I love that concept, "Extend before you bend". I always had a better one handed backhand than forehand. My forehand was inconsistent and many times landed short. My backhand was consistently deep and heavy. A hitting partner once told me, "Your forehand doesn't do damage, but your backhand does do damage". So I filmed myself, and what I discovered was eye opening. On my backhand I extended forward, where on my forehand I would rush that "around the body" windshield wiper movement, causing my forehand to lack penetration. By extending my arm at contact, problem solved, and my forehand started doing damage. Sorry to hear about Robert Lansdorp's passing. He was a coaching legend.
Good video. Now I understand why Linsdey Davenport had such flat ground strokes. She was taught to do that and she excelled at it. If I try to do the wrap around my neck or waist, which many instructors and books teach, I end up hitting short and without as much power. If I "extend before I bend (nice phrase)" I hit much harder and deeper. If I never bend it doesn't make much difference in how hard I hit. It seems more a matter of style than function. Sampras and the others you mentioned hit very hard and probably almost as hard as Federer, Serena etc. A combination of hitting this way but getting some topspin would be the best. I have a hard time hitting topspin. I either hit this way or I hit topspin but my shots don't have much speed and frequently land short.
If the extend is to the outside and up you get both tops in and penetration. I think that's what Federer & Alcaraz excel at. Rather than throwing the racquet forward, it's to the outside then forward. At any rate that's how I think about it and focus on the tip rather than the center
Thanks for your comments and experience with extension. Stick the fundamentals...make them the best you can. That is the pathway to success! Best, John
gold tip for me : "extend before I bend (nice phrase)" ❤ another tip is good for me is from Patrick M, " your body moves forward after the racket after hit ball, as racket is 100KG weight, let racket leads the body forward". I believe the two statement have simmilar result, extanding hitting zone to maximum. I used to have much more top spin, ball is high and short, with lower speeds. Trying hard to hit more flat and deep balls recently.
I have the impression that on average, Sampras's FH wasn't as consistent and high quality as Fed's. Sure, when he was gel'in, he went for broke freely, running in 7th gear, but he couldn't keep it up throughout the season or the tournament. In his prime, Fed consistently ran in 6th gear and delivered 7th gear shotmaking regularly. Most impressive was he needn't go for broke to perform like that. His FH was repeatable. Pete's was more flaky and depended often and a lot on feel, on that day! Also, because of his melding of traditional and modern forehand elements, Fed's superior topspin gave him regular, repeatable access to angles that Sampras could not match. The Lansdorp style driving FH works great on fast, lower bounce courts and stylistically fits well players who attack the net, and prefer to keep the points short. Against players with a steadier, more topspin forehand of equal mastery, though, especially if they also move well, like a Djokovic or Nadal, it's a tall order to outhit them or hit winners pass them with a driving FH. Before you point out Delpo, he actually had a spinnier rally ball that he sat on until there was an opening to drive the ball with the Hammer.
Thanks for your comments and contribution to the video. The Sampras forehand was more of a "classic" technique vs the "modern" of RF, and would not be as effective today as the court speeds have certainly slowed. Best, John
@@PerformancePlusTennis I didn’t mean anything bad by it. I enjoyed your video. I watch a ton of different channels. Some with conflicting information. Your information seems pretty solid. Thanks for the content.
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I love that concept, "Extend before you bend".
I always had a better one handed backhand than forehand. My forehand was inconsistent and many times landed short. My backhand was consistently deep and heavy. A hitting partner once told me, "Your forehand doesn't do damage, but your backhand does do damage".
So I filmed myself, and what I discovered was eye opening. On my backhand I extended forward, where on my forehand I would rush that "around the body" windshield wiper movement, causing my forehand to lack penetration. By extending my arm at contact, problem solved, and my forehand started doing damage.
Sorry to hear about Robert Lansdorp's passing. He was a coaching legend.
