Forehand Timing | Why Taking the Racquet Back Early Will Cause You to be Late

Intuitive Tennis
9 Oct 202007:09
EducationalLearning
32 Likes 10 Comments

TLDRThis tennis instruction video emphasizes the importance of proper forehand technique. It advises against taking the racket back too early, which can lead to poor timing and a disjointed stroke. Instead, players should wait with both hands to the side, initiating the take back just before the ball bounces. This approach allows for a smoother, more continuous acceleration and better timing. The video also suggests that recreational players may benefit from waiting until the ball is about to bounce before starting their stroke, to avoid anxiety from delaying the take back. By following these tips, players can improve their forehand timing and overall performance.

Takeaways
  • 🎾 Don't take your racket back early on the forehand as it can lead to poor timing and hitting the ball late.
  • 🏃 Observe that top players wait with both hands towards the side, rather than taking the racket back early.
  • 🤔 The 'take back' movement on the forehand starts when the racket begins to move back after being positioned to the side, not earlier.
  • 🛠️ Taking the racket back early complicates the setup process and can make your stroke feel robotic and inefficient.
  • 🔁 Sprinters keep their hands close to their body for efficiency; taking the racket back early disrupts this natural flow.
  • ⏱️ Professional players wait until the ball has bounced to initiate the take back, which helps in maintaining good timing.
  • 🌐 The racket accelerates faster when you wait longer to start the stroke because it has to make contact with the ball quickly.
  • 🚀 Building momentum is crucial; taking the racket back early means starting acceleration from zero, which can lead to late hits.
  • 🕒 Timing is key; waiting until the ball is about to bounce helps in achieving a continuously accelerating stroke.
  • 👍 Adapt the technique of the pros by not taking the racket back early, which will improve your timing and stroke continuity.
  • 💡 For recreational players, waiting until the ball is about to bounce can alleviate anxiety and still result in good timing and stroke.
Q & A

  • Why should you not take your racket back early on the forehand according to the transcript?

    -Taking the racket back early on the forehand can make the setup process more difficult and hinder your stroke, leading to a less smooth and efficient movement. It also negatively impacts timing, causing you to hit many forehands late.

  • What is the proper position for the racket before initiating the forehand stroke according to the script?

    -The racket should be positioned to the side of the body with both hands towards the side, waiting for the right moment to initiate the take back.

  • Why do professional players wait until the ball has bounced to initiate the take back on the forehand?

    -Professional players wait until the ball has bounced to ensure they have a clear understanding of the ball's trajectory and to allow for a more fluid and accelerated racket movement.

  • What is the main advantage of waiting longer to initiate the stroke on the forehand?

    -Waiting longer to initiate the stroke allows the racket to accelerate faster, creating a smoother and more efficient movement, and improving timing.

  • How does taking the racket back early affect the acceleration of the racket?

    -Taking the racket back early causes the racket to start from a standstill, making it difficult to build up speed and momentum, which can lead to a late hit on the forehand.

  • What is the recommended timing for initiating the take back for recreational players according to the script?

    -For recreational players, it is recommended to wait until the ball is about to bounce before initiating the take back to achieve a continuously accelerating stroke and good timing.

  • Why is it inefficient to have your racket back early when setting up for a forehand?

    -Having your racket back early when setting up for a forehand is inefficient because it disrupts the continuity of your stroke and can make the movement feel robotic, hindering smooth acceleration.

  • What is the comparison made in the script between sprinters and the position of the hands during a forehand setup?

    -The script compares sprinters running with their hands closer to their body to the forehand setup, emphasizing that having hands closer together is more efficient for setting up the ball.

  • How does the script describe the acceleration of the racket in professional tennis players?

    -The script describes the acceleration of the racket in professional tennis players as a gradual increase from slow to fast, which is not visible to the naked eye and contributes to their smooth and efficient strokes.

  • What is the recommended technique for the forehand according to the script?

    -The recommended technique for the forehand is to wait in a ready position with the racket to the side of the body, initiate the take back just before the ball is about to bounce, and then accelerate the racket smoothly and quickly.

  • What should recreational players focus on to improve their forehand timing according to the script?

    -Recreational players should focus on waiting until the ball is about to bounce before initiating the stroke, which will help them to have a more continuously accelerating stroke and better timing.

Outlines
00:00
🏸 Importance of Proper Racket Take Back Technique

This paragraph discusses the common misconception that taking the racket back early improves timing in a forehand stroke. Contrary to this belief, early racket take back can hinder the stroke and lead to hitting the ball late. The correct technique involves keeping both hands towards the side, either holding the racket or with hands separated. Players should turn towards the forehand side upon seeing the ball coming and wait until the ball is close to bouncing before initiating the take back. This approach allows for smoother acceleration and better timing, as seen in professional players.

