Short Angle: A Tennis Book, Simon and Schuster 2016, 504 Pages

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Rough then Refined Idea (Some Attention Span will be Required-- Sorry)

A tower shot with easily produced sharp angle and snappy spin.

The buggy-whip of fly fishing comes to mind.

You send out the racket on your extending arm toward far right fence post. (Fence post, not net post-- this image of a corner post implies single tennis court construction.)

Cleverly, you pull back in toward your body while allowing the whole arm to fall.

The setting of your elbow causes the racket to go around your body somewhat.

Now you brush. Speed or strength of the brush has been slightly increased by pull of the racket butt with your biceps.

"Tower," we said, referring to left arm, and the time has come to describe the two arms one by one.

Keeping left arm up to form a tower will work but is ungainly.

For comfort now, pull left arm back, scissoring it. At same time draw that hand to left to get it out of the way. Remember, the shoulders stay turned around in this shot. They do not release until the ball is gone. So if you want to get left arm out of the way you need willpower to do it by yourself.

Right arm, actually, requires less thought.

Simultaneous with left arm the right arm scissors. They both go out, they both draw in. This is a dance move though not with the feet.

Note however that left elbow points pretty much down while right elbow points more toward right fence.

Racket as The Titanic therefore approaches left arm as the iceberg. So get left arm out of the way.

Rhythm is 1-2-3: hitting arm out, racket down and in, hitting arm brush.

But what about the oncoming ball? What if its path (note curious but correct spelling of the word "its") is straight from right corner post?

Reader, you have good reason then not to hit a short angle. Hit a broad angle instead. Unless middle of the oncoming ball squarely hits the thin rim it will glance past the racket against your gut.

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What are these asterisks? A sex scene? Well, actually, with encouragement, I did go back to bed. And I'm wondering why my left knee is swollen? The asterisks are for the couple of readers who think I am a fruit-fly to experience even more fruitiness than usual. I like those guys, incidentally, far more than the readers, publishers, literary agents (I've had five), old girlfriends etc. who stay away.

For the self-aggrandizing bottle the asterisks offer along with their complete stop an opportunity to reflect and become more Jovian, to take a long view if Mount Olympus is high enough.

The self-deprecating bottle, on the other hand, can find humility not just from being hit by an oncoming ball but by having to change his mind so often.

He learns now that just as TOWER was unnecessary, pointing across with left hand may not be necessary in this one unique forehand.

Before I address that subject, however, let me explain who I am and what I am trying to do here. I am a person who wishes to improve on the short angle possibilities of three forehands known to me as The Federfore, The McEnrueful and The Manny Pacquiao.

If I can't do it, sobeit, but the jury is out.

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Why, I ask, or perhaps you do, the need for a shot that turns the shoulders but then doesn't use them, just keeps them turned?

So as to hit the ball less far out front, right? To turn the arm toward short angle target spot on top of net cord as when we practice a drop-shot. We don't want to be cramped but we want contact point back enough that we can have control.

Face it-- short angle is at the edge and even beyond the edge of a normal tennis stroke construct. God wants you rather to hit the tennis ball out into the opponent's court.

Well, speak with the devil then. If you don't need TOWER, and you don't need to swing forward, and you don't need to hit hard, why do you need to point across with opposite hand in the first place? And how good does shoulders turn have to be? Only good enough to find proper contact point out front.

A humbling realization.

Too theoretical though?

Sorry, too much cold rain right now to find out. (For the rain it raineth every day.)

Can see though that the way to run the experiment is to turn the shoulders neither by keeping opposite hand on racket or by pointing with it across, just set it down to the left side as shoulders turn from willpower alone.

The hitting arm however does not change procedure. It goes out toward fence post and then lowers and retracts, which automatically brings it around. Will it come round enough? If not, add a bit of coming around (there is a lot of willpower in this shot).

Did you run past the ball? Perhaps. Will you feel like you are using your tennis racket to swat a fly that made the mistake of speeding straight at you? Perhaps.

In many cases, though, balls one is apt to choose for a short angle have lost energy and bounced and are kind of just sitting there.

Some hard forehands and serves might qualify also since the angle between incoming and outgoing ball is not overly great.

As I mime this shot for the very first time I can see that one can use left arm to point directly at the target, also that the shot in its entirety can be quick enough not to telegraph itself.

