's certainly a question that is difficult to test and answer.

[uspta146749877]

A footwork thread

Joh,
Don brosseau was hoping that you may read
a very recent thread about footwork.
The link is

http://www.tennisplayer.net/bulletin/showthread.php?t=1346

Thank you

[johnyandell]

Funny I didn't get a request from Don. In any case I am fishing in Wyoming for the next week and defer all comments until thereafter.

[uspta146749877]

Fishing in Wyoming

Funny I didn't get a request from Don. In any case I am fishing in Wyoming for the next week and defer all comments until thereafter.

He wrote it a in one of his post.
You may check it.
I think he assumes that you read all posts

[johnyandell]

Yes and I am still fishing. And no I don't read all posts.

[uspta990770809]

Yes and I am still fishing. And no I don't read all posts.

Actually, I really figured you had a life and did not read all posts. But this is a pretty good thread on Footwork. When you get back, I hope you'll check it out
don

[johnyandell]

I am trying to achieve said goal...my wife may forbid me from looking at this thread for my own good though...just kidding will try when I get back but there is a little thing called the July issue.

[uspta2712824457]

much needed R&R

John,

Enjoy Wyoming. It's great up there. you totally deserve the break. have fun and enjoy your time off.

[hyperwarrior]

John,

Do you have any idea why Federer's forehand is more compact than usual during Indians Wells 2009? Was he trying something?

I'm talking about the filming you guys did in Stroke Archive from Federer 09.

[johnyandell]

Great question. And I have no answer but definitely I agree with the posts at TW about his grip being more eastern. Also more over the shoulder and reverse finishes. As usual at the majors there weren't enough close ups to see if that stuck, but it seemed he was back to more wiper action--all just an impression.

We plan a high speed filming at Cincy, so that may reveal more.

[uspta990770809]

About Amber's forehand

John, just got done reading the Your Strokes on Amber's forehand. I've been stressing the vertical racket face for quite a while, especially the last couple of weeks. (Incidentally, she beat Angela in the defacto Sectional 11 and unders last month. Only 2nd year 12 and under players made it to the semis and Amber and Angela ended up playing off for 5th. Last year, the results were reversed in the 10s.) i'll have to look more carefully at the left hand extension and try breaking that down a little more.

The other thing I've been stressing is trying to break her tendency of going from straight to bent and then back to straight, all in one forward swing. She actually straightens her right arm out as the racket swings forward, creating a push instead of a swing. Do you think this is just a compensation for the extreme closed nature of the face?

In any case, thanks for the analysis. I'll be sure to get you some new video as soon as we see some progress. Amber has one of the best serves I've seen on any young kid, boy or girl, and if she gets the forehand to back it up, she is going to be a handful.

all the best,
don

[uspta990770809]

90 degrees or 180

John,
it's a minor point, but I'm sure you are going to hear about it. Isn't the classical shoulder turn 90 degrees and this larger turn actually 180 degrees?

One of the questions I have is when do you start learning this. I believe you need to learn the classic action first and then develop the ability to go up off the ground later once you have sound fundamentals. On the other hand, all the little kids end up hitting everything above their heads the first few years in the game anyway. They don't so much jump as just give in to the extreme grips.

don

[johnyandell]

Right, it should be 180 coming back! Amazing I screwed that up. Thanks. And yeah I agree. If you can master the basic rotation there is hope for the future! What did you think of the analysis of Amber by the way??