Inside Out/Reverse Open Stance/Sidespin?

[GMann]

Dear John, I have run into some players who have vicious inside-out forehands that are particularly effective because their shots actually have some sidespin on them so the ball actually spins away from you after the bounce which makes it virtually impossible to attack. Can you give me some tips on how to hit this shot?

Also, someone recently posted on another tennis bulletin board that tennisplayer.net's forum had a recent discussion of a "reverse open stance forehand" where you push off the left leg and that this creates natural sidespin. I searched your forum and never found any discussion on this. Do you know what he might be referring to?

This is what the guy stated:

"I just signed up for tennisplayer.net at the recommendation of others, and there's a post in the forum by an experienced coach...said that many pro players and juniors are sort of doing a...reverse open stance!

So instaed of loading up the right leg for the inside out forehand like in a normal open stance, you load up the left leg, which achieves results and makes it easier to run around supposedly.

I tried it, but my forehand isn't that great. I was getting the same results as before though, and it was kind of easier. But what was really strange was I began to end up with SIDESPIN on those forehands, so it spun off the court after the bounce. It was really weird."

Any clue what he's referring to?

Regards,

GMann

[johnyandell]

Wow, must have missed that about the reverse loading--anyone else catch it and if so where is it posted??

Regarding the inside out forehand: The sidespin is just an automatic consequence of the swing pattern and shot direction. It's not some "different" shot. Look at anyone in the archive. Big turn, great hitting arm position,full body rotation and extension.

You have to get around the ball and align your backfoot behind the incoming shot. Visualize the diagonal of the inside out shot pattern and swing according to the image. Make sure you hit up and you'll not only get topspin, you'll get sidespin. But don't try to do that. It's the set up and execution and location that make the shot work.

[kenknight]

I believe I read that a bit ago on the TTW forums! What's your username there? I used to go a lot, but I got involved in some huge dispute involving a bunch of identities and I had to leave.

I found a a post by CraigC mentioning the beginning use of the "reverse open" stance on inside out forehands.

Here, it's in the "Step, Step, RIP" thread in the footwork section of these forums:

"On a ball coming from crosscourt, modern tennis players are setting up "reverse-open" and running through the shot. This means, left foot sets up first (right handed forehand), then the right foot sets in front and to the right of the left foot, making it easier to get leverage and weight behind the flight of the ball. The player then hits and moves forward onto his left foot again, keeping linear momentum to the net."

But I have no clue where sidespin comes into play. I can't imagine how the different stance would make it happen.

[CraigC]

Ken -

The post by Craig C you are referring to related to the forehand to forehand diagonal and is not applicable here.

However, players like El Anouyi and Moya often attempt to get around their backhand to rip big inside out forehands. There are times when they do not completely get there and have to hit off of their left leg. The right leg actually kicks back behind them in order to counterbalance the upper body driving forward. Consequently, one might say they are loding their left leg but I highly doubt it is intentional, but rather a consequence of not quite getting the perfect position.

IN my opinion, the reverse open stance refers to the placement of the feet where the right foot is in front of the left foot, and I don't feel loading the left leg has anything to do with it.

As for sidespin, I agree with John. There are players like Nadal who might go slightly more inside the ball than others, creating a bit more sidespin, but it doesn't come from loading the leg farthest from the ball.

Hope that helps.

On another note--JY please get on the marketing of this site so we can get more people involved in discussions like these. They are illuminating and worst and profound at best. I have those time codes when you are ready.

CC
Hope that helps.

[johnyandell]

I'm on it, I'm on it, everyday in every way...