Andy Roddick: Forehand Closeup

[slatz20]

This forehand almost F A I L E D

[cys12141]

26 dumb people thought this guy's commentary (?) was useful. Shame on them.

[fishysk8]

This was not a regular forehand shot imo. It looks more like a windscreen wiper from the look of the follow through. What do u reckon?

[coldplaywave]

Andy Roddick has improved a lot his tennis style since he's coached by Larry Stefanki.Hope he'll win once again a major this year!

[kostyaspartak]

Roddick uses an extreme simi-western. He is very close to werstern!

[sephkyle]

If you are going to use this grip make sure to exercise your wrist and use a heatpack before you play... also ice it after. It puts enormous strain on your wrist. I've been injured for 1.5 weeks now due to that grip.. your body has to be aligned right or else you can really screw yourself up.

[GueorguiJoukov]

@sephkyle

My friend, you should never push a shot; a good shot is always laid down the court. Of course, it can get around the high 90's mph, but even such a shot is simply laid down. You should feel your arm going forward and accelerating through the air.

If you do this, you'll never get injured. Federer is injury free because he has the most fluent swing of all; copy this part of his play: having a smooth and graceful swing. Anyway, even an Eastern grip can swing your wrist in a similar way.

[xxx0ox0]

u guy are idiots he is using a semi like the video says look at the palm of his hand

[kid43332]

Yeah come on I mean that is SOO obvious!

=/

[effava]

come on...that's clearly a western grip!

[Bdubbs09]

Wow... I like Roddick too, but these guys love talking him up like he is Pete Sampras or Roger Federer. Heck I think Tsonga and djokovic have better forehands

[FairwayJack]

Andy is the personification of the modern forehand. Another great one!! 5/5

[GtrEvo]

what a nasty forehand like nadal same grip nasty ugly hit , but effective

[Machin396]

its a western, not semi.

[risenloudly]

andy has been hitting with a western sine he was a junior, who are these people who make instructional videos while clearly displaying they know nothing- LOOK AT HIS HAND, LOOK AT THE RACQUET PATH, LOOK AT THE CONTACT POINT- that, is a western forehand, bottom line.

if you want to argue with that, then tennis as a sport is simply being held back. absolutely ludicrous that anyone can pretend to be an expert at these things.

[PatriotBrady]

So I'm guessing that the only one that can pretend to be an expert at these things are you? From my point of view, andy's forehand isn't completely western, but more of a hybrid grip between western and semi-western, like how federer's is in between eastern and semi-western

[risenloudly]

federer's forehand is NOT a hybrid of anything- it is a true and textbook eastern- check FYB, it's been proven.

as to you and Absolute- his hand is definitely on the fifth bevel, and if it isn't, he is still hitting a western- the contact point is high, about shoulder level, and far out from the body. on top of this its a clear windshield wiper topspin effect, and his hand is under the racquet not behind it at contact. if that isnt a western then...no, shut up, it's obviously a western.

[TakeshiMomoshiro]

Federer would not be able to achieve the forehand he does with an Eastern grip. Go to the related vid of Fed's forehand, then tell me that's a fucking Eastern. An Eastern is a kind of "fist" grip, Roger's is clearly adjusted. Hence, he can flatten the ball out or apply heavy topspin.

And no, Roddick's grip is not a full Western. His index finger is straddling the line of the 6th & 5th bevel, And his palm is not on the 5th, Hence, Extreme Semi, not a full Western or Semi Western.

[SlowerCPU]

Go to FYB's Youtube Channel and look for the vid that is titled "Roger Federer's Forehand Grip" and he has undeniable proof federer is using an Eastern Forehand Grip

[AbsoluteXero]

Uh....that's not a western grip. His hand is no on the 5th bevel. If it was, he would have a much more extreme rotation. You're not watching it clearly. It's true that in some cases you can misplace your hand and hence a different grip, but that is a semi-western. It's arguable of course, since we're not close up, but it's NOT the BOTTOM LINE.

[Airsofter516]

ur right

[TakeshiMomoshiro]

To answer the question roaming around here, Roddick did indeed change his grip. It's gone from a Semi, to an Extreme Semi, to what appears to be the very verge of a Western.

[mareleblond98]

Yeah..That's the grip im using...I have never understood haw people can play with that eastern grip..Disgusting, isn't it?

[b0b0boy]

I am using Roddicks grip to but the eastern grip is also easy. Its just about the feeling of the players. In my opinion the semi-western grip is very confortable and easier to learn.

[tolendoi123]

I think Andy did not change his grip coz that would be terrible changing a grip that you used for more than 20 years....I think he is spinning the ball more than flattening it..... what a baseline boy...

[GingerMouseIsBack]

yuck...

[thatsimonguy]

he's SO not watching the impact-point....

[xCycloneSh0tx]

does anyone noe wat kinda a grip roddick used in 2003 and if they have a vid one it? the older ones are blurry

[xCycloneSh0tx]

when was this taken? i liked his forehand in 2003-2004 those were the days before his SPINNY WEAK FOREHAND...... consistent SURE but if u can't put the ball away or push your opponents whats the point?

[MartinNepovim]

My opinion! Today is andy overspinning balls and has less winners than before. His forehands of US OPEN 2003 and Wimbledon 2003 were unbeliaveble, he could play with Roger foregand change, but today is Andy always losing :-(

[LanceVanceDeathDance]

He chokes up on the grip way too much.

And look at his 2003/04 forehand which in comparison makes his one today like a junior's.

[historian111z]

i still think its more effective if he switched to eastern.

[mytennis4you]

I think that would be problematic. In modern tennis most players hit with a tremendous amount of topspin, resulting in much higher contact points for the returners. Higher contact points though are easier to master with the Semi-Western grip, that's why the Semi-Western is so common these days.

[MIXMASTAPWN]

well roger federer hits with an eastern and he pretty much dominated tennis and still does

[jembals]

that's because of his excellent footwork, timing, strategy, and taking of balls early.

don't forget mental game, but that's been lacking lately.

[TakeshiMomoshiro]

Roger's forehand is not entirely "Eastern". It's a Fixed Eastern, which is like a semi-western with the hand misplaced.

[GueorguiJoukov]

@mytennis4you

An eastern grip requires a very peculiar swing and will indeed result in more flat balls if it is not used properly. But, when as the ball rise higher, it is easier to keep it inside. The problem with very low shots is that you have to raise them from the ground before the spin pulls it down - flater shots played off high balls bounces really high and it is easy to rip an eastern gripped FH off your shoulders.

[GueorguiJoukov]

Concerning the semi-western, it is very practical for the swing path it allows you to have; as you so well explains higher, Roddick drives his racker upward and he extends into the court. That grips forces you to brush the ball if you want to make contact well in front.

I've changed my grip from eastern to semi-western since my skin has been scratched in my hand. Could change back, but the top spin is so wicked. 4-6 feet above the net with a lot of pace and still lands well inside; too nice.

[nybombs]

@mytennis4you federer has been dominating with an eastern...

[MIXMASTAPWN]

yeah eastern is a more conservative grip. i always held an eastern until i hit at a higher level of play where the ball bounced chest high and over. its alot better feeling stroking a high bounce ball with a more extreme grip. i would always choke with the eastern but i was crazy consistant as well and had awesome feel

[CleckleysProof]

I wouldn't say that Roddick's forehand is great. Not even close, good explanation though.

[evilmunki54]

Great video! But Roddick's forehand was a little bit a shank/mis-hit!

Very useful explanation about the concept of the grip (overlooked in some explanation videos) and the consequence of the grip. Also thanks for explaining the shoulder turn as a unit...