Some videos of my game

[don_budge]

Dr. House calling ( aka don_budge)

Sounds good!
Come to my town, you will have house, food and tour around the Serbia main towns, all for free!
Now, air plain ticket could be costy

You know what nikae...I have always wanted to visit the Balkans.

[nikae]

ok so, 30 days later, this is what I got:

side view: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=htnhtsHmhiM

side view2: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yvm_PKQdoIs

rear view: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a-UyGSlqDWI

rear view rally: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y8hS_TzTt-E

Been working hard to hit more through the ball but I am still late on most balls, something that's really hard for me to fix for some reason...
Balls didn't take spin or bounce high enough because they were used too much already.
Getting prince exo3 tour 16x18 in few days, because my current racket is just 2 much for me to handle.

[tennis_chiro]

Great improvement!!

ok so, 30 days later, this is what I got:

side view: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=htnhtsHmhiM

side view2: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yvm_PKQdoIs

rear view: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a-UyGSlqDWI

rear view rally: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y8hS_TzTt-E

Been working hard to hit more through the ball but I am still late on most balls, something that's really hard for me to fix for some reason...
Balls didn't take spin or bounce high enough because they were used too much already.
Getting prince exo3 tour 16x18 in few days, because my current racket is just 2 much for me to handle.

I'm really impressed, Nikae. You really took the input you got here and put it to good use. I think a lot of those forehands look terrific. I'm very curious to see what some of the other contributors here have to say, but that's the kind of thing you want to see in a before and after commercial. Of course the ball is not always sitting there for you to "jump" into it. You don't really want to jump, you want the momentum of your natural lift into the ball to perhaps take you off the ground; but you are doing a great job of that in most of those shots. It's tough on that fast a surface, but some of the balls where you don't get to leave the ground tell a more important story. When you are hitting the ball less aggressively and staying on the ground, you would like to be able to finish on the front side rather than backing up; you could do a little work there. See if you can get as full a transfer of weight even when you don't leave the ground. Of course, a lot of balls are hit backing up, but that is not preferable. I also imagine once the weather improves and you are playing outside, the courts will be a lot slower. But take a good look at some video and you will see the players are hitting a lot of balls with both feet on the ground. Especially watch guys like Djokovic and Murray and Berdych and Ferrer. It's almost unfair to watch Federer; he's from some other planet. Nadal's footwork is great too, but he uses so many reverse forehands it's not a great model. Probably Ferrer is the best model for you.

But you are to be congratulated. In a mere 30 days, you have made tremendous progress!

don

[nikae]

I'm really impressed, Nikae. You really took the input you got here and put it to good use. I think a lot of those forehands look terrific. I'm very curious to see what some of the other contributors here have to say, but that's the kind of thing you want to see in a before and after commercial. Of course the ball is not always sitting there for you to "jump" into it. You don't really want to jump, you want the momentum of your natural lift into the ball to perhaps take you off the ground; but you are doing a great job of that in most of those shots. It's tough on that fast a surface, but some of the balls where you don't get to leave the ground tell a more important story. When you are hitting the ball less aggressively and staying on the ground, you would like to be able to finish on the front side rather than backing up; you could do a little work there. See if you can get as full a transfer of weight even when you don't leave the ground. Of course, a lot of balls are hit backing up, but that is not preferable. I also imagine once the weather improves and you are playing outside, the courts will be a lot slower. But take a good look at some video and you will see the players are hitting a lot of balls with both feet on the ground. Especially watch guys like Djokovic and Murray and Berdych and Ferrer. It's almost unfair to watch Federer; he's from some other planet. Nadal's footwork is great too, but he uses so many reverse forehands it's not a great model. Probably Ferrer is the best model for you.

But you are to be congratulated. In a mere 30 days, you have made tremendous progress!

don

Actually its funny that you mentioned Ferrer, because I was trying to model his forehand (or at least most of stuff that I can actually duplicate). Its also interesting that my next racket will be the one Ferrer uses.
Yes ,surface is 2x faster then grass, but when spring comes, I will play on clay and clay only.

It was really frustrating to improve my forehand, nothing seamed to work, but all of the sudden everything clicked, so I ran and grabbed camera to recorded asap.
Thanks for the kind words. I have tendency to jump into shots too much, that's another thing I am having trouble with for a long time. Maybe bending my knees more could fix the problem.

[bottle]

I love where Nikae gets his racket just before the forward rotation begins. It's
just a bit farther back from where I've been taking it. This has to fascinate me since I've been working on a Ferrerfore for a long time (not exactly a David Ferrer imitation but a stroke that says, "Hey, this is a simple, usable form that very well might work for me").

I see a lot of reverse action in this stroke. Nikae's racket is not only farther back but the tip is farther up. This all creates a lot of whip and extra racket head speed in my view.

[tennis_chiro]

Too old school?

Actually its funny that you mentioned Ferrer, because I was trying to model his forehand (or at least most of stuff that I can actually duplicate). Its also interesting that my next racket will be the one Ferrer uses.
Yes ,surface is 2x faster then grass, but when spring comes, I will play on clay and clay only.

