Pics & clips for...

Teaching modern tennis: Part 4 – Introducing modern technique
PTR TennisPro (September/October 2006)

To view a video clip, simply click on its QuickTime symbol (Q). Be sure to take advantage of the QuickTime's control buttons to replay, pause, or move forward/backward through the clip on a frame-by-frame basis.

1	Agassi	Federer	Srichaphan		Backswing: In the modern topspin forehand, the elbow traces an elliptical loop as it moves from ready position to impact, drawing the racquet head behind it in a much bigger loop. When executed properly — with a relaxed arm and the proper rhythm — this loop can easily accelerate the racquet head to high velocity through impact. At the end of the modern backswing, the racquet tip does not point toward the back fence. Rather, the elbow points backward, and the trailing racquet tip points forward and/or upward. The hitting surface faces downward and/or outward. (The specifics vary with the player's grip, and somewhat with the player's style).
2	Henin-Hardenne				Hitting aggressively from a high impact point: Modern technique allows players to hit aggressive groundstrokes from high impact points, something that is difficult to do with traditional technique. Here we see Henin-Hardenne attacking a short, high-bouncing ball with a dip drive. In the dip drive, the ball is taken shoulder/head level and driven powerfully downward into the opponent's court, often for a winner.
3	Rafter				Hitting aggressively from a low impact point: Modern technique also allows players to hit aggressively from impact points below knee level, again something that is difficult to do with traditional technique. Here we see Rafter on the run, counterattacking a wide, low-bouncing ball using a shot we call the bender.
4	Gonzalez	Gonzalez			Variations in wrap-around finishes: The height of the wrap-around finish can vary considerably, depending largely on the shot, the grip used and the height of the impact point. It can range from over the shoulder, to around the shoulder, to around the hip. Also, when players hit with extreme topspin and/or use grips towards the western end of the spectrum, the finish is frequently inverted (with the racquet tip pointing somewhat downward, coming to rest well below the level of the hitting hand). Here we see Fernando Gonzalez hitting two different shots. The natural finish for the first one is over-the-shoulder. For the second shot, it is a waist-level, inverted finish.
5	Williams	Moya			The vertical finish: Here the racquet moves sharply upward after impact, finishing above head level on the right side of the body for right-handers, and on the left side for left-handers. We typically see vertical finishes on shots where the racquet head has less forward momentum through impact, moving predominately upwards instead. You'll always see a vertical finish on the bender, and frequently you'll see it on the topspin lob. Sometimes you'll unexpectedly see a vertical finish on other shots, notably when a player has insufficient time to set up properly and is either too close to the ball or is forced to hit late (i.e., meeting the ball further back than normal).
6	Pedroso				The right-right open stance footwork: When a right-handed player runs to the right to retrieve a ball, we see a footwork pattern we call the "right-right". Here the player initiates the shot by planting and pushing off the right leg. At this stage, the right foot is roughly parallel to the baseline, pointing in the direction the player has been running. We then see a slight hop as the right leg moves further outward, planting a second time but now with the foot roughly perpendicular to the baseline. This second plant is the brake step. The change in foot orientation is critical for stopping sideways movement and allowing recovery to begin. It also allows for proper uncoiling of the hips, an important component of the kinetic chain required to generate power.
7	Gonzalez				The right-left open stance footwork: On the run-around forehand (where a player moves around a ball that is hit to their backhand side), we see a footwork pattern we call the "right-left" (for a right-handed player). Here the player again initiates the shot by planting and pushing off the right leg with the foot roughly parallel to the baseline. However,   the next plant - the brake step - is now with the left leg, with the left foot roughly 45 degrees to the baseline.
8	Pedroso				The reverse pivot footwork: In the modern game, players can hit offensive forehands not only when moving right, left or forward, but also when moving backward . This is most common when a player is recovering back behind the baseline after having moved a metre or two forward to take a shorter or lower ball. We also see this when a player is driven back by a deep, high-bouncing ball, especially on clay. The footwork pattern here is again right-left, but with the left leg now planting to the back (rather than the side) to initiate recovery forward. We call this the "reverse pivot".
9	Modern at 5!	Interview	Sean		For all ages & skill levels: Modern technique can tremendously benefit players of all ages and skill levels – from tots to grandmas, from beginners to touring pros. It expands a player's shot-making possibilities and reduces their risk of injury, often eliminating chronic problems that have stalked players for years. It is also highly motivating! When players begin to see a relationship between what they're learning and what they see the pros doing – realising that they too can learn to Think and play like the pros™ – they're hooked! For coaches, the key is knowing what elements of modern technique are appropriate at each age and skill level, and how to best teach them. This is what modernTennis.com will bring to coaches around the world over the next several years.