WHY you should use a straight arm on your FOREHAND

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Should you be hitting your tennis forehand with a straight or bent arm technique. In this video I explain the differences between the two forehand styles in terms. It looks at the take back, racket lag and how to create spin.
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[@manmy016]

Ive mastered the straight arm, tons of spin, tons of power, tons of consistency! The racquet isn’t a factor anymore, I can use any racquet, any strings, my ball is solid Day in Day out !!! 💪🏻💪🏻💪🏻

[@TennisHacker]

Nice, glad to hear.

[@havehzfd3924]

What’s your forehand grip?😂

[@manmy016]

Eastern

[@manmy016]

@@havehzfd3924 eastern

[@Dachuanschannel]

Bent arm and especially finding support at the elbow on the torso is what I suggest to most amateurs, especially female players. Straight arm needs a lot of timing and physical strength for the arm, any mess up with the timing, a straight arm will not find the support and exert unnecessary force on wrist. Federer and Nadal looks amazing with straight arm, but that hard training and talent are not most people can copy with.

[@LearnBeachVolleyballFast]

Hey! Great video and I really like your teaching style, the "I believe this because of X but noone can know for sure"-type of honesty and thinking is the way to go on complex topics! Now, for some more speculation! So one factor in doing a forehand is for sure predicting where the ball will go and have good footwork to move to the right spot to be able to hit the ball in a good position. I for example as a hobby tennis player do that somewhat well I'd say because of athleticism and footwork but I could get way better with more tennis specific experience which I don't have super much of. However, since a bent elbow can be bent to varying degrees and compensate to a degree for non-optimal footwork, could this work better (in terms of immediate resuts) for someone who doesn't have perfect footwork+ball prediction, while a straight arm forehand is more dependant on distance berween body and ball being right so it requires better footwork+ball prediction to deliver good results? Or does the straight arm forehand also have some sort of "built in flexibility" in the technique so that one can adapt with the body even when footwork failed? I tried today and bent elbow is definitely my natural way of doing the forehand, straight elbow felt either powerless, weird or unnatural - at least the way I was able to do it today..! Anyway, since I can't really do the straight elbow variation I also can't really answer my own question by just trying it out! :)

[@TennisHacker]

Do what comes naturally and feels most comfortable. There are amazing players that play with a bent arm and straight AND different degrees of a bent arm 😀 In terms of compensation for sub optimal footwork, you can do this with both the bent or straight arm. It’s more about the timing and manipulation of wrist / forearm than bending and straighten of the elbow.

[@LearnBeachVolleyballFast]

@@TennisHacker Amazing, thanks a lot, that is helpful! :) Just in case I still have your attention..! If you'd ever be interested in being a part of a group with other sports-coach-youtubers (that do not teach tennis on KZbin so they are not your direct competitors) where we discuss strategies on growing our businesses and creating maximum impact and help eachother, let me know! I haven't watched super many of your videos yet but it seems to me like the way you think about things is very similar to mine, and that you are on a mission to make tennis instruction better in the world. If that's the case I'm even more sure this could be a win-win situation for everyone involved! It would be free except time of course, but goal is of course to gain more time than it costs.

[@Nightingale_1]

Do you think it’s possible for you to show us as an example while you are playing how you do these shots that you’re trying to explain to us? Would help a lot. Just like a few demonstrations when you are being fed some balls by another person from the other end on the forehand or backhand? Then like after analyse what you are doing in relation to what you are saying? No slow motion. Like a real time segment?

[@TennisHacker]

Thanks for your feedback. When I'm at home I can use my ball machine to feed me, but I live in Canada, so I'm having to go away to record and don't have access. I think I've convinced my girlfriend to be a ball feeder, so moving forward hopefully I can get some live demos 😂 Hopefully you still gain some useful insight.

[@Nightingale_1]

@@TennisHacker thanks for the reply.

[@marktace1]

Bent arm vs. straight arm mostly comes natural. Changing is almost always going to be counterproductive. It is possible as Federer used to hit with more of a mix of straight and bent. Even so, he wasn’t going from pure bent to pure straight. Straight arm is more difficult to make work. Nadal and Federer aren’t great because they have straight arm forehands. They can be effective with straight arm forehands because they are great. The big advantage of a straight arm forehand is being able to be effective with a lower racquet drop. BTW, both forearm supination and shoulder external rotation are present in either method on the take back and lag. Bent arm typically is easier to control, but the hardest hitter on tour, Basilashvili, uses a bent arm. Congratulations, you’ve just set some players back a long way based on your intuition.