It was really frustrating to improve my forehand, nothing seamed to work, but all of the sudden everything clicked, so I ran and grabbed camera to recorded asap.
Thanks for the kind words. I have tendency to jump into shots too much, that's another thing I am having trouble with for a long time. Maybe bending my knees more could fix the problem.

Nikae,
I may be a little too old school. I just took a few minutes to look at a bunch of side views of Ferrer's forehand in the archives and it was really hard to find more than a couple where even one foot stays on the ground. I really like the sixth of your forehands on the first clip, and I think you should be more able to stay on the ground, but if you have the energy to do it, don't get carried away with my predeliction for the styles of the past. Just be sure you rotate into the ball and don't try to "jump" it over the net.

don

[nikae]

You are probably right. Jumping could also cost me some consistency. I'll work on staying more on the ground and preparing earlier for the next month or so.

I think those two goals should be my priorities.
Everyone else agrees?

[bottle]

No, prepare late only after you've thoroughly evaluated the oncoming ball. Configure strokes so as to make more waiting possible.

[don_budge]

The weight...the balance!!!

Nikae,
I may be a little too old school. I just took a few minutes to look at a bunch of side views of Ferrer's forehand in the archives and it was really hard to find more than a couple where even one foot stays on the ground. I really like the sixth of your forehands on the first clip, and I think you should be more able to stay on the ground, but if you have the energy to do it, don't get carried away with my predeliction for the styles of the past. Just be sure you rotate into the ball and don't try to "jump" it over the net.

don

The sixth shot in the following clip is the way forward and your best bet for achieving some semblance of consistency in your forehand.

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

I may be a little too old school...not. Why shouldn't I get carried away with your predilections for the styles of the past...if I share them? Energy, you say? After all, that is where the answer lies.

Nikae...there is only one way to make this clear to you, and that is in person. I will get there come hell or high water.

tennis_chiro is absolutely right. His eye don't lie...the sixth stroke in the first video segment is your only hope. For the sake of consistency, that is. You are moving forward to meet the ball and in practically all of the other shots you are actually moving backwards to meet an approaching object...where is the logic in that? All of that other movement is only going to serve as a means to incorporate unnecessary variables and movements into your stroke...resulting in inconsistency. For that matter the backswing is way too high and the fact that you are playing on a surface that is twice as fast as grass should illustrate that to you. But of course this is the way that modern tennis is "rigged"...for high bounces so that you will buy "their" strings and the latest information on how to hit a tennis ball.

Relax...it's a simple thing and no big deal. My original questions about coaching were on the mark and our conversations about that question serve only to reinforce my belief that you are trying very hard to mimic what you see from the pros and of course gleaning from the new methods of teaching tennis. One must learn to walk before one can run. One must learn to crawl before they can walk. You are swinging away at a full gallop, my friend.

Your changes are in the right direction but it's not enough. Radical changes in philosophy are needed and chief among these is that you must understand what having your weight on your front foot when you are making contact means in terms of transferring your energy into the ball and achieving control through balance and therefore control of your body...and control of your intentions and control your shots. How many times did I just use the word control? Get the picture? Consistency is the hallmark of a good tennis player. Can you hit one hundred forehands in a row in play? A thousand? Twenty- five? The good news is that these radical changes are not so radical at all...it's common sense. Common metaphysics. Retool for more consistency.

On the other hand...I love your energy and your determination. You have adequate ball sense to learn and develop. Your curiosity and love for the game are admirable and shall serve you well in the long run. You already possess some of the most important ingredients in the recipe for making a tennis player. What you need is a map.

1. Backswing...racquet no higher than your face.

2. Position of your feet at contact...standard operating procedure is front foot slightly ahead of your back foot.

3. Follow through...tone it down. I would recommend learning to catch your racquet with your left hand before it goes over to the other side and concentrate on the next ball. By catching the racquet you can directly assume your ready position and get ready for the next shot.

4. Don't swing so hard...aim at something, a target perhaps. Your opponents weakness perhaps. In the beginning control is the issue and once you begin to achieve more control and placement you can build power upon that. The reverse is much more difficult and perhaps unachievable.

5. Crouch down in your stance and in the position where you are reacting to the ball (just before your opponent hits his shot) and maintain this lower center of gravity throughout your swing...perhaps coming up and out of it after contact. Think cat like...feline instinct to pounce on its prey.

6. Go forwards to meet the ball whenever possible, just like your main man Djokovic. Just like in shot #6 in video clip number one of your stuff. Of all of the discussion regards Djokovic vs. the Spanish conquistador, the aggressive movement going forwards is paramount to his control and therefore his success over Nadal. Djokovic is on his toes or rather in the front part of his feet whereas Nadal is on his heels...and he is getting rocked all over the court by the more aggressive Serbian. You gotta be like that...Nikae.

Look at some of the Petr Korda video clips that bottle is sharing with us about backhand...but let me steer you to his forehand catch follow through. This is the real anomaly. Now there is an interesting interpretation.

