Timing, footwork, and contact point are all at least closely related when it comes to the forehand groundstroke. However, when attempting to diagnose a problem and fix it you need to know which element is at fault and what change to make! Today’s show focuses on exactly those topics as I go into detail on all 3 technique elements of the forehand groundstroke.
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Good discussion. I thought I would weigh in on your teaching style. One of the best seminars I ever attended was taught by a proponent of Dianetics, but the topic was accounting. He spoke briefly about how he lectured and then practiced what he preached. His first comment was that you always had to get the definitions right. This, I know is near and dear to your heart. The second comment he made was that you should repeat the important points several times. A sin you are often accused of which he sees as a virtue. If it is important pound it in. The third point was the most interesting. He said you should talk very fast, I think at well over 300 words a minute, because that is the speed we comprehend speech at best.. This sounds crazy, but all I know was every participant left that lecture wowed. So if you want to stop the grousing, triple the speed at which you talk and change nothing else, we will still get it.
I appreciate the feedback, Don 🙂
The way you teach is just fine. The people who criticize your teaching method are people who want quick, temporary fixes. Knowing the "why's" in detail is a great to get to the root of a problem, and take it away; for good. Thanks again for everything you do for the world of tennis.
excelent job Ian!! just and advice for you. don’t listen to those who criticize the way you explain the things. to know all little detalis is the best way for any kind of audience to fully understand the point, plus, you speak clearly and slowly which is great for people whose first language is not english, like me. 🙂
Hi, Ian,
Please advise how to drop the racquet when I pivot the forehand and ready to hit, any tips (do you think it is worthwile to use two fingers to hold the racquet so the the when I do the loop, the racquet can drop)
Thanks.
Bill Chan
5 Star show.
Ian, the most important comments were right at the end!
This is what i learned:
for forehand,
Hit ball 8- 12 inches in front, if open stance and eastern grip
Hit ball 4-6 inches in front ,if closed stance
type of grip changes contact point, more extreme grip, often requires hitting a little farther out in front
Can’t get to every ball
Late on ball can be Footwork problem
which is very different than
Swing pattern
Question – Ian have you ever watched the videos of Louis Cayer…and his footwork ideas ?
He has some great ideas about getting to ball early…one of his ideas is that you should try to be setup to hit the ball as soon as the ball bounces on your side… not always possible, but this should be attemped.
One reason he says players are late, isnt that they arent fast enough to move to the ball…its that they WAIT too long to figure out where ball is going to be, and if the can figure out VERY SOON after the ball is his, if ball is to their forehand or backhand , then much easier to get SETUP FOR SHOT BEFORE THE BALL BOUNCES ON YOUR SIDE.
Hey Ian despite the teasing you are an audio show, you have to into detail. Excruciating as it may be, hee hee. You might also include on the game tightness issue poorer tracking of the ball. Not seeing seeing contact on the other side of the net and kind of being surprised when the ball actually bounces on your side of the court. A problem I am all to familiar with.
Love your podcasts and the way you teach. When you give the great detail that you do, in my mind I can picture exactly what you’re talking about. This allows me to figure out what I’m doing wrong and what I’m doing right! Please continue to explain things the same way…don’t change anything! Looking forward to another podcast….
Thanks Ian!
Nice explanation of how footwork varies your distance from the ball, and not where you meet the ball in your stroke. I’d never really thought about that before. Keep up the good work, Ian. I’m learning.
Mike
Thank you very much Ian, for going into the details of timing and footwork, and making the distinction between the two. This will help me diagnose and correct problems with my forehand. I appreciate your dedication. Will you have a similar analysis for the one-handed backhand?
Sang
Thanks for giving another great podcast. Please keep this going. Life has been different for the past few months without ET new updates. I loved your podcast and trained with the way you analyse the problem and how to get better. This is the identity of ET and please keep doing it. Video has too much of noise in it sometime and podcast has its advantage to send “essential tennis” message clear and loud.
Ian, keep doing what you do with the podcast. I guess I don’t understand the criticism of you being too wordy. It’s a podcast! How else are you going to describe something on an audio medium if not thru words? That’s like saying an audio book was too verbose. 🙂
First and foremost Ian, please please please please do NOT stop what you do on the podcasts. I love the details you get into because they’re always not as obvious as people may think. The problem I always had with the forehand is that there is way too many elements that can go wrong considering grip, swing mechanics, reverse forehand, arm positions and etc. I’ve been waiting for a tennis pro to say exactly what you mentioned on the podcast about how timing and footwork are not always directly related to each other. Do you know of any timing drills by any chance? Its a lot like the serve where many talk about the fundamentals such as leg push and such and COMPLETELY ignore the ball toss and its position. Great podcast as always!
Thanks a lot for answering the question.
Everything u explained makes perfect sense. i use a semi western grip for my forehand, so i have to make contact a little bit more in front i guess.
But you did hit the nail on the head there, in practice i can usually hit cross court without problems, i must be getting tight in matches. i’ll watch out for that.
You got the name perfectly mate.
thanks again,
shakti