Best examples of Type 3 BH's

[stotty]

Jim - Here you go

ATP forehand comparison - My summary of BGs research -

4 Pillars of Type 3 FH -
1) Fractionation - assigning racquet head velocities to unique body sources
2) Independent Arm Motion
3) Linear Hand Path
4) Neuromuscular Enhancement of Vertical Racquet Head Speed

Type III – Ideal type of forehand
- Positional backswing that's elbow driven
- Racquet is above and to the outside of the hand. Hand to the outside of arm. Arm to outside of torso
- Hand/racquet is extended well beyond shoulder in the backswing
- Significant independent arm motion w/clear sequencing of hip/torso/independent arm – 3 link system
- Sequencing mitigates load on shoulder
- Pulling force of the hand forward has large inertial effect (lag) and creates the “flip”
- "Flip" directly effects and externally rotates the shoulder
- External to internal coupling mechanism is driven by the racquet in the "flip".
- Contact well in front of body
- Elbow is maintained straight (165 – 180 degrees)
- Non-twisting shoulder creates the speed component, while the shoulder external to internal coupling creates the spin component of the heavy ball
- Spin comes from shoulder
- Follow throughs are situational

ATP Classical - most common forehand style
- Functional backswing that’s shoulder driven with raised elbow
- Racquet is above and to the outside of the hand. Hand to the outside of arm. Arm to outside of torso
- Hand/racquet closer to body in backswing – CREATING NEED FOR HAND SPEED BEING BROUGHT INTO THE FORWARD SWING
- Less independent arm motion than type 3, moderately linear hand path
- Rotation sequences are less distinct, i.e. less clear sequencing of hip/torso/arm
- Shoulder external rotation mechanism altered. “Flip” & rotating racquet adding to inertia of forearm which then externally rotates the shoulder. Classical FH = shoulder + forearm, Type 3 = Just shoulder
- Elbow is bent ( 120 – 165 degrees) at contact
- Contact is closer to body than type 3 - Less inertia arm/racquet to pull through torso rotation
- Hip/torso rotate more in tandem, the more bent the elbow is - Link system may be 2 (elbow more bent) or 3 (elbow less bent)
- Hand has more vertical path through internal shoulder rotation - i.e. windshield wiper motion



ATP Modern FH –

• Backswing is Positional, mostly elbow driven
• Backswing is far more outside than the other types
• Elbow tends to be very bent when forced into external shoulder rotation
• Rotation sequencing more a unit rotation; body and arm together
• Shoulder external rotation is PRIMARILY MUSCULARLY DRIVEN, which is the most significant difference with the other ATP types
• “Flip” goes up, not down. Keeps racquet head above hand
• Elbow bent at contact = 120 – 165 degrees
• Minimal independent arm motion accelerating through torso rotation
• Internal shoulder rotation is partially used to produce forward ball speed

WTA Type II - forehand is the most common on the WTA tour.

• Inside racquet position entering the forward swing, fundamental difference with all ATP types
• Shoulder external rotation occurs during the backswing, rather than during the forward swing like the ATP types.
• Circular swing path with a bent elbow and minimal independent arm motion
• Unit swing, body and arm rotate in tandem (no sequencing)
• Most functional backswing of all FH types
• Elbow bend at contact = 90 – 120 degrees
• Best suited for hitting hard and flat (little variability)
• Does not have great solutions for certain incoming shots like higher balls
• If upper arm is vertical, when you internally rotate, the shoulder will produce motions in two directions (up & forward). Violating the fractionation principle

Thoughts?

Sean

Seano, this is quite a shopping list. Thanks so much for doing this. Actually, having a biomechanical checklist is a great way to go about coaching performance players.

[jimlosaltos]

Scotty, thanks for moving this to its own thread.