Why Every Tennis Forehand Starts With An Open Stance
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- čas přidán 4. 08. 2024
- It may sound like an open stance forehand is an advanced version of a tennis forehand but I'd like to show you that the open stance always starts before neutral stance. 🎾 Free Forehand POWER COURSE: www.feeltennis.net/forehand-p...
One common problem with the neutral stance is that players position into it before they read the ball.
And if the ball happens to be deep, high, fast or some combination of those three, then you'll likely hit the ball late and lose power and control.
A skilled tennis player approaches situations differently and starts every forehand as an open stance just in case the ball happens to be difficult.
www.feeltennis.net/open-befor...
So in today's video you'll see me demonstrate some forehands hit too late and how it was the automatic neutral stance positioning that was the cause of that.
You'll see the comparison of open vs neutral stance forehands and how initially both look the same.
I'll also show you how little time I have (using a timer) if the ball happens to land deep and why it's necessary to stay in open stance in such situations.
And finally you'll also learn why it's important to time the neutral stance well otherwise you lose on the extra power that the weight transfer provides.
0:00 Intro
0:36 Why You Hit Late
2:18 Why Open Stance First
7:15 From Open To Neutral Transition
10:58 The Problem Of Time
14:55 How To Time The Neutral Stance
16:23 Conclusion - Sport
I’ve been teaching/coaching this for many years! Good video demo!
Outstanding, Tomaz! I've never realized it until now how much I've been struggling with exactly this problem of unnecessarily going to neutral stance on every forehand/backhand. Much thanks!
Glad it helped!
Same here. Great video👍
Can't thank you enough.. This instruction saved my western forehand!
Just in the first 2 minutes, I love how Tomaz shows something if off. Superb! Thanks for the awesome instructions!
Tomaz, I recently realized that you have made the three most impactful videos on CZcams for my tennis game. They resulted in quick and substantial improvements in my game. The first was how to use the index finger as a lever on the topspin serve. That one point of focus has taken so much uncertainty out of my service games. The second was the video on nurturing the swing. It is such a great concept, and one that has turned my game around. And finally, this video about the open stance. I have been working on hitting from an open stance for a week now, and I have seen a marked improvement in my consistency. Thanks so much for the best tennis content on CZcams.
Thank you very much for the kind feedback and taking the time to share it, Gerry! It gives me the energy and passion to keep doing what I love and help out fellow tennis enthusiasts. Here are the links to videos you mentioned if other subscribers want to check them: Serve Index Finger: czcams.com/video/sBWGVUKQnRg/video.html and Nurture The Swing: czcams.com/video/e6EL3n8FTuA/video.html
Firstly, let's think to use open stance to counter a potential difficult ball. If it is not a deep&high ball then, from the open stance, I will step forward to handle a short ball. That is great way to think.
Amazing video! I've learnt a few things to make my forehand consistent again!
Wow, what a revelation! I am having many revelations as a complete beginner of course, but this a big one! I have been doing this (stepping in/forward) all the time, and even realised it but wondered why! And yes it does feel better/easier/more comfortable. Thank you so much for taking the time to explain so clearly the reasons for it, the problems with it, and especially the value of the open stance. I'm so excited to practice it now!
Very useful video.Really perfect. Thanks a lot, Tommy
Amazing！It explains several questions I'd been facing long time ago. Thank you, Tomaz!
Very good points. I have been struggling with this topic for quite some time.
I need to try it! Super video!
Great video! I've been moving in WAY too early on shorter balls, missing easy setup shots, or even outright winners.
Thanks your videos have helped me over the years. Esp loved this and the videos of the pros swinging without the racket in their hands
Very much appreciated!
Thank you very much for your explication. I watched many of your videos. Even though I started playing tennis after the age of 55, my tennis technique has improved a lot thanks to you.
Perfect like always... thanksss a lot
Excellent video very detailed and precise.
In my case, it is absolutely true, I think that also for those of us who have homogeneous laterality, it helps us to see the ball better, since in the backhand the neutral or closed position is better. Thanks Tomaz.
Thanks for sharing!
This is a video about me and for me. :) I try to hit EVERY forehand in neutral stance. Tomaz is a genius. Thank you so much for making your videos and sharing your knowledge and experience.
Full support
You're so welcome, thanks for the feedback!
thank you Coach! I made this mistake for a long time and corrected it myself. You give a much clear and professional elaboration.
Glad it was helpful!
This lesson was for me! I was tought in the 90's that neutral was the basic stance and mis usual, so now I star the matches using open stance and find myself being in close in the middle of it! :))
A lot of coaches still only teach neutral stance for everything. Modern game is not played that way, players hit the ball too big and with penetration…no reason to shorten your time when receiving these more difficult balls
Nice explanation of why open stance is needed too.
Nice basics to be remind of
After all these years, first time I have ever heard about this correction.
I am glad I can still surprise you. ;)
Thank you!!!!
