[zt from tt] Clean Contact in Tennis

Nov 1 2005, 01:29 PM #23
Bungalo Bill

1. Lengthen your swing at/after the contact point
Lengthen your swing out to the target. then come around. If you slow down pro strokes they go way out on almost every shot and then they break off and come around.

It is an optical illusion to be whippy at the ball or snap at it. Go through it, balance yourself, time your backswing so that when you begin the drop you can use this drop to help accelerate the racket.

Have you ever noticed that when a pro uses a similar stroke pattern (the entire swing including were the racket followsthrough) that for some reason it still looks smooth? Or still simply looks right? Do you know why? Because there is LENGTH in their strokes. Length smoothens out the stroke and makes it look pleasing to the eye.

However, what we end up doing is taking what we "think" we see on TV and thinking it is shorter than it really is and worse we think we are doing the same thing. Unfortunately, we get a lot of these "half" arm strokes. Jerky, ugly, and inconsistent. It just don't look the same.

2. Accelerate through contact point with square racquect face
A drill I once used was to slow down the racket speed and focus entirely on hitting the center of the strings for each ball - especially for the backhand side. During the drill, I did not place too much importance on the ball going in or over the net. I placed most of the importance on simply hitting the ball in the center of the strings.

This did several things for a player and that was to learn proper distance away from the ball and in training the visual aspects of judging the ball.

...

The key is to develop good racket head speed that is accelerating through the contact zone with a square racket face. You want to develop this racket speed without losing your balance or developing hitches in the swing because you are swinging too slowly or too quickly for your level of development.

Serve: sound technique for more power

#16
Bungalo Bill
Hall Of Fame

Quote:

Originally Posted by grimmbomb21
Ok. I was just reading on another thread about Roddick having a huge forearm being a big part of his serve.

It doesnt. The reason Roddick has a big serve:

1. He can extend the distance between his racket head and where the toss is by extremely good flexibility in the shoulder area.

2. He is extremely compact and can transfer energy through his rotation and shoulder energy with a relaxed arm up into the ball.


3. His compact motion calls for him to quicken his acceleration to meet the ball on time. (abbreviated serve motion benefit).

4. He is explosive in the legs which sends energy upward.

5. He tosses way out in the court and simply smacks the puppy.


6. He extends fully.

7. His wrist does not SNAP when he meets the ball. The wrist is actually straight (right where it should be) for clean contact.

8. His arm is like rubber. It just whips into the ball.

Slow his motion down and you will see all of the above and the stuff you learned would quickly become a myth.

Strength is always important but Federer also can hit a mean serve but we dont hear his arm is huge. It is in the mechanics and God given talent to be extremely flexible.

Remember when it comes to the serve, flexibility, relaxation, and your ability to generate quick kinetic energy through the chain goes way farther then muscle strength in the power department for a serve.
__________________
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Yesterday, 03:40 PM #17
grimmbomb21
New User


Quote:

Originally Posted by Bungalo Bill
It doesnt. The reason Roddick has a big serve:

1. He can extend the distance between his racket head and where the toss is by extremely good flexibility in the shoulder area.

2. He is extremely compact and can transfer energy through his rotation and shoulder energy with a relaxed arm up into the ball.


3. His compact motion calls for him to quicken his acceleration to meet the ball on time. (abbreviated serve motion benefit).

4. He is explosive in the legs which sends energy upward.

5. He tosses way out in the court and simply smacks the puppy.


6. He extends fully.

7. His wrist does not SNAP when he meets the ball. The wrist is actually straight (right where it should be) for clean contact.

8. His arm is like rubber. It just whips into the ball.

Slow his motion down and you will see all of the above and the stuff you learned would quickly become a myth.

Strength is always important but Federer also can hit a mean serve but we dont hear his arm is huge. It is in the mechanics and God given talent to be extremely flexible.

Remember when it comes to the serve, flexibility, relaxation, and your ability to generate quick kinetic energy through the chain goes way farther then muscle strength in the power department for a serve.

Thanks for the reply. Now are you saying that the muscles in the forearm that rotate the hand and wrist stay loose and relaxed throughout the entire service motion. Just using the shoulder to pronate your arm? Or do you turn your arm in with the forearm muscles, too. Sorry if I'm making you say the same thing 100 different ways. I just want to make sure we're on the same page.


