Why is My Tennis Technique So Ugly? | Analysis of My Strokes 🤢

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In today's video, I analyze my own strokes and explain why they are so unorthodox (ugly).
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[@IntuitiveTennis]

Mentioned in Video Medvedev’s Ugly Technique 👉 kzbin.info/www/bejne/iXqaXmd8qtWAaJo

[@yakzivz1104]

I don't think that your forehand is ugly at all!! I have a similar forehand to yours.

[@MrTablturnr]

Hey Nic! Could you do a video about how to approach the net/hit approach shots?

[@IntuitiveTennis]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/apWzkouKqMaNma8 kzbin.info/www/bejne/rqnci4mGbpiYoac

[@MrTablturnr]

@@IntuitiveTennis You're the best!

[@cy7885]

The most rational and analytical coach player

[@TheJadedFilmMaker]

'ugly' comments come from amateurs tbh. its just different. you hit flat. i love to copy the top spin forehands of players like Albert and monteiro etc. schwartzman. but when i see flat players i get jealous! players like bernie or delpo. man... flattening out that forehand. yes like meddy. its crazy! love it. love the slap shots that bernie can do too. .. .but... i cant do it. i love that nick is slappping forehands with my kinda grip tho! thats encouraging

[@1114gabby]

Gils Simone has a high takeback. I have a friend with a bent elbow forehand...a very good forehand. It's isn't as pleasing to watch but it's effective.

[@emjay2045]

I heard A coach tell some juniors he was teaching YEARS ago… “the ball is either IN or OUT.” (It’s not a beauty contest w/ style points)

[@schnooksdad136]

i realised how high quality a player you are when you did a control accuracy episode....it's a very high degree of difficulty and you did it with ease....so ya,your forehand looks cramped but everything else looks good...nice serve and great command of your tennis and tennis in general....i think you belong doing what you are doing and you do it well.

[@amosfong]

I don't really get it - your technique is not ugly at all to me.

[@ksimmons9354]

Hard to imagine that someone would criticize anything about your tennis skills. You are so informative, my skills have improved just by watching your videos! I beg you to come Las Vegas and give some lessons. Darling tennis center would welcome you with open arms my dearest Nik!

[@doncreepypasta5620]

Thanks for the good laugh at 1:06! :) I needed that after a pretty bad day. You are a great player and teacher, and an amazing communicator. Have a great weekend! Cheers!

[@alexisperez3459]

You are an awesome teacher and human being who devotes part of his time to help others, so God bless you and keep posting videos. Please post links of some of your games.

[@ncournault]

You're a class act Nik. Some have a hard time understanding/accepting that "beautfiful" strokes don't necessarily equal high performance and vice versa. I personally tend to find more aesthetically pleasing forehands that have two key elements: extended hitting arm at contact (vs. bent) and finishing at the shoulder level (vs. above). But there's certainly more to it (body type, flexibility, athleticism, ...). And, yes, of course Fed's FH is the gold standard of beauty :)

[@cnormand]

You are one of the best tennis instructors that I have found on the internet. Every person is different and will display different technique from one another. Keep up the good work!!!

[@mjkwarch6755]

Really enjoy your instruction, and in particular the wall practice ideas. And to recognize your videos as local court here in the 561 even cooler! Keep up the great vids and thank you

[@darkdiark]

Hey Nick. Wie immer...cooles Video. Wäre cool, mal ein ganzes von dir auf deutsch zu sehen. :-)

[@IntuitiveTennis]

Vielleicht

[@darkdiark]

Gleich nochmal eine Frage an dieser Stelle: Kann man das irgendwie reduzieren, dass man beim Einspielen so wenig Gefühl im Arm hat? Die ersten 10 bis 15 Minuten sehe ich immer so aus, als hab ich das erste Mal einen Schläger in der Hand. Danach kommt langsam das Gefühl und die Schläge werden solide. Vielleicht kannst du dazu ja mal ein Video machen. 😉

[@darkdiark]

@@IntuitiveTennis Gleich nochmal eine Frage an dieser Stelle: Kann man das irgendwie reduzieren, dass man beim Einspielen so wenig Gefühl im Arm hat? Die ersten 10 bis 15 Minuten sehe ich immer so aus, als hab ich das erste Mal einen Schläger in der Hand. Danach kommt langsam das Gefühl und die Schläge werden solide. Vielleicht kannst du dazu ja mal ein Video machen. 😉

[@pieterbeckertenniscoaching5808]

I don't find it ugly. I think your biomechanics are actually spot on🔥🔥🔥

[@huangjoy2550]

Your technique is theoretically sound, effective, smooth and elegant. Those who said it ugly must be blind, either physically or mentally.

