The Australian Open tennis tournament for 2012 has just started, and one of the most compelling 1st round matches was between Bernard Tomic & Fernando Verdasco.
Tomic, down 2 sets to love, found a way in the brutal heat to hang in there and eventually come back to win the match in the 5th set.
I’ve taken a clip from the 2012 Australian Open tennis YouTube channel, specifically match point where Tomic plays a forehand groundstroke winner to close out the victory.
One of the things that Tomic does on this forehand groundstroke is to use a footwork pattern that allows him to approach the net IF he decides to after playing the shot.
Your Forehand Groundstroke – Could You Approach?
Follow up tennis topspin forehand footwork video.
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Hi guys. Hope you enjoyed this post. It’s an important one for your topspin forehand groundie.
Again, what’s your #1 footwork question for this shot?
I’m heading out the door to play my Monday doubles over at the Berkeley TC and will respond to your comments & questions when I get back home later this afternoon.
Thanks,
Brent
Brent,
On the forehand, which foot do I move first? For example, if the ball is hit the the forehand corner, do I move my right or left foot first? Same question for a ball hit down the middle or a short ball etc. By the way, your instruction has brought both discipline and confidence to my forehand. Regards, Joe
Joe,
you should be split stepping off your oponents hit (every time! holding racket with both hands I hope), then turning your shoulders (every shot starts with a shoulder turn)…your feet wiill naturally go with your shoulders,
Brent?
I love the way the kid set this up,,,moving verdasco around, then stepping in and blasting the shot to the open court (looks a little iside out). His footwork left him all posible choices to either come in or take the next verdasco return short back across for the winner. What I appreciate about this winner is that He didnt paint the line. He took the risk factor away and ended up with a “safe” winner..
Brent, my biggest problem in setting up for my forehand is getting too close to the ball and getting jammed up not allowing for a full swing. I seem to almost overrun the ball. It’s not a matter of not reacting to my opponent’s shot quicikly enough, but in getting too close. Can you help?
Hi, I had the same issues. To me it helped to prepare early: turn shoulders, racket back and then short steps to the ball while using your non-dominant arm to help pointing the ball. At first it can look mechanically, but now I have found my own a smooth rhythm in moving around. A bit Federer look-a-like
Making space for the swing and moving forward are the two most valuable tips I have been working on lately.
Brent, Great Stuff, trying ti find the time to practice it all. How about a few doubles clicks?
Thanks, Brent; another immediately useful insight.
Question: Is there an ideal alignment i.e. direction of the feet during the forehand?
Hi Robert.
The key is to think more about getting your shoulders turned sideways. Your feet will align themselves naturally.
Let’s not make this too complicated. Move your feet so you get aligned to the path of the incoming ball to where you have plenty of swing freedom. Not crowded.
If you can naturally step forward as you’re hitting that forehand, you’ve got the proper spacing.
Brent
Actually all 3 shots by Tomic in that rally demonstrate good footwork at contact. I see David Bailey (a tennis footwork coach from Australia) all over Tomic’s patterns. The basic idea to what David Bailey teaches is that you need to tailor your footwork pattern to the type of ball you get and for the type of ball you receive. Balls that put you in a defensive position mean that you need to hit a more defensive shot and try to give up a little ground as possible with as little risk as possible. So defensive footwork should try to help you get juice into your shots efficiently and help you recover to the middle as soon as possible. Weak balls from your opponent means that you should still try to be efficient but gain progress to take away time and space from your opponent without making an error. Offensive footwork should put more weight in the shot without having to alter drastically your normal swing patterns, and put you in a position to start moving further forward.
The inside out FH winner at match point is clearly an offensive shot with offensive footwork. Tomic took a forward transfer. He set up in a semi open stance (the feet are open but diagonal), load up on the back foot (his right), then lean a little into the shot, swing, kick the right leg back for balance (similar to the kick back on the serve), and then begin a recovery move forward.
Shanker. Always checking in with the good stuff. Appreciate it.
Good forward footwork against the ball at contact means you have less to do with the swing,
The less swing you have to bring, the more consistent you are as a shotmaker.
I know you’re a huge Fed fan. Can he keep his hot December streak going at the AO?
Brent
Rooting for Fed too! Love to see #17
Depends on his back, Rafa’s knee, Novak’s shoulder and my wildcard….Tsonga
if he plays his brains out like He has been! Whats your thoughts Brent?
I gotta believe that Fed can continue his recent hot streak from December.
Wondering now about the ATP political riff between Roger and Rafa and if that might have any mental effect if they play each other.
Brent
Agree with Eric … Fed’s chances are pretty good given that he’s maintained good health. If Rafa’s knees slow him down, that half of the draw could become Fed’s to win.
