Clear instruction on where to stand, how to swing, when to do it, and the fact sometimes have to back up. I'm looking forward to working on this. Thanks.
Good demonstration and drill. Like Gus, I was surprised to see you are so athletic and have polished strokes, and are not just the daughter of the website owner! Your strokes actually look like mine and I love the one handed-backhand! I'll check out your other videos. Thanks Blair. Who knew?!
One handed backhand, step in with your front foot and hip opening early enough to have the foot land with toes pointing more towards the net. At the same time, keep your shoulders way more closed. You will develop right knee problems as you get older if you don't make this change.
Nice video! One comment- I think it’s important for players to understand that while they are trying to play on the rise the ball needs to rise to their strike zone.....it’s not a half volley as this could affect their overall posture and balance in a negative. Good work!
She is great to explain the different shots, I didn't even know this shot existed as a choice shot. She is a one handed backhander too, which is great, maybe she can convince some of the younger generation to use the one handed backhand when learning tennis.
Great tips Blair. May I ask which racquet (and strings) are you currently hitting with? This video shows a Wilson racquet and some kind of poly. You noted in the Babolat AeroPro video you were looking for a new racquet....thanks!
I got a few lucky shots the last few days and hitting the ball almost straight from the ground. I ges 20 or 25 cm. The opponent said he was not even finished with his stroke and the ball was already past him. I am just into tennis for a year now and not practicing enough. Only once every two or three weeks. But if I could learn this shot it would be something.
Great video! May I suggest wearing a lavaliere microphone to improve sound quality, especially where there is a lot of background noise? I like the Sennheiser MKE2. Sweetwater dot com
So I'm noticing that you open your shoulders before you finish the stroke on high balls but in the demonstration you are instructing to keep the shoulders locked. Does the amount of spin or height on the ball change the form you should use?
Joshua Sharkey Hi Joshua - In the slo-mo demonstration, I was simply trying to show what the contact point should look like. You're right...in a full speed forehand, you are going to unwrap your shoulders as you follow through.
FairwayJack Hi! You're going to start with your strings slightly closed through the backswing, but they should be perpendicular to the ground (straight up and down) on contact.Hope that helps!
I have a question. I see in your instructions you are advising to hit on the rise almost as if hitting it on half-volley/hitting it off the bounce .. with your body bending nicely and not waiting for the ball to come to your strike zone. But in your practice shots .. you are much behind the bounce of the ball and hitting it after it has risen to your strike zone. Why so?
Ramanan Varadarajan Thanks for watching! As long as you are catching the ball before its peak, you are technically hitting the ball on the rise. In other words, there are definitely varying levels of an on-the-rise ball. So, you could hit a ball right after the bounce like a half volley, or, if you're not quite close enough, you can let it come up a little higher. It really depends on your court positioning, but the same concepts still apply!
I believe it's all about ball's behavior coming at you, I mean it all depends on your opponents style of play or how he returns the ball unto you. You have to adjust and use right timing to hit the ball on-the-rise or hitting at the strike-zone depending on the balls movement from your opponent. That's my own observation and analysis..
Jimmy Connors started the "hit the ball on the rise" nonsense 30 years ago. Against a skilled opponent the ball has to be at or near your feet to execute. In other words it's virtually impossible to hit on the rise w/o lots of luck. Watch any pro match and you'll see contact is made at the Apex, 95% of the time. This makes sense since a ball at the Apex is at zero acceleration & zero gravity.
Clear instruction on where to stand, how to swing, when to do it, and the fact sometimes have to back up. I'm looking forward to working on this. Thanks.
I love your one handed backhand.
flowremix Well, thanks!
All your videos are very clear to understand and make a lot of sense. Yes, eyes on the ball!!
Thanks for watching! I currently use a Wilson K-Surge with Technifibre Black Code string. I still haven't made the switch (I'll keep you posted!).
Good demonstration and drill. Like Gus, I was surprised to see you are so athletic and have polished strokes, and are not just the daughter of the website owner! Your strokes actually look like mine and I love the one handed-backhand! I'll check out your other videos. Thanks Blair. Who knew?!
your one-handed backhand is absolutely brilliant. barely seen before. well done & do post more how-to's
Will do! Thanks for watching.
One handed backhand, step in with your front foot and hip opening early enough to have the foot land with toes pointing more towards the net. At the same time, keep your shoulders way more closed. You will develop right knee problems as you get older if you don't make this change.
Thank you! Your instructions are so clear and helpful.
Android18uk Thanks for watching!
Nice video! One comment- I think it’s important for players to understand that while they are trying to play on the rise the ball needs to rise to their strike zone.....it’s not a half volley as this could affect their overall posture and balance in a negative. Good work!