[@julienriegel8246]

Actually I like the look of how you play. It looks like you’re actually not doing too much effort and looks like you’re are placing the ball effortless. It’s pretty cool.

[@gabrielllanos919]

Well said boss

[@leisurefarm]

as a person that does not use social media, i am stunned the comments are so toxic there. You are wonderful and so informative, and your strokes are so sound!

[@Shaunsweeney-Kubach71]

You’re doing great young fella. Let me know when you hit your 50s my dude. I will be 52 in December 22nd my friend.

[@IntuitiveTennis]

50 is going to be rough but I’ll try to keep going

[@TimothyMoke]

Awesome video! Great explanations and very logical.

[@mandalorianjedi2288]

The funny thing about Tennis is THERES NO POINTS FOR STYLE. If it works, it doesn’t matter what it looks like.

[@donho4109]

I agree 1000% with your video, Nick. No one’s technique will ever he aesthetically pleasing to everyone on social media and sometimes in person but the effectiveness of their shots or how they handle their opponent’s ball is the most important aspect of tennis. I have enjoyed most of your videos and that is why I subscribed but this one really sets the tone for “intuitive tennis”. People have to do what they do best with their mind, physical abilities and God given talent. No matter how much they want to copy or idolize someone else’s technique, they have to be satisfied with what they achieve themselves. It is just a fact of life. Everyone will have “heroes” and/or people they wish to play like but at the end of the day, they will play tennis how optimally their body and mind allow them to play. Period!

[@thomasmedeiros5722]

Nick I would love to see some of those critics across the net from you. Like Mike Tyson use to say, “ Everyone has a plan until they get hit in the face “. A true test of a players strokes is to be on the receiving end and try to hit them back.

[@emjay2045]

“The ball is either IN or OUT”

[@dl0903]

Someone who said your forehand technique is bad don't know about tennis.

[@felipeneves121]

Your technique is not ugly.

[@christiandelapena8623]

I bet you got this same question from Daniil.✌️

[@ricardoandrade92]

Nick, I hear this type of comment every training day here in Brazil too. But Tennis is not a sport where the beauty of movements is on trial, like Olympic gymnastics... I've never judged someone by the shape of their forehand or backhand but by their ability to generate spin and power. Congrats for your sincerity and believe me, your videos are very useful...

[@mischaminnee]

As a fellow ugly swinger I support you! Keep on rocking! Thanks for the laugh.

[@tomkang9247]

Nick, I love your videos and learned a lot from you. In the video, you talked about your weak wrist. I do have the same problem due to my born thin wrist and I really would like to know how you overcame it.

[@ruggierojerolli]

I enjoyed a lot your vid and carefully listened at your words Nik.

[@Lucian86]

Your forehand is like Venus Williams' forehand

[@petrtamler4484]

I believe that unless one was lucky to have top trainer since 4th of age, he is having some faults, look at Petra Kvitová, people reproach her that she is missing lots of easy shots, she is really playing to flat shots with great power but not enough consistency, but she was growing up to her 12 year of age with completely amateur conditions, if she had top trainer since 4th of age she might finish with results of Serena. At later age you can improve marvelously, however, shots will never appear as fluent and natural, look at Raducanu, her parents hired diffrent trainer for each her shot. Our great violin virtuous Mr Sveceny when asked what kid needs to become virtuous, answered: talent, hard work and excellent teacher, questioned what if he's got first two but not that excellent teacher, - no chance he added

[@shroom125]

When I see somebody with some strange style I always assume somebody started to play at some later age.

[@driven17]

tennis is like bodytypes everyone is different, hence why the technical aspect is important to make it all come together.

[@1114gabby]

Anyone who knows tennis would know you have a high level game. The interesting thing about tennis is there are certain fundamental things that have to happen in each stroke....but there are differences getting there. Berretini's serve looks nothing like Feds but it is huge! Anyway keep up the great videos!

[@ezzony]

Do very tall people have less 'aesthetically pleasing' looking techniques? edit: you addressed this at the end of the video!

[@IKTGWIW]

I think if the strokes are effective (powerful with control) and do not cause injuries, then it's good to look different. Nothing wrong with being unique. I enjoy watching different styles!

[@enricomonti3003]

Is Roger’s forehand a heavy topspin one?