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Trial

Weather cleared so went to court and tried second and third versions above in self-feed.

Second version proved easiest to hit: "They both go out, they both draw in. This is a dance move though not with the feet."

Pointing instead with left hand at target spot on net cord was awkward and unnecessarily mannered, and I'm not convinced one would achieve more accuracy.

Also, the "two arm version" provides good opportunity for an alternate, full turn shot down the line.

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Horse Race

Federfore and McEnrueful have been resurgent in the horse race to find the best of all possible short angles (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hq2kv-QQhIE).

So what are the crucial factors that could put such primary strokes ahead?

The Federfore, derived from the forehand of Roger Federer, takes deeply to heart that study which found Roger's arm at contact straight half the time and bent half the time.

The bent half strokes can contain a modicum of short angles.

Predominant in the case of McEnruefuls is compass direction of characteristically straight short backswing that reverses into straight short foreswing before the body chimes in.

My third primary forehand, The Manny Pacquiao, may be coming up on the rail-- maybe.

The Manny currently is operating on the principle that every time the real Manny throws a punch, his fist torques from vertical to horizontal. In ambitious tennis we can reverse that idea, starting with fist upside down and partially horizontal and torquing it to vertical during each quick punch.

But I simply haven't yet had the time to see if this would meet the high standard, consistency and specialism of short angle.

One other possibility, and who knows its history, is racket straight down closed on straight arm and willing to bend and finish over the shoulder.

This long shot of a short shot seems to have a chance as the entire field of horses moves into the backstretch.

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Manny Pacquiao Up on the Rail

The Manny Pacquiao is in the contest for best short angle, too, modified from boxing for tennis.

The mechanics surprise, but rules were made to be broken by those who know them.

The special variation of the MP is used in which the opposite arm points somewhat across but also goes high.

The hitting hand on bent arm meanwhile goes sideways for a transition in which left arm and racket tip from right arm go down together. This slightly opens the racket.

Then comes the brush-- changing hand position from palm slightly up to palm vertical-- and the surprise.

What is working best, I'm finding, is to conclude the brush BEFORE the contact.

Racket then continues up but through the ball in a solid rather than "brushed" hit. As I just suggested, brush already has occurred.

How serious are we in our intention to hit the most appropriate shot? Serious enough to want more brush this time, a more solid though topped contact that?

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Fantastic New Hitting Sequence Within The Manny Pacquiao

I hope to try it this afternoon.

The way gets paved with the addition of subtle downward arc to immediate path of the hitting arm.

As opposite arm (my left) goes up the two arms separate more than before. Left goes up while pulling shoulders around only a small amount or not at all.

My right arm meanwhile arcs down toward the court.

My whole left arm then slightly falls as my right forearm winds open a couple of numbers on a clock face.

My whole bent hitting arm then destabilizes through a slight rise outward of the elbow to take back those numbers.

Just as Manny raises his elbow to change his fist from vertical to horizontal each time he throws his potent punch, I raise my elbow outward (a twist) to get the racket face square.

I use whatever grip most comfortably enables me to do this, probably a pure 2--2 or 2.5--2.5 or 3--3 or something hybrid and in between. For me the first three choices given here are bent thumb on 7.5, 8, or 8.5 .

As racket swings away from the pivoting body toward the short angle target I gently adjust my forearm through rolling it to keep the racket face square.

In terms of feel, the shorthand is probably forearm backward, elbow forward, swing.

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Time this Shot Backward from its End

You know how the good brush feels, how it goes up and through with just enough forearm roll to keep the strings perfectly on edge, how you need a certain amount of time for this to happen and for the stroke to easily conclude over the shoulder.

Make this portion of the cycle therefore the constant to which all else adjusts: the mild loop down, the slight roll open of the forearm followed by the closing roll of the bent elbow, with all of this coming before the brush.

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Lengthen the "Constant" of End of This Shot

The learning method I use of making some statement frequently sparks another and sometimes the opposite.

Still employ the last half of this short angle production as its organizing principle.

Whether choosing modified Pacquiaon or Federerian for the backswing, establish beforehand that "second half" starts with elbow roll, i.e., smooth sweep from roll of elbow through smooth roll of forearm to smooth touchdown on shoulder yoke.

