Your Strokes: Rohan Gupta Forehand

[johnyandell]

Would love to discuss my latest article, "Your Strokes: Rohan Gupta Forehand"

[eaglesburg]

Just read the new article about my forehand. It was a great article. You layed it out very clearly for me. And while I have tried to make some of these changes before, hopefully your method of really breaking down the swing visually and kinesthetically into checkpoints helps me this time around.
But of course, I have to have a few questions.

1) Should I try to change my grip? I imagine that might help with the extension.
2) who would be a good model for me? I'm guessing djokovic but just making sure.
3) if I put in a couple of forehand specific hours on the ball machine each week on top of my normal playing, about how long should it take for this technique to become ingrained (ie not break down in a match)? And should I avoid match play while fiddling with my forehand?
4) there will still be times I have to hit open stance when stretched wide. Do I need more shoulder turn on these, too?

[johnyandell]

Rohan,

I wouldn't worry about the grip. It's not necessarily related to extension--look at Djokovic and Nadal. Also in junior tennis and not being the tallest player in the state your grip is going to be suited to the contact height of the typical junior ball.

I also wouldn't try to copy one player slavishly. You are looking for the elements of stance, posture and extension. Working through the stroke archive you'll find images that resonate.

The real work is modeling the positions without the ball. And yes working on the ball machine first is probably really good. It's not the number of balls you hit it's the quality.

Finally get technically solid in the center of the court or two steps out. If you really feel it will happen on the run. You can always check yourself with video.
But again I would get the stance the posture and the extension in a basic situation DOWN. That won't be a small accomplishment without adding complications and distractions.

[eaglesburg]

Rohan,

I wouldn't worry about the grip. It's not necessarily related to extension--look at Djokovic and Nadal. Also in junior tennis and not being the tallest player in the state your grip is going to be suited to the contact height of the typical junior ball.

I also wouldn't try to copy one player slavishly. You are looking for the elements of stance, posture and extension. Working through the stroke archive you'll find images that resonate.

The real work is modeling the positions without the ball. And yes working on the ball machine first is probably really good. It's not the number of balls you hit it's the quality.

Finally get technically solid in the center of the court or two steps out. If you really feel it will happen on the run. You can always check yourself with video.
But again I would get the stance the posture and the extension in a basic situation DOWN. That won't be a small accomplishment without adding complications and distractions.

Okay, I'll work on it. Thanks!

[johnyandell]

Keep us posted. Big upside for you!

[don_budge]

The Grip…is worrisome

Rohan,

I wouldn't worry about the grip.

I wouldn't necessarily worry about it either…but I would definitely modify it. Unless of course you don't intend to play all court tennis in the future.

[eaglesburg]

I wouldn't necessarily worry about it either…but I would definitely modify it. Unless of course you don't intend to play all court tennis in the future.

Why can't I have an all court game with an extreme semi western? And what do you mean by modify? How big of a switch?

On a side note, will it be difficult for me to become a successful all courter considering my size limitations? I have a shorter height and wingspan than most.

[don_budge]

Fundamentals…fundamentals…fundamentals. The Wall and The Grip.

Why can't I have an all court game with an extreme semi western? And what do you mean by modify? How big of a switch?

On a side note, will it be difficult for me to become a successful all courter considering my size limitations? I have a shorter height and wingspan than most.

Because nobody else in the history of the game has become an all court player with a grip that is so extreme. Even without the all court consideration…your grip is way too extreme for your level of play. Once you have become accustomed to such an extreme grip it is terribly difficult to reverse your field and try to modify it back to eastern…which is a big picture problem. When you are playing in the forecourt "weaker" grips enable you to play the ball with slice or underspin. To go from such a strong grip to a weaker grip is too much of a change. It's too much of an adjustment as you have too little time…not to mention no feel for the ball with a weaker grip.

When I run into a player that looks like you…like your game looks…I am going to bring him into the forecourt and I am going to play the ball short. I am going to vary the depth. You are vulnerable to this sort of tactic.

Your physical size limitations are irrelevant…it will be a question of the size of your brain in the end. You could start by doing the smart thing now and modify that grip…dial it back to eastern…maybe the strong side of eastern. You can always strengthen your grip as your fundamentals improve but as it stands now…they are not that sound. John's advise about your stance and footwork is the starting point…I would advise a grip change as well.