[@TennisHacker]

It's an interesting debate. I find the work Dr Brian Gordon very compelling in terms of the contribution of the forearm and shoulder for creating the rotation movement. There are obviously lots of reasons why both Fed and Nadal a great players. But looking at modelling things from an injury perspective is an interesting consideration. As I said in the video, at the end of the day, people should do what they make work in terms of timing. So it's a rude of you to say I've set players back don't ya think?

[@marktace1]

@@TennisHacker No, just look at your title. Very few people would be better off with a straight arm forehand, so it would be counterproductive for most people to attempt. Friends of mine have trained or coached a good percentage of the US players in the ATP top 100 and I’ve never seen them to try and get anyone at any level to make that change.

[@TennisHacker]

Yep, but when you take the title and the words on in the image together, it was more intended to start a conversation (which it has done). At the end of the day, there is no perfect way to hit any shot because there are always variables. We have great players hitting both variations and some very prominent coaches like Rick Macci exclusively teach the straight arm variation.

[@marktace1]

@@TennisHacker Macci? Venus, Serena and Capriati all hit with a bent elbow.

[@team-tennisenglish1514]

It's not a question of choice of the player, the body will take care by itself. Bent or straight is a more a question of style, it's not a fundamental element. Try to force yourself to have a bent or straight arm and It'll impair the quality of your forehand.

[@tamibartell-t9f]

Doesn’t it also depend a lot on what grip you/they use?

[@TennisHacker]

Yes, partly.

[@yili9725]

i think djokovic's form is the best to follow for armatures. it's awkward to keep straight arm in the whole forward swing like federer, at least that limits your hitting zone. given armatures cannot set up for right spacing, it's very hard to to. however, if you apply extension concept, or extend your elbow through and after contact, you will see many player's arm close to straight after contact and that has many benefits. anyway, djokovic's form is good for everyone normal like us.

[@TennisHacker]

For adult players I tend to agree with you. The majority of players really struggle with spacing, which makes the straight arm style harder to use. You can use a straight arm with the ball close, but the timing is even harder AND there needs to be enough wrist flexibility.

[@jag3384]

@@TennisHacker You can't use a straight arm with the ball close. Ridiculous.

[@johncharles2357]

@@jag3384 Yes you can. If you get jammed, you will need to hit the ball more in front.

[@killers183]

When I use a straight arm, I get more speed on the ball with less effort.

[@TennisHacker]

Nice, glad you've found what works for you!

[@danjackknife]

The last 3 months i have been working on my forehand. As well as some of your vision guides, I've specially been working hard on the footwork. Especially the open stance and you know what...my issue was I was being lazy and hitting with a bent arm for a while without realising! I used to mishit and sometimes get a dodgy wrist. So I experimented with another tennis club member. He said, "give yourself room". 8/10 of the forehands that I gave myself "room", were stroked with umph, precision and margin for error. The ones I was getting too close, bent arm, were going to the net. I think after doing a lot of footwork training, I realised that straight arm forehand is more natural to me. Meaning I didn't have to think and I auto-pilot when I get my footwork sorted. Vision, footwork and then the arms in the order helped aid my failing forehand.

[@danjackknife]

I also found myself correcting a more comfort grip between semi-western and eastern. Semi-western is ok though but i think if you use the western... be careful on your wrist and it naturally bends your arm.

[@TennisHacker]

Nice man. We've talked about this before. The footwork is crucial for everything. Happy to hear it's coming along!

[@danjackknife]

@Lucas Penteado I think footwork wise, I incorporated the way I did kick boxing and then remembered how I get loading power when I hook and uppercut. Sometimes doing other sports help your footwork. I heard dancing does wonders too.

[@sarkology]

Should just do what feels more natural. People’s body structures and muscle memory and coordination are different. It’s gonna be bent arm for most people. Can handle more weight, it’s easier for timing and last minute adjustments. Straight arm’s advantage is more power and maybe less bad habits. Using fed and Nadal as the gold standard doesn’t make sense to me for bent vs straight. Most of the best FH’s ever were bent arm and most pros are bent arm. Kyrgios is extremely bent and absolutely ridiculous FH. Straight arm also requires more wrist and shoulder mobility IMO

[@TennisHacker]

I agree 😀 I also think it will be interesting to see what happens moving forwards. Alcaraz is an example of a generation that’s had the option to model fed/nadal. If more coaches are teaching it, will the number start to catch up.

