In plain sight for decades Steve but you're the only player or coach to open my eyes to foot position with direction of shot. Uncanny because I always wondered how Djokovic anticipates his return game so intuitively. Coincidence he always wears contact lenses? Somehow I don't think so. I have watched my opponent's racquet at the net for clues to ball direction only looking through the twine for their feet isn't always 2020 but Djokovic has to be using this at least in part to warrant the nickname Human Backboard. Yes absolutely this makes perfect sense. Every shot aligned with uncoiling of the body perpendicular downragnge of where you want the shot to go, becomes a higher percentage for success. So simple so essential to consistency of shot. Yet I never thought to consciencously do it and never dreamed of looking for it in your opponent. Very interesting indeed. 👍👍😎
@@Better_Call_Raul I would not term it an issue but a tip off or clue yes I think we can say that. Same as if you watch your opponent's grip or the angle of of your opponent's racquet these are important clues as to where your opponent is attempting* to go with there shot. The more you can interpret and anticipate these subtle clues before the opponent hits the ball the more competitive your shot can be. The issue is how much time can you take away from your opponent. The more you rush them the more likely they are to commit an error that works in your favour. I bet Djokovic could write an interesting chapter on reading your opponent. Boris Becker read Ivan Lendl's serve nearly every single time by noticing his tongue always hung out his month the side he was about to serve too. Boris never told Ivan until they retired. (that's a lot of easy points!) 🤔
@@Richibald1 True. It is very subtle. Coach Steve says that pros are mostly reading each others shots anyway. Don't think this foot position is a tip-off. Note that the pros are split-stepping and in mid-air as opponent is about to swing forward and make contact. In other words , they are in mid-air and the opponent has still not quite established their foot position. So the foot position is not much of a tip-off. There are probably many other tip-offs that are easier to read that the pros are looking at.
@@Better_Call_Raul Steve is referring to baseline shots not serves is he not? Forehand backhand can both be open stance so obviously they can't be read every time. More often on the serve in my opinion. Good players use there body weight more than there arm. So if playing good players as opposed to weekend warriors. They must get the lead foot perpendicular to direction desired if they want body weight properly uncoiling into a deep shot from the baseline. Unit turn then hit with head still right. Open stance from baseline is a less powerful delivery on average. If you let your uncoiling body pull your arm through the hit that will be where you get the effortless power. If you combine the uncoiling with a sweetspot launch you will be as surprised as your opponent at the speed and control. Especially if you are keeping that head still by looking at ball impact from back of racquet if possible. Let the other guy worry about where it's landing. Your locked focus on the ball dwelling on your strings keeps the receiver guessing until returns are too late. That's what I've found from instruction here and believe you me watching your nemesis chasing hopelessly after your shot is exquisitely gratifying 😇
@@Richibald1 I am referring to baseline shots as well. Steve says the right foot position on the forehand will vary regardless of the stance (open, semi-open or neutral sideways).
Wonderful lesson. Will try this out. 🎾 Vary the right foot position for directional control but the left foot will remain identical. Correct? Have never heard this tip. Instead, coaches emphatically tell me that you should be able to hit either cross-court or down the line, *with exactly the same foot stance!* (only the contact point will vary for directional control). 🤔
Steve, Enjoy your simple and easily understood suggestions.. I feel, you should always use this baseline camera angle, as it provides the best visual demonstration of your suggestions 👍🎾
Thanks John, I agree, I really don't know what I'm doing. It's the first time I've experimented with camera angles. I think this means I'm very lucky that so many people are patient and view these videos. But I do think this is clearer and better. Glad your enjoying the channel. Do you have any other tennis issues that I could help with? If so let me know www.oneminutetennis.com
Unfortunately that depends entirely on the server. It was almost impossible to read the Federer service. Some are easier than others. Wish I could help more
Hi Steve. Oscar Wenger says direction of ball has nothing to with feet. I have seen him in a video where he he sitting in a chair and hitting balls in different directions, so he is using angle of the racquet for direction. I am not saying that you are wrong, it's just two different approaches. Correct me if I am wrong, but I understand that the foot, in this case right, is the anchor point for the stroke, body rotation, coordination, etc. Good work Steve, Gracias.
