Have a Question for Me?

[johnyandell]

No idea! Wish I did. Not 3000rpm more than likely. Over 2000rpm with a wood racket and a mild sw western grip? Good question.

[gzhpcu]

A video of a forehand I was playing in Dubai. Could you comment please John?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vYxt...ature=youtu.be

[johnyandell]

Looks pretty explosive! Got a quick time of that?

[gzhpcu]

I made a mp4 version and emailed it to you. Can be read by Quicktime.

[jimlosaltos]

Request: Jack Sock forehand

John, perhaps you can grab some vid of Jack Sock's forehand while you're down there. Per Jim Courier just now: Sock had higher average RPMs than anyone at the Australian Open, including Nadal, and hit the highest MPHs -- 120 mile per hour forehand. Scary.

Have a great trip. / jim

[johnyandell]

Too late he lost...those are strange claims btw

[jimlosaltos]

Sock?

Too late he lost...those are strange claims btw

Yeah, watched end of his loss to Smycek on TV. Sock looks kind of lost. Lots of talent but seems discouraged, aimless. One break and he seems to mail in the set. Every easy put-away gets pounded for no reason, often missing. Maybe Blake will help, now that he's coaching Sock.

From a stroke/ technique perspective, Sock might be interesting for you because of the severe flip combined with the extreme-grip, Alberto Berasategui flip -- hitting the ball on the same racket face for both forehand and backhand. Don't think we see that a lot. Philipp Kohlschreiber .... ??

As for the spin/speed claims, well, they certainly seem extreme but that is per Jim Courier, quoting Hawkeye stats.

At another tournament, Jimmy Arias said, "Sock has more racket head speed than anyone other than Nadal." Doesn't make it true, but .... sources converging.

Separately, the Sock serve is not there yet ( 50% ? ), but also interesting. Watched him lose a close match to Isner (Atlnata?) and he was continually hitting more MPHs than Isner. Again, that super-live arm.

[klacr]

Jim,

I heard the same claims from Courier as I was watching the match as well. Watching Sock play, I can believe that some of his shots are in the Nadal category or even surpasses Nadal. However, I'd love to see the variance of rpm's as well as the average rpms. Pretty confident it is nowhere near the consistency of Nadal. A few forehands here or there over Nadal's numbers are fine, but not as consistent as Nadal. Plus, Nadal can hit those shots from any position on the court and does it time and time again. Sock's speed and fitness has always been in question, curious to know what the mph and rpm's of his forehand when forced to defend or has little time to position himself.

But yeah, I had to pause when I heard that as well

Kyle LaCroix USPTA
Boca Raton

[johnyandell]

It could be. Just wonder how many events they measured.

[jimlosaltos]

AO14 Hawkeye

It could be. Just wonder how many events they measured.

The announcers, Courier and Haber I believe, specifically said, "At the Australian Open", John.

The velocity cited also conflicted somewhat with Courier's statement that, quoting imperfectly from memory, "Sock hits with tremendous spin, but he needs to hit through the ball more. His forehand sits up." Sits up at 120 MPH?

The highest speed I've ever heard of previously was 118 MPH by Fernando Gonzalez, also at the AO. And, Delpo hit one last year at 114 MPH, I forget where off hand.

As for the sample size; they have it, but we don't get it. The ATP is creating an extraordinary database where it has the trajectory, velocity, spin, from every single tournament who and pattern of play from every single point, on every challenge-system court. Problem is, we fans only get little dribs and drabs leaked out.

This would enable the kind of Saber Metrics analysis (Money Ball) used in MLB and NFL, but if they're doing it, I can't find anything.

[johnyandell]

I am certain they are not.

[jimlosaltos]

A TV Star is Born

John, Great appearance on Tennis Channel.

Maybe you should offer autographed photos with TC subs <g>.

[johnyandell]

Thanks Jim. But I reject the concept of the autograph!

[brielmaier]

Your article on the forehand

Hi John, great article, the best I've ever read on the forehand. I understand and agree with all that you covered. Especially since I started playing Tennis when I was around 21 yrs old, and became a teaching pro before I became a good player. I've always had issues with teaching myself while playing and have never been able to play with out analyzing my technique. I've tried to catch up over the years, and at 61 feel that I'm playing the best tennis of my life. I had some wrong ideas about technique that I was able to change through your video analysis, and a lot of thinking on my part. The ATP forehand with Rick Macci was also really great. Thank you so much for doing this research. I finally feel like I can finally consider myself a tennis Player, and can start just being in the moment. I'm also a much better coach because of your research. I wish this research had been available when I started in 1973.
Sincerely, tim

[johnyandell]

Wow. Those are appreciated words!