My latest invention of using a complex resistance device to create a world class impact position for golfers in just a few minutes worked so well that it had Dr. Calvin Nii wondering if it would work for tennis as well. The results are in The answer is "yes."
I experimented with the angles and put a tennis grip on the bars to get the right dimensions and weight. Once done, I needed to find a subject willing to improve. Richard Dizon, my golf teaching assistant who used to play tennis 30 years ago was willing to be a test subject. His form was from the era that we might call the classic period of tennis in terms of technique or stroke mechanics.
Many of you are stuck in the same boat and are wondering “how can I hit that forehand like Roger Federer or Rafael Nadal?” Reading various posts on the Tennis Warehouse forum makes me realize just how lost everyone is, teachers included. The experts somehow believe that Federer’s forehand is just a little different or just a slight modification to the classic styles of the past. NOT!
If you agree with these experts, resign yourself to having your swing remain status quo and don’t bother reading any further. But if you are interested in learning how to hit the ball like Federer, read on. I will divulge a few secrets of the pros that I learned from Dr. Nii, who is one of only a handful of tennis coaches in the US that knows how to hit this forehand AND teach it correctly.
My previous articles on tennis have hinted at the tremendously different way the pros hit the ball compared to the recreational players. They hit it faster, at a lower trajectory, and with more topspin than even good amateur players. My travels to UCLA, Boise State and other to observe their tennis teams have proved this to be true. College players don’t hit it quite like the pros I’ve watched for several years at the Pacific Life Open at Indian Wells. So needless to say, there is a huge chasm between the amateurs in general and those at the top of this profession. And it is primarily due to technique, not just speed.
Classic Tennis
The “Classic forehand” begins with a typical large looping take-back of the racquet and bending of the wrist. Richard displays his classic form here.
- Eastern FH grip
- Racquet back
- Shoulders turned
- Weight on the back foot
Next, he shows the butt cap to his opponent by setting the wrist angle early, steps in and is ready to hit it.
Just before impact his racquet face opens to get under the ball and get lift.
Even after impact, the racquet face is pointed up toward the sky while he begins to rotate his forearm using the classic windshield wiper motion. He brushes the back of the ball at impact and this produces a high trajectory, floating moonball with only a little topspin.
Notice that both heels are off the ground showing how much more vertical force is being generated.
Notice the racquet face is still pointing up to the sky. Wonder how many balls will hit the back fence?
- Classic low to high swing.
Racket face now points slightly to the ground due to windshield wiper motion, but was still pointing to the sky at the most critical points in the swing: just before, during and just after impact.
Classic high follow through and finish. Notice the retention of his right wrist angle. Remember this important point. You will be tested later.
The Modern Federer Forehand
The beauty of a modern forehand is in its simplicity, efficiency, technical correctness, speed, spin and control. If even one of these elements were missing it might not be considered such a revolutionary technique. But it does contain all of these essential elements therefore it is truly revolutionary.
First, we must forgive Richard for continuing to use the classic footwork in this stroke. A half hour to 45 minutes is not a lot of time to learn everything so he must be commended for his ability to learn very fast.
On to the modern forehand we go. First, I changed his grip to a Semi-western FH grip. Notice the racket face is pointing down toward the court. His wrist does not cock early and he does not show the butt cap to his opponent.
What he does so well is what we call in golf, increasing the lag. In other words, he cocks his wrist as he is swinging towards the ball. This is similar to what Ben Hogan did as a golfer.
Notice also that his body is driving forward rotationally instead of the vertical lift of the classic style he displayed only minutes earlier.
Before impact, he retains the angle of his wrist and has the racquet face angled slightly downward to the court. This position is virtually identical to Federer’s position of the racquet at this same point in his swing.
This is the main reason Roger’s balls don’t go flying long.
Then he hits the ball with the racquet face angled slightly down while swinging on a slightly upward path and just slams the ball. This movement and feeling is very similar to that of a racquetball smash, except for one big difference the racquet face angle is tilted down. Brushing up on the ball? Guess again!
Refer to pages 134-135 in the book Technical Tennis by Rod Cross and Crawford Lindsey for more information on the Federer forehand. Compare this photo to the Federer drawing in that book.
Compare these two impact positions and you can just see the differences immediately.
After impact notice the rapid rotation of the racquet face. Contrast this follow through with the classic style and you’ll see big differences. Classic styles have the bent arm and racquet going up with the wiper motion. Modern forehands have the arm straightening and more of a horizontal drive is featured.
Wrist flexion or the snapping of the wrist is an important part of the kinetic chain. It is the final segment release of all the power that has built up during the swing. Little or no right wrist angle is an indication that he’s let go with all his power. Contrast that with the classic style that does not allow nor condone the use of the wrist in this manner at all.
The follow through isn’t quite where we want it yet, but it’s getting there…
Now the follow through is lower and around the body as opposed to the high follow through of the past.
Another key point is that the overall swing path of the racket is much shallower than in the “classic” sequence above. The modern swing path is upwards at about a 30 degree angle versus the classic stroke which is typically upwards at a 60 degree angle.
Speed Increase
As an added bonus to the improved technique, Richard’s ball speed almost doubled. Using a bounced ball to take out incoming ball speed from the equation, he went from a pathetic average of 37 miles per hour to an incredible 74 miles per hour and a high of 81 mph.
Spin increase
Richard’s spin rate was a lot higher with the ball dipping down a lot faster since due to the rapid acceleration of the racquet head through impact (due to flexion), the extreme pronation or rotation of his arm, more level swing path through impact, and the racquet face already angled down.
Summin’ It Up
If you want to hit it like Federer but can’t seem to learn how, you need to contact Dr. Calvin Nii at Calvin@tennisspeed.com. If you’re going to take lessons, at least be sure you’re learning from a guy teaching the modern, Federer stroke and not some derivative of the classic stroke. Your power, speed and control depend on your technique more than ever.
If you are a teaching pro who truly wants to help your students, take a serious look at modern tennis strokes, speed, spin rates, and launch angles. Buy a radar gun and measure your students’ ball speed. Get a video camera with high speed shutter and a simple laptop computerized video setup. Just use the simple, 90 degree camera angle that I used to shoot these pictures and you’ll be able to see if racquet face is tilted down or not.
There is a huge difference between the classic strokes you learned “back in the day” and those used by today’s top players.
Understand that if you have the knowledge and the tools, teaching the modern forehand is possible in minutes. Not days, weeks, years or an eternity. The process is so easy that even a golf pro can teach it.