She is great to explain the different shots, I didn't even know this shot existed as a choice shot. She is a one handed backhander too, which is great, maybe she can convince some of the younger generation to use the one handed backhand when learning tennis.
Thank you so much, this video will help me improve my footwork and forehand problem!
Thank you sooo much! you don't how much you helped me, I always miss those shots
You have great form! Thanks for the easy to understand tips!
Thanks for the helpful videos and tips.
I love your backhand better than the forehand :)
Nice job!
Great work, Blair. Thank you.
Pedro DaSiva Thanks for watching, Pedro!
Blair nice quality video, good demo, right on advice. More!
Good instruction and nice single handed backhand.
Eric Pietersz
National Coach
Lawn Tennis Association of Malaysia
awesome backhand!
Thanks for your help
great lesson. Thx!
excellent tutorial!!!
Excellent! Thanks!
Great tips Blair. May I ask which racquet (and strings) are you currently hitting with? This video shows a Wilson racquet and some kind of poly. You noted in the Babolat AeroPro video you were looking for a new racquet....thanks!
Very good, excelent
great stuff atacking the ball is my fav shot ,when it comes off lol cheers blair
liam dunton It's the best, right? Nothing like putting a little pressure on your opponent:).
yes i agree blair and im getting to a level now where its important to get the upper hand ,always looking for new tips ,thanks liam
great tip thanks again
Good instruction. Showed it to my high school girls team. They face a lot of pushers and moonballers.
Nice, I had no idea you actually played tennis I just thought you talked tennis gossip... Good job!
She has a beautiful swing!
Beautiful forehand. It looks very effortless. Are you using an Eastern or Semi-Western grip?
i think its semi western grip =D
+devin labadini
I got a few lucky shots the last few days and hitting the ball almost straight from the ground. I ges 20 or 25 cm. The opponent said he was not even finished with his stroke and the ball was already past him. I am just into tennis for a year now and not practicing enough. Only once every two or three weeks. But if I could learn this shot it would be something.
You have the best stroke in all shots.
Great video! May I suggest wearing a lavaliere microphone to improve sound quality, especially where there is a lot of background noise? I like the Sennheiser MKE2. Sweetwater dot com
Nice
I hope in the next vid you will put engsub bcs I'm can't really catch up
click 'cc' on the video to show subtitle which was automatically made by youtube software, the subtitle is not perfect
So I'm noticing that you open your shoulders before you finish the stroke on high balls but in the demonstration you are instructing to keep the shoulders locked. Does the amount of spin or height on the ball change the form you should use?
Joshua Sharkey Hi Joshua - In the slo-mo demonstration, I was simply trying to show what the contact point should look like. You're right...in a full speed forehand, you are going to unwrap your shoulders as you follow through.
me gusto el video. Lo que no me gusto fue el ruido que produce en el fondo. Se pierde algo de la explicacion que esta haciendo la exponente.
only problem is you can't practice a REAL on the rise shot without someone on the other side because in a real game more topspin is coming at you.
Blair..should I angle the racket face downwards on this shot ?? Thx
FairwayJack Hi! You're going to start with your strings slightly closed through the backswing, but they should be perpendicular to the ground (straight up and down) on contact.Hope that helps!
Thx !!
Ur good
thank you!!! this is my worst shot :D
I have a question. I see in your instructions you are advising to hit on the rise almost as if hitting it on half-volley/hitting it off the bounce .. with your body bending nicely and not waiting for the ball to come to your strike zone. But in your practice shots .. you are much behind the bounce of the ball and hitting it after it has risen to your strike zone. Why so?
Ramanan Varadarajan Thanks for watching! As long as you are catching the ball before its peak, you are technically hitting the ball on the rise. In other words, there are definitely varying levels of an on-the-rise ball. So, you could hit a ball right after the bounce like a half volley, or, if you're not quite close enough, you can let it come up a little higher. It really depends on your court positioning, but the same concepts still apply!
I believe it's all about ball's behavior coming at you, I mean it all depends on your opponents style of play or how he returns the ball unto you. You have to adjust and use right timing to hit the ball on-the-rise or hitting at the strike-zone depending on the balls movement from your opponent. That's my own observation and analysis..
Turn the music off!
Jimmy Connors started the "hit the ball on the rise" nonsense 30 years ago. Against a skilled opponent the ball has to be at or near your feet to execute. In other words it's virtually impossible to hit on the rise w/o lots of luck. Watch any pro match and you'll see contact is made at the Apex, 95% of the time. This makes sense since a ball at the Apex is at zero acceleration & zero gravity.
u forgot to mention that u need good fkn hands for this ffs! and that also means volume on the ball ... stop leading players into false hope ...
Nice