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TENNIS VIDEO LESSONS The Approach Shot Video Tennis Lessons - Topspin Forehand Approach! | Video Tennis Lessons - Topspin Forehand Approach! |
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| Oct 24, 2009 at 04:34 AM | ||
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The Devil Is In The Details - Topspin Forehand Approach! In this forehand topspin approach by Tomas Berdych at first glance everything looks great, but as you look deeper into it that observation falls apart. The forehand approach to the net in tennis is often miss understood and because of that often poorly executed. Here I will give some tips on the forehand approach shot: - The approach shot is not a winner! - It is a medium pace shot that allows you time to reach the net in optimal conditions to volley. - Can be hit with topspin, flat or slice even though the last two choices are best because they keep the ball bounce lower. - Keeping the ball lower makes it more difficult for your opponent to get under it and pass you - You must have displaced your opponent to the court's outer boundary before you attack! - You must be inside the baseline when you attack. - Attacks from behind the baseline are often unsuccessful because players do not get into a volley position in time. - Your movement during the striking of the ball should be level and fluid toward the net and following the line of the ball you just hit. - Once you finished the stroke the first step should be long and strong followed by a powerful acceleration to get into the best volley position the quickest possible. - At the best volley position, if necessary a split step is a must to change directions towards the passing shot ball, otherwise just keep on moving forward for a put away volley. Now, lets examine Tomas Berdych's attack. Photo 1 - Tomas Berdych, is well poised inside the baseline with a good body stance, upright trunk leaning slightly forward and legs bent supple and with a broad base. So far top class!
Photo 2 - First blunder, instead of holding his inside the court position (court gain) Tomas backs up behind the baseline with an extra and unnecessary footwork step.
Photo 3 - Recovers the initial position and makes an extra step to set-up the attack with an excellent body/racket attitude. (pay attention so far Thomas has made 3 extra steps, one back and two forwards, at this level it is all time the opponent benefits from!)
Photo 4 - Big blunder number two, From his front leg (left) Berdych makes contact with ball but, leaves right leg behind.
Photo 5 - Blunder number three lands on right leg which is still behind.
Photo 6 - Having no other choice to move forwards, forcefully pushes off of that (static) right leg to generate forward motion. (At this level where maximizing the use of energy, this is a brutal, wasteful and unnecessary effort!)
Photo 7 - On his third step Tomas readdresses the situation and once again looks in a good bio-dynamic motion.
Photo 8, 9, 10 and 11 - For you to better understand Tomas Berdych 'blunders' and
inefficiency on the attack, I placed photo frames number
1 , 2, 4 and 7 in sequence, the sequence Tomas should have followed initially.
What would this mean for Tomas? Efficiency!
Frames 5 and 6 would not exist, a dynamic inertia free movement forwards would have taken 5 extra steps out
of this attack, which at this level represents worlds of a difference between success and failure!
Note Well:
Does this all mean Tomas Berdych is a bad player? By no means! Tomas is a great player and
if in training, attention to these 'little details' was paid, he would even be better!
Some important factors to keep in mind:
Even though Tomas Berdych uses the
Semi-Western grip to attack with a forehand topspin approach,
the
Eastern Forehand grip is a more flexible grip and easier to switch
into a continental which is the grip you should use at the net.
Video Courtesy Dr. Calvin Nii Copyrights
www.tennisspeed.com
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