Interactive Forum November 2018: Stefano Tsitsispas Forehand

[klacr]

Great analysis to begin the thread by seano.

This is a great video. I have always noticed his forehand has the on-edge backswing. Obviously he does just fine hitting it at a world class level. I have tried this form out of curiosity and although I can hit it, I really have to concentrate on every inch of the backswing and the ball needs to be in a very specific contact zone. Not easy to do consistently.

I love the Tsitsipas extension and the relaxed wrap to finish the stroke.
Not to get away from the main subject of his forehand but does anyone think his split step is higher than normal?

Kyle LaCroix USPTA
Boca Raton

[stotty]

Stotty -
I wonder what Tsitsispas's spin levels are with the "flip" on the edge. I know Del Potro hits a flatter ball with his racquet on edge. Wonder if it produces less vertical racquet head speed, thus less spin. Does it have any effect on the centripetal force bringing the racquet to contact?

Tough questions to answer unless a person truly understands the complexity of biomechanics. I suspect Tsitsispas and Del Potro have less access to topspin than Roger has, but am not qualified to answer that with any certainty. Tsitsispas does hit fairly flat, and hard and Del Potro hit's with jaw-dropping power at times. Del Potro is stronger than Roger and Tsitsispas put together, however, which goes some way to explaining the power he gets.

[seano]

Stotty -
I wonder what Tsitsispas's spin levels are with the "flip" on the edge. I know Del Potro hits a flatter ball with his racquet on edge. Wonder if it produces less vertical racquet head speed, thus less spin. Does it have any effect on the centripetal force bringing the racquet to contact?

[stotty]

A beautiful ATP forehand with wonderful extension. A few observations:
1) Traditional ATP forehand with elbow going back level in backswing, not the modern which elevates the elbow in the backswing.
2) Keeps the racquet face more on edge in the "flip" as opposed to Federer who has the strings facing the ground. Looks more like Del Potro's.
3) Brings the racquet head more behind his body in the "flip" than Federer, who keeps the racquet head more on the hitting side of the body.

My understanding is the flip is not as maximised if the racket is more on edge than if the strings were facing the ground, correct? I always thought one of the critical elements of flipping was to have the strings pretty much facing down until close to the last moment?

Old school forehands like Connors' and McEnroe's, where the racket is taken back completely edge and then forward on edge, are actually devoid of flip?

[seano]

A beautiful ATP forehand with wonderful extension. A few observations:
1) Traditional ATP forehand with elbow going back level in backswing, not the modern which elevates the elbow in the backswing.
2) Keeps the racquet face more on edge in the "flip" as opposed to Federer who has the strings facing the ground. Looks more like Del Potro's.
3) Brings the racquet head more behind his body in the "flip" than Federer, who keeps the racquet head more on the hitting side of the body.

[johnyandell]

Stefano Tsitsispas Forehand

Wow. This guy is 20 and the spring in his legs show it. Quite a dynamic forehand. Quite a contrast to Naomi Osaka's forehand we looked at last month. (Click Here.) Long legs and long arms, but a Federer-like compact outside backswing and straight arm. And extension that rivals Del Potro. What else am I missing and what do you guys think?