Weight transfer on forehands

[andy]

John,

I have been trying to improve my forehand baseline shots of late. I usually set up with a modest (1/2 way) open stance. I have been told by players (club pros) more knowledgeable than I that I need to work on my weight transfer at the point of contact. The focus is on my feet and legs. Of course, per your instructions, my back leg needs to set up and bend better. But there is also some confusion on my end as to where my weight is going during the shot. Sometimes my back foot actually follows through forward and my front foot is stationary.

I was surfing around the site but did not readily see any articles on this, including your analysis of the modern forehand. Did I miss something? Any suggestions on where to look further for some additional discussion of this?

Hope you are well and thanks.

Andy

[lukman41985]

...there is also some confusion on my end as to where my weight is going during the shot. Sometimes my back foot actually follows through forward and my front foot is stationary.

I was surfing around the site but did not readily see any articles on this, including your analysis of the modern forehand. Did I miss something?...

Yes, please check out:

http://www.tennisplayer.net/members/classiclessons/kerry_mitchell/kerry_mitchell_true_alignment/kerry_mitchell_true_alignment.html

http://www.tennisplayer.net/members/classiclessons/kerry_mitchell/Mitchell_openstance/Mitchell_Openstance.html

http://www.tennisplayer.net/members/footwork/michael_friedman/michael_friedman_step_step_rip/michael_friedman_step_step_rip.html

http://www.tennisplayer.net/members/teaching_systems/welby_vanhorn/true_master_balance/true_master_balance_pg2.html

http://www.tennisplayer.net/members/teaching_systems/welby_vanhorn/true_master_forehand_balance_checkpoints/true_master_forehand_balance_checkpoints.html

The consensus seems to be that one shouldn't step through with the back foot on the forehand. Mitchell argues that doing so destroys true alignment. Friedman argues that doing so inhibits the players ability to accelerate the arm and racquet by decelerating the hips and shoulders. Van Horn argues that doing such a thing makes sense only in the context of hitting from a closed stance. However, closed stance hitting is not a commonality of elite forehands--whereas neutral and open stance are. Thus, one's focus must remain on positioning the backfoot and "chasing" with the back foot.

Good luck and I hope those articles help you.

[johnyandell]

Assumming you are set in basically a balanced, aligned position before the shot, and you loaded on the outside foot, the weight should naturally come forward onto the front foot, even in an open stance.


But this is more a characteristic of the swing than some conscious action. If your rear foot is coming around too soon, your alignment to the ball is off.


Look at the Hansen forehand article in footwork. The open stance animation. See that little natural weight shift?

[andy]

Lukman and John, thanks much. This is all great stuff.