Force Summation

The use of Force Summation successfully in a Tennis forehand can impact the power and accuracy of the shot. It is essential to understand the importance of how larger and smaller muscles work together to create a subroutine because 'To obtain maximum force, it is necessary to combine or add up the forces applied by different body parts ... for better results, movement begins with the larger, slower body parts and finishes with the smaller, faster body parts' (Hede et al, 2011, pg 87), the more refined the subroutine the more fluidity in the stroke rather than jerky movements.

The process for a forehand begins through the bending of the knees, this allows for power or spring to be generated, this is also known as Newton’s Law of Action Reaction “For every action force or momentum, there is an equal and opposite reaction force or momentum” (Amezdroz et al, 2005, p188).

Afterwards, the racquet arm, shoulder and hips are rotated or coiled back, this is known as the backswing and the beginning of the torso and hip twist, the purpose of the backswing and the torso and hip twist is to generate force and power for contact of the ball.

When contact is about to be made with the ball the hips and torso untwist causing the racquet head to move towards the contact of the ball, this creates more power and spring.

Contact is then made through the ball with the force generated by the hip and torso twist, when the ball is struck the positioning of the body is open towards the other side of the court.

In addition, as the body is open, the arm holding the racquet is fully extended lever. This generates power through the stroke as the further away the ball or resistance is struck from the body the more power is generated.

After the forehand is completed the racquet arm needs to swing across the body, this is known as the follow through. The follow through generates power and accuracy in the stroke, if there is no follow through on a shot the trajectory of the ball will not go over the net, instead it will bounce off the racquet and head downwards due to not enough force being created to resist gravity.

It is evident in my video footage that I do not apply the correct hip and torso rotation in my forehand stroke as there is little movement in my hips and torso when I contact the ball. If I were to apply them successfully in my subroutine it would be advantageous to the power and accuracy in my forehand.

Comparing my footage to that of Roger Federer it is evident that he follows all the necessary steps in executing the subroutine to perform his forehand such as the bending of knees, coiling of hips and torso, backswing, uncoiling creating force when striking the ball and the follow through.

(Youtube, 2016)