As mentioned in my previous post, having trouble with the forehand. I get low but tend to pull up as I hit, which causes me to hit the ball 2-3 feet too high off the front wall.

I've been working on putting more weight on my front foot, then trying to drag my back foot (previously I was finishing with all my weight on my back foot) to stop pulling up. Also, I find I hit better shots when I just crouch (thanks Hilario- who gave me this tip), instead of getting super low. My back knee used to almost touch the floor before I started implementing this change (still a work-in progress though).

When talking to an experienced player at my club, he said the other issue is I'm hitting the ball too far out in front of me. This is true as I'm good at hitting the cross court pass and reverse pinch, but horrible at the down-the-line shot. I almost never hit a regular pinch to the forehand side because I'm so bad at it. Not sure, but perhaps part of the problem is in my effort really rotate my hips to generate power it leads my body to lean too far out. I don't know. The guy told me to start hitting the ball back in my stance, making contact with the ball behind my front foot (like more in line with belly button would be or even further) which is supposed to give me more power and more consistency on the down-the-line shot. He's a really good player who has 20 years of experience but I don't see much hip rotation in his shots.

Any tips, on how to stop hitting the forehand shot too far out front of my body, while still maintaining power?

I wouldn't hit the ball closer unless you are gonna pinch..

Sounds like it's a grip issue and follow through issue.

You need to rotate the racquet ever so slightly and look at where your racquet is ending up on follow through.

In order to be low and hit low, you have to hit flat.

Try swinging your racquet while on your knees. Try to swing parallel to the floor and keeping your racquet perpendicular to the floor for as long as possible before pulling up on the follow through. This will drastically improve your flat swing and allow you to really get down on the ball.

off a setup you really need to make sure you are rotating your hips and that your chest starts off facing the sidewall then facing the front wall on follow through. To do this you need to make sure the back foot rotates.

I see so many players that don't rotate the back foot. They lose power and control and there arms cross in front of their chest instead of rotating together in the same direction.

Turn your hips and back foot. "Squashing the bug"..

Thanks Silk2NR.

Hip rotation is not a problem but when I follow through, the racket tends to be way up in the air. I rotate my back knee/foot but maybe i do it too early.

Perhaps part the problem is I don't lead enough with my elbow, causing my swing not to be flat. My ERP is horrible also. What the hell, I might have the worse hand-eye coordination on the planet....LOL

I'll try your suggestion and see if swinging on my knees improves my shots at all. I also have a recent video from a couple days ago but I'd have to send it to you...

Backpacker,

The first thing I would do is do a search on "hitting a forehand in racquetball" and view some of the videos having John Ellis and racquetballtim. Trying to fix your swing with just "words" is hard and is easier seeing how it is done right in a video by some one that knows how to do it.

If you can get or borrow a copy of Fran Davis DVD "building your racquetball dream house" and it will show you exactly what you need to do to hit flat and low and with power and a whole lot of other stuff.

IF all else fails take lesson(s) from a good racquetball instructor if you can afford it.

The difference in hitting a Splat/pinch, DTL, Cross Court and Reverse pinch is really only a matter of inches when you hit the ball with a flat swing as describe from the people above.

It sounds like your mind and body is getting all confused by trying a lot of different things and it is hard to make a good swing when you are thinking about every little detail during the swing. After you learn, practice and play with the correct mechanics, it becomes second nature and you really don't think about it anymore. When your mind says DTL or any other shots your body will just do it.

Good Luck and you will get there, if you keep at it.

backpacker

As mentioned in my previous post, having trouble with the forehand. I get low but tend to pull up as I hit, which causes me to hit the ball 2-3 feet too high off the front wall.

I've been working on putting more weight on my front foot, then trying to drag my back foot (previously I was finishing with all my weight on my back foot) to stop pulling up. Also, I find I hit better shots when I just crouch (thanks Hilario- who gave me this tip), instead of getting super low. My back knee used to almost touch the floor before I started implementing this change (still a work-in progress though).

When talking to an experienced player at my club, he said the other issue is I'm hitting the ball too far out in front of me. This is true as I'm good at hitting the cross court pass and reverse pinch, but horrible at the down-the-line shot. I almost never hit a regular pinch to the forehand side because I'm so bad at it. Not sure, but perhaps part of the problem is in my effort really rotate my hips to generate power it leads my body to lean too far out. I don't know. The guy told me to start hitting the ball back in my stance, making contact with the ball behind my front foot (like more in line with belly button would be or even further) which is supposed to give me more power and more consistency on the down-the-line shot. He's a really good player who has 20 years of experience but I don't see much hip rotation in his shots.

Any tips, on how to stop hitting the forehand shot too far out front of my body, while still maintaining power?

The experienced player at your club is right on with what you need to do in order to correct your DTL shot. Listen to him.

What I teach for a forehand shot is that you want to imagine a line splitting you. That line is your reference point. It is also your DTL shot. Hit SLIGHTLY in front of that reference point and you'll hit cross court. Be very careful not to hit too far forward. You will know because the ball will be coming off the side wall into mid-court and not get deep enough into the corner. Hit SLIGHTLY behind your reference point for a pinch. Most importantly when you are practicing these shots is to make your contact point an arm and a racquet length away from you (don't contact the ball too close to your body). This will help you with full extension and optimizing your power and consistency. Don't think about aiming at the wall, only where you are contacting the ball relative to YOU.

And don't exaggerate hip rotation. It will come naturally once you learn to hit at full extension every time.

Congrats on your progress. Remember quarter squat stance, not a lunge.