Modern Forehand Problems at the Recreational Level

[@IntuitiveTennis]

Find out what every high-level forehand has in common👇 kzbin.info/www/bejne/gpOpdqCmm76AnqM

[@Shankar-Bhaskar]

Name one tennis player who hits his/her forehand with an eastern forehand grip, and also has a double bent in their hitting arm. I think the double bent is a result of the semi western forehand grip, of course Nadal is a notable exception who hits with a semiwestern forehand grip, and also has a straight arm at the point of contact. Generally, this is not the case.

[@vagabondjx]

One of the best tennis instructional videos I've seen to date! Big kudos on addressing the correct audience: the majority of recreational players! It does me no good to know how Federer or Djokovic hits the ball because I am no where near their physical state or ability. This helps me a lot more! Keep them coming!

[@IntuitiveTennis]

Sure will 🙏🙏

[@tordha]

I need to check the bushes at the local court, cus dude has apparently been seeing me trying to figure out a forehand.

[@videowatcher9024]

Great video! I've been trying too hard to roll my racket over for topspin but as you pointed out it is over in milliseconds - so I just stopped thinking about rolling over the point of impact and just let the swing happen. It's improving slowly and it feels more natural now. Thanks!

[@seanparker571]

Best explanation of wrist lag ever! So many try to emulate static body positions that are simply produced by changes in velocity.

[@IntuitiveTennis]

Thank you Sean

[@Fernwald84]

Excellent video as always, Nick! Shortening the backswing, as you recommend, got me thinking about how to do so without losing any power. I remembered someone's KZbin video which maintained that as you add an additional inch of height to your loop in the backswing, you gain something like 2 mph increased ball velocity. So I experimented in combining your recommendation along with an increase in my backswing loop. To keep my backswing shortened, I increased the vertical component of my backswing, keeping the horizontal component shortened. I found immediately that I actually GAINED a noticeable amount of ball speed rather than loosing any speed or simply maintaining the speed compared to my longer backswing and reduced loop. The extra power required me to concentrate more on achieving a good low-to-high trajectory on my forward swing or my strokes would land long. The key sensation for me was the feeling that I was raising the racquet on the backswing as much as I was taking it backward. I gauge that my loop is only as large as that created by raising my racquet hand to around shoulder height. Keeping my grip on the racquet handle loose insured that I got a good wrist lag as the transition to the forward swing started. I've got a singles match tomorrow so I'll see if the results in today's rallying hold up.

[@ldeue4837]

Yeah whoever told you that a longer loop = more velocity or whatever term was used is not correct. The only thing that matter is the speed that your racket is traveling, and where it hits the racquet(butterfly net effect) and the angle of the racquet face.

[@Fernwald84]

@@ldeue4837 Right but a larger loop can aid increasing racquet head speed. It creates a longer space in which acceleration can increase.

[@ldeue4837]

Racket head speed is created from ground force and hip rotation, distance has very little to do with it. If it did you would see big loops at the pro level, which you do not. Power is overrated in tennis, in my honest opinion. Control, placement and strategy is much more important.

[@Fernwald84]

@@ldeue4837 The arm and racquet beam act as a lever. While ground force and hip (and torso!) rotation provide the kinetic energy to move the racquet head, it is the lever action that translates--actually amplifies--that energy into motion. If you doubt this, measure the speed at which your hips rotate. It is only a small fraction of the 60-100 mph velocity of the racquet head. The same situation exists with a whip. The hands move at only a fraction of the speed of the whip's tip. The racquet head is, by analogy, the tip of the whip. This is also the reason that the fastest shot is the serve, not the ground stroke. The whip-like action is magnified in the serve by the greater distance the racquet head travels while accelerated by the lever action of the torso and arms. The legs, BTW, only provide about 10% of the speed of a serve.

[@ldeue4837]

Everything you just explained is what you should be concentrating on, not how big or small your loop is but how effectively you use this leverage of your body...I look at 2 pro's with completely different hitting techniques but both are GS champion's....Novak Djokovic(bent-arm forehand) Rafa Nadal(straight arm forehand). This is something that is just natural, but it also will effective leverage even according to your definition. This is the point I am trying to make.

