Your Strokes: Anthony Forehand

[doctorhl]

“I wouldn't be surprised if this originated from the mistaken notion that you need an extreme low to high motion for topspin.”

John & Jeff: Any words of wisdom about short, very young kids tweaking their high to low (or spin dial backward rotation) swings. Many balls encountered are above the shoulders for the 10 & under group, but most seem to naturally adapt their swing plane as they grow taller and also gain the ability to hit many balls on the rise. But some get stuck.

[stroke]

Jeff, I think you are right. I don't think you ever see Fed or Nadal's racquet tip pointing towards the ground prior to the pull to contact.

[johnyandell]

Is that excessive low to high or just the spin dial backward rotation before the wiper? I still think that improving the turn and the stance are the first keys and might correct other stuff naturally.

[jeffreycounts]

I figured out what was bothering me. It's not just the contact point. It's the extreme low to high motion that is causing the racket face to tilt open. It also prevents him from going through the ball: John wrote a fantastic article on this low to high path being a myth (click here). The initial pull of the racket should be linear, not straight upward. I would put a table next to Anthony have him pull on top of the table so he get's the feeling of not letting the racket drop like that. It would also prevent that almost straight upward motion.

Anthony has the right uncoiling of the shoulders and pulling motion. But the problem it's directed entirely upwards not forwards. I wouldn't be surprised if this originated from the mistaken notion that you need an extreme low to high motion for topspin.

I like these animations from the Bollitieri Killer Forehand article to show how the pull should start out in a linear fashion. Also check out Brian's article on the forehand to see the more linear pulling motions in the "dynamic slot". Click Here for that.

If Anthony could get his pull more linear, I think he'll have a huge forehand.


anthony.gif

[doctorhl]

Great analysis! I always wonder if there is a developmental progression here. Kids can model adults but Federer did not hit the same forehand he hit today as a kid. It changed across time. And Fed often goes full on classical for his return of serve. The classic forehand evolved into a more advanced modern forehand.

Do you think he might be hitting this way too young and maybe a more classic forehand would teach him other things?

I am not saying he should go backward.

Just wondering if being too advanced as a kid doesn't mean being advanced as an adult.

To add to your great questions Arturo......if a young kid doesn't quite have the ability to move with balance and get the ball in the strike zone, do you encourage hitting a more classical style when one cant get the ball in the wheelhouse? Is the classical style easier to position for perfect striking than the modern style? Do some kids automatically switch to a more classic style swing when they know the incoming ball will most likely be out of their strike zone? I just see many kids that dont alter their swing at all when the ball is going to clearly be out of their strike zone. Do you then heavily emphasize better positioning or recognition and willingness to alter the swing on out of position balls?( I'm talking just a few inches out of strike zone). There is only so much a kid can do to improve speed and reaction time for better positioning. But you guys coaching every day know how much this topic can play with a kid's head (and some "helicopter" parents) and the amount of intervention that might be productive/counterproductive.

[arturohernandez]

Nice forehand! Love the way he starts by uncoiling and lifting from his legs followed by the pull of the arm.

Other than the stance and left arm stretch that John pointed out, I would also suggest closing the face off more at contact to get proper topspin. The face of his racket is slightly open on both shots,

The other thing for me would be his arm position on contact. Federer's arm is straighter and more to the side of his body. Anthony's arm is far in front, but just doesn't seem to be away from his body enough like Federer's

I think that still Frame of Federer would be a great contact model position for Anthony.

anthony_forehand.jpg

Great analysis! I always wonder if there is a developmental progression here. Kids can model adults but Federer did not hit the same forehand he hit today as a kid. It changed across time. And Fed often goes full on classical for his return of serve. The classic forehand evolved into a more advanced modern forehand.

Do you think he might be hitting this way too young and maybe a more classic forehand would teach him other things?

I am not saying he should go backward.

Just wondering if being too advanced as a kid doesn't mean being advanced as an adult.

[jeffreycounts]

Nice forehand! Love the way he starts by uncoiling and lifting from his legs followed by the pull of the arm.

Other than the stance and left arm stretch that John pointed out, I would also suggest closing the face off more at contact to get proper topspin. The face of his racket is slightly open on both shots,

The other thing for me would be his arm position on contact. Federer's arm is straighter and more to the side of his body. Anthony's arm is far in front, but just doesn't seem to be away from his body enough like Federer's

I think that still Frame of Federer would be a great contact model position for Anthony.

anthony_forehand.jpg

[johnyandell]

Would love to get your thoughts on my article "Your Strokes: Anthony Forehand"