The Intuitive Forehand Swing Path (It’s NOT Linear)
TLDRCoach Nick Boland critiques the traditional tennis drill of 'hitting through the ball', arguing that it's outdated and misaligned with modern forehand techniques. He emphasizes that a forehand stroke is circular, not linear, and that high-level players achieve power through torso rotation, not by extending the arm. Boland explains that the key to a proper forehand is making contact with the dominant shoulder in front, which naturally leads to a circular swing path. He also clarifies misconceptions about arm extension and topspin, advocating for a diagonal vertical swing path to achieve penetrating spin. The video challenges old-school drills and promotes a deeper understanding of forehand mechanics.
Takeaways
- 🎾 The traditional drill of 'hitting through the ball' is outdated and not aligned with modern tennis techniques.
- 🔄 Tennis strokes, particularly the forehand, should be circular rather than linear according to modern coaching philosophies.
- 👀 Coaches often demonstrate drills from a sideways position, which is not the correct body alignment for a forehand stroke.
- 🤔 The concept of hitting through three balls contradicts the natural movement of a forehand with torso rotation.
- 👨🏫 Oscar Wegner has been a pioneer in teaching the circular swing path, emphasizing its importance even in classic tennis.
- 📊 High-level players, whether in junior, college, or professional levels, predominantly make contact with the dominant shoulder in front.
- 🙅♂️ Extending the arm after making contact with a bent arm can lead to loss of power and control due to disengagement from the core.
- 💪 Torso rotation is a key component of the forehand, and proper sequencing is crucial for achieving a natural circular swing path.
- 👀 The contact point in a forehand should have the dominant shoulder ahead of the non-dominant shoulder for optimal power and control.
- 🚫 Players should avoid the temptation to extend their arm after making contact if they naturally have a bent-arm forehand.
- ⏱️ The moment of contact in tennis is extremely brief, and the type of shot (flat or topspin) is determined at this instant.
Q & A
What is the common drill mentioned in the script that coaches use to teach players to hit through the ball?
-The common drill mentioned involves hitting across the net and extending the arm to hit through the ball as much as possible, often visualized as hitting through three imaginary balls.
Why does the script argue against the drill of hitting through three balls for a forehand stroke?
-The script argues against this drill because it contradicts the circular nature of a proper tennis stroke, promoting a linear movement that is not in line with modern or classic tennis techniques.
What is the main difference between a classic forehand and a modern forehand according to the script?
-The main difference is the point of contact and the loop. Modern players initiate torso rotation sooner, making contact further out front, whereas classic forehands had a more linear path with the shoulders aligned.
What is the significance of having the dominant shoulder in front of the non-dominant shoulder during a forehand stroke?
-Having the dominant shoulder in front is crucial for making proper contact on the forehand. It allows for better connection to the core, which is essential for power and control in the shot.
Why is extending the arm after making contact with a bent-arm forehand considered a bad practice?
-Extending the arm after making contact with a bent-arm forehand can lead to a loss of connection to the core, resulting in less control and power, and it can also slow down and abruptly shorten the stroke.
What is the misconception about creating topspin by going forward through the ball and then upwards later?
-The misconception is that players believe they can create topspin by first going forward through the ball and then moving the racket upwards later. However, this approach is ineffective because the contact with the ball is over in milliseconds, and the type of shot is determined at the moment of contact.
What is the recommended vertical swing path for a forehand stroke according to the script?
-The recommended vertical swing path is not completely vertical but rather a diagonal vertical line, where the player goes up and forward at the same time, applying a different type of topspin that is more penetrating.
What does the script suggest about the natural occurrence of a circular swing path in tennis?
-The script suggests that a circular swing path happens naturally and intuitively without the need for conscious instruction. It is the result of proper torso rotation and sequencing.
How does the script describe the relationship between torso rotation and the circular swing path?
-The script describes torso rotation as a key component for achieving a circular swing path. Proper sequencing of torso rotation ensures that the dominant shoulder is ahead of the non-dominant shoulder at the moment of contact, leading to a natural circular swing.
What is the 'flat topspin forehand' mentioned in the script, and how does it differ from other forehand techniques?
-The 'flat topspin forehand' is a technique where the ball is struck with less topspin but still follows a circular swing path. Unlike the heavy topspin forehand commonly seen on the ATP Tour, the racket face goes more through the ball than upwards, resulting in a flatter trajectory.