When he throws a punch, Manny Pacquiao starts with fist vertical and makes contact with it horizontal. This is very fast if you are looking for understatement. How much did bent arm extend? Not much. In our (my) conversion of the thing for tennis, the fist goes from slightly open to vertical pre-contact.

If using Federfore backswing instead, one could cut it in half to make dogpat two feet down instead of four, which would square the racket farther along in its path-- reader, is this what you want? I would say "double-bend" but don't since wrist in this particular shot is more straight than bent.

No, Jonathan Karp did not call me up on the telephone to publish this tennis book at Simon & Schuster Inc. Developing the short angle shot is very likely a greater achievement however.

Not that this continued effort or quest (as opposed to a fictional quest in life) can ever be over.

Set-up is with reduced backward turn of the shoulders slightly to right of the ball. Step-out if there is a step-out forms a semi-open stance with energy then starting from outside foot. Inside foot could sometimes even be up on its toes.

I must say though that I prefer all Welby Van Horn models in while front foot stays flat and fixed as rear foot pivots up on its toes and then replaces a few inches.

Grip so far is bent thumb on 8 for the M.P., 8.5 for the Federfore.

Whatever the method a modicum of forward body turn can complete the shortness of short angle (a ball that goes up and down fast and lands near the net though still in the court).

Gently hitting the shoulder yoke with the racket is recommended.

Slowing the elbow roll can accelerate the subsequent forearm roll.

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Play with the Sequence and Elements of "Second Half" of This Shot

There is absolutely no reason not to do so. First elements that come to mind: elbow roll, forearm roll, a constant bend in the arm, a throwing of elbow over the left shoulder, a scissoring of the arm from straight to bent.

Well, maybe one's squeeze would not like one wandering around the house while adding and subtracting these elements and changing their sequence or doing them altogether while swinging one's racket too near lamps when one could be taking out the garbage.

Will slowing the forearm roll accelerate the subsequent shoulder roll? Will roll of a straight elbow square sooner to enable the subsequent forearm roll to start more in front of the body? Should all rolls be out of the way so that elbow throw and elbow bend are a single act? Sequence or Simulteinity-- always the question (other than the question of how to spell the second word).

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Simultaneities in this One Way of Hitting The Short Angle (The Pro Shot)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Simultaneity

Left arm goes up while right arm goes down (faster).

Left arm floats slightly down while right forearm winds racket on straight wrist to right.

One steps out to form a semi-open stance while hips turn forward (I don't believe in doing this simultaneity in other forehands but perhaps that is a matter of personal opinion).

The right hip continues to turn forward against firm left foot and leg while the forearm pronates while the humerus does IR (Internal Rotation).

The whole arm while bending at the elbow throws up on shoulder (take it as you will).

This last simultaneity includes one's brush of the ball. I would like to say, as some instructors do, that closed racket naturally opens for perfect contact as arm separates from body.

I prefer at this point however to adopt a philosophy of logical continuance in which nothing is ever over.

The front leg does not completely stop the hitting shoulder. The arm rolls do not completely stop before the arm performs its double lift.

The racket face remains perfectly on edge through the double lift.

If hitting the ball too high and far move bent thumb farther over onto the center of first slat (TDC or Top Dead Center in jalopy car mechanics).

This shot, one of the most challenging in all tennis, will never come easy unless you are my youngest brother.

Like all the other shots it will require much practice especially if you have been trying something else.

But does logic apply to tennis? I make that bet.

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Everything is an Additional Note

If hitting the ball too high and far, shift bent thumb over to TDC (Top Dead Center) but also lift elbow to close strings an extra bit on their quick curved path down) but don't use a strobe light-- that won't be necessary since this is tennis and not ancient car mechanics.

Note on Note: The biceps muscle is strong. So use it.

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Be Dumb to Make Conceptual Mistakes that you Then Can Correct

This may not always be the best approach, but it makes sense with this particular shot, the pro shot, as conscious and mechanical a contraption as you should ever hope to find in tennis.

Everything else in the game is and should be more mystical. This short angle shot just needs to be acute, precise and above all repeatable.

So, time now to build on what we've already set down, to edit, edit, pare down and tear the shot up.

The idea of getting both hands going together with the left one rising seems just fine. Right hand can form a wave and come down halfway through an elbow-to-the-side-led straightening loop.

A wave? What kind of wave? Seaside? No, a social wave to another person. Why wait for mondo or half-mondo or quarter-flip at the last instant in forward motion. We're not talking Roger Federer here.

