Here is some practice from yesterday. I believe I know what’s funny about my footwork. I am jumping Off of my right leg with my torso too bent over , I think it should be more upright.
Watching these, I still feel like there's too much wrist flexion. Correct me if I'm wrong, maybe it's the camera position or whatnot.Let's put aside the footwork and concentrate on the stroke.
The sequence starting from 0.23 are probably the best overhead strokes. I slowed it down to 0.5x speed on my PC.
It's true but don't give information overload. If the starting point and initial movment is incorrect, it's harder to correct the rest of the stroke.Watching these, I still feel like there's too much wrist flexion. Correct me if I'm wrong, maybe it's the camera position or whatnot.
Alrighty, I'm just concerned safety wise.It's true but don't give information overload. If the starting point and initial movment is incorrect, it's harder to correct the rest of the stroke.
I suspect you couldn't 'feel' the correct stroke and then getting confused with many variations. Hence, the latest video was very useful for us.Wow so many good pointers. This is gold for me!!!
I really thank you all for your help!!!
Yes that is exactly correct. I will try to implement your suggestions and then make another video to just double check its right. Once it looks Ok then I'll practice it a lot to build proper muscle memoryI suspect you couldn't 'feel' the correct stroke and then getting confused with many variations. Hence, the latest video was very useful for us.
I have one question regarding my racket facing vertical. Should this happen by me "preloading my wrist or by me just having my forearm vertical?Let's put aside the footwork and concentrate on the stroke.
The sequence starting from 0.23 are probably the best overhead strokes. I slowed it down to 0.5x speed on my PC.
At 0.25,0.26 your right hand is not quite behind your head - it looks like it is slightly to the right of the head and body. As I wrote earlier, for a beginner, I would train people to have it behind the head just to train good habits. If you get into this ready position and look into a mirror in front of you, you should not be able to see you hand. The second thing is your right elbow is a slightly low. In the old days, this would be fine but I am seeing the elbow taught to be slightly higher. You will get a faster stroke with it being higher. The third thing is try to have the racquet shaft vertically upwards. Again, good habit and it will help you develop a faster stroke for the future.
0.27 - look very carefully at the slow motion. Can you see your body move forward first before the elbow goes up? Now look at your shoulders. We would like you to instead start the movement with a very slight stretching of the chest - try pulling the shoulder blades towards each other at your back just for an instant - and at the same time start the raising of your elbow to reach up higher. Then start the hip rotation. After that do every thing as you have been doing in the video. I think you should make a considerable improvement in stroke and throwing technique. This stretching of the shoulders is also the same as in the baseball throwing technique that @DarkHiatus posted.
0.56 This sequence definitely has a wrong stroke. What you have down when you introduce the big leg movement is you use muscle to pull the racquet behind your body - you should be relaxed so when the elbow goes up, the racquet will naturally drop a bit behind the body. You also use muscle to hold it in that position for a fraction of a time behind your body - no need to hold it there. You only hold it for a fraction but it's noticeably too long and unnecessary. You see a lot of social players having developed this habit - it makes the stroke awkward and your potential for power is actually less.
Here is me attempting to the suggestions
Let me know
Okay great! I was definitely exaggerating to make sure my arm and elbow were upAt the moment I think your racket arm preparation is a little exaggerated (you're stretched up quite far and that'll make muscle activation hard), but you are starting to lead with the elbow so that's good.
EDIT: You do still want to stretch up when you hit, it's just in the preparation phase I don't think you want to be stretched up quite so far. I think if you practice this, when you go on court you'll end up self-correcting anyway because it'll feel more natural not to start quite so stretched up.
It looks ok, if you think you can do more then try it. My coaches described it more as 'opening your chest' than 'pulling your shoulders back', if that makes sense. Cheung or MSeeley might be able to give more feedback on that as they're the ones that raised the issue.Okay great! I was definitely exaggerating to make sure my arm and elbow were up
Also was I pulling my shoulders back enough ?
Yes. Try to keep that for dropshots and basic clears. This will help you to disguise your shots in the future by having the same preparation. From the video, it looks a lot better but still some fine areas to improve.Even with me practicing my swing with no racket, i can feel a huge difference in it when I open my chest( pull shoulders back) my swing feels more effortless yet seems to have more speed to it
That’s a great cue for me to have!
Should I be opening up my chest on all overhead shots even drops and basic clears ?
The classic position is (as a right hander ) for it to be facing slightly to the left.
@Borkya would be kind enough to post a video it would help us all.
Thanks in advance.
Do you have a picture of the starting position or video of this starting position?Yes. Try to keep that for dropshots and basic clears. This will help you to disguise your shots in the future by having the same preparation. From the video, it looks a lot better but still some fine areas to improve.
When you have raised the racquet and hand, the racquet is pointing upwards. However the angle of forearm and upper arm at the elbow is just over 90 degrees. Try to have it around 70-80 degrees. Secondly don't have the racquet strings facing the front. If you look at every decent player, the racquet face does not start facing the net. The classic position is (as a right hander ) for it to be facing slightly to the left.