[@bingo1646]

He hits both flat and topspin depending on the situation

[@enricomonti3003]

@@bingo1646 ok thank you, what does he usually hit? Flat or heavy?

[@enricomonti3003]

Because Nadal and Djokovic plays heavy topspin on 99% of their strokes but I think Roger uses flat topspin much more.

[@fingersm]

Extremely heavy but does not look it

[@ifeanyiikpegbu6465]

@@enricomonti3003 Pretty heavy topspin. Watch the guys at toptennis training who did some practice with him

[@NOLANISGODful]

Lucas Pouille great technique

[@fodaseodinheiro]

🤣🤣🤣🤣

[@drbonesshow1]

Intuitive: what one feels to be true even without conscious reasoning. Learn some physics and you will open your imagination rather than rely on intuition, which is often faulty.

[@pleaseenteraname1103]

Awesome forehand.

[@jacobwalton4109]

I’d love to see you play all these people criticizing you, play a set against you and see what they say now

[@VinhNguyen-ul8ry]

I appreciate you Nik and enjoy watching your contents.

[@jeremyrogers1247]

Your strokes are not ugly, I just put down such negative comments to jealousy and ignorance. However it is true that for most of us club players that when we look at our own strokes on video we often find they don't look as good as we thought they might be, and have little of the aesthetic appeal of the pros. But as you may agree it's the effectiveness and consistency of your game that really matters.

[@igorfleury7855]

i find you strokes very similar to medvedev, unconventional, not ugly

[@Shaunsweeney-Kubach71]

I love your old school flat forehand, I laugh every time you make your serious hit grunts. Hahe All kidding aside, you have a great strokes. You should see my old school flat forehand and backhand. You’re an amazing talent, and you are a great coach my friend. I am ranked 7.8 billion in the world and one day I will be ranked 6.9 billion in the world, if I work hard, and train. Hahe

[@IntuitiveTennis]

Keep going 🔥🔥 and thank you

[@TyphonLeTitan]

🎾🥇💝👍

[@nazwa6]

👍🏻

[@feliperodrigo2593]

Excelente como siempre profesor, gracias¡¡¡

[@IntuitiveTennis]

🙏

[@AllenLo]

Agassi strikes his forehand with a bend arm too, just FYI

[@newpurplerider9802]

I dunno, Nick. Alls I know is this world is a better place with you in it.

[@joffroces3771]

I’m a fan and subscriber lately though i’ve been watching you for a long time. So true but never be affected with bashers. Having a rude basher means u’re famous now !!!

[@chetanphoenix]

These critics have never seen you play a full match and realized what a ruthless savage you are on the court.

[@tennistan463]

If Medvedev were concern about beautiful strokes, he may not become world No 2 now, and possibly No 1 in the near future.

[@bingo1646]

Exactly

[@bingo1646]

It's just a personal preference

[@daddyV88]

Well, it’s not either or! I agree however though that the focus shouldn’t be on producing pretty shots, but rather effective shots.

[@Aceing87]

You forgot he won a grand slam against one of the GOAT who was unbeatable in the previous 3 slams!

[@beautyspaceonearth]

100%. If sportman starts looks how he/she looks like when he acting,his career ends.😂one thing sportsman may be concentrate is PROGRESS...SO medvedev is future N1 exectly...

[@mikelam8008]

Awesome

[@nightdogggg]

You are possibly the best coach in the known world. I can now hit a kick serve 1 out of 5 times. Getting better. I think your game looks very good to excellent. I lak eh a loa.

[@TheJadedFilmMaker]

i got it from my momma

[@АндрійСушкович]

You have beautiful strokes. As for the haters, social media is certainly part of the problem, but I hear lots of crazy ideas and ridiculous criticisms of the strokes of accomplished sportspeople and even champions from amateur players all the time. Normally I don't even argue :) And thanks so much for your work and this channel!

[@IntuitiveTennis]

💯

[@sayles7858]

This video highlights the biggest problems with social media in tennis. It also reflects the amount of ignorance when amateurs who know a couple of hyped of concepts come online and criticize high level tennis players like yourself. It is clear to good players that you are really good. Love this video.

[@ale03000]

yup spot on 😎

[@NazriBuang-w9v]

Lies again? Sahaja kira banyak dosa

[@aymankhatan6982]

u a good man

[@mukeshjoon7594]

Hi , Nick....i am your fan....and i am an Interventional Cardiologist.....started tennis at 44.5 yrs age....about 6 months back.....you are rational, humble, and nice...Continue your good work Nick........i regularly watch your videos......seen most of them...learned a lot from your views...i was a Soccer player...and reasonably good athlete despite being a Superspecialist Doctor...your physical structure , long torso and limbs..lesser agility, ...make your forehand a bit ockward,....but....you are Excellent....😊

[@IntuitiveTennis]

Thank you Doc 🙌🙌

[@mukeshjoon7594]

Thanks Nick...Bro....you are almost of my age 45 yrs 3 months...

