Continental Tennis Swing. Breaking down the mechanics and clarifying swing path.

In response to a recent question from a subscriber (tennis 92), this video gives me an opportunity to clarify “supination/pronation” not wrist and the mechanics of the continental swing path initiating from the shoulder. I apologize this maybe deep and too technical for some but it is my obsession with the sport and I enjoy providing methods I have found to move my students forward and make them better at the sport. If you enjoy this video and my others in my teaching tennis series, please hit the Subscribe button. Feel free to comment and or ask questions if you’d like me to address a specific method or technique. The idea is to share and improve... there is always a different way to look at tennis and pick up new views and techniques. Enjoy!! Coach Adam
Follow me on my blog: tennis.gamez.t...

[@alanmarr8529]

Finally, a first class video on the classic forehand, it's application and advantages. Thank you Coach.

[@erayolguner2978]

Hello, I am an instructor of English at a university in Turkey. I am 48 years old and started tennis one and a half years ago. Today I came across one of your videos explaining where to hit on the ball while serving. You illustrated it incredibly well by drawing lines around half of the ball. It was very wise of you to use the expression 'hemisphere'. Thus you made me visualise that part of the ball while looking at it during my toss. Your illustration and clear instruction helped me to get the gist of the slice and kick serve motion. I subscribed to your channel and longing for you to take a video on flat serve soon. You deserve to be one of the top five tennis instruction channels on youtube because you teach the very core points with simple terms and by helping us detect the details. Thank you very much and best regards. Sinan Olguner-48, Turkey

[@GameZTennis]

Thank you for the nice comments!!! The flat serve is on my mind to present in a video, but oddly it is tricky. There are many factors that can affect it. The one common problem is pace...most want to hit way harder than necessary. The technique drives the ball not the muscled effort. I will see what I can put together. Thank you for subscribing and keep in touch with questions or suggestions. Coach Adam

[@erayolguner2978]

GameZ .Tennis Dear Coach, it is very nice to hear from you so soon. Thanks a lot for taking my suggestion into account. I am really looking forward to seeing your new videos.

[@poida007]

Yes, analyzing the science, the physics and biomechanics of tennis stroke production is most interesting and exciting! ....and critical for good coaching. Tactics are hopeless without solid technique and the enjoyment of hitting the ball well. Enjoying your videos and our discussions! 🙏

[@tennis9281]

Thank you so much for making a video responding to my question. I so much appreciate your videos and at this point to make the topic very complete, it' d be awesome to make a video where you explain the differences between this classical approach and a more modern semi western forehand. For istance it' d be interesting to hear your point of view about the timing of supination and pronation in an ipotetical comparison between the two approaches. These are just inputs as I beleive that yours could be one of the best channels on youtube if not the absolute best. I' m myself a tennis coach from Italy and I love the analysis of the details. Nobody has really ever explained how to hit properly with a continental grip if not ofc slices and volleys, and as a modern player I confess that my approach about this topic was quite intuitive and perhaps not really precise too. Thanks a lot 🙂

[@GameZTennis]

Thank you for comments!!! Yes I’ve been trying to figure out how I want to approach the Semi-Western/Western Grip and swing video. It’s actually quite complicated because too many players use it incorrectly. Watch for it soon. I just posted a video on the serve -slice, twist, kick with the attention to my view of where to visually see the contact on the ball. Enjoy it, and hope it helps. Coach Adam

[@gordontanner3060]

Very calm very technical excellent

[@3Slippers]

Really enjoying the detail level. Just what I'm looking for. All the best!

[@hannesreinhardt1399]

Very understandable explanation with high detail for the most important aspects. Really a showcase video. Continental maybe hard to master but eastern certainly benefitial in many ways, especially for older players like me. Coming from western as a youngster. The only thing i don't necessarily agree on is putting in about as much force as you receive. I think, slow balls you mostly have to accelerate. Very fast balls you might just block. And inbetween you have a choice.

[@GameZTennis]

@@hannesreinhardt1399 thank you so much for your comments. I really appreciate hearing back from anyone watching my videos. I wonder, though if I can explain about the pace of the Ball rule, it’s a concept so that my students don’t make any strong effort to hit the ball. It’s a concept that relates to keeping the ball in play and consistency but doesn’t necessarily mean you can’t strike the ball harder. There are a lot of players who are deliberately trying to muscle their shots so over my coaching career I’ve come up with the concept of the pace of the ball rule which I define as your intent when you’re striking the ball is the same pace or less. It simply is for consistency. Oddly just by making good contact with the ball you’ll probably drive it hard enough or even harder than you intended. But it’s when your focus is to solely drive the ball that we get in trouble and we make an error. I hope that clears that up. I love your comments and thank you for enjoying the video. Coach Adam

[@hannesreinhardt1399]

@@GameZTennis i completely agree on the concept of clean strike priority. But there has to be a will to dictate a shot. Maybe that developes through your system. Thanks for reply.

[@poida007]

Can you explain the wrist and forearm actions of the semi western? 🙏

[@omarsultanov362]

Superb!!! 👌🏿

[@studfinderball]

Missing is the circular or looped continental of Laver and Graf, the clenched fist grip of Gonzales, the wrist snap continental of Fred Perry,and the chip shot grip of Navratilova. Spot on for the Connors forehand.

[@GameZTennis]

Absolutely correct!!! What I like is a new redefined use for the continental: think modern forehands eastern, SW,W, and then using the continental in this swing path as defense in the back court (anything not in your strike zone) and then almost exclusively using it in the mid to short court. When I play out a point i could potentially use 3-4 grips that are dictated by the ball -the continental being the most reliable in tricky spots. Its also the serve grip, overheads, volley grip, and others. Point being many players today just either neglect learning it or fail to see its value in the modern game. Thank you so much for the comment, hope you enjoy the channel. You can also find more on my blog: courtsidenotes.com

[@studfinderball]

@@GameZTennis I am all for a wider appreciation of the continental grip but only as a no-grip-change technique for recreation level doubles players, 4.0 and below. Especially the 39 and older doubles crowd who should abandon semi-western entirely. Too much stroke upkeep and waaay too many unforced errors against doubles junk balls. Singles players have only to imitate one of the big three: Djokovic, Nadal, Federer or Serena or Osaka. Continental groundies have their place, in rec doubles, where poaching speeds are far slower.

[@GameZTennis]

Yes you are absolutely correct!!! In fact all my students must be comfortable with the continental grip exclusively. We spend the majority of time short court before the baseline is ever looked at. For rec and club players i rarely introduce anything greater than the eastern grip… you are correct, the SW W has no real advantage other than a technical headache at this level. You might enjoy reading my essay:www.courtsidenotes.com/s/stories/the-pace-fits-the-grip-the-opponent-fits-the-grip Or this video: kzbin.info/www/bejne/Z33NpJ-thbFroLs Let me know your thoughts!!! Again thank you for your comments and points!! Coach Adam