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Yesterday, 08:28 PM #19
TENNIS_99


I remember I was watching on TV one of the Roddick's game a few months ago, a commentator (might be Cliff Drysdale) asked Patrick Mecnore - won't Roddick hurt his shoulder killing serve like that? Patrick answered his power comes from his legs. The big forearm might have something to do with his big forehand. I remember during my days of playing junior tennis, my right forearm was disgustedly bigger than my left forearm.

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Yesterday, 10:24 PM #20
AngeloDS
Semi-Pro



Actually, you get a bigger forearm through pronation. When I first started doing the Roddick style serve, it really makes your forearms sore. You have to really strengthen it, if you want to play long matches.

When I first started, I could only get through maybe 3/4 of a set. The soreness creeps in slowly, and by the time you're up your forearm and hand is pretty much numb from the soreness and using it. I've strengthened my forearms and got use to the soreness.
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Gamma TNT2 17 String @ 54 Lbs
College Tennis Player

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Today, 04:04 PM #23
downthemiddle
New User

Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: Tampa, FL
Posts: 5


Thank you for your question. The low ball toss vs. the high ball toss is a controversial issue. The ball should be at its apex when the arm is fully extended, and body is leaning in a straight and diagonal position into the court (power line). The ball toss should never be higher than what your racket can reach. This method of intruction on the serve comes from the Vic Braden system of teaching.

The hip turn only means that you rotate your knees inward when starting the serve. A good reference point for this movement, would be to imagine your chest facing the fence behind you on your initial turn for the serve.


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Today, 04:19 PM #24
downthemiddle
New User

I forgot to explain what the palm down serve is. Imagine the top of your hand always facing the sky. When you bring your arm up to hit, you want to think like you are thowing a football.

The following movements will help to have a palm down serve. It is hard to explain without visually seeing it, but I will try my best.

1. Cobra position: Racket is loose in hand like you are about to throw a football. The two ends of the football are facing each back fence. This way your hand is palm down and ready to "strike" like a cobra.

2. Next, you want to "comb your hair". Let the racket come over your head (palm down still), which means the top of your hand is still facing the sky.

3. Here is where people have trouble. As Vic Braden sais, "Don't scratch your back, scratch a friend's back". From the "comb your hair position, you want to go to the "talk on the phone" position. Imagine you were talking on the phone with the grip of your racket. This movement allows you to "scratch a friend's back"!

4. A little trick to tell if you are doing these sequences right is to use your hand without the racket, go into cobra, to scratch your head, to talk on the phone and then "high-five your other hand. The high five occurs at the end or pronation of the wrist.

Once again, sorry if this seems confusing. It would be great to buy the Vic Braden videos on serving. He makes strokes a science


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Today, 04:50 PM #25
Bungalo Bill
Hall Of Fame


Quote:

Originally Posted by downthemiddle
Thank you for your question. The low ball toss vs. the high ball toss is a controversial issue. The ball should be at its apex when the arm is fully extended,

Well a high ball toss and a "low" ball toss are not that controversial. Very few players use a high toss (above two feet from what you can reach with the racket).

The guideline for a toss is two feet higher to what you can reach with your racket.

Abbreviated servers tend to toss in the lower end while "normal" serve swings tend to toss in the higher end of the two feet margin for timing.

Quote:

and body is leaning in a straight and diagonal position into the court (power line). The ball toss should never be higher than what your racket can reach. This method of intruction on the serve comes from the Vic Braden system of teaching.

Yes, Vic did numerous tests on how long a ball stays suspended due to gravity taking its effect on the ball. A falling ball will pass through the sweetspot of the racket vs. one being hit at the apex (ball is suspended before it starts to fall). However, most servers do find it easy enough to toss about two feet higher and little the ball come down a little. The distance the ball is coming down does not increase the speed the ball is falling that much for timing.
__________________
Volkl Tour 10 (93 sq. in)


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Today, 05:01 PM #26
Bungalo Bill
Hall Of Fame

Quote:

Originally Posted by downthemiddle
I forgot to explain what the palm down serve is. Imagine the top of your hand always facing the sky. When you bring your arm up to hit, you want to think like you are thowing a football.