Great tip I hadn’t seen on other channels thanks
Actually I am not the first, I came across Kevin's explanation before but I decided to go a bit deeper. ;) czcams.com/video/18zYDacJE8k/video.html
Your videos have taught me so much through the years. I just wanted you to know that. Im a better player because of you.
Very much appreciated!
Wow, I normally hit most forehands in open stance and it works well if I am not pressured. But I recently had a tennis lesson where the coach emphasized a quick unit turn which put me in an open stance and I found that it made timing difficult balls easier. And I felt the weight transfer transfer made the ball fly faster without more effort. I rarely got a forward weight transfer on difficult balls using a neutral stance. My coach told me what to do but thank you for explaining WHY.
Thanks for taking the time and sharing your feedback!
Good points, Tomaz. Actually, the initial foot movement is similar to that of the volley: step first with the outside foot (which "opens" the stance). Then, with more information about the ball's incoming position you can either step over with the inside leg, yielding a neutral stance. If your first movement is with the inside foot, closing the stance, it is difficult to correct the stance as the ball's position is different than initially predicted. Yes there is some difference in the volley's footwork, e.g., the initial step may simply be more of a leaning to the forehand side depending on how much adjustment needs to be made.
Yes, it's important to start the volley footwork in the same way, namely with the outside foot first. Only when you teach a complete beginner on the volley it's better to already put them in a neutral stance until the get some basics on arm movements.
very good
Best coach! 🐐
Agree - the best of the best
This is so good man, thank you really much! I worked with some students recently and noticed the same. They getting into neutral stance to early especially in normal rallies. Do you have any advice how to make them more aware of it? (beside from starting with slow balls and of course explaining the concept)
You're welcome! Well, generally you just need to teach them open stance, make them play open stance so that they comfortable with. While most are kind of automated to step into the ball and they do it subconsciously, the other reason is usually because they are not comfortable hitting yet in open stance so their brain subconsciously chooses neutral stance because it feels better to them.
So the final objective is to have the player feel equally comfortable in both stances and then the brain can subconsciously make a better choice of when to use which one. I'll try and share more ideas on how to work on the open stance in the future... One easy way is to ask students to always feed the ball into play from an open stance. In a few months they'll already build up quite a few repetitions...
15:46 this part is golden, I was stepping in too early sometimes and wonder why my shots feel weak . . Use of momentum ? Thanks !!
If I go neutral for most forehands in a match do I use more energy ? Not efficient right
Tomaz, thanks for another good video. One question does this apply to the backhand too. I play two handed backhand.
Yes, it does if you get used to the open stance quite early in your tennis journey like Serena and Venus Williams did as they played most of their backhands in open stance. Forehand is easier to play in open stance because the arms are not "tied" together and the upper body and arms are more free to move.
In two-handed backhand your hands are "tied" together so turning the upper body but not the lower body (staying open) is not so comfortable - so most pro players will try to step in more into neutral whenever they can but of course they are all able to play open stance backhand when needed (less time, return of serve, etc.)
you're doing god's work
Balance is major key 🔑
Seeing you hit those balls at the beginning of the video, in an early neutral stance, and hitting cramped and uncomfortable, it was like watching myself in a mirror.
Tomorrow I will be practicing to always prepare in an open stance.
Thank you. Great video.
Thank you. I see forehands like this almost every week with every new client...
best youtube coach
A very good advice. Now my fore hand is much more natural and efficient.
Is this a “newer” concept? I was always told the outer thirds of the court was open and the middle should be neutral. But this is only side to side. Your instruction accounts for short and long balls. So definitely makes sense to start with Openoptions and finish with timing and power.
Thank you so much for another brilliant video, Tomaz. Please can I ask you if you teach this video's method when you are coaching beginners? Or would you wait until they are more advanced...and then teach it to them?
Thanks a lot! I let beginners play most of the time in any stance they want and they will naturally use both neutral and open stance. In fact they will use open stance more if we don't tell them anything. I will of course devote parts of the lesson to the neutral stance only and teach stroke technique in that stance as well as devote some time to open stance and teach them to load the outside leg and feel very stable.
The problem that I face often with my students is that they have been taught (forced?) too long into a neutral stance and they just keep stepping into every ball without reading it. That can't be good - and it's not their fault, it's their coaches' fault... So I have to keep undoing the damage they've done by teaching the player open stance and encouraging them to use it more.
Thank you so much for taking your time and effort to explain this to me! Sure, a coach who spends too much time on one aspect and neglects other necessary parts of technique is not helping the player.
