One of the things, which make tennis such great a sport, is the opportunity to learn how to play it so many different ways. So goes the cliche, there are many ways to hit a tennis ball. This is true even at the pro level where a myriad of idiosyncrasies and individual traits creep into the game.
James Blake, Andy Roddick, Fernando Gonzalez, three of the biggest forehands in the game yet
all different.
Although we mere mortals will never hit a ball like the pros (otherwise we would be on the tour right now), there is much to learn by studying their habits.
In this article I will compare and contrast the three of the top forehands in the game – James Blake, Andy Roddick, and Fernando Gonzalez.
In my opinion, there are four key areas or phases to analyze:
Footwork
Racquet / Body Preparation
Swing / Point of Contact
Finish
Roddick split steps before moving to the ball. This unweighting of the body gets him in motion and allows him to move easily in either direction.
Footwork
Balance is the key here. They are all balanced. Obviously, we are looking at “perfect world” forehands in the videos - meaning shots in which the players have time to set up their stroke versus having to hit on the run or scramble out of trouble. In every sport it is more difficult to execute and achieve desired results when off balance. Keep in mind, you can also be balanced when both feet are off the ground! In tennis it may mean jumping when serving; in basketball it could be when shooting a jump shot.
Essentially, being balanced means remaining stable with both feet and body, before, during, and after the hit. However, it all begins in the early stages of footwork. If you start the stroke off balance, there is a very good chance it will continue throughout the entire shot.
How do these players achieve proper balance? One very easy to understand concept is keeping the feet about shoulder width apart as they began to prepare for the shot. As well, you will notice right before they began preparing the racquet they take a split step…This gives them a good foundation from which to begin the stroke.
The feet are in more of an open stance position. There are some good reasons for this:
Time or lack of time. At the pace the ball is struck pros often lack the time to turn completely sideways. The ball is moving too fast back and forth between the players.
By hitting open
stance, once you have completed the stroke you are somewhat in the ready
position for the next shot due to the fact you are facing the net /
opponent.
Recovery - By hitting with an open stance you can save a step or two. Once you have completed the stroke you are somewhat in the ready position. There are no recovery steps required. If you turn sideways and step to hit, after the stroke is completed it takes the same step to return to a ready position for the next shot.
Most pros hit with an open stance because they can save a step or two. An open stance allow for quicker recovery. If you turn sideways and step to hit, after the stroke is completed it takes the same step to return to a ready position for the next shot.
Racquet/Body Preparation
All three players are use the opposite hand (left-hand with these players) to help prepare the racquet head. One reason I like this technique (See my previous article on it) is, among other benefits, it helps with getting the upper body/shoulder turned. Both hands are working together in the preparation to help maximize racquet control.
All three players are use the opposite hand (left-hand with these players) to help prepare
the racquet head.
Yet as similar as they appear with this technique, there are some significant differences too! Look at the arm/racquet positions right about the time they let go of the racquet head with their opposite hand…
James Blake's arms are almost fully extended from his body and off to the side. This straight arm preparation can cause Blake or anyone, problems with balls in close and can possibly contribute to hitting late.
Fernando Gonzalez has the racquet head front of his wrist and pointing more towards the net as he coils. His arms are more bent than Blake's which I like. This can help keep you more relaxed and add to the power aspect. Any time you straighten your arms you are creating more physical tension. In part because tennis players are also holding a racquet and about to hit a tennis ball.
Andy Roddick has one of the more interesting racquet positions in all of tennis! Both hands and racquet head are above his head with the racquet head “on edge” and the tip pointing towards the net! Because of this approach, Roddick’s hands are much closer to his body than those of Blake or Gonzalez. This type of “coiling” preparation allows for the potential of a tremendous amount of power. If you are going to try this technique with your forehand, beware of the possibility of hitting late if you are not able to get the racquet head around to the point of contact in time.
Blake's half open half closed technique allows for more trunk and shoulder rotation (which can help increase power) yet still keeps the lower body in an open stance for quicker recovery.
While the lower body is more open stance, the upper body is more closed. I think one of the most misleading aspects of hitting groundstrokes is the notion that someone must hit every shot with either a completely closed or completely open stance as if the body from head to toe moves in unison. If you look at the pros, they are often “half and half” between closed and open.
This half and half technique allows for more trunk and shoulder rotation (which can help increase power) when hitting yet still keeps the lower body in an open stance for quicker recovery.
Notice how all three players “load up” on the back leg prior to beginning the swing / weight transfer forward. The bent back leg helps add more explosion into the shot. In addition, “bent” almost always creates more relaxation versus “straight.”
Swing and the Point of Contact
Despite the early phases of the racquet preparation where the racquet head is above the wrist of the hitting hand; at the point of contact all three players are striking the ball with the racquet head lower than the wrist.
This is a reflection of two issues: All three players use a “loop” swing which helps increase racquet acceleration versus a “straight back” preparation.
The basic premise of hitting topspin is to from “low to high” or “brush up” on the ball. A low to high motion can also be created with a straight back preparation but again the loop helps generate more racquet head speed.