Hi. For sure, you can hit the ball in any direction with an adjustment of the racket face. So he's right. But... The less you have to adjust the less chance of miss hits or errors . So he's right, but not the best advice. As an example. I can serve ok with my eyes closed. But that doesn't mean it's the best way. Hope this makes sense It's great that your enjoying the site. www.oneminutetennis.com
Hi. Great question The pros read where their opponents are hitting the ball really well. Watch closely and you'll see that when Djokovic plays Nadal , many times, they are moving before the opponents hit the ball. They read the body of their opponents. But yes, your right, this is really aimed at higher level recreational players. Glad your enjoying the channel. Do you have any other tennis issues that I could help with? If so let me know www.oneminutetennis.com
The same in boxing... All about the foot work.... A boxer can box just by looking at the opponents feet. A friend of mine taught his boxers to play table tennis for this reason.
This makes sense, however, looking at some one handed bh players (say Wawrinka) he almost always points his front foot diagonally no matter where he hits.
Yes. Most players do this. But the better and more natural the stroke, the more likely it is that they will have their own idiosyncratic movements. Although Djokovic is the player that I see this movement the most in. Glad your enjoying the channel. Do you have any other tennis issues that I could help with? If so let me know www.oneminutetennis.com
maybe better to say that it is harder to hit cross court when the back foot is parallel. when it's pointed slightly into the court any shot is possible.. If it was as you said, every forehand would be read by the opponent
Honestly. The pros read 99% of their opponents groundstrokes. It's really clear. The issue is making the shot and hitting with consistent accurate power... Disguise is only really important for passing shots. Hope that this makes sense. It's great that your enjoying the site. www.oneminutetennis.com
You hit the nail right on the head. I see him doing the same thing over and over again. I even see him commenting (negatively) on tennis sites in Japan... seriously!
This is genius-thank you so much!❤
Great Tip!
Thank you for this straight-forward and useful information!
Excellent
Another great video. Thank you. And. 1st
Thanks
In plain sight for decades Steve but you're the only player or coach to open my eyes to foot position with direction of shot. Uncanny because I always wondered how Djokovic anticipates his return game so intuitively. Coincidence he always wears contact lenses? Somehow I don't think so. I have watched my opponent's racquet at the net for clues to ball direction only looking through the twine for their feet isn't always 2020 but Djokovic has to be using this at least in part to warrant the nickname Human Backboard.
Yes absolutely this makes perfect sense. Every shot aligned with uncoiling of the body perpendicular downragnge of where you want the shot to go, becomes a higher percentage for success. So simple so essential to consistency of shot. Yet I never thought to consciencously do it and never dreamed of looking for it in your opponent. Very interesting indeed. 👍👍😎
Is there an issue of disguise, i.e. opponent reading your foot position? 🤔
@@Better_Call_Raul I would not term it an issue but a tip off or clue yes I think we can say that. Same as if you watch your opponent's grip or the angle of of your opponent's racquet these are important clues as to where your opponent is attempting* to go with there shot. The more you can interpret and anticipate these subtle clues before the opponent hits the ball the more competitive your shot can be.
The issue is how much time can you take away from your opponent. The more you rush them the more likely they are to commit an error that works in your favour. I bet Djokovic could write an interesting chapter on reading your opponent. Boris Becker read Ivan Lendl's serve nearly every single time by noticing his tongue always hung out his month the side he was about to serve too. Boris never told Ivan until they retired. (that's a lot of easy points!) 🤔
@@Richibald1 True. It is very subtle. Coach Steve says that pros are mostly reading each others shots anyway.
Don't think this foot position is a tip-off.
Note that the pros are split-stepping and in mid-air as opponent is about to swing forward and make contact. In other words , they are in mid-air and the opponent has still not quite established their foot position. So the foot position is not much of a tip-off. There are probably many other tip-offs that are easier to read that the pros are looking at.
@@Better_Call_Raul Steve is referring to baseline shots not serves is he not? Forehand backhand can both be open stance so obviously they can't be read every time. More often on the serve in my opinion. Good players use there body weight more than there arm. So if playing good players as opposed to weekend warriors. They must get the lead foot perpendicular to direction desired if they want body weight properly uncoiling into a deep shot from the baseline. Unit turn then hit with head still right. Open stance from baseline is a less powerful delivery on average. If you let your uncoiling body pull your arm through the hit that will be where you get the effortless power. If you combine the uncoiling with a sweetspot launch you will be as surprised as your opponent at the speed and control. Especially if you are keeping that head still by looking at ball impact from back of racquet if possible. Let the other guy worry about where it's landing. Your locked focus on the ball dwelling on your strings keeps the receiver guessing until returns are too late. That's what I've found from instruction here and believe you me watching your nemesis chasing hopelessly after your shot is exquisitely gratifying 😇
@@Richibald1 I am referring to baseline shots as well. Steve says the right foot position on the forehand will vary regardless of the stance (open, semi-open or neutral sideways).
