Tennis Forehand Technique Dillema – Full Extension Or Not
Friday, July 24th, 2009Roman R asks: In your article about tennis forehand and backhand technique you say: “at the point of contact the racquet is parallel to the ground and the arm is bent in the elbow.”
Please explain to me, how, this aspect of the stroke, which has been in the game for so long, and is still used by the majority of tennis players, except the best 2!, should be spread to new tennis players. Why not teach the way of federer and nadal.
They both his their forehands with almost no elbow bend. This gives them more fluidity, more acceleration, more reach, and less shoulder problems.
If you hit a forehand with a bent elbow, you end up hitting the ball using your rotary cuff as a substantial source of power – this is why many players have shoulder injuries. If you hit with your elbow straight, there is no stress on your rotary cuff – all the shoulder strain is on your bigger muscles, your pecs.
Golf, racquetball, baseball, all have you hit at full extention, and yet you are saying to hit with a bent elbow? Just cause many do it, doesn’t make it right. What makes it right is that the first people to do it are magically at the top of the game.
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Hi Roman,
I understand your point. I believe the reason why only 2 players (and what a coincidence, top 2 in the world) play like that, is because they are super talented and can control the ball despite letting go of their racquet almost completely. (more…)

Hi Tomaz,



