To further demonstrate the torso rotation/push, I would like to use some stunning video I got yesterday of Somdev Devvarman, the number one college player in the country, who is currently trying to qualify for the Legg Mason Tennis Classic.

Watch how Somdev rotates his his torso into the ball, which rotates the double bend into contact. His racket head trails his hand all the way until contact. Even on contact the racket is slightly behind the hand, just like in the Safin clip.

For the "push" stage, watch how the racket and wrist stay back while the entire arm, from shoulder to hand, push forward and lift up and the torso continues to rotate through contact. Get a sense of the powerful body mass being transferred into and through the ball through torso rotation and arm lift.

While watching Somdev's forehand, think about Oscar Wegner's quote below:

"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. I 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