So get the forearm cocked a little and the wrist laid back a little-- a very little-- but do it immediately and up high to get these two things out of the way.

Now because right elbow leads toward right fence even though the arm is straightening a hydraulic feeling begins to emerge through the entire stroke.

Best, we've eliminated most of the arm twisting that was making the shot too virtuoso. All we (I) want is a little forearm roll to keep the strings vertical as they brush the ball, and sometimes this little adjustment roll may not even be necessary depending on the angle that hitting arm finally departs on to get away from the bod.

If the ball about to be hit is high, I don't see why one can't use a half-loop. There still can be some bend in the hitting arm even though the two halves of the arm are about to squeeze toward one another. Think scissors that are halfway open.

But if the ball is to be hit from low bounce or drop (maybe because one was late getting there), use a full loop to completely extend the arm preparatory to scissoring it.

High contact: One is more to the side and behind the ball. Low contact: One is closer to the side and nearer to the court surface with one's strings.

In either case, the racket now throws up on the shoulder (take it as you will). The main force for this administration of spin can come from shoulder and elbow joints together-- a unified and clever zing.

A bit of weight can come from right hips turn into stiffened left leg. But there is nothing particularly vigorous about this. The foot stepped out naturally to form a semi-open stance. Was it pivoting in mid-air while doing this? Not any more. A perfectly balanced end to this shot is primary goal with right heel raised and the back of one's right hand brushing one's left ear.

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http://m.atpworldtour.com/News/Tennis/2015/03/13/Miami-Friday-Djokovic-Hot-Shot.aspx

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Specialty vs. Normal Shot

http://m.atpworldtour.com/News/Tenni...-Hot-Shot.aspx

This is very good, I'm sure, and I'm trying to get the link to work for me. (My computer is pretty old.)

But I did go out this morning for a little solitaire after Hope's beautiful granddaughters left with her for an audition for a TV pilot for the youngest.

What if Maxine, 12, gets the part? Could be a disaster. Would she live in L.A.? I need her here in Michigan to hit tennis balls with me.

Believe it or not, these kids have actual parents, too, right now in Mexico with the eldest's pre-graduation high school Spring break class (but everybody is with parents but still are drinking a lot and getting in too much trouble, I've heard).

Lots of time in short angle or elsewhere I go on a "tack" which I later reverse. But I haven't yet wavered in wanting the best possible specialty shot for my acutely crosscourt short angle. So it's evolve, evolve and try anything until the shot is truly reasonable.

That said, I loved the conversation with klacr in which he suggested one use one's regular forehand rather than invent a whole new specialty shot. Actually I'm open to that too, just am on a search to explore the specialism opportunity. Who really knows what is best when it comes to bedrock decisions like this?

Well, so far I like the reliance on squeezing, scissoring arm with a reduction of racket roll-- all much more possible once one truly opens up a maximum of grip possibilities.

But I think it's too easy to become immediately doctrinaire, e.g., leave off where I left off last time with half-loops and full loops. Why not use three-quarter or four-fifth loops as well?

Right-hander's half loop with right elbow protruding out toward right fence certainly does put more of a sideways push on the ball. Starting with half-scissored arm and with one's shoulders square to the net like a great boxer, one should be able to land the ball at will on one's own side of the net (just as an exercise). I also think my brother, for whom this shot came easy, would insist in practice that every ball hit the side fence on first bounce.

Maybe a half-loop will become the default-- will depend on great footwork for sure.

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http://www.atpworldtour.com/News/Tennis/2015/03/13/Miami-Friday-Djokovic-Hot-Shot.aspx

try this one

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Normal or Specialty?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-YARKQwO9wY

Isner does better in these highlights, which suggests that Djokovic won the match in the lowlights.

I look especially for those instances where Djokovic uses short angles to open up the court against the big fellow. I don't see too many of them here. This suggests again that Djokovic used this tactic more in the non-featured exchanges.

Perhaps that tactic is more subtle than spectacular and often produces results several shots after the ploy.

My focus-- since I accept the tactic completely-- is HOW to hit one's crosscourt short angle for the rest of one's life. With a great drop-shot? That will work.

But if with topspin should one use regular forehand variation or a specialty shot?

That is my experiment-- to answer that question, with the answer bound to vary from individual to individual.