My earlier advice to you about the wall still stands. Working against the wall will put some serious time constraints on an effective technique that will work against the wall. It will force you to dial back and get back to fundamentals. I'm afraid that your work on a ball machine will only encourage you to practice your flaws. You will only be reinforcing your bad technique.

It will feel funny at first…nothing that is worth fighting for in life is easy. The only thing that this old world understands is hard work.

[eaglesburg]

Because nobody else in the history of the game has become an all court player with a grip that is so extreme. Even without the all court consideration…your grip is way too extreme for your level of play. Once you have become accustomed to such an extreme grip it is terribly difficult to reverse your field and try to modify it back to eastern…which is a big picture problem. When you are playing in the forecourt "weaker" grips enable you to play the ball with slice or underspin. To go from such a strong grip to a weaker grip is too much of a change. It's too much of an adjustment as you have too little time…not to mention no feel for the ball with a weaker grip.

When I run into a player that looks like you…like your game looks…I am going to bring him into the forecourt and I am going to play the ball short. I am going to vary the depth. You are vulnerable to this sort of tactic.

Your physical size limitations are irrelevant…it will be a question of the size of your brain in the end. You could start by doing the smart thing now and modify that grip…dial it back to eastern…maybe the strong side of eastern. You can always strengthen your grip as your fundamentals improve but as it stands now…they are not that sound. John's advise about your stance and footwork is the starting point…I would advise a grip change as well.

My earlier advice to you about the wall still stands. Working against the wall will put some serious time constraints on an effective technique that will work against the wall. It will force you to dial back and get back to fundamentals. I'm afraid that your work on a ball machine will only encourage you to practice your flaws. You will only be reinforcing your bad technique.

It will feel funny at first…nothing that is worth fighting for in life is easy. The only thing that this old world understands is hard work.

Hmmm....we don't have a real tennis wall, but my parents said if buy a QuickStart softer ball that I can hit off of my garage. Would that be a good idea? I wouldn't be able to pound it though-just hit lightly.

[johnyandell]

Eagle,

It's an interesting question about all court play don budge raises. I would defer changing the grip until you master the key positions. Those are much more important and difficult.

It depends on what type of player you really want to be. Having watched a ton of high level junior tennis in the states the problem kids face is they either have to have grips like yours or stand in to control the contact height--taking all those heavy topspin balls on the rise.

Great if you are Federer. And maybe you want to play like him or maybe you want to just say you want to be an all court player. There is a big difference. If I had taught you from square one we would have started with a milder grip for sure. But where you are that is gonna be a very tough change. Get the mechanics right and then see.

[eaglesburg]

Eagle,

It's an interesting question about all court play don budge raises. I would defer changing the grip until you master the key positions. Those are much more important and difficult.

It depends on what type of player you really want to be. Having watched a ton of high level junior tennis in the states the problem kids face is they either have to have grips like yours or stand in to control the contact height--taking all those heavy topspin balls on the rise.

Great if you are Federer. And maybe you want to play like him or maybe you want to just say you want to be an all court player. There is a big difference. If I had taught you from square one we would have started with a milder grip for sure. But where you are that is gonna be a very tough change. Get the mechanics right and then see.

John,

Couldn't I just hit on the rise with my grip?

[johnyandell]

Yes! Djok does. I think what DB is talking about is the transition to the volley grips and the differences in the basic motions (as well as the timing of the grip changes).
But don't get distracted. Work on the basic swing shape and then worry about these other things. If you try to change too many things at once you get chaos.

[eaglesburg]

Yes! Djok does. I think what DB is talking about is the transition to the volley grips and the differences in the basic motions (as well as the timing of the grip changes).
But don't get distracted. Work on the basic swing shape and then worry about these other things. If you try to change too many things at once you get chaos.

Got it.
just wondering...am I over rotating?

[johnyandell]

I don't think so at all.

[eaglesburg]

Does the second forehand have enough extension? (I'm just focusing on extension right now)

https://youtu.be/Vqf5yklnP9k