Wednesday, March 11, 2015

Going to matches early and hitting on racquetball court. Was practicing a two hand forehand and totally forgot about an eastern forehand...

From most control/least power to least control/most power:
1. Slice backhand
2. Two handed backhand
3. Beginning with two hands but left hand letting go before contact
4. One hand backhand
a. continental
b. eastern
c. extreme eastern

1. Slice forehand
2. Two hand forehand
3. One hand forehand
a. continental
b. eastern
c. semiwestern
d. western

Because of tennis elbow issues I've had to start using a very heavy racquet. 15 ounces and it definitely makes a difference. Unfortunately I need it for my serve, (that's the shot that hurts my elbow). I like to hit a lot of topspin on my groundstrokes though and that doesn't go well with a heavy racquet. So I've been trying to change my grip to hit less topspin (eastern forehand grip). It worked really well one day. (Beat Brewster 6-0, 6-3.) Next I played doubles and it didn't work well at all. Although it's harder to get a rhythm in doubles and maybe it was fatigued or something from that very first time. Thinking instead to just choke up on groundstrokes.

Serve
1. Stand like McEnroe.
2. Don't bounce the ball.
3. Do a bit of a rocking motion like Becker to help keep the toss good.
4. Turn your torso into the court and swing your arm around at the same time.
5. Don't lean torso downwards as you swing your arm.
6. Keep the swing very smooth for the sake of your arm if nothing else.

So much to remember on serve compared to other shots.

Forehand
(Choke up?) No idea what to do. Other than be smooth....

Backhand
1. Continental grip
2. Backswing like going to hit a two handed backhand but actually hit it with either one hand or two hands, whatever feels comfortable for a given shot. Either way, lean forward.
4. Aim for corners or right at opponent.
5. When opponent is at net, most likely hit two handed

Or perhaps just keep western grip with right hand when hitting two hand backhand. At least on the serve? Not sure. And if I choke up on the forehand, hitting a two backhand may be a problem as the left hand is halfway not even on the handle. So I don't know. Was watching Fabrice Santoro and thinking I really like his two handed volleys also.

So either I switch to an eastern or continental or I choke up. On two handed backhand not sure if I should use continental or western grip. On ROS western may work better but otherwise then have a grip change if I want to hit a one handed slice or even drive.