[@mukeshjoon7594]

Love from India

[@stefanthomassen4750]

Was stört es eine (kroatische) Eiche, wenn sie von Zwerg-Pinschern angepinkelt wird ;-) Ugly oder nicht, was hinten rauskommt, darauf kommt es an ;-) "Couch-Experts" on youtube are critizising everybody, most of them would not even play bezirksliga ...

[@vaibhavparashar8387]

Abysmal technique bro 😍

[@Agent-ed5gp]

If i go usa , I want work with you coach you are the best

[@creativecatproductions]

You hit the ball and it goes where it’s supposed to. 🎉

[@farid1406]

Yes, your technique is unorthodox but I love your contact, particularly from behind. I could be wrong, but it seems to me like you naturally hit flatter and more through the ball, and I love that, no doubt because I'm like that too. You also have an awesome looking 2HBH and even the trolls should acknowledge that

[@gogogoup]

i'm really into tennis strokes but i never thought his strokes were ugly. what i considered ugly are generally strokes that looks like it doesn't have a solid base. strokes that have the swinigng arm flailing uncontrollably, the dead fish non-dominant arm or strokes that looks like the player is overpowered by the incoming ball. i have to admit that i generally don't like forehands of lanky players that hit with a bent arm but i wouldn't say they are ugly.

[@draconis228]

love this

[@hevelen1771]

No entiendo prácticanente nada de lo q dices.. pero. Me haces gracia. Gracias!

[@bmf6845]

Who's insulting this guy??? He's great...I loved the racquet evolution video

[@pleaseenteraname1103]

Your backhand and your serve aren’t ugly at all, The thing that’s ugly is your forehand.

[@ribnnmn5991]

Your forehand is almost similar to former pro tennis player Sjeng Schalken.

[@to174jay9]

if those troll comments were real, imagine your life being so sad that you have to come on YT and troll someone that you dont even know. time to move outta yo moms basement and live yo life folks! Love the content, keep it up!

[@garyhoward4064]

I actually thought your technique looked quite good..

[@hansolsson3409]

Don't worry Nick your strokes looks great!

[@petercassidy8036]

Thank you for your continued instruction/inspiration. Your dad's legacy lives on in you and some. There is no one template, that's where intuition is the answer, but you know that.

[@IntuitiveTennis]

Thank you Peter

[@peterochester2320]

Your forehand grip when swinging appears stronger than semi-western. You also hit pretty flat so the racquet head does not drop as far as most high level players. Maybe most male ATP players who hit flat use a weaker grip. Many WTA players have a strong grip but hit flat. Looks a bit awkward. Your content is great, informative and sometimes funny. Please don't change a thing.

[@arielmaldonadorubio543]

If people are saying you have 3.5 or 4.0 level strokes, then probably they don't play too much tennis. My guess is that they also criticize Federer or Nadal when they don't win a major.

[@tomsd8656]

Well, whatever that allows a player to achieve maximal consistency, accuracy, and pace, is the right way to play for that player. Technique together with footwork were really devised to achieve those things, mainly based on analysis that certain general stroke mechanic and footwork would make things easier, generally, for a player to achieve maximal pace , consistency, and accuracy. But each player is different, with different physiques and athletic ability, so we can't be nitpicking on the specific.

[@TennisHacker]

I really like a lot of this video. Optics don’t matter if a shot works and as you pointed out, many amazing players have less aesthetically pleasing shots. BUT, saying you have a more flat forehand due to generics, is crazy talk. Having less topspin is about technique, not generics. You have many physical attributes that are great for tennis, like you height and build in general. We all have genetics. All any of us can do is try to optimize things within out genetic confines.

[@IntuitiveTennis]

I didn’t say I have a flat forehand because of genetics. I can hit heavy topspin just like anyone else at the high level. What I said was: “When I accelerate at full speed genetics ie style take over”. This is the primary reason why there are different genetics/styles displayed at the high level ie flat ball strikers and heavy topspin.