The following movements will help to have a palm down serve. It is hard to explain without visually seeing it, but I will try my best.

1. Cobra position: Racket is loose in hand like you are about to throw a football. The two ends of the football are facing each back fence. This way your hand is palm down and ready to "strike" like a cobra.

2. Next, you want to "comb your hair". Let the racket come over your head (palm down still), which means the top of your hand is still facing the sky.

3. Here is where people have trouble. As Vic Braden sais, "Don't scratch your back, scratch a friend's back". From the "comb your hair position, you want to go to the "talk on the phone" position. Imagine you were talking on the phone with the grip of your racket. This movement allows you to "scratch a friend's back"!

4. A little trick to tell if you are doing these sequences right is to use your hand without the racket, go into cobra, to scratch your head, to talk on the phone and then "high-five your other hand. The high five occurs at the end or pronation of the wrist.

Once again, sorry if this seems confusing. It would be great to buy the Vic Braden videos on serving. He makes strokes a science

Yeah that is a bit confusing. I think the Cobra thing got me.

Basically, for a person learning the serve you dont want them taking a ful swing to begin with. Isolate the most important movements.

When I have sutdents learn:

1. The racket is laid on top of the shoulder with the palm facing the ear. This is the talking on the phne position.

2. the next position is drop the racket down behind the shoulder with the palm still facing the ear. It is like you are carrying something over your shoulder.

3. In order to get the above position, you might want to bring your elbow outward and then back inward as your racket drops. It is like throwing a baseball or a football or one of your children (if you have them).

4. Relax the arm thoroughly and throw your hand up. You should notice that the palm naturally turns to face forward or towards the net. That is when you want to make contact.

5. The arm and wrist should be relaxed.

Once your get the motion of the arm, you can choose whether you want to go with an abbreviated serve or a "normal" serve. Toss and motion would be adjusted accordingly along with lower body introduction.
__________________
Volkl Tour 10 (93 sq. in)


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Today, 08:35 PM #27
grimmbomb21


Quote:

Originally Posted by Bungalo Bill
Yeah that is a bit confusing. I think the Cobra thing got me.

Basically, for a person learning the serve you dont want them taking a ful swing to begin with. Isolate the most important movements.

When I have sutdents learn:

1. The racket is laid on top of the shoulder with the palm facing the ear. This is the talking on the phne position.

2. the next position is drop the racket down behind the shoulder with the palm still facing the ear. It is like you are carrying something over your shoulder.

3. In order to get the above position, you might want to bring your elbow outward and then back inward as your racket drops. It is like throwing a baseball or a football or one of your children (if you have them).

4. Relax the arm thoroughly and throw your hand up. You should notice that the palm naturally turns to face forward or towards the net. That is when you want to make contact.

5. The arm and wrist should be relaxed.

Once your get the motion of the arm, you can choose whether you want to go with an abbreviated serve or a "normal" serve. Toss and motion would be adjusted accordingly along with lower body introduction.

Ok. I tried it your way.( relaxed forearm.) Good Lord!! I'm not taking any tips from anyone else!! When I was really just trying to smack the ball, not thinking too much about everything, the pace was wwwaaayyy faster than I usually hit. The fastest I have clocked my serve was 110mph. Though I have gotten a few faster than that, I didn't have my radar gun with me. But today, wow, nothing even close!!

[zt]俺的浅见-关于打好网球

标 题: Re: 俺的浅见-关于打好网球
发信站: BBS 未名空间站 (Fri Oct 21 13:33:30 2005)

【 在 dokknife (力刀) 的大作中提到: 】
: totally agree.
: I learnd my serve from Ivan Landell(wrong spelling?) on TV.
: I used played a lot volleyball and joined 1980 first Univ sports
: games in ...


