Racket Head Speed

[gzhpcu]

Is this due to the whip action, ie sudden deceleration, which whips the racket forward and across the ball on impact?

[klacr]

I tend to agree with much of what this guy says....For the reasons he states..However, (with lessons) I try to establish a few other things, before I give them a license to "press the envelope" in terms of maxing out RHS.

One is what I call "shaping" swings. That is, learning to change the path and the amount of hand and arm rotation to add, or subtract, topspin. There's basically an inverse relationship between spin and velocity, and without a working knowledge as to how to manipulate these two elements, I'm not sure max RHS is a great idea..With the power of modern day racquets, if a player does not know how to direct the RHS to spin sufficiently...they actually become much more inconsistent.

I also spend alot of time teaching people "when" to accelerate or release the racquet ( lag) to achieve RHS. What I've seen over the years (with students) when asked for more RHS, is a process that starts too early (often times in the backswing) and too labor intensive. (in a muscular sense) The reason great players look so relaxed is because they are NOT trying to accelerate the racquet (much) until very close to contact. I think if you look at RHS profiles, the bulk of acceleration will occur very late in the swing. By doing so a player can be relaxed, rhythmic, and can "line" up the ball much better, thus improving the contact quality.

http://tennis.about.com/od/forehandbackhand/ss/federerforehand_3.htm

In the above picture, the racquet head will only now really begin to pick up speed. Just my 02 cents.

10splayer,

Correct. For example on the serve the racket head speed triples in the last 1/10th of a second before contact. Don't have the numbers but I am sure it's similar on the other strokes. You don't "build" speed gradually. You set yourself up to explode.

these two posts sum up exactly what it's all about. I get my players to understand these ideas first. 10splayer and John, great posts. Great contributions. As usual.

Kyle LaCroix USPTA
Boca Raton

[10splayer]

10splayer,

Correct. For example on the serve the racket head speed triples in the last 1/10th of a second before contact. Don't have the numbers but I am sure it's similar on the other strokes. You don't "build" speed gradually. You set yourself up to explode.

Yup, good parallel.

[10splayer]

these two posts sum up exactly what it's all about. I get my players to understand these ideas first. 10splayer and John, great posts. Great contributions. As usual.

Kyle LaCroix USPTA
Boca Raton

Thanks man.

[stroke]

these two posts sum up exactly what it's all about. I get my players to understand these ideas first. 10splayer and John, great posts. Great contributions. As usual.

Kyle LaCroix USPTA
Boca Raton

agree, "as usual"

[10splayer]

http://youtu.be/_xPhB9RXj2s

Here's a buddy of mine hitting...Played a little Davis Cup back in the day, and illustrates the point I'm trying to make. Relaxed, rhythmic in the backswing and really pours it on towards contact....Really knows how to use the tool. Nice action, effortlessly heavy ball.

[stotty]

http://youtu.be/_xPhB9RXj2s

Here's a buddy of mine hitting...Played a little Davis Cup back in the day, and illustrates the point I'm trying to make. Relaxed, rhythmic in the backswing and really pours it on towards contact....Really knows how to use the tool. Nice action, effortlessly heavy ball.

Yes I see what you mean. He has a lot of time on the ball too. I like the way he pads around on his toes...not overdoing it or under doing it...just timing the ball and practicing. He shots certainly repeat and the ball sticks to the racket.

I get the whole when to pull the trigger thing. I think players have to develop time on the ball to do it so well as your friend. Like Chris Lewitt says, get the turn in quick.

Thanks for sharing. That's a lovely clip to show us.

[hockeyscout]

Yes I see what you mean. He has a lot of time on the ball too. I like the way he pads around on his toes...not overdoing it or under doing it...just timing the ball and practicing. He shots certainly repeat and the ball sticks to the racket.

I get the whole when to pull the trigger thing. I think players have to develop time on the ball to do it so well as your friend. Like Chris Lewitt says, get the turn in quick.

Thanks for sharing. That's a lovely clip to show us.

What does it mean to pad on his toes? Please, explain?

[gzhpcu]

http://youtu.be/_xPhB9RXj2s

Here's a buddy of mine hitting...Played a little Davis Cup back in the day, and illustrates the point I'm trying to make. Relaxed, rhythmic in the backswing and really pours it on towards contact....Really knows how to use the tool. Nice action, effortlessly heavy ball.

Very nice indeed. Great hitter, he makes it look so easy...

[stroke]

http://youtu.be/_xPhB9RXj2s

Here's a buddy of mine hitting...Played a little Davis Cup back in the day, and illustrates the point I'm trying to make. Relaxed, rhythmic in the backswing and really pours it on towards contact....Really knows how to use the tool. Nice action, effortlessly heavy ball.

Yes, he really releases into contact, very relaxed and efficient looking

[10splayer]

Yes I see what you mean. He has a lot of time on the ball too. I like the way he pads around on his toes...not overdoing it or under doing it...just timing the ball and practicing. He shots certainly repeat and the ball sticks to the racket.

I get the whole when to pull the trigger thing. I think players have to develop time on the ball to do it so well as your friend. Like Chris Lewitt says, get the turn in quick.

Thanks for sharing. That's a lovely clip to show us.

"Not overdoing it or under doing it". Exactly!!!The interesting part is that even under duress and the emergencies of playing, he maintains this..

He's a bit deceiving in that as much as he glides around in such an efficient way, his forehand really packs a punch when he wants to step on it.

[10splayer]

Yes, he really releases into contact, very relaxed and efficient looking

Yup, he really holds his angles well till the last moment...

[bottle]

Yes, he really releases into contact, very relaxed and efficient looking

echolalia?

[10splayer]

echolalia?

Douche rocket? "Someone who exceeds the rating of douche bag by such a phenomenal level that they must have been launched into douchebagedness by some form of highly flammable fuel"

[bottle]

I weep.