[@IntuitiveTennis]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/nXOZmJl4l5xpbdE

[@tomsd8656]

I was one who wondered why you had a forehand looking more like WTA players. I thought that women did that because they want to make use of their hip more in the swing, since their upper body strength would be less than lower body. Men, on the other hand, have more shoulder, back, and chest strength, so they naturally make use of that more, hence the ATP forehand. But you just explained in this video, and the reason is probably because you competed at high level, where you had do whatever it takes to compete against other high level players. For rec players like us, it probably doesn't matter even if we don't have the upper body strength to hit the ATP forehand and keep it in consistently. I actually played an rec level guy with a forehand like you. He hit consistent flat ball, but his shots had pace, and he beat all the other guys who had adopted the modern top spin ATP forehand, simply because those guys couldn't keep more than three shots in play.

[@mizninepatch]

I ❤️Intuitive Tennis. I have learned so much from your videos.

[@74neverlast]

Well interesting video ... You are 6.5, which is tall, so your footwork isn't your best part, (but you have a great serve - with excellent bounce). So this, sorry lack of footwork/agility, is (maybe) why you have an open stance in all your forehands - this denies/is why you can not move your hip/body forward - or tilt your shoulders - this is why you muscle the ball - and in the end the rotation-speed of your trunk is the same as the arm - they do not move independently, at no time - so not a swing but a hit/club, which favors this fixed elbow/arm constellation ... for flat forehands on hard court; yea can work - but on clay, not so much... In boxing this technique is called a hook (in contrast to a swing), which is done when in in-fight for fast reactions with not preparation time. in this very telling video with your father: no suprise your wrist hurt. Only the arm moved, no power from the body, no movement towards the ball, no rotation. Just arm (shoulder & pecs) later you have rotation, but still no hip movement. I would not see your forehand as false, just as one with unused potentials, and only favorable on fast surfaces ...

[@JacObi-Wan-KenObi]

Funny, I guess all those comments come from people that are true amateurs and probably stand on court once a month playing with a Wilson Profile from 1991 that still has original strings on. C’mon… As you say, you know who you are and also who they are. I’d challenge them for a match if I were you.

[@cdahl]

I don’t think I ever made a comment about your stroke but I did find it awkward. I’m pretty sure it’s the elbow being so near to your body and the stiffness that threw me off. I wonder how you would’ve handled yourself at age 11. What would the “intuitive” approach have been? 😁

[@transamination]

You have a sort of WTA forehand without the full take-back that goes behind the body.

[@N0DramaLlama]

I dont see anything wrong with your technique. Like many people have said. Good technique doesnt win you matches. Also a lot of the people commenting about bad technique think they play like federer until they record their own playstyle and realise they play like a monkey that drank 4 glasses of beer instead of apple juice.

[@arbibark7]

It's actually a very good forehand that can generate tons of pace. When someone don't generate enough pace with his top spin forehands, it becomes a huge problem. I would take your forehand any day of the week over those pro wannabe loopers.

[@lucasoscar]

You can have a ugly jumpshot in basketball but if its go in nothing else matter

[@davidvivsik6576]

The most beautiful shots are the ones that go in 🤷‍♂️

[@asantesamuel13]

There are so many salty non-pro tennis players who are hypercritical of pro players' techniques. The only times I have issues with a pro's technique is when their serve has many hitches in it that make it very difficult to hit a consistent or effective serve, but at the end of the day it works for them for some reason and changing your technique that you've used your whole life is so hard and I know that personally as a lifelong player. I'm experimenting with different grips for my one-handed backhand and it is a struggle!

[@telquel7843]

I probably hit a harder forehand than you but I bet I lose a lot more than you too ,😉 Turns out, there's more to the game than just smashing the ball. My groundstrokes are fairly strong but my point construction etc is pretty meh. 😕

[@SebastianHu]

I noticed that you practice with Dunlop Slinger Bag. Care to do a review on It?

[@gmurph623]

12:30 that's adds another dimension to the recent Tennis Elbow video with Anna. Seems like she has a similar issue to what Nick had in his youth.

[@nrmahdi]

for me tennis is such an identically way of playing to player it self, i mean my tennis is mine, it cant be the same as others belong, as long as my stroke passing forward across the net deep or high and bouncing push through right on the body or to the right and left the opponents side..this way i can win the game ...lol

[@williamyeh6925]

tennis is about hitting one more ball in more than your opponent.

[@MMM18092]

While I won't agree with comments here that your strokes aren't ugly, I found your explanations extremely interesting.

[@haroldrobinson4849]

As a tall skinny guy, who was a skinny, weak(ish) slow moving kid, I resemble many of the comments you’ve made. Thanks for putting this video together.