[10splayer]

Nikae,

Ok, before we get into some old school vs new school, forward vs not debate, you need to get a feel for where you're at in the court. Nobody, and I mean nobody, could "move forward", if there starting position is inside the baseline. Of course you have to move backwards to play most shots.

Your movement patterns are ass backwards. Start well behind the baseline, and try to cut the ball off. At least you will have a chance.

[bottle]

~

Such conversation helps. It really does. Of course I want to apply these ideas to myself rather than to Nikae. Perhaps I'm not as generous as Steve, who is out on a court teaching every day. The good teacher gives and gives and gives.

Me, I want to be self-interested and a taker. On the other hand, Nikae, you and I are working on a similar forehand. So, Nikae-- Steve Navarro in Sweden and Don Brosseau in Los Angeles, California, U.S.A., are telling us both to tone things down a bit and not hit so hard-- for a while-- and stay on the ground more to build 1) consistency and 2) accuracy and 3) a variable but precise amount of weight going through the ball every time. I like the idea of catching the racket, too-- a subtle approach.

Personally speaking, Nikae, I have my Ferrerfore, pretty close to yours and which I've been thinking of as my best shot-- a mistake? Probably shouldn't use it quite so much. The forehand that wins singles matches is neutral stance and stays on the ground and produces a slightly slower ball. I love the inchworm effect of inside foot, outside foot, inside foot again-- skipping forward toward the net. But when should you splay outside foot? As part of an initializing unit turn that occurs on EVERY ground stroke? That appears the conventional wisdom. I've never been so sure however when it comes to a closed or neutral forehand like this one. Can one do better through earning time by gradually turning like a dancer as one skips forward? I seem to win more if I do that.

[nikae]

I just couldn't hit a forehand without jumping, I couldn't find a problem, it was very frustrating. Now that I got new racket, it actually has a grip size 1 size bigger then my normal (my normal is 2), I couldn't hold it the same way I do.

Lets say my normal grip is semi-western, but now that my racket grip is bigger, I have to hold it more to the east side, so its more of an eastern grip, or more like Federer grip...I was surprised that I don't have to jump on my forehands any more to generate the same power!

Looks like I needed way more body rotation with that semi-western grip (maybe even full western). But with more conservative grip, I don't have to rotate my body as much to get the same power. My directional control improved right away. The only problem I had (other then weird feeling because of new grip) was dealing with high balls.

I'll do some work for next few days and let you guys know how it goes.
Ferrer is really a bad model for club players such as myself I guess.
My new favourite model is Radek Stepanek....so simple yet effective even on high levels!

Thanks a lot for helping me out guys!

[don_budge]

Radek Stepanek's footwork and YOUR grip...

http://www.tennisplayer.net/members/strokearchive/pro_men/radek_stepanek/rs_forehand/rs_fh_center/rs_fh_center.html?RSFHCenterNeutralStanceSide1_Tennisplayer440.mov

http://www.tennisplayer.net/members/strokearchive/pro_men/radek_stepanek/rs_forehand/rs_fh_center/rs_fh_center.html?RSFHCenterNeutralStanceFront1_Tennisplayer440.mov

A very nice choice of models in my book nikae...particularly with regard to the footwork. If you can make the same type of move into the ball as this fellow you will find that you will not sacrifice anything in power and you will gain much more balance, control and therefore consistency in your shots. Nice crouching semi-sitting position engaging the lower body...three lines formed by his feet, shoulders and racquet as he begins his move into the ball. Keep in mind that consistency is the hallmark of a good tennis player. Simple you say...and more easily repeatable too!

With regards to the uncomfortable nature of the "new" grip on high balls...when the ball gets that high on you, simply resort to the old grip. Afterall that is where your hand will feel most comfortable with your racquet in that position. There is no rule that says your hand is glued to your racquet in a certain position when you hit a forehand.

The object of finding the right grip is the grip that will best fit your hand, arm and body when you are playing the ball where you decide it is to be optimally played. If you decide it will generally be played higher than your waist and around chest level you find that the western is the best fit. If you decide that the best height to play the ball is at waist level you have found that the eastern or strong eastern is the right fit.

[bottle]

This is getting pretty personal rather than generic. But I don't see why one can't be interested, say, in trying out these Stepanek forehands while retaining one's knowledge of a Ferrerfore. I challenge, in other words, the notion of specialization in tennis. "Hit the same old boring shot," says Vic Braden, but Bill Tilden says, "Variety is the spice of life." I'll go with Tilden on that one, thanks.

[nikae]

Stepanek has some weird looking forehand though. After he makes contact wit the ball, he starts bending the elbow, its like his upper arm kinda stops and his lower arm continues forward, why is that? What grip does he use?

I also like James Blake's forehand, simple back swing, and normal looking follow through.

EDIT: I am still working on my forehand, not jumping any more, trying to hit more from neutral stance with less spin and a bit more penetration... My backhand has become much better too.

This is great conversation we got here, its helping my game so much!