[@jacopobarone1911]

I have to say about the tons and tons of videos that I watched, this is the most accurate precise !!!! and really makes me understand what I am doing wrong. I realized that all the points and steps that you explain are exacly the same (although in a different manner explained and circumstances) that my tennis instructor says. I just battle between getting relaxed and hitting the ball letting my musclu memory and intuition doing the right things naturally and thinking too much rationally on the strokes, position, ball sight, coordination stance, swing etc etc and I think too much I become stiff and judgmental on myself and get depressed and play worse. So I think is may be just a matter on keep playin and mucle memorize all this CORRECTLY. Thank you much these videos are really praecious and very well done. Keep up the great work!

[@IntuitiveTennis]

🙏🙏

[@youngchool]

Smart lesson! Intuitive is right. He reminds me of my former boss. He was from Southern Germany, very direct but open minded - boss but also a great teacher.

[@nickbyrd1027]

I definitely let the ball (and subsequently, my dominant shoulder) get behind me. I also have a bad habit of "flicking" my wrist and it's actually caused quite a bit of "golfers elbow" for me. Thanks for the great video!

[@mariobautista4229]

Omg i do thst doo, and end up with a lot of pain in my elbow! Thought I was the only one

[@josephskinner2019]

@@mariobautista4229 same here. I feel like an idiot now lmao

[@shahbazchoudhry5151]

Thanks sir.. I was struggling after seeing fedrer FH. now I m clear that let the swing of reqet be natural. ...

[@felipelopezabarca5937]

Excellent video, I'm changed East to Semi-West and this information is very helpful. Greetings from Chile!! 🇨🇱

[@sougata43]

One of the best morden forehand technique video

[@revstrof1]

This video fixed all my forehand. Thaks a lot. The best i've seen

[@LjiljanaŽivković-o1h]

BRAVO NOLE NAJBOLJI SI ZAUVEK PRVI NA SVETU

[@1984leandro1984]

The típ maintence position of wirst during the hit, that is what i needed. Thanks.

[@mountaindrew_]

Is it just me or the "fake lag" is super hilarious😂 5:30

[@peppio]

you are always well prepared and a good observer.. i love the way you teach and translate for us the professional tennis

[@IntuitiveTennis]

Thank you Peppino

[@chrise7058]

Great. Your other modern forehand lesson has transformed my game after playing once! feels so much better than the flat takeaway I had before.

[@ShankarRam23]

Playing tennis again after a 4 year break and I've been trying to force what I had been naturally doing back then. This video pointed out the exact weak areas of my forehand! I'll work on those and keep getting better. Thanks for the amazing video coach!

[@IntuitiveTennis]

🙏🙏

[@rokastverijonas8721]

Excellent video! Intuitive tennis became my favorite place to learn some new technique!

[@IntuitiveTennis]

Thanks Rokas 💪💪

[@GrgaKlara]

najjaci tenis video. meni ste pomogli svaka cast

[@IntuitiveTennis]

Puno hvala

[@HDawg2121]

Great video. You are at the top of instructional techniques

[@IntuitiveTennis]

Thank you Harold

[@markbaarsbergen36]

Great vid thx! Started playing again after many yrs and trying to maater the new techniques, it is helpful to knkw that focus should still be on natural flow rather than trying to copy a visual image! 😁👍🏻

[@stratguitarman7831]

Best coach on the net ! I enjoy your detailed videos!

[@rockfederer6600]

Wooo 👌👌 perfect explanation actually I did all mistakes you mentioned I am trying to correct my forehand I hope next training get better forehand after watching this video Thanks 😊

[@IntuitiveTennis]

Thank you Rock

[@ahahm]

His analysis is always bang on!!

[@zurbrure]

Another great video Nik. Thanks for all your effort and happy new year. I‘m an ITF senior 50+ player. Even if I‘m playing for more than 40 years I‘m trying to change my forehand more and more to a more modern one and as you explained it‘s first of all about the unit turn supported by the non dominant hand. Amazing video helps me to visualize the sequences of the forehand.👍💪🎾

[@IntuitiveTennis]

Thank you 🙏 zurbrure and HNY

[@donho4109]

Nick, you are truly brilliant at pointing out some critical items to help the recreational players! Another great video and discussion! 👍👊🏻

[@IntuitiveTennis]

I appreciate it Don 🤜🤛

[@Wooist]

wow this was incredible... this might be the best tutorial of all time

[@roberthao644]

Literally just points out all problems on my forehand, great video!

