Have a Question for Me?

[chokomakashi]

Pros Do use the wrist for the shot right??

well, there are many people believe that pros do not use the wrist... I would think this is wrong... I am sure you guys talked about this already but am I right? Pros do use the wrist for the shot.. I have several evidence....

I am a japanese and i have many japanese tennis magazines and they are very good.. and one issue hewitt was in it and taught us how to hit forehand.. and he said himself that he use his wrist snap to hit the tennis ball.. and another evidence is if you do not use wrist at all.. your arm will extend or your elbow goes way forward and if you see pros image that is not the case.. you see their elbow stay pretty much same spot after their contact... federer good example... yes I do believe they do not use their when they conatac the ball.. but soon as they contact the ball clean they rotate their wrist very quickly.... that's how they are getting windshield wiper... most players are same untill contact the ball... racket travel about 30 degree just like hit the ball flat then after they meet the ball they use windshield wiper... yes i believe that Connors did not use his wrist at all.. he was more like blocking wrist even after he hit the ball....

any thoughts on this?

[johnyandell]

You have raised (once again!) one of the most hotly debated issues in tennis teaching and playing. It's been discussed ad infinitum, but I'll try to summarize my take based on your posts.

First I think what you are referring to is probably what I call hand and arm rotation. This is different that forward wrist flex.

Suggest you read this article and see if it doesn't answer your questions:

http://www.tennisplayer.net/members/avancedtennis/john_yandell/your_forehand_and_the_modern_forehand/hand_arm_rotation/hand_arm_rotation.html

It's one thing to rotate the hand and racket right to left, which of course includes the wrist and the forearm and to some extent the upper arm. but normally when players do this, the wrist stays laid back.

You can see some forward flex of the wrist at contact, but normally it remains laid back 30 to 90 degrees. The exception would be a straight arm forehand hit with an extreme grip where the wrist often (but not always) does reach the neutral position. You can see this on some straight arm forehands with more conservative grips as well.

Racket head speed component studies have shown that if the arm is loose this forward motion is more reactionary, like a hinge. It contributes 1% or so to actual racket head speed.

Hope this helps!

[chokomakashi]

wrist usage

yes when you contact the ball you have to take the ball...then after that wrist involves.. no doubt about it... i think that's what you mean....

there is no doubt about it... i recorded my swing with using intense wrist from start and end and i compare with nadal swing and it came out different...

nadal contact the ball more like flat path...you can see his arm is straight when he contacts...then he use intense windshileldwiper very quickly...

Like hewitt and Agassi uses their wrist after the contact or don't know exactly when but can't be when they contact otherwise they can't hit that hard. but hewitt and Agassi do not use modern style of windshiled wiper.. how would i know? after they hit the ball their racket face doesn't point to opponet instead they point to side fence.. both finish the racket more or less next to their left ear.... most top 10 guys's racket face point to oppoent...

well, this is another topic, but mr. Robert Landsorp is very successful coach because follow though is the basic form of forehand and backhand and from there you can add special effect.. if you don't have that your game is over.. just like he said.... funny enough.. i do believe pros use the wrist but i never teach kids how to use the wrist anymore it can go crazy... anything stroke involves topspin involves then their stroke can get crazy... they start hit the frame and their shot start to slow down

anyhow thanks

[uspta4201423750]

the 2nd serve

I can't seem to find any articles on the second serve. There seem to be many different philosophies on this and I wonder what's yours. I like the kick serve, but I also think Sampras has the best of all time. I would love to see a real analysis of what you think is the ideal 2nd serve.

Harry Kingsley

[uspta4201423750]

clay court shoes

I also wonder if you know of clay court specific shoes for little people (size 2 1/2). Thanks Harry Kingsley

[johnyandell]

There is an article in Tour Strokes about Sampras's second serve. Also in Classic Lessons, Chris Lewit's series on the kick serve.

Shoes? No idea. Harry you need to learn to use Google!

[littlelobbers]

backswing

John,

What are your thoughts on Jr. Development and the size of the backswing?

LL

[johnyandell]

That you should make sure that the motion starts with the unit turn and the full turn.

That you should try to have the player keep the racket hand on the right side. That the hand should be below shoulder level at the highest point if possible.

That some kids will expand beyond these parameters if they try to hit the ball too hard, or their contact is late, or their rackets are too heavy.

That inspite of all that sometimes the backswing will be "too large" and only time and strength will help change that. But that you still bring them back to the unit turn and keeping the hand on the right side.

[jryle1]

I have a quick question....what makes the Federer forehand so good?

Also, will their be any articles coming up on improving timing and also on acceleration. When should the acceleration stop and finish? Is it true that you should accelerate on contact??

[johnyandell]

Uh, you think that question can be answered quickly? The "quick" answer is that he is Roger Federer. You could have his same motion and you wouldn't be him or have "his" forehand. However, the technical aspect is broken down in two articles in Advanced Tennis.

On timing see Scott Murphy's article in Classic Lessons.

"Acceleration," now there is a loaded term. It's basically mathmatical--so I would read Brian Gordon's serve articles.

All those coaches and commentators that claim they know how and when the racket accelerates are merely stating opinions--which may be helpful or not.
Studies show the racket reaches it's maximum speed right before/at impact--obviously the collision begins the deceleration phase.

We will be doing a groundbreaking article in the future on the racket speed in Pete Sampras's serve.

[littlelobbers]

full turn?

What is the Full Turn?

And is it fair to say that most pros have some sort of bend in their elbow as they take their racket back?

LL

[johnyandell]

You need to read/view the forehand articles on preparation in Advanced Tennis--the full turn is the most fundamental position in preparation.

People worry about the backswing but the body position is far more critical. There are also a couple of detailed articles there on the backswing--no two are alike and there is a variety of shapes to the hitting arm during different parts.

[uspta301008607]

AngelDV

Well, first time posting.

I want to ask about junior tennis, more specifically focusing on my son. He is 8 years old and I am very protective about what he does. For example, I don't want him to play on a full court. Everytime I go to play with him, I measure a 60' court and we practice on it. His mother, who does not know much about tennis, cares less about this. She doesn't care about the balls either. How much should I emphasy on playing with little/quick start tennis rules? Like, small racquets, flat balls (tip 2), small courts, etc.

Angel

[johnyandell]

It's a really good question.

I think a lot depends on the kid. The idea is to love tennis, have fun, and have success! That's the whole idea about Quick Start and transitional equipment. So unless he can have some level of success in the larger arena, that can be a negative. There is certainly plenty of time for the transition.

I would observe him and maybe even ask him for his feedback.

[lgvargas]

What order to review FH articles?

John, I want to review your first series of articles on the forehand, but they do not appear to be listed in the order I should review them on your site in Advance Strokes. What is the order you recommend-thanks!