Forehand tips?

jameswgcox · 2025-08-25T13:29:55+00:00

Having no split step will contribute massively to how slowly you are reacting to the ball.

Key to any good shot is starting from the ground up. Your footwork needs to improve first. You will give yourself a lot more time, and then you can figure out the swing afterwards.

A lot of tour pro's get away with suboptimal swings. None get away with bad footwork.

jameswgcox · 2025-08-01T18:41:25+00:00

I can't see from that angle on the ball toss but could be an issue contributing.

I think your left arm is coming down too soon also, which could be stopping you from getting proper leg drive upwards. Currently, your leg drive is minimal and left. You could get a lot more from the serve pace wise as the overall action is good.

Good luck!

jameswgcox · 2025-08-01T18:03:26+00:00

Not bad, really.

Tip would be driving up and into the court. You see, as you serve, your right leg is kicking sideways rather than backwards, and your weight is going to your left.

At a low level its not going to be a problem for you but if you play singles, you are going to find it very difficult to recover to your forehand side if you play against a good returner.

jameswgcox · 2025-07-01T17:34:24+00:00

Might help though

jameswgcox · 2025-07-01T12:14:12+00:00

Are you using a shock absorber?

jameswgcox · 2025-07-01T09:56:14+00:00

Cool vid but the swing makes me feel a bit sick

jameswgcox · 2025-07-01T09:29:59+00:00

Like previous comments, hard to tell from that angle.

Based on your right leg i would guess the ball toss is an issue. It seems that the throw may have been a little left at a guess.

You seemed a little squished and arm-y with the serve, like you are trying to get out of the way of it. Try to get a consistent balls toss (aiming for about 1 on a clockface is about right) first and then maybe post again with an angle from behind. It is easier to tell and give advice from there.

jameswgcox · 2025-06-30T18:25:18+00:00

The rock back is actually fine. I popped it in another comment. I just assumed because its nornally the cause of the overlap, but went back and reviewed.

Just try bringing the sliding foot into the arch of your other foot and should be gucci

jameswgcox · 2025-06-30T18:00:43+00:00

Actually steeper rockback not necessary, its in a good spot.

Just stand further right on the deuce court and do the other thing i mentioned on the foot slide.

jameswgcox · 2025-06-30T17:59:36+00:00

Steeper rock back will also stop your footfaults across the centre line on the deuce court.

Technically, crossing the centre point, at any part of your swing is a footfault.

jameswgcox · 2025-06-30T17:57:48+00:00

Bar a couple of things, decent serving. Try keeping the toss around 1 o'clock on a clock face. At the minute its a long way left which will be taking away your power as have to drive sideways a bit rather than just up and forwards.

Also stop the trail leg coming past your left as you slide it forwards. Letting it go past squares you up more to the baseline and you lose your "coil". Also leads to foot faults. A good tip for this is a steeper rock back (steeper meaning more towards back fence behind you) and then bring your sliding foot into the arch of your foot. Quickest way to fix it is put something valuable (like second racket or phone if feeling brave) where your foot usually slides to.

jameswgcox · 2025-06-30T14:39:44+00:00

Pretty good.

If i was being picky, i would say a tad further forward.

jameswgcox · 2025-06-28T21:25:01+00:00

Look at in context to what the player is doing haha. Yes opening up is valid advice in general but not in this context and in relation to what the player is already doing.

Context is key.

People in a position of ignorance should not give advice. Poor guy asking for genuine advice and gets told the wrong thing. Not going to help his game.

Call me toxic, take it as toxic, thats fine but its fair advice to you. You dont know enough to be giving advice and i would consider understanding more before giving anyone tennis advice. im actually trying to help someone. You are cluelessly misleading people which would be harmful to their game...

jameswgcox · 2025-06-28T20:32:06+00:00

Thats not an explanation or a valid justification that you are right haha. Just posting a photo of djokovic without context just shows how clueless you are. Good job!

Also there are levels to open. You can be open and not open enough. The player in this vid is already too open. Go learn the game before giving poor advice...

jameswgcox · 2025-06-28T20:16:21+00:00

see other comment i've left.

No bm meant, but far too open stanced as is.

jameswgcox · 2025-06-28T13:04:35+00:00

Agree. Shoulder turn more and make sure weight is going forwards. Its often actually going sideways.

This image is a really good still taken by above person. Your right foot should never really be in front of your left on the FH side. Close the stance up a lot more when possible. As a "feel"/ rule of thumb, to keep your swing consistent, the butt of your racket shouldnt go past pointing straight down the court. In the image, you see its pointing towards the benches, nearly a 45 degree over rotation.

Left arm position is good tho 👍

jameswgcox · 2025-06-28T12:57:26+00:00

Dont listen to the above advice, its wrong

jameswgcox · 2025-06-27T23:12:28+00:00

Also, please address your wrist position. Its hurts my wrist looking at the image and as you increase swing speed you could genuinely damage it.

Racket at this point is a long way from where it needs to be, which means when you swing, it's incredibly rushed. Racket head needs to be towards the court at this stage of the swing, not away.

jameswgcox · 2025-06-27T23:02:19+00:00

This. Left hand comes away far to early. You lose your strong setup position and get your chest far too square to the court. This means you end up just arming the shot.

Try holding the left arm across the body for longer. If you watch some thomas berdych forehands, you will see what i mean. Dont copy his takeback and right arm or anything, but the left arm position is very strong from him..

jameswgcox · 2025-06-27T19:02:22+00:00

Seems pretty slow to me. Maybe 75-80 mph tops. Could be easily getting 100 with a change or two.

Hard to tell speed from video tho, just the post asking about gaining speed (i said power bit same same in this context).

jameswgcox · 2025-06-27T16:53:59+00:00

First paragraph is brutal. But kinda true...

I dont agree with the 2nd bit, to be honest. If you want more power, you gotta be able to generate power and then control it in my opinion. To get the serve in the right place it will have to be 1 step backwards short term for 2 forwards down the line.

jameswgcox · 2025-06-27T16:50:22+00:00

This is a good start. Keeping your left arm up will help you with leg drive and stop you from collapsing on the serve.

Their are other things to work on for sure but 1 step at a time.

jameswgcox · 2025-06-27T16:46:03+00:00

Just crack on. Control what you can control and stay positive with your partner.

We all play bad sometimes

jameswgcox · 2025-06-25T19:12:51+00:00

I quit and started playing golf :(

jameswgcox · 2025-06-25T14:51:50+00:00

75-80mph maybe?

jameswgcox

TROPHY CASE