[@IntuitiveTennis]

Thank you Robert

[@xiaoyu2324]

My favorite vides! Great instructions for recs. I fixed a lot of problems with the help of these videos !

[@IntuitiveTennis]

Great to hear!

[@TennisObsessed]

Thank you, I always wondered whether a bent arm or straight arm was proper.

[@almacnamara2000]

Best observations and advice I've seen on modern forehand 👍

[@ripleypipe]

Yet more great advice - Happy New Year Nick! Gordon

[@IntuitiveTennis]

HNY Gordon 🙏

[@oPTToLatte]

amazing clarification on the typical forehand mistakes and myths! Thank u

[@KK-bc6ok]

thank you so much. this is very clearly explained. Recreational players need to understand the concept and the true way to create force towards the ball efficiently using the body, instead of arming he ball.

[@IntuitiveTennis]

My pleasure K

[@xt6274]

I love this video Cutting through the buzz words and giving us the advice we need. I also found the kinetic chain suggested video great. I'll continue to check this channel for further advice :)

[@victordu4694]

absolutely perfect explanation... has it all, thanks

[@phe9238]

Very good explanation, thank you

[@frandevel]

Thanks! Very good tip about the hitting shoulder being in front. Did not realize about this.

[@kensilverstone1656]

Extremely clear and helpful

[@IntuitiveTennis]

Glad to hear!

[@shahayamarshel972]

Thank you very much on the informative video explaining the timing for separation of non hitting hand from the hitting hand,... for us as recreational players

[@shahbazchoudhry5151]

very nice sir, straight arm and bend elbow very well demonstrated, you r great serving tennis..

[@Gidoza]

Wow I am doing the swipe so much and I was wondering why I kept shanking/framing my shots. I hope this will help me hit cleaner shots.

[@kimiversen4655]

Very Sound advice. Thanks

[@mihiracharya5484]

Woah...... thanks a lot Nick That last tip about wrist is exactly what I needed 🙌🏻🙌🏻🙌🏻

[@Singingtheblues3811]

Great info buddy , the last part is where my problem was, gets me, this is really good thanks

[@serbmd]

Very nicely done.

[@IntuitiveTennis]

Thank you Bojane

[@ronaldbello9397]

tnx. one of the few good teachers!!!

[@IntuitiveTennis]

Thank you Ronald

[@vivy_xo]

Awesome video Nick!

[@IntuitiveTennis]

Thanks Natachi

[@chokchaiser449]

Right explanation you are smart

[@K4R3N]

7:20 I even manage to do some minor wrist damage with fake flick. I learned to stop doing this the hard way. We also call this "wiper motion"

[@kaustubhnadkarni5289]

One of the best forehand videos!

[@willkeyes8859]

As usual, another AMAZING video. Please create one for a two-handed backhand as well. Thank you!!!

[@IntuitiveTennis]

Thank you Will and I will do 2HB soon 👍

[@dg2973]

Right on point! Excellent exolained!

[@clash1469]

Extremely helpful video. Thank you.

[@patrickweston3293]

Sound advice about the dreaded "wrist flick." Another reason not to do it: tendonitis. (I found out the hard way.)

[@dmitryprivate6558]

Did you fix your wrist tendinitis? If yes, how?

[@patrickweston3293]

@@dmitryprivate6558 Rest, followed by fixing my technique. The hitting hand stays in a "cocked" position throughout the swing. The forearm pronates. The wrist is relaxed but doesn't flex. All well so far. Better spin, too.

[@dmitryprivate6558]

@@patrickweston3293 Thank you for your reply and your suggestions.

[@imateapot51]

If your arm is still moving forward when you do the dreaded wrist flick then it should be natural. It is not like a windshield wiper it is going more forward, and the wrist and hand should not go past straight. The ball is struck and gone before most of the "flick" is done. You are striking the ball with a proactive force and not reactive. If you are breaking a board in Karate class they do not have you hold your hand out and then raise the board into your hand. I hit with the ATP forehand and if someone asked me do I flick my wrist I would say no, it is all natural. But my wrist and racquet are doing the exact same thing at contact and beyond that I used to do 10 years ago before lagging.

