Is it a good idea for a 9-year old player to catch the racquet with his offhand to emphasize shoulder rotation when completing the forehand stroke (after shoulder rotation)?
My wife and I frequently debate the subject of whether a player needs to catch the racquet to complete the forehand stroke. A. I think that this is a great idea, especially for a nine-year-old who is developing sound technique. By catching the racquet (by the throat, ideally) on the finish of his forehand, he will be practicing a thorough hip and shoulder rotation. Teaching him proper fundamentals at such a young age will pay dividends in the long run. As he grows older, bigger, and stronger, then he will be able to modify his finish depending on the shot that he needs to hit (and the recovery he needs to make for the next ball). Q. My son, who plays on his high school team, has a habit of hitting his forehand with his elbow ‘locked’ at about a 30-40 degree angle. To me, this limits his power. Are there any drills to get him to hit with an extended arm? A. Ahhh, his technique sounds reasonably good to me. I do not know of a strong player who hits his forehand with an extended arm. In f
