Below is a slow-motion video of John McEnroe hitting forehands. Despite the fact that McEnroe’s forehand looks very “old school,” he’s still got almost every fundamental necessary for hitting a modern forehand. Here’s a list of the requisite fundamentals –
He’s missing one of them. Can you name which one? Post your answer in the comments! Also, ignore the fact that he’s using a continental grip.
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Obviously, it is the pivot and shoulder turn. All the other elements are there although they are brief, probably due to age and flexibility. However, the video was taken after 40+, very retired. I am wonder if his swing changes with age…
He does a pivot+ shoulder turn, but holding the racket in only one hand. Also, he takes his racket back further with a shoulder turn. He actually hits it, so I guess he must have a swing to contact, although it seems shorter because his continental grip makes him hit the ball somewhat behind him. He also has a follow true, although again not a really long one (he isn’t hitting with an awful lot of pace I guess). What is missing is a continuous swinging path. At the end of racket-back there is a definite pause, when he waits for the ball to come to him.
1. He’s hitting with an open stance, with hips parallel to the baseline and feet at the same level. The back foot pushes forward (see 2nd FH) showing more or less weight transfer for added power.
2. The preparation is the old school straight back, but there is a more or less full shoulder turn. The left hand helps this shoulder rotation at the beginning.
3. There is no pronation. The arm moves as a unit. Power comes only from shoulder muscles. This is probably due to the straight back – straight forward motion
4. The wrist is firm, during the entire shot
5. While there is no WW, the follow through is above the right shoulder.
I see two big differences with the modern FH:
- First: there is no torso rotation during the shot to add more power to it. He finishes the shot parallel to the line, hips AND shoulder. The power comes only from legs and arm. Torso rotation involves abs and spinal muscles.
- Second: There is no wrist layback. As the wrist is firm, contact is made in shoulder plan, not in front of him, what is quite unusual nowadays
These differences are independant of the continental grip
1. Mac is hitting with an open stance (modern), showing a weight transfer forward from the back foot
2. The motion is the old school straight back – straight forward with a firm wrist but no wrist layback, making a contact plan at shoulder level, not in front of him
3. Follow through is over the shoulder due to the lack of WW
I think that the main differences with modern FH are:
1. No torso rotation involving big muscles (abs, spinal). Power comes only from legs and arm
2. No pronation involving forearm muscles. Arm power comes only from shoulder muscles
Hey everyone. Sorry for the delay in my response — just got back from 4 days in Florida (grandmother’s 90th birthday!).
Johnny Mac doesn’t have a continuous swing path — the racket comes back, stops, and changes direction. In other words, no loop. Many people observed this fact, either by explicitly pointing out “fundamental no. 5″ or by commenting on his racket take back (fundamental no. 2), which directly impacts the former. You could also throw in the “C” from the swing to contact (fundamental no. 3) as well.
The other “macro” stuff — the fundamentals — are there, even if there are some differences in the way Mac does them vs. “modern” pros.
A bunch of other great observations about Mac’s forehand — more linear swing path (no WW), less body rotation during the follow through, etc. RE: the limited body rotation, keep in mind that pros stop rotating at contact when they hit a reverse forehand. See Rafa (second video, forehand at 1 minute — compare it with the forehands where he finishes across his body) –
http://www.fuzzyyellowballs.com/pro-stroke-library/rafael-nadal/forehand/
Do you think that’s attributed to the fact that he has more of a continental grip?
That certainly influences the rest of his technique — grip affects the swing plane, contact point, and follow through, for example.
I have recently come back to the sport after many years off. I use the “old school” forehand (Continental grip, closed stance, straight backswing and stroke, little topspin). Is there a good reason for me to switch to the “modern forehand”? I am now a recreational player and consistency is my highest concern. Of course I would like to hit like Nadal, but it is far more important for me to keep the ball on the court (and not in the net).
Hi Tommy. You’ll ultimately achieve the most consistency by mastering the 5 fundamentals we lay out in the forehand section. Initially you’ll likely see a drop off as you get used to the new technique.
Stuff like the straight take back + little topspin inhibit consistency so I’d recommend you work them out of your game.
What’s missing: a continuous swing path.
because he doesn’t rise the racquet above the head, there is no continuous swing path. He stops the movement in the way back and starts all over again to the contact point.
love the 3 day email course on the forehand. just really excellent. hope you follow with similar courses on the backhand and serve.
1. He doesn't bring the non-hitting hand back as far as the modern pros.
2. His racket is lower when he brings it back.
3. He doesn't bend his inside knee as much as the modern pros.
3. He doesn't drop the racket head below the ball before contact.
4. He doesn't use wrist loading and rotation.
5. He doesn't rotate his upper body to face the net at contact.
6. He doesn't use the windshield wiper follow through.
Respectfully, there's nothing old school about McEnroe's forehand or backhand. His groundstrokes are singularly unique. His backswing is very short and straight. His follow through is short. He has little if any wrist action in any of his strokes, except his serve. As a result, his racquet speed is slow. He relies on brilliant timing, weight transfer and is the best ever at utilizing his opponents ball speed against him to generate power. And because his strokes are so simple, he can hit with pinpoint accuracy and can consistently hit cleanly struck groundstrokes early – on the rise, to put pressure additional pressure on his opponent.
pivot and shoulder turn
And yet Mac was an incredible shotmaker. How did he do it?
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