[@shroom125]

When I signed up for tennis lessons we have been trained the mechanics for months before we switched to drills. From age 7 I don't remember anybody had to come and correct executions of my shots.

[@transamination]

Great video, good explanations. I think there are some things you can learn/copy from watching pros and slow-mo videos (eg basic unit turn, supporting racquet with non-hitting hand etc) and things you can't (eg wrist-lag).

[@IntuitiveTennis]

Thank you 🙏

[@fingersm]

Excellent video!

[@IntuitiveTennis]

Thank you Frank

[@sohaimiismail921]

I find this very helpful!

[@TheSmartodd]

Brilliant tips for rec players - sure hope I can remember and execute

[@raysfonexchange]

Awesome video dude. Top notch content like this demands that I sub!!!

[@IntuitiveTennis]

Thank u Ray

[@nirsade4392]

great video, very helpful, thanks

[@crsantin]

Good video. Good advice. For rec players 3.5-4.5 even, it’s best to keep it simple. The pros do some funky things. That Kyrios forehand is strange. He slaps the ball very quickly. Not a good technique for amateur players.

[@NOLANISGODful]

Even your incorrect forehand demonstrations still looks good technically 👍🏻

[@Casatoman]

Great content. I liked and subscribed

[@michaeldelcastillo1910]

Great breakdown and observations

[@eliastieleniuskruythoff7588]

Very usefull!! Thank you!

[@MyekalBenham]

Great breakdown. I feel like a Rec players run into problems when trying to force their techniques.

[@gametimetennis1456]

great breakdown i can't wait till i post my next video addressing this same issue.

[@AlexanderGr8]

Great video Nik 👍 and HNY my friend.

[@IntuitiveTennis]

HNY Ronnie

[@maxwelldewinter]

Great video for the exception of not mentioning the arm/wrist must be totally loose and relaxed for proper wrist lag execution 😀

[@user-mg8uf9sl3j]

One of the best forehand advice for recreational players. Only if they listen.. lol

[@charlesz8531]

"The wrist is passive." I like that. Also the fake "racket lag" tip is helpful.

[@Blade-bc4ue]

Big thanks sir

[@seekheart2023]

Can you do some videos on drills for cooperation?

[@felipeapolinario8842]

Is the wrist flick also related to inner elbow pain? I am an andvanced player and I have a powerful forehand but I am afraid that I am doing this wrist flick to generate top spin. In fact, my forehand has tons of top spin and power, but also I note that I use too much energy along the movement and also after more intensive trainning sections I often get this pain in the inner portion of the elbow. Is it due to a possible wrist lag? I mean, is this possible wrist flick "dissipating" my energy and causing me pain in the elbow? Thank you for the instructive video btw!

[@IntuitiveTennis]

Thanks Felipe, I can’t tell wo seeing it but I’ll tell what my experience has been. I recommend that you record your forehand in super slowmo and see if you are actually flicking. It’s possible that you think you are flicking but in reality it’s occurring well after contact. If this is the case you can try to adjust your finish. I’ve never heard wrist flicking hurting the inner elbow but it’s possible. I think it’s called golfers elbow and John Isner has had it. I’ve had it a few years back on serve and forehand and it was from the strings I used. Hope you figure it out 🤙

[@roxyashinax5566]

nice video, i love tennis

[@IntuitiveTennis]

❤️🎾

[@vladastankovic3158]

Ooouuch! This hurts, man.. What was I thinkin' before? So many matches lost in vain.. Oh, well, I accept and adapt, let's go back to basics again, again, and again :)

[@omarsultanov362]

Brilliant!!! 👍💪🤗

[@IntuitiveTennis]

Thanks Omar

[@GabrielMedeiros]

Thank you a lot.

[@IntuitiveTennis]

You are welcome!