Outlines
🎾 Tennis Forehand Drills Misconceptions
The speaker addresses a common tennis drill that encourages players to imagine hitting through the ball, extending their arm across the net. This method has been taught for decades but is criticized as it contradicts the circular motion of a proper tennis stroke. The speaker emphasizes that the forehand stroke is not linear but circular, involving torso rotation. They argue that drills like hitting through three balls are outdated and don't align with modern or classic tennis techniques, which focus on the contact point being made with the dominant shoulder in front. The speaker also mentions that the extension of the arm is often misunderstood, as most high-level players use a bent-arm forehand, which doesn't straighten out post-contact.
🤔 The Myth of Forehand Extension
This paragraph delves into the misconception of extending the arm during a forehand stroke. The speaker explains that high-level players typically maintain a bent-arm posture and do not straighten their arm post-contact. They argue that attempting to extend the arm, especially from a bent position, can disrupt the stroke's flow, reduce power, and decrease control. The speaker also clarifies that the contact with the ball is brief and that the type of spin (topspin or flat) is determined at the moment of impact. They refute the idea that one can hit through the ball and then apply topspin later, stressing the importance of a vertical swing path at the moment of contact for achieving topspin.
🔄 The Importance of Torso Rotation in Forehand
The speaker discusses the significance of torso rotation in achieving a natural circular swing path for the forehand. They argue against consciously instructing players to swing around the body, stating that a well-sequenced torso rotation will naturally result in a circular path. The key, according to the speaker, is to initiate the torso rotation sooner to ensure that contact is made with the dominant shoulder ahead of the non-dominant shoulder. They also mention that the speaker's own forehand, which may appear unconventional, still follows the principles of a circular swing path, albeit with a flatter trajectory compared to the heavy topspin forehand seen commonly on the ATP Tour.
🏁 The Intuitive Nature of the Circular Swing Path
In the final paragraph, the speaker reinforces the idea that a circular swing path is intuitive and natural for tennis players. They use the example of a player hitting a ball out of frustration or after winning a match, where the shot is executed with power and a circular motion without any conscious practice for such a scenario. The speaker concludes that pulling the racket towards the core of the body to maximize power is an instinctive action that aligns with the circular swing path, which is why it is prevalent among high-level players.
Mindmap
Keywords
💡Circular Swing Path
💡Torso Rotation
💡Dominant Shoulder
💡Linear Stroke
💡Arm Structure
💡Topspin
💡Contact Point
💡Forehand
💡Recreational Players
💡Kinetic Chain
Highlights
Coaches often instruct players to imagine hitting through the ball, which is a common but outdated drill.
The traditional drill of hitting through three balls is not aligned with the modern understanding of the forehand stroke.
The tennis stroke, particularly the forehand, is circular, not linear, contradicting the old-school drills.
Coaches demonstrating drills are often sideways, which is not the correct body position for a forehand stroke.
Forehand strokes in both modern and classic tennis involve torso rotation, which is not addressed in traditional drills.
Oscar Wegner has been teaching the circular swing path for over 40 years, emphasizing its importance in tennis.
High-level players make contact with the dominant shoulder in front, which is not compatible with hitting through three balls.
The contact point in a forehand is crucial and differs between classic and modern forehands, with modern players making contact further out front.
The majority of forehand strokes are made with a bent arm, which is contrary to the belief that a straight arm is necessary for topspin.
Attempting to extend the arm after making contact with a bent arm can lead to loss of power and control.
The contact with the ball is brief, happening in milliseconds, which negates the idea of carrying the ball through an extended swing.
Topspin is achieved by going vertically over the ball at the moment of contact, not by swinging forward and up later.
The swing path on the forehand is not completely vertical but rather a diagonal vertical line, combining upward and forward motion.
Torso rotation is the key to achieving a natural circular swing path, rather than consciously swinging the racket around the body.
The circular swing path happens intuitively and is the most powerful way to strike a forehand, as seen in high-level players.
The speaker's forehand, while looking different from modern forehands, still follows the circular swing path fundamentals.
An intuitive circular swing path is demonstrated through an experiment showing players naturally pulling the racket towards their core for power.
Transcripts
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