Tomas another great instruction video. I have the Effortless Forehand course. Yes, I hit late too often. It appears that you have started the drop even before the ball bounces on a deep fast fall. Is this correct? I realize every ball is different, in general what is your recommendation? Thank you
Hi Guy, I plan a whole series of videos related to timing, it's the most challenging aspect of tennis so it needs to be explained well. So for now don't think about when to drop but where to intercept the ball. I explain a bit here in one of the forehand tips: czcams.com/video/5LOKkHpFpFU/video.html
Thank you for this video! It's useful not only for me but also for a friend who started to play tennis last year. She naturally wants to play forehands with an open stance. I've been urging her to use a more neutral stance all the time, but now I know I'm wrong! You've helped 2 people!
Glad it was helpful, wonderful to hear! We need to be able to play forehands in neutral and open stance equally comfortably and it's not good to limit the beginner player too much on how they position. Have them feel and experience both types of stance (and variations in between) and then tweak each stance along the way.
@@feeltennis Thank you for the reply! Your videos are the best I’ve found. My friend and I will work on both stances together.😂
@@kidlatazul Wonderful to hear, I'll keep making them! :)
Hi Tomasz, good video. Just want to know what settings you have the Slinger bag at ~4:00 ("high" ball). Thanks!!
Thanks, but whew, I don't remember exactly. It's really trial and error until you get the right settings...
Excellent video! I totally agree. Neutral stance is too often taught as primary stance but that seriously limits a player's ability to adapt to the ball and make power.
Hi Tomaz,
Thanks for the video; great one:)
Is this the same for the backhand?
Not for one handed as it’s really uncomfortable in open stance. Most players will also prefer a neutral stance for two handed backhand but it is easier in open stance. Only Williams sisters play it mostly open stance like a forehand…
@@feeltennis
Hi Tomaz,
Thanks for the response.
I understand more forehands are played from open stance then backands (escpecially one-handers).
But my question was more about initiating with the backfoot (left foot for righthanded players) after the splitstep as well as loading on the backfoot before stepping in to hit (when there is time) instead of weighttransfer to the frontfoot arter the splitstep.
Hope you understand my better explanation of my initial question.
Looking forward to your respons.
Best, Paul
Hi Paul, yes loading and stabilising the outside foot first is often overlooked because players are taught to step in so all their focus is on using the front foot. But they end up losing balance in the process and then catching themselves on the front foot which adds problems to the precision of hitting. So good stability on the outside foot first and then stepping into neutral…
@@feeltennis
Thanks, totally agree:)
I even think that learning to step in when starting tennis creates often more troubles (mostly on forehand wing) then benifits. besides your points above it will also create player who step in on wide balls and deep balls (instead of stepping open and back in those situations). For starting players (kids and adults) I just teach to turn the body and the feet will naturally adjust to al the different situations. This because when they step across they turn to much, and when they step in with the wrong foot the turn to little. So when just focus on spacing and turning the right footworkpattern develop implicitly. If a coach wants or needs to learn to step in then he also have to learn the player when to step open and back. Well, just my vision in this with you:)
Have great weekend!
Tomas, once again thank you for the good sharing. I think that was the key problem why I cannot have a smooth forehand. Btw, Is this apply to backhand as well? 🙏
The first step applies to all stroke, meaning timing the stroke on the outside leg. Two-handed backhand can be played easier in open stance but one-handed is trickier especially at recreational level. So for one-handed backhand we mostly still step in even when we receive a difficult ball because biomechanically it is much easier to hit in neutral stance.
I has this question too regarding the 1bh. Thanks for clarifying Tomaz!
@@feeltennis Thank you Tomaz. I got it. It was very helpful in my last night tennis drill session. I applied more open stance in my forehand, and instantly I feel my forehand is much more smoother than before. Despite I still have tendency to prepared in neutral stance occationally, but now I hit my forehand with more concious. I am sure I will get to the forehand I want soon!!!! Thank you once again! 🙏🙏
@@tantanantant Good to hear. Keep working on the open stance, it's more tricky than it seems so it needs quite a lot of repetition before it starts working really well.
Is it true with the one hand back hand to ? Thanks for your insights. Roger
No, one-handed backhand is very uncomfortable in open stance and top pros use that open stance only in emergencies and improvised shots.
Thanks for the video, I now know why most time im in awkard position. As always your content is so useful.
Happy to help!
great
Can you give a lesson on double backhand stance? is it the same as forehand stance? thanks!
Yes, same as forehand stance!
Are all backhands in the neutral stance? A video like this for backhand would be interesting. Thanks
Most one-handed are because they are still so much easier to hit in neutral than in open stance even though we have less time. Two-handed can be learned to function like the forehand.
@@feeltennis Thank you
🙏
Eureka 💡
Thank you
damn, I should have watched this before my last game...
15:46 and 16:17. Wow!
I see you hit with a flat ground strokes on edge with your racket back why not drop the strings down and go under the ball for more of a top spin
Ironically if you go watch videos of players from as early as 1900s you will find that most forehands were hit in open stance. Where did the love of stepping in come from? Bill Tilden used open stance on most fh I've seen him hit from old matches yet in his 1920s teaching tutorial he taught a very rigid closed fh stance. Smh