Do u have content for competitive kids? like how to help them improve fast, what are the keys to work on etc...? for different age group
Wonderful lesson. Will try this out. 🎾
Vary the right foot position for directional control but the left foot will remain identical. Correct?
Have never heard this tip. Instead, coaches emphatically tell me that you should be able to hit either cross-court or down the line, *with exactly the same foot stance!* (only the contact point will vary for directional control). 🤔
Steve, Enjoy your simple and easily understood suggestions.. I feel, you should always use this baseline camera angle, as it provides the best visual demonstration of your suggestions 👍🎾
Thanks John,
I agree,
I really don't know what I'm doing.
It's the first time I've experimented with camera angles.
I think this means I'm very lucky that so many people are patient and view these videos.
But I do think this is clearer and better.
Glad your enjoying the channel.
Do you have any other tennis issues that I could help with? If so let me know
www.oneminutetennis.com
Steve, is there anything we can learn about the server's intended target from the axial orientation of his forward foot?
Unfortunately that depends entirely on the server.
It was almost impossible to read the Federer service. Some are easier than others. Wish I could help more
If I keep my heel off the ground does the foot alignment tip still apply?
Hi Vlad,
Yes, it's really about the angle of the foot setting up the angle of the hips. And then the body is aligned with the ball.
Hi Steve. Oscar Wenger says direction of ball has nothing to with feet. I have seen him in a video where he he sitting in a chair and hitting balls in different directions, so he is using angle of the racquet for direction. I am not saying that you are wrong, it's just two different approaches. Correct me if I am wrong, but I understand that the foot, in this case right, is the anchor point for the stroke, body rotation, coordination, etc. Good work Steve, Gracias.
Hi.
For sure, you can hit the ball in any direction with an adjustment of the racket face.
So he's right.
But... The less you have to adjust the less chance of miss hits or errors .
So he's right, but not the best advice.
As an example. I can serve ok with my eyes closed. But that doesn't mean it's the best way.
Hope this makes sense
It's great that your enjoying the site.
www.oneminutetennis.com
Makes huge sense on the rec level. If pros did this during matches, wouldn't it make their intended targets easily readable to their opponent?
Hi. Great question
The pros read where their opponents are hitting the ball really well.
Watch closely and you'll see that when Djokovic plays Nadal , many times, they are moving before the opponents hit the ball.
They read the body of their opponents.
But yes, your right, this is really aimed at higher level recreational players.
Glad your enjoying the channel.
Do you have any other tennis issues that I could help with? If so let me know
www.oneminutetennis.com
The same in boxing... All about the foot work.... A boxer can box just by looking at the opponents feet. A friend of mine taught his boxers to play table tennis for this reason.
This makes sense, however, looking at some one handed bh players (say Wawrinka) he almost always points his front foot diagonally no matter where he hits.
Yes. Most players do this. But the better and more natural the stroke, the more likely it is that they will have their own idiosyncratic movements.
Although Djokovic is the player that I see this movement the most in.
Glad your enjoying the channel.
Do you have any other tennis issues that I could help with? If so let me know
www.oneminutetennis.com
Third in comments. Congrats to First and Second place 🎉
maybe better to say that it is harder to hit cross court when the back foot is parallel. when it's pointed slightly into the court any shot is possible.. If it was as you said, every forehand would be read by the opponent
Honestly. The pros read 99% of their opponents groundstrokes.
It's really clear.
The issue is making the shot and hitting with consistent accurate power...
Disguise is only really important for passing shots.
Hope that this makes sense.
It's great that your enjoying the site.
www.oneminutetennis.com
Now Wally Friend will come and comment like I don't agree with this philosophy because when you look at the Fed's foot ... bla bla LOL
Bwahahahahhahaha. I was thinking the same!!!!!!
I think that Federer's big toe points in a different direction.
I wonder who might point this discrepancy out?
You hit the nail right on the head. I see him doing the same thing over and over again. I even see him commenting (negatively) on tennis sites in Japan... seriously!
like
I would put the back foot at 45 degrees not 90 degrees. I think at 90 degrees you're more likely to hit wide not straight down.