bent arm vs straight arm forehands

Nadal and Federer both hit with straight arms but which forehand is the best shot straight arm or bent arm? Video by Tom Allsopp and Emira Stafford

For great tennis videos and articles please visit: http://tpatennis.net/

Follow me on Twitter: http://twitter.com/#!/tpatennis

Follow me on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/pages/TPA-tennis/147291358659714#!/pages/TPA-tennis/1...

Anna Kournikova takes you through her jump-rope routine: http://tpatennis.net/anna-kournikovas-jump-rope-routine/

Is there a future for the one handed backhand? http://tpatennis.net/is-there-a-future-for-the-one-handed-backhand/

Achieving Success Through Hard Work and Meaninful Practice, Not Genius: http://tpatennis.net/meaningful-work-not-genius/

How a tennis star is made: http://tpatennis.net/how-a-soccer-star-is-made/

Nick Bollettieri on getting the attention of Agassi and Serena: http://tpatennis.net/getting-the-attention-of-serena-and-andre/

Animosity between parents and coaches: http://tpatennis.net/animosity-between-parents-and-coaches-in-tennis/

Category:

Sports

Tags:

• which
• forehand
• is
• the
• best
• shot
• straight
• arm
• or
• bent
• vs
• emira
• stafford
• tom
• allsopp
• rafael
• nadal
• rafa
• roger
• federer
• tennis
• coaching
• semi
• western
• eastern
• grip

[theeachuisge]

nadal uses bent arm federer uses straight arm

[tommyenglish1]

@theeachuisge nadal uses bent arm? false!!

[TeppTennis]

bent arm = easyer to windshield wipe and get more spin

straight arm is better then T-ing off on sitters

[tommyenglish1]

@TeppTennis Nadal gets more spin than anyone ever with the straight arm forehand!?

[derrijl]

In my opinion the best result you get is to use the bent arm as most you can in really, but some times when the ball come very fast(for example on a serve return) the straight arm get you better results.You can see the some results of my little girl,,,,she is 9 years old.....on youtube,search,,,derrijl....(f­orehand nov)

[tommyenglish1]

@derrijl That is a different view. I don't remember seeing anyone doing that combo. normally its always bent or players like Nadal who have a straight arm will often bend it slightly on returns. Your daughter is a nice player. Please visit my website tpa tennis. net you might find things to help or interest you on there. cheers

[chrisak49]

@tommyenglish1 Thats cause his western grip + follow through allow for it.

[lfeddern]

@dominikkeul we are tlking about which is better not which is more common. I am not saying that no one uses it, just it is favourable to make contact with a straight arm as the radius of the rotation around the center of rotation(torso) larger and ther4 straight arm on contact ensures maximum angular momentum hence energy hence power. not sayin bent 4hands suck just not as gd as could be, as there is no reason that actually makes sense in terms of the laws of physics for a bent arm.

[dominikkeul]

@lfeddern

yeah the forehands of novak, tsonga, gonzalez and agassi really suck...

yes federer and nadal are probably the best players ever. but still very few players use straight arm. I think 90% of the top100 use double bend. so it can't be too bad.

[lfeddern]

@dominikkeul you clearly no nothing about basic physics, moment and therefore power much greater with a straight arm on contact

[dominikkeul]

@TlMpossible

string theory? are you kidding? the string theory is a quantum mechanics theory that has nothing to do with long or short arms.

You are right that a longer arm means a longer acceleration path = more acceleration.

but on the other hand a longer lever means more inertia= less acceleration

those two forces equal out so in the end it doesn't really matter.

yeah federer and nadal hit the ball a ton but bent arm guys like novak, tsonga and others hit it pretty hard too.

[TlMpossible]

@dominikkeul Ever heard of string theory? according to this, the most power generated will be from the longest distance (arm). Therefore, holding all other factors constant, players with longer arms should be able to hit harder than players with shorter arms. by the same principle, have a straight arm will generate more power than a bent arm.

[TlMpossible]

@tommyenglish1 yea you're right, i think bent arm is only good for control (at lower levels)

[foreveryoung62]

does not matter much...what's more important is that there should be no flexion or tension in the arm... the power and whip comes from upper body rotation and timing the stroke rather than 'muscling' it via the forearm. Federer is a good example of technique...Sampras used to be even better to watch and try and emulate. Also watch Gilles Simone on hiw he plays with no tension in his arm...