The hitting arm is bent at the point of contact. Again this whole “bent issue” is part of the picture; the more relaxed you can be the better the chance for success.
All three players make contact in front of the body. How far in front of the body is determined somewhat by the grip the player is using. In general, the more extreme the grip (i.e. toward the western), the farther out in front the optimal contact point will be. This will maximize the chance for a strong and powerful shot. Obviously, in a perfect world, this is our desire with every shot but all players from Roger Federer to the rest of us are going to hit late from time to time.
There are however, some interesting differences between the three players in this aspect of the stroke, particularly once they let go of the racquet with their opposite hand. The other issue which comes into play is jumping at the point of contact.
Blake keeps the racquet head around shoulder level or below throughout the stroke. This more compact type of swing will help him in situations where he has less time to react. Very little jumping at the point of contact / follow-through.
Gonzalez takes the racquet head higher than Blake, above his shoulder. More of a jump at the point of contact / follow-through.
Roddick's racquet head is very high compared to Blake and Gonzalez, above the shoulders. Of the three, he has the biggest and most pronounced jump at the point of contact / follow-through.
So what does a more compact, racquet head, say around or below shoulder level, versus a much bigger swing mean for your game? Is jumping important or necessary?
Compact vs Bigger Swing
I am an advocate of having as many options in your tennis game as feasible. I feel it is beneficial to have a compact loop swing, a bigger loop swing, and a straight back / straight through swing. All can and should be used when appropriate. Meaning, if you are playing someone who serves and hits groundstrokes at a speed which is causing you problems, then shorten your swing and give yourself more time to react and hit.
Players on tour are more able to get away with using one type of swing the majority of the time (Although they do use other options) because they practice hours and hours every day on their games.
Not very many people in their thirties, let alone older, can physically jump on every serve or forehand for an entire match.
Generally speaking, a more compact swing will work in any situation whereas a big loop swing can be detrimental at various times, like when returning a hard hit ball, having to hit while running, or balls which are close to your body. Playing in windy conditions can adversely effect timing when using a big swing (one reason why Agassi was considered such a great wind player was because of the compactness of his swing. Big swings make timing more difficult. Finally, while he may not hit as hard as Roddick, Blake is probably using less effort to hit his forehand. Therefore, if match fatigue is a problem for you, then perhaps taking a look at how much effort you are using to hit your shots might be one factor to consider.
Jumping at the Point of Contact
The whole jumping issue is an interesting one and I am often asked questions about it. The key point I always stress is that without question, from a kinetic transfer of energy standpoint, jumping can help increase the power of a shot. However, the players on the tour are in the late teens or early twenties; they practice for hours every day and workout every day. I do not know very many people in their thirties let alone older who can physically jump on every serve or forehand for entire match. The amount of effort required in jumping would not, in my opinion, transfer into significantly better results for the majority of tennis players not on the pro tour.
Finish
When observed at normal speed, it can often appear (Not just for these players) as though the swing and finish go more in a semi-circular motion with the hitting hand and racquet finishing way over on the left side of the body. However, when watching strokes in slow motion, there is phase right after the point of contact where the hand and racquet are extending forward - hitting through the point of contact, prior to the finish on the left side of the body.
Click photo: When observed in slow motion, there is phase right after the point of contact where the hand and racquet are extending forward - hitting through the point of contact, prior to the finish on the left side of the body.
The finish or follow-through of a stroke has more to do with preventing injury and retaining balance than the result of the shot even though many tennis players believe in the latter. The ball has already left the racquet so how could the follow-through affect the result? If you are having problems with the results of your shots, you will find the solutions in areas like balance, preparation, swing, and point of contact rather than the follow-through. You could have a perfect follow-through and still hit the ball into the net every time if racquet face is too closed at the point of contact.
The purpose of the follow-through is to decelerate the racquet after the hit so as to prevent injury aspect. If I told you to throw a baseball as fast as you can, you would not, in the middle of that throw, have your arm come to a screeching halt! Ouch! The follow-through of your arm would simply be a natural continuation of your throwing motion.
Overview
So what does all this mean as it applies to your forehand ground stroke?
If you break the stroke down into three very simple phases, start, middle, and finish, the three players have the most in common with at the start and finish. It is the middle phase where there are the greatest differences.
In my opinion it is because this is the part of the stroke which allows for the greatest creativity, whether it is with spin, power, or combinations thereof. Some players jump more than others; some rotate their bodies more, yet even in the middle phase, there are still some common denominators, mostly in the position of the racquet head and arm at the point of contact.
Your comments are welcome. Let us know what you think about Dave Kensler's article by emailing us here at TennisOne.
Dave Kensler has 23 years of teaching experience with Peter Burwash International (PBI), the most successful international tennis management company.PBI directs tennis programs at 60+ exclusive resorts and clubs in 23 countries and has taught over 3 million students in their 30 year history. For information on PBI tennis destinations and employment opportunities please go to www.pbitennis.com.All PBI Tennis Professionals play with WILSON racquets and wear WILSON shoes.
