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The Mass of the Arm Lifting - Forehand
The racket does not swing through the ball. Instead the wrist holds the racket back and down so that
the entire arm, from shoulder to hand - can lift upward and push forward.
Watch how Safin's arm lifts up as the hand and racket stay back to provide connection. It is the mass
of the arm that is lifting up and pushing forward, causing the ball to spring off of the string bed.
In the bottom clip, watch Safin's elbow rise and push forward. This is a perfect indication that the
arm is lifting and pushing. Also note how his torso rotates through contact. The combination of arm mass and torso mass make
professional forehands tremendously powerful.
Continued
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Today's stroke is characterized by the weight staying back behind the hand and ball at contact. The weight is saved and used as the primary power source of the ball while the racquet is used to create connection and hold of the ball.
Doug King
"The Hands Have It"
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"Push means to exert pressure or force against something so as to move it. Hit means to give a blow to or strike something. In tennis, pushing the ball has been vilified as hitting the ball too softly, while hitting is used for stronger strokes. But in fact, you can push something with more force than you can hit it.
Imagine yourself in front of a large barrel of water. If you hit it with your hand, it will barely move. If you push it, you may tip it over. Top pros use this concept in tennis. They approach the ball slowly, almost touching it before discharging all their power. It's only when they meet the ball that most of their muscular contraction occurs.
"Play Better Tennis in 2 Hours"
Oscar Wegner
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