RE: Tennis: open or closed stance?

[Guest guest]

Grant,

Hitting from an open stance (forehand) generates greater racquet head speed

(up to 15-20% more) as the player is able to utilise the movement of

multiple body segments.

Forward movement is not sacrificed as weight is still transferred forward

through the player anchoring their right foot (for a right handed player).

There are a number of advantages of using an open stance forehand which go

far beyond just power.

1. Improved recovery speed after the shot is played.

2. Increased ability to impart topspin which inturn gives a player a greater

margin for error

3. Facilitates movement laterally when required to hit crosscourt shots

4. The Racquet head can face the target for up to twice as long as in a

closed stance forehand.

5. Easier to hit down the line shots

6. Better disguise as the player can 'hold' a shot for longer

7. Quicker return of serve

8. Easier to hit balls whilst moving backwards

and from a physiological perspective, takes some of the stress off the lower

back, hip and knee compared to the closed stance forehand.

Hope this helps

Regards

Steve Parr

Star Systems Australasia Pty Ltd

Brisbane, Australia

Email: steve.parr@...

Web: www.starsystems.com.au

Grant [physiokinetics@...] wrote:

> I have been discussing the topic of open or closed stance for the tennis

> forehand with a physiotherapist. He believes the " open " stance (ie facing

> the net) is the more powerful of the two stances, while I think a more

> closed stance would be more powerful...

[Guest guest]

Steve

Thanks for your reply.

> Hitting from an open stance (forehand) generates

> greater racquet head speed

> (up to 15-20% more) as the player is able to utilise

> the movement of

> multiple body segments.

***** Could you please provide the references for this. Also, where is the

racquet head speed the greatest: at, before or after contact?

> Forward movement is not sacrificed as weight is

> still transferred forward

> through the player anchoring their right foot (for a

> right handed player).

>

> There are a number of advantages of using an open

> stance forehand which go

> far beyond just power.

I agree, but the discussion was " which is more powerful? " .

Thanks,

Grant

Strength and Rehabilitation Consultant

B.Sc. (Hons) Ex. Sci.

M.A.A.E.S.S., M.A.S.C.A.

PHYSIOKINETICS

Gold Coast, Australia

[Guest guest]

It also helps the player see the ball better....That is why many baseball

players have an open stance...Eye dominance

Steve M.Ed., CSCS, USAW

Faculty Instructor

School of Health Sciences and Human Performance

Lynchburg College

Lynchburg, VA

Steve Parr wrote:

> Hitting from an open stance (forehand) generates greater racquet head speed

> (up to 15-20% more) as the player is able to utilise the movement of

> multiple body segments.

>

> Forward movement is not sacrificed as weight is still transferred forward

> through the player anchoring their right foot (for a right handed player).

>

> There are a number of advantages of using an open stance forehand which go

> far beyond just power...

[Guest guest]

I must disagree with Steve on the advantages of the open stance. To say that it

generates 15-20% more racquet speed in my opinion is erroneous. You can

generate more force from the closed stance because you can get greater weight

shift and more body parts involved for a greater summation of forces.

In the open stance, you can only use arms and shoulders. In the open stance,

you cannot shift weight forward. The feet do not move and the hips remain

basically in place. To get and forward weight shift, you must use a modified

open stance (half open, half closed).

I also question the statement that you have increased ability to impart topspin

in the open stance. I would agree if you have all your forces driven upward and

leave the ground after the hit, but this is due to direction of body movement,

no the stance.

How does the open stance facilitate movement laterally? Lateral movement is

determined by your ready position.

How is it easier to hit down the line shots with an open stance? The closed

stance is best suited for this.

I do, however, agree that you have a quicker return of serve in the open stance.

This is why many top players use it. They also started using it for their

volleys because there was no time to get into the side facing position.

However, when you have time the side or closed stance is much more effective.

For more information on this topic, I recommend reading Explosive Tennis: The

Forehand and Explosive Tennis: The Backhand.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Yessis, Ph.D

President, Sports Training, Inc.

www.dryessis.com

PO Box 460429

Escondido, CA 92046

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

[Guest guest]

Grant,

This reference should support my comments.

Elliott, B., Marsh, T. & Overheu, P. (1989). A biomechanical comparison of

the multi-segment and single unit topspin forehand drives in tennis. Int J

Sports Biomech, 5, 350-364

Regards

Steve Parr

Star Systems Australasia Pty Ltd

Brisbane, Australia

Email: steve.parr@...

Web: www.starsystems.com.au

********************************************

Grant [physiokinetics@...] wrote:

>> Hitting from an open stance (forehand) generates

>> greater racquet head speed

>> (up to 15-20% more) as the player is able to utilise

>> the movement of

>> multiple body segments.

>***** Could you please provide the references for this. Also, where is the

>racquet head speed the greatest: at, before or after contact?