05:01
🎾 Benefits of Delayed Racket Take Back

This paragraph further explains why delaying the racket take back results in better timing and smoother strokes. By waiting longer, the racket accelerates faster because it must pick up speed quickly when the ball is close. Early take back can cause the racket to get stuck, leading to inefficient strokes. Professionals maintain a fluid racket position, which helps in building momentum and achieving a continuously accelerating stroke. Recreational players are advised to wait until the ball is about to bounce before starting the stroke to improve timing and stroke continuity.

Mindmap
Keywords
💡Forehand
The forehand is a fundamental stroke in tennis played with the palm of the hand facing the opponent. It is one of the most common shots used by players to hit the ball with their dominant hand. In the video's context, the forehand is the focus of the discussion on technique, specifically the timing and mechanics of the stroke. The script mentions that taking the racket back early on the forehand can lead to poor timing and hitting the ball late.
💡Racket Back
Racket back refers to the initial phase of the forehand stroke where the player moves their racket back in preparation to hit the ball. The script emphasizes that doing this too early can hinder the stroke and negatively impact timing. It suggests that professional players often wait until the ball has bounced to initiate the take back, which allows for a smoother and more efficient stroke.
💡Timing
Timing in tennis is crucial for making contact with the ball at the optimal moment to generate power and control. The video script explains that taking the racket back too early can disrupt a player's timing, leading to hitting the forehand late. The advice given is to wait until the ball is about to bounce before starting the take back to ensure better timing.
💡Setup Process
The setup process in tennis involves the player's initial positioning and movement in preparation to hit the ball. The script mentions that taking the racket back early can make the setup process more difficult, as it can lead to an inefficient and robotic movement. The correct setup involves a slight turn towards the forehand side with hands closer together.
💡Acceleration
Acceleration in the context of a tennis stroke refers to the speed at which the racket moves during the swing. The video script explains that waiting longer to initiate the stroke allows the racket to accelerate faster, which is beneficial for both power and smoothness of the stroke. It contrasts early racket back, which can lead to hitches and a lack of smoothness.
💡Momentum
Momentum in tennis is the build-up of speed and force that a player can use to their advantage during a stroke. The script uses the concept of momentum to explain why waiting to take the racket back allows for a faster acceleration. It suggests that starting with the racket already in motion (rather than from a static position) helps to build up momentum for a more powerful and timely stroke.
💡Sprinters
The script uses sprinters as an analogy to explain the importance of keeping hands close to the body during the setup of a forehand stroke. Sprinters run with their hands close to their body to maintain balance and efficiency, and the same principle applies to tennis players preparing for a shot. This analogy helps to illustrate the point that an early racket back can disrupt the natural flow and efficiency of the stroke.
💡Professional Tour
The professional tour refers to the highest level of competitive tennis, where players such as those on the ATP and WTA tours compete. The script mentions the professional tour to highlight the techniques used by top players, such as waiting until the ball has bounced to initiate the take back. This serves as evidence that the advice given is based on successful strategies used by elite athletes.
💡Continuity
Continuity in a tennis stroke refers to the smooth, uninterrupted flow of motion from the setup to the follow-through. The script warns against taking the racket back too early because it can disrupt the continuity of the stroke, making it look and feel robotic and inefficient. Maintaining continuity is key to executing a powerful and accurate forehand.
💡Recreational Players
Recreational players are those who play tennis for enjoyment rather than as professionals. The script addresses the concerns of recreational players who might feel anxious waiting until the ball is about to bounce before starting their stroke. The advice given is to adapt the technique of waiting until the ball is nearly bouncing to help these players improve their timing and stroke mechanics.
Highlights

Taking your racket back early on the forehand can lead to hitting the ball late most of the time.

Top players do not take the racket back early, instead they wait with both hands towards the side.

The take back on the forehand begins when the racket starts to go back after positioning to the side.

Taking the racket back early makes the setup process more difficult, similar to a sprinter with one arm back.

Early take back can hinder the smoothness and efficiency of the forehand stroke.

Professional players wait until the ball has bounced to initiate the take back for better timing.

Waiting to take the racket back allows for a more continuous and accelerating stroke.

The racket accelerates faster when taking it back later due to the need to make contact with the ball.

Building momentum is crucial for a fast racket acceleration, which is hindered by taking it back early.

Professional players' rackets are in a fluid position, not fixed, making the take back quick and invisible.

Adapting the technique of waiting longer to take the racket back can improve timing.

The first part of the stroke should be slow, increasing speed as the racket drops and hits the forward phase.

Avoid taking the racket back too early to prevent disrupting the continuity and timing of the stroke.

For recreational players, waiting until the ball is about to bounce before initiating the stroke can help.

By waiting longer to initiate the stroke, recreational players can achieve better timing.

Taking the racket back early can cause players to hit the forehand late, which is counterintuitive.

Transcripts

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Tennis TipsForehand TechniqueTiming StrategyRacket Take BackProfessional PlaySports CoachingTennis DrillsStroke ContinuityMomentum BuildRecreational Tennis