The ATP political rift between Roger & Rafa shouldn’t affect them mentally. They both know that fixing the scheduling problem is a complicated problem, and it’s totally reasonable for them to disagree on how to fix it.
I have had instructors tell me to maybe backup into a different zone to get a forward approach on a ball but I never put together the effects if I didn’t. That is, hitting while falling backwards would lose ground while backing up for a shot to gain ground on the forward momentum of the shot as you demonstrated. Sometimes I need a different set of words to get the point. Thanks
Hi Bill.
Rarely do we ever have to back up to get proper spacing so you can get the forward footwork through the shot.
The more you back up, the more you develop that response as a habit, which means you’ll rarely be able to take your opponents’ shots early to rob them of their time to get back into the middle of the court.
Create your spacing by moving along the baseline, either forward or backwards, as opposed to backwards away from the net.
Brent
Better concept than the old “follow through” advice–this gives us the reason we should “follow-through”—and it’s a better quality shot when we do.
Thanks.
Movin’ in Newt
Hi Newt.
If you move your feet though the shot directly towards your target, your racket moves forward as well, sort of creating a bigger traditional swing follow through.
And right, it is a better quality shot because you’ll be more consistent.
Brent
great tip! I find most players are too close to the ball most of the time (nobody is too far away). I got better on my spacing by preparing more like Agassi as opposed to a guy like Roddick. Andre’s hands and racket head from the start of his prep and all the way through the prep are way away from his body. Andy’s are very tight to his body and high. My racket is now a lower loop and farther away from body. I imagined I was inside a large tractor inner tube that was a the height of the approaching ball. I took the racket back above and outside the tube then dropped just below the tube and back up through the tube. My brain realized sooner I needed more space with the stick away from me right at the start. The biggest plus was on my return. In doubles I feel I can drive and charge effectively before I only felt the easy move forward was only with a chip.
Hi Mike.
What I like in your comments is how you’re willing to tinker and come up with a visual that works for you.
My swing shape feels more like the Nike swoosh on my forehand.
Brent
Brent,
Very good. Your demo: creating space and hitting the forehand ground stroke ‘as though you/the player were hitting an approach shot-not getting too close to the ball, moving forward into the court, etc.
Very good verbal: not so chatty, brief, to the point, demo and do, not a lot of verbage … you get the message!! Thanks, good play, ‘Creating space on the FH/GS.’
Tim G. (Super Senior Level, NTRP 4.0).
Hi Tim.
Thanks.
Brent
Brent, you don’t look any younger in that forehand video. That was a compliment BTW.
Thanks! It wasn’t THAT long ago …
Brent
Brent:
Thanks for the tip!! I’m working hard at moving forward through my groundies, especially in effort to apply more topspin. Creating good space is the difference between me and the 5.0 gals.
Ps. I don’t think you are ever too chatty but I did like the conciseness of this video.
Hi Audrey. Gotta admit, I am too chatty sometimes, but that’s me, and until I take communication courses, I’ll probably continue to talk a bit too much at times.
I also like these short videos, but I do want to impress how important it is to really work these simple tips.
I certainly don’t want to give the impression that a short, to-the-point tip equates to not having to practice it.
Brent
Great tip Brent.
An occasional problem I have with spacing is spacing too much, so I think that actually reflects the spacing progress I have made…keeping the feet moving seems to be the best fix for that.
The previous service tips demonstrating a short service (practice) stroke and pronation I have found very useful for warming up the serve and serving when I’m tired or have butterflies during a match. One of my opponents today commented on the wide variety of serves I have.
What you are demonstrating above looks a bit like what I think is a walkthrough step. I had been using it in front of the baseline in midcourt for return of an easy second serve. Makes sense to use it back of the baseline as well…so into my notes it goes.
Thanks to forehandshanker for an interesting post. I would add that I have found that even a foot or two forward can be very effective in improving ones court position.
I think my biggest problem comes from trying to figure out how to coordinate with my often “independent” partners who mostly hit singles strokes and ASB vs ABC (Always stay back vs Always be closing) except when they start in the net position.
Often, doing things like setting up my partner or moving in, I find that unless my partner is pretty consistent the building points scenario gives opponents more opportunities to attack my partner. I sometimes end up going to Plan B singles, which is to play more singles like otherwise my weaker partner gets worked over too much…which has taken quite a bit of mental training to get me to accept moving to Plan B. Plan A is being more creative to make the doubles concepts work.
An example of modified Plan A came from Jim M. where a topspin return of serve off the add court T can be aimed through the deuce side of their T and is often more effective that a basic crosscourt shot especially for the 2nd return of serve.