[@georgememmos4872]

great advice! I was seeing my self with the wrist and elbow problems

[@tennis9281]

Nik, great video as always. I' m a little confused on a conceptual level about what a unit turn is conventionally considered. I mean, is the unit turn that you showed in the video a full unit turn or you would reach the full unit turn with the non dominant hand already realised? I ask you this because I think that yours is the real unit turn and most of the pros perform both the unit turn and the first part of the backswing with the non dominant hand still on the throat of the racquet. As for me, I tend to release the racquet just before the way you showed, so that I can then extend the arm and be sure to be always in time; technically I complete the unit turn with the non dominant hand just realised and keep going with the backswing. Curious to know what you think about this

[@IntuitiveTennis]

tennis92, thank you I explain the unit turn in the first 2 minutes of this video kzbin.info/www/bejne/gGqZdWatptWXaqc

[@dandamerville]

great video -- if you would like an actual video of a rec player with every glitch you diagnose, i'm you man

[@Kapritchosa]

Nice colors...green and blue :-)

[@RK-ft9rn]

Thank you for sharing this video...Two questions...What causes the right elbow to chicken wing out away from body and with the modern forehand are we still using an inside to out swing path? Thanks!

[@agustin6541]

Nik, this video is really useful. Please do a video on how to kill short balls. Saludos desde Argentina!!

[@IntuitiveTennis]

🇦🇷 🙌🙌

[@benostlind2441]

I believe that how straight ones arm is at contact is purely a function of what grip you use. The more ones grip goes toward Western the more bent the elbow must be to keep racket face perpendicular to the ground. Conversely the more towards Continental the straighter the arm. By observing how bent arm is at contact you can tell how extreme a players grip is. If you hold your racket out with a Straight arm and a Western grip the face of the racket will naturally be closed (facing the ground).

[@bassmann666]

Now i am really confused, now whats the place of the famous “acceleration” of the hit using the wrist?

[@johnnyblackrants7625]

I think the statement about nadal’s wrist is provably wrong. If this guy were correct, Nadal’s forearms would be the same size. That isn’t the case: his right arm is huge because he uses it. The problem for recreational players is that they ONLY roll the wrist at contact, and they forget to drive their shot FORWARD towards the net while they do. This creates the inconsistency and the spraying. Moral - start with a passive wrist and ensure all your strokes fully extend towards the target before your follow thru. Once you have that, then add the wrist torsion WITHOUT cutting your swing short to do it.

[@davidjefferies9214]

Forearm size has nothing to do with the wrist. As nik says, look at slowmos of Nadal's forehand and the wrist will start turning after contact, not before. But hay, if you want wrist surgery, keep on trying to flick the wrist at contact.

[@cheahkc]

Can you comment on the racket face on contact? It is vertical and perpendicular to the floor or slightly close forward to get brush effect?

[@meditationman415]

Thank you , this is excellent. I have a question what could cause tennis elbow?

[@IntuitiveTennis]

I’ll make a video on that

[@meditationman415]

@@IntuitiveTennis That'd be Great !!, and I'm sure VERY popular , Thank you:)

[@shahbazchoudhry5151]

let it happened naturally... its great statement..

[@jmasked5082]

i thought people hit forehands with a bent arm because then they can quickly adjust to where the ball actually ends up in the strike path. Would you say to consitently hit the ball with a straight arm requires either perfect body positioning relating to the ball or leaning into/away from the ball with the body, which creates balance issues?

[@ared18t]

I find this video interesting since I have no problems with a straight arm. This is probably due to the fact that I used to play handballl for 5 to 6 hours a day.

[@mimo99991]

I have started integrating topspin into my forehand and it has greatly improved my tennis. However, I have experienced some wrist pain. What could be the reason for this? Am I doing something wrong or is it just my wrist not yet being adjusted to the movement?

[@stewartbarnes3644]

If the wrist is passive at contact what is the point of lagging the racket head? This would mean that the racket head would only travel as fast as the arm can move. I always thought that lag was created so that the wrist action of losing lag would create a lever and increase the speed of the racket head at contact. You mention that the wrist does rotate in front of the body, but the ball has long gone. Obviously I have missed something, my apologies. Grateful for clarification.

[@MathsMadeEasyDabas]

Sir I am facing problems in forehand swing . Kindly tell me the drill for the same

[@ronaldbello9397]

a lot of teachers try to let the wrist do the work... If I may say so the flexion of the elbow seems to be initiated by the position tot the ball? To close tot the ball. i think. A straight arm creates more power. Or not?

[@chrisc2439]

does the fake wrist lag issue also apply to 2handed backhands?

[@IntuitiveTennis]

It’s different on the BH

[@leszekpeszek9261]

Hi there. Its possible to send a short movie about my forehand to check ? I spend a lot of time to improve my forehand as good as possible, but , still have some question about it that its correct or not ? heh