Hi Eric, Thanks for your sharing experience and contribution to the video! Best, John
Good video. Now I understand why Linsdey Davenport had such flat ground strokes. She was taught to do that and she excelled at it. If I try to do the wrap around my neck or waist, which many instructors and books teach, I end up hitting short and without as much power. If I "extend before I bend (nice phrase)" I hit much harder and deeper. If I never bend it doesn't make much difference in how hard I hit. It seems more a matter of style than function. Sampras and the others you mentioned hit very hard and probably almost as hard as Federer, Serena etc. A combination of hitting this way but getting some topspin would be the best. I have a hard time hitting topspin. I either hit this way or I hit topspin but my shots don't have much speed and frequently land short.
If the extend is to the outside and up you get both tops in and penetration. I think that's what Federer & Alcaraz excel at. Rather than throwing the racquet forward, it's to the outside then forward. At any rate that's how I think about it and focus on the tip rather than the center
@@at1838 Thanks for your experience and contribution to the video! Best, John
Thanks for your comments and experience with extension. Stick the fundamentals...make them the best you can. That is the pathway to success! Best, John
Just had this conversation with a student yesterday. I must have been channeling you! “Extend before you bend” is coaching gold!!
@@the1tfactor Thanks Tanya! Miss you! Best, John
gold tip for me : "extend before I bend (nice phrase)" ❤
another tip is good for me is from Patrick M, " your body moves forward after the racket after hit ball, as racket is 100KG weight, let racket leads the body forward". I believe the two statement have simmilar result, extanding hitting zone to maximum.
I used to have much more top spin, ball is high and short, with lower speeds. Trying hard to hit more flat and deep balls recently.
Thank you for the great feedback! Glad this was helpful to you! Best, John
Extension really helps your aim and its extremely useful for serve returns.
I have the impression that on average, Sampras's FH wasn't as consistent and high quality as Fed's. Sure, when he was gel'in, he went for broke freely, running in 7th gear, but he couldn't keep it up throughout the season or the tournament.
In his prime, Fed consistently ran in 6th gear and delivered 7th gear shotmaking regularly. Most impressive was he needn't go for broke to perform like that. His FH was repeatable. Pete's was more flaky and depended often and a lot on feel, on that day!
Also, because of his melding of traditional and modern forehand elements, Fed's superior topspin gave him regular, repeatable access to angles that Sampras could not match.
The Lansdorp style driving FH works great on fast, lower bounce courts and stylistically fits well players who attack the net, and prefer to keep the points short. Against players with a steadier, more topspin forehand of equal mastery, though, especially if they also move well, like a Djokovic or Nadal, it's a tall order to outhit them or hit winners pass them with a driving FH. Before you point out Delpo, he actually had a spinnier rally ball that he sat on until there was an opening to drive the ball with the Hammer.
Thanks for your comments and contribution to the video. The Sampras forehand was more of a "classic" technique vs the "modern" of RF, and would not be as effective today as the court speeds have certainly slowed. Best, John
I was at an adjacent court and watch Lindsey closely. She still hit the ball clean and the sound the ball met the string was so loud.
Thanks john great instruction as usual. What
city do you give your lessons
Thank you so much! Time permitting, I coach in Newport Beach, California. Best, John
Play your court did a video exactly like this!!! I wonder if that’s who they got the idea from! Nice video!
Really? I don't watch their stuff. Not sure where they got the concept. Thanks, John
@@PerformancePlusTennis I didn’t mean anything bad by it. I enjoyed your video. I watch a ton of different channels. Some with conflicting information. Your information seems pretty solid. Thanks for the content.
@@JTReef No worries! Curious: When did Play Your Court release their version of this video? Thanks, John
@@PerformancePlusTennis Looks like they released it 3 years ago. ruclips.net/video/TVhzahTlXQM/видео.htmlsi=9v9rnwmvSVBvhMHW
What grip did Robert want his students to use?
Hi Ken, Eastern Forehand grip, although Maria Sharapova was move semi-western. He hated the Western grip! Best, John
Perfect I think that wrap around the neck needs help. YOu get older new players and they just get a tennis help trying to wrap it. El