Also, after my first one or sometimes two topspins, I find I don’t use much topspin in front of the baseline…though a windshield wiper seems to work well for me at times for the angled touch shot, if not my more common drop shot.
No question RS that doubles has to have BOTH partners on the exact same page.
I see so many players who don’t understand that 80% of the shots you play should be directed to a place that sets up your partner.
Brent
I think the root of the problem, at least at the lower levels, is a habit of non or very minimal communication with irritation as the common response to an attempt to communicate.
The other problem is that if you attempt to communicate a doubles concept, even if agreed on, simply fails as it is a “new” concept that is almost impossible to activate during a match if it wasn’t practiced/drilled beforehand and getting people to work this stuff up before a match is often not reacted to with any enthusiasm.
It’s my opinion that half court singles is gonna be the way to play doubles until such time as I find someone that takes this stuff seriously. I have a partner who I will potentially be playing some league doubles with, but despite my attempts to get together and work on this stuff, and his supposed agreement, he simply hasn’t made the time.
Just shoot me and roll me over, if I didn’t know better I would think I’m friggin nuts to even try to work on these concepts sometimes.
That’s a difficult situation RS. Don’t give up the ship. Keep playing doubles the right away even if your partners don’t “get” how to play solid doubles.
If you keep looking, that perfect partner is going to show up soon.
Brent
Yes, I will, but just like drill partners, the best drill partner is often a good ball machine.
Hey Brent,
Another great observation/tip hot off the presses from Australia. It’s nice to know I’m not the only one staying up at all hours of the night looking at this stuff with a magnifying glass!
I really enjoy and benefit from your tips. Great work! All your stuff is very practical and useful, which separates you from the herd. Short, sweet, and to the point. Not under or overly technical. Everything is boiled down with just enough info to get the job done. The mark of a great teacher!
Caught myself more than a few times during a recent match hitting a great return from a static position and then just STANDING THERE patting myself on the back. You know what happened next…my opponent railed his return back out of reach. My stroke mechanics are all pretty solid, but my game is in the “what do I do next?” phase in terms of play patterns and footwork. I’m in good shape. Moving is not something I’m opposed to doing. I’m just not sure where to go next. Maybe it’s an experience thing, but I think a lot of mid-level players have the same problem. The Tomic approach option gives food for thought, at least in that situation.
Anyway, great job!
Jon
Thanks Jon for your kind words. Appreciate it.
Right, I do watch a lot of the coverage from all of the Grand Slams.
These Australian tournaments have been great about posting short 3 minute highlight videos at YouTube.
Tons of things I see in these relatively short videos.
Just wish they’d post some doubles points / matches.
Brent
very good video it will surely help me
Good to hear Debra.
Brent
Brent,
Thank you so much for pointing out these subtle situations in a game.Keep them coming!
Morning Poh.
You’re welcome. The key component however is you taking these tips and putting them into a practice plan.
As simple aas the tip may be, working your practice plan is the ONLY way to make the transformation.
Not picking on you Poh – folks, this is for everyone …
Brent
this combo of a clip and then a lesson is great dont you think…see a pro, make a point and then show us your version….i think its very effective!!
im the same as you…looking to come in off every shot…can t wait to take time away and/ or come in and end it!
Hi Eric.
Thanks for that feedback. I agree. This 2 clip version may be more effective than just the one.
Keep moving forward out there …
Brent
great tip Brent. Biggest thing for me is that your tip (move your feet to in an effort to make every shot a possible approach) is FABULOUS for getting us all to 1st – take that extra step get close to a wide ball and far enough away from a ball hit into our body – and to do it QUICKLY enough that we are positioned to transfer our weight into the court (to facilitate a possible approach) and be able to generate EASY pace … all without overhitting. Clearly BALANCE is the key to all athletic success – tennis being no different and we can’t achieve balance without moving our feet to get spacing and ‘time the ball’. Having a mindset that you your GOAL is to gain court position advantage by moving forward and PUSHING your opponent back (to generate attack angles and take advantage of geometry) makes a lot of the movement part of the equation HAPPEN Naturally … you aren’t just moving your feet to hit good groundstrokes … you are trying to position yourself to move forward, take away time from your opponent, push him back and open up angles.
When we rally it’s SO easy to get lazy … especially with balls hit at our body … and your tip causes us to natually move deliberately and quickly with respect to all NEUTRAL balls that we might otherwise get lazy on and hit short or muff because of bad footwork. As I mentioned earlier, I think your tip also helps prevent overhitting, because we don’t usually over swing on approach shots since our forward movement/ momentum generates a lot of pace naturally. Again … get tip and kudos to your mentor Mr. Stowe.
Really good reminder. Thanks for this Brent. As always, the basics are key reminders.