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natural finishes
what do I favor for finishes? It depends on the grip, and the type of spin that the player is attempting to put on the ball. A player with an Eastern forehand grip will naturally finish over the shoulder more naturally than a player with a Western grip . . even though they both try to flip their wrist over the ball the same way. Instead of teaching so much where the finish should end, tennis coaches should focus more on exactly what the strings are doing at impact. The follow through should be a natural result of efforts at impact. But too many of today's players unnaturally force a predetermined finish, without enough respect for what their strings are doing to the ball at contact point.
Nadal does not always have the same follow through. It depends on how early or late he catches the ball, how far away he is from the ball, and whether he is mostly going for topspin or sidespin. His trademark follow through is often the result of the combination of his somewhat big backswing, his contact point that is sometimes not out in front, and his frequent sidespin (rather than topspin). Rafa is worried about what his strings are doing to the ball. Rafa does not obsess about his follow through.
Sometimes there should be almost no follow through or contact. . .because sometimes it is smarter to just vigorously bump the ball into an opening than it is to take a full, wild swing. Can you remember the great U.S. Open semi between Sampras & McEnroe, when Sampras won his first major (1991?)? Both players hit many magnificent passing shots by bunting the ball into openings. I still notice many points on the ATP & WTA when players hit winners with no or little follow through. Of course, I also notice many times when they blow the point by taking wild swings when all they had to do was bump the ball for a winner.
By the way, players can hit the ball very very very hard without following through, if they desire. Note many of Safin & Djokovic's backhands. The follow through and finish should be the result of what the strings are doing at impact point. If the players focuses too much on the finish, then the players is often only waving at the ball, with little control over the shot.
what do I favor for finishes? It depends on the grip, and the type of spin that the player is attempting to put on the ball. A player with an Eastern forehand grip will naturally finish over the shoulder more naturally than a player with a Western grip . . even though they both try to flip their wrist over the ball the same way. Instead of teaching so much where the finish should end, tennis coaches should focus more on exactly what the strings are doing at impact. The follow through should be a natural result of efforts at impact. But too many of today's players unnaturally force a predetermined finish, without enough respect for what their strings are doing to the ball at contact point.
Nadal does not always have the same follow through. It depends on how early or late he catches the ball, how far away he is from the ball, and whether he is mostly going for topspin or sidespin. His trademark follow through is often the result of the combination of his somewhat big backswing, his contact point that is sometimes not out in front, and his frequent sidespin (rather than topspin). Rafa is worried about what his strings are doing to the ball. Rafa does not obsess about his follow through.
Sometimes there should be almost no follow through or contact. . .because sometimes it is smarter to just vigorously bump the ball into an opening than it is to take a full, wild swing. Can you remember the great U.S. Open semi between Sampras & McEnroe, when Sampras won his first major (1991?)? Both players hit many magnificent passing shots by bunting the ball into openings. I still notice many points on the ATP & WTA when players hit winners with no or little follow through. Of course, I also notice many times when they blow the point by taking wild swings when all they had to do was bump the ball for a winner.
By the way, players can hit the ball very very very hard without following through, if they desire. Note many of Safin & Djokovic's backhands. The follow through and finish should be the result of what the strings are doing at impact point. If the players focuses too much on the finish, then the players is often only waving at the ball, with little control over the shot.
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