[@akifm6160]

First and Straight arm!

[@TennisHacker]

Howdy :-)

[@ilianadearmas4898]

Isnt't there also forearm pronation with the straight arm forearm?

[@TennisHacker]

Yes. It’s a combination of shoulder internal rotation and pronation.

[@watcher687]

You missed the huge wrist extension in Federer’s forehand contributing to the lag. No?

[@TennisHacker]

Yes, i didn't talk about it here, but he has a lot of wrist extension.

[@TennCom]

This is a great analysis. I have always had a bent arm and always wants a straight arm. I think the straight arm is quite rare because it requires you to had really strong footwork and setup, even at a developmental stage. With the racquet further in front, you are robbing yourself of time if you don't have the prop skills. That said, I think the straight arm has more potential for power and spin. See Nadal, Federer, DelPo, Alcaraz, Verdasco. What are you thoughts on switching techniques after you've played competitive tennis for 10 years?

[@finnarhelger7471]

You named a few players who hit with a straight arm. Let me name a few with a bent arm: Fena Gonzales, Kyrgios, Monfils, Sock, Thiem, Murray, Blake...

[@TennCom]

@@finnarhelger7471 not that this is very provable, but I think the forehands I mentioned are superior. I think Djokovic is the best example of the bent arm forehand. Very stable under pressure and lots of power when needed.

[@TennisHacker]

As you saw in my video, I can make arguments both ways. But because of the number of reps you've accumulated, it might be challenging and counter productive to make the switch. There are so many great players that hit with tremendous power and spin using a bent arm, I would imagine you'd see better results improving on what you are currently doing. Doesn't mean it can't be done, but they would be my thoughts.

[@TennisHacker]

There is no doubt there are amazing player that hit with a bent arm.

[@manmy016]

Fed, Nadal, Verdasco …. 3 greatest forehand’s of all time, all straight arm, no arm injuries

[@TennisHacker]

Is it a coo-incidence? maybe / maybe not. Certainly food for thought.

[@Johnstage]

It seems to me a bent arm with an extra segment to accelerate in its kinetic chain would be more adaptable to errors in tracking but an extra link increases chances for errors as well. IMHO, the farther in front you can make contact and still have forward momentum and adequate margin of error in your strike zone, the easier it is to track the ball to contact as the angular velocity out front is smaller than hitting later. It’s a trial and error as you say. A few important variables that only the individual can figure out on his/her own. That said, I think there are limits to each method just from a physics and biomechanical perspective which only a live coach can truly help us to correct.

[@TennisHacker]

I agree with your thoughts about tracking the ball and meeting the ball further out in front. I have very limited neck rotation to my left, so when playing left handed, unless I get the timing spot on, it's very hard to track. There's no doubt about it that, players can generate incredible power with the bent arm. It will be interesting to see where things go over the next 5-10 years on tour.

[@OscarGonzalez-vg3cp]

Thanks, you are a good coach. Like the way you teach.

[@TennisHacker]

Much appreceated!

[@rawan7186]

I have a natural straight arm. But is it true that it is more prone to injury? I get nervous second-guessing myself if I should force the bent arm on myself to avoid injuries

[@TennisHacker]

No, i wouldn’t say it increases injury risk at all. With that said i released 2 videos recently. Exercises for the wrist and shoulder. If you work on both of these programs it will massively reduce your risk of injury

[@rawan7186]

Thank you so much!! I will definitely watch them!

[@mpnv1990]

It’s really simple to me. Whether you hit with a straight arm or bent arm is 100% biomechanics.

[@mr.random977]

you sound so zesty

[@TennisHacker]

??

[@TennisHacker]

Which style of forehand do you use and why?

[@yakzivz1104]

bent arm because of my extreme grip

[@pauljohnston]

really clear and useful explanations. Many thanks.

[@darkokolega1674]

Straight arm forehand is best advice ever, I just transfer my game to straight arm and ball just goes wild and no arm pain. But yeah, timing is the key and fast footwork of course. thanks for these great coaching videos!

[@TennisHacker]

Glad you found it helpful and that you have found a forehand that works for you.

[@catoqsh4750]

Great content. I am going for straight arm.

[@lex2400]

This was excellent. I hear what people are saying in the comments, but I actually prefer the straight-arm version.

[@TennisHacker]

People tend to have strong opinion on things. In the end it has to come down to what works for you :-)