Help before tourney

[Dunlopkid]

Right now I'm trying to take my heavy topspin, grinding style up a notch. I'm trying to clear the net by no less than five feet when rallying from the baseline. As I've tweaked my game somewhat, I've lost some consistency which I'm trying to regain. When I do start clearing the net by five feet, my balls are consistently 6 in-a foot long. I feel like I'm putting on as much spin as I can muster. Any tips? Any good vids? I've got a tourney this weekend.

[Dunlopkid]

Maybe I just need to prepare sooner.

[Bagumbawalla]

Lots of topspin (extreme "brushing" up on the ball) without much forward momentum, results in a high, loopy, moonball lind of shot. Unless you say otherwise, I assume, from what you've written, this is your sort of shot.

Under the circumstances, simply adding more spin does not always equal comtrol. Imagine hitting the ball so that it spins at 6000 rpm, but only 10mph forward momentum-- what you would have is a ball that must loop over the net about 30 feet for the combined effect of gravity, spin and velocity to reach the back of the opposite court. In effect if you keep increasing spin and sacrafice forward follow-through, you are basically hitting topspin lobs. No wonder you have problems.

You need to find a good ballance between the spin and forward momentum/power in order to regain some control.

[Dunlopkid]

That is sort of my problem and I can certainly visualize that. But it's not as bad as you make it sound. LOL. I'm not lobbing every shot or anything.

[Bagumbawalla]

Yes, I know. I was just taking the situation to it's extreme.

Just try contacting the ball more solidly. Hit more THROUGH the ball rather than up. That should correct the problem, and, if you can hit with a bit more power (rather than just spin), it should be a more effective shot, overall.

Let us know how it goes with the tournament.

Good luck,

B

[Mountain Ghost]

The point of impacting the ball might be too far in front of your leading shoulder, which could be because you’re positioning too close to line of the ball or because you’re a hair early. Stay closed, far enough away from the ball to fully extend and try to wait.

MG