Just info to counter the people who are saying a slower setup won't help:
When Silk just puts his racket out, hoping to touch the ball back, sort of like funny block/half punch, the ball still flies long. If he took an actual loop stroke, the ball would hit the stratosphere. Without a slower setup he will not be able to take a fuller stroke to learn the mechanics for spinning the ball. Right now, on FH he is just putting the racket out. Or, he is trying to flat hit when he swings. With BH, when he tries to do that funny wrist shot, the ball also, frequently goes long.
I would say, slower would be quite useful because it might allow him to swing at the ball instead of just trying to put his racket in the way of the ball and hoping it goes on.
But it is true, silk needs to learn things like counter-hitting, basic strokes, really backed off fundamentals. If he has access to a coach he would benefit from it. Watching videos from places like PingSkills or Brett Clarke would be really helpful as well.
It is clear that he needs to learn how to make spin contact also. But, one thing at a time. With how many balls go long without Silk even swinging, a slower setup would be helpful. For rubbers, I think the AK47 might be fine. I also think Yasaka Mark V or Vega Intro would be fine as well. I would recommend he get the same rubbers for FH and BH.
And as for a blade, I think a Stiga Allround Evolution may be the right weapon for him. Because he likes to hit flat it won't be too slow. But it won't be too fast either. It will be a little slower than a blade like the Offensive S and a little faster than a Allround Classic.
That is what I think.
Silk, you could also practice shadow strokes.
These are just some videos that give info on certain aspects of the mechanics involved in FH and BH strokes.
In this first video I am talking about how you pivot from your elbow. Silk, the push forward thing I am showing is something certain people do when they try to do BHs. You are not doing that. You are pivoting your whole arm around your wrist instead. Mechanically it is much less accurate and much less efficient than what I am showing. So, what I am showing would be a decent place to start and would be an improvement from what you are currently trying to do. It is not really the stroke. But it is some of the mechanics of the stroke. And if one of the coaches on the forum want to take a crack at showing more of what Silk needs to do with his strokes, I am sure it would be helpful. I might be a moment analyst. But I am not a TT coach.
This second video, I break down a bunch of different aspects of the FH stroke:
This next video is me just simplifying things and letting the strokes be more natural rather than trying to show isolations of different parts of the movements:
This last one is a self hitting exercise that could help you practice the strokes when you don't have someone to practice with:
It always helps to watch footage of yourself. So I am glad you did. Filming every so often and watching the footage will help you improve.
You helped me a lot, thanks!