呵呵，我有个朋友，夫妇俩和你的背景接近，说不定你们还认识呢。一家
人不说两家话，咱们探讨探讨，一起提高么。吃饱了胡说，大家不要扔砖。

说道肘伤和腕伤，我体会和击球动作是有关的，腕肘用力过度，正确的姿
势应该是让人感觉最舒服的姿势，脚膝腹背都应该参与。正手用腰腹的扭
矩力，反手用腿腰肩背的反弹力，前臂和手腕击球瞬间是FIRM的，只是起
传力作用，网前球主要是调整身体的结构，曲膝，身体放松，胳膊和球拍
STAY FIRM，我们后天很多用力习惯不好，身体结构松松垮垮，
发不出整体力。

你看费德罗在场上一弓一窜的，他用的是先天的腰背力，你如果在他运动
时拍X光照片，他的脊椎是可以伸缩的！！一头老虎阿！我猜他不用教练
的道理可能也在这里。他有他独特的用力习惯，

Soccer Skill/Position

Note: The following is from Gary Rue’s website, “Exercises of the Day”. --R.J. 7/4/3

This skill/position matching should only be used as a guide.

Content:

Forwards/Strikers

Center Midfielders

Wing Midfielders

Fullbacks

Sweeper

Stopper

• Forwards/Strikers
  These players should have a decent combination of short distance speed and quickness, shooting and heading abilities and dribbling skills. These players should be able to go long periods without touching a ball, yet become very goal oriented when the opportunity presents itself. Usually, one or two of the team's best athletes are in this position. These players need to be more reactive than cognitive--the opportunities are too short-lived for much thought. They should be very aggressive and perhaps
  selfish in nature.
• Center Midfielders
  Iin most systems, these players are the core to the team. They did need to play defense and provide immediate support to the attack. A coach should want players that have very good field vision and awareness. Good passing and distribution skills are mandatory, but a desire to pass and play within a team system is just as important. These players cannot be timid in traffic. Some combination of strength and quickness is useful--this could be achieved with two different players in a two center halfback system. The ability to maintain ball possession, via dribbling, shielding and passing are also required skills. Speed is normally not a necessity in many systems for this position (especially if the system has more than one center halfback), but a high work rate and good endurance is certainly needed. Because of the frequency of ball touches, the best soccer athlete may be asked to man this position.
• Wing Midfielders (and Forwards)
  This is a good spot for players that do not like to play in traffic where the opponent pressure is less. Wing players that have great straight ahead speed can cause other teams problems. Dribbling skills at speed are more often a requirement than close-in dribbling. Wing players that have the ability to cross the ball with distance and accuracy can allow a team to develop an attacking style from the wings. Wing players need to be able to recover on defense. Sometimes they are asked to balance a defense on the off-ball side by recovering back and picking up attacking players at the far post.
• Fullbacks
  Backs should be strong and have a passive aggressive nature. Though this sounds oxymoronic, a back needs to be very controlled at times and then very strong and aggressive in the man-to-man, 50-50 ball battles. Because of the self-checking nature of the other team's attackers, a coach can sometimes get away with using players that have little speed and quickness. In other cases, at higher playing levels, it is very necessary that a fullback have good quickness, average short distance speed and decent kicking skills. Players that are below average in speed can make up for this with good game knowledge and positioning. Exceptional dribbling skills are not a major requirement in this position. Fullbacks do need to be good communicators, constantly directing and offering information to teammates.
• Sweeper
  This position is similar to the fullback characteristics, however, there are certain differences. This player needs above average short distance and long distance speed, good kicking technique, a very good understanding of the team shape, and good communication skills. He needs to be able direct the players in front of him and run down through balls and breakaway attackers. Since he is support to the players in front of him, he must be able to pick up dribblers as they get past their marks or track down unmarked attackers as they make off-ball runs on goal. Often the sweeper is the first or second best athlete on the team and one of the fastest. This player must be a thinker with decent reaction time.
• Stopper
  This position requires a combination of sweeper, fullback and center half characteristics. The stopper often has some free rein, must be able to distribute the ball, win balls in traffic and get back to pick up unmarked attackers. At times, the stopper needs to recover into the sweeper
  position (deep center) if the sweeper is pulled out.
• Goalkeeper
  The first criteria is have very good hands--that is, the ability to catch a ball at all heights and angles. These players have to have quick feet and a healthy dose of fearlessness with going after a ball with an attacker coming in hard. Having strength and good size, specifically height, is a given. The goalkeeper must have great vision and awareness. The quicker this player can react, the better. The more experience a player has at this position, the better he should be at dealing with the different situations.

The First Word......

This is the very first time I experience Blogger, hopefully it will turn out to be fun ......