Have a Question for Me?

[bman]

Looking back at your article on forehand stances, I am a bit confused. You indicate that the open stance is necessary in today's game because the ball gets up so high. Apparently, you can pop up higher in the open stance than the closed stance so that the ball is not around your shoulders when you hit it? I do think that higher balls require more open stance tennis, but not necessarily because its easier to hit at a higher contact point with an open stance.

The way I see it, open stance allows for more violent core rotation, which allows one to hit a bit heavier ball. When a ball is coming deep and heavy at you, you will often choose to go deep and heavy back, which the open stance promotes. (When you aim higher, the swing is more low to high, and combining this with the violent core rotation, you come off the ground more.) When a ball is driven low at you, and your contact point is a bit lower, you would be more inclined to drive back, hence less need for the open stance.


It just seems to me...to hit a heavy deep ball or a heavily angled, spinny ball, open stance is better, and for a flat drive, the best stance is semi-open to closed.

Sorry for the ramblings.

[chuck62]

Bryan Brothers

John,

Have you considered adding the Bryan Brothers to the stroke archive ? They are the best doubles players in the world right now, and I bet quite of few of your subscribers are also doubles specialists and could benefit quite a bit from studying them.

[johnyandell]

Yep. We'll be getting doubles up in the pattern archive. Need to film more matches still!

[dhstennis]

One handed backhand

John,

Great site, great information and analysis. I am curious as to the percentage of top players using a one handed backhand. In addition, I have noticed that in the later rounds of major tournaments, the percentage of players using a one hander increases -- has anyone ever done a case study on this?

[johnyandell]

No one has studied that that I am aware of...it's a good question. Look at the Stroke Archive, count them up and report back for us!

[jryle1]

John, I must say that I am really enjoying the articles on the serve and racket head speed in the serve etc. Can I ask, will this be done with the groundstrokes in the future?

[johnyandell]

Possibly. Depends on what filming we are able to do.

[stotty]

US Open

In the seventies the US Open had a couple of years where the event was played on clay.

Was this red clay or that green/grey looking clay? I feel sure it must have been the green/grey stuff, but not totally sure. I ask you because you are my age and so should remember.

Next question: what is the difference between the red and green/grey? I ask because Borg never won the event during this short period it was played on clay. Surprising, considering how good he was on the surface. Leads me to think the green/grey stuff plays different to the red.

Short answer is fine.... i know you're busy...always been a bit curious about this one...thought you might have an answer.

[johnyandell]

It's called HarTru in the states and is very common in the East. As with red it can vary a lot depending on the coarseness and amount of topping and the amount of water.

I have a lot of experience on it, but far less on red. I did hit on some crushed brick red in Florida on a few ocassions and my feeling is that in general the red is coarser, slower, and higher bouncing. HarTru is great btw when it's well maintained.

[alexandrafranco]

from lowest position to pro drop

Hi,

1) Is Sam Stosur starting the serve already with the palm up and goes directly to the pro drop without going to the lowest position?

2) Biomechanically in the lowest point after the power position is the shoulder already externally rotated? Or to put it in other words biomechanically what is happenning from the lowest point to the pro drop position?

3) What visual cue(tip) would you give for someone to go from the lowest position on the serve to the pro drop position?

4)what catalyses the serve to go from the lowest position to the pro drop? Is it the hip and shoulder rotation? Or is the player consciously external rotating the arm or even supinating the forearm(as some players seem to me to do)thanks!

[johnyandell]

Bman,

Sorry I missed the post. My opinion is that the higher ball height makes it far more difficult to rotate the torso in the neutral stance. It may also be a decision in terms of ball response. The bottom line is you see players hit neutral on low balls but never or almost never on high balls. That's just a fact however you want to explain why. I think that this is also grips dependent. The more extreme the grip usually the more rotation to get the racket through--it's more of an option on less extreme grips.

John Yandell

[johnyandell]

Can't say about Sam because I haven't studied her on video--hope she crosses our court at some point.

As for the most of the other questions, I will defer to Brian's articles as I haven't really worked all that through on the low point to drop. Don't mean to duck the question but not prepared to answer and am not going to try to make something up.

The one thing I will say is that I believe if a player does have a clear image of the drop the body can get there in most cases without too much mechanical manipulation. Remember now the point of the article was less to give my views on teaching than on what was happening. But I will eventually attempt to address that.

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

[alexandrafranco]

A kick back to the side

Hi John,
I did read Brian articles.. excellent!

Would you please elucidate me on how to correct a kick back to the side(at the end of the serve) rather than forward. When I serve I finish with the rear foot pointing almost to the side fence. Thanks.

alexandra

[johnyandell]

Alexandra,

It's very hard to say without seeing your actual motion. It would be great if you had a link to some video of your serve, or just sent it in.

I suspect you could be standing too open at the start of the motion or tossing too far to the right and rotating too far--therefore the foot goes to the side not back.

Start square, make sure the toss is inside or to the left of the racket hand at contact and visualize the sole of your shoe kicking straight back to the fence. That's my best advice.

John Yandell

[alexandrafranco]

Video

John,
Here is a link to my video:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=grbjpeki4gI

Your help is much appreciated.
thanks.
Alexandra