What comes first, Power or Control?

[AndrewD]

I realise that some players are inherently more powerful than others, however, what Im curious about is whether you should be striving for control of all your shots and then, when you've achieved that, begin to look for extra power. Or, should you get as much power as possible and then try to control it?

As Im looking to buy a new racquet I need to make the decision whether the way ahead in the ratings is to increase the level of power I have or to build on my stroke repertoire and then when I feel Ive mastered all elements of the game add some extra zip by way of a more powerful frame.

I could do with some extra pace on my serve but dont really need it on my groundstrokes (a little would be fine but its not a weakness).

I know this could be either in this section or the racquet section but thought Id try it here first.

[hyperwarrior2004]

I realise that some players are inherently more powerful than others, however, what Im curious about is whether you should be striving for control of all your shots and then, when you've achieved that, begin to look for extra power. Or, should you get as much power as possible and then try to control it?

As Im looking to buy a new racquet I need to make the decision whether the way ahead in the ratings is to increase the level of power I have or to build on my stroke repertoire and then when I feel Ive mastered all elements of the game add some extra zip by way of a more powerful frame.

I could do with some extra pace on my serve but dont really need it on my groundstrokes (a little would be fine but its not a weakness).

I know this could be either in this section or the racquet section but thought Id try it here first.

Most pros chooses control over power. If you lack in power, I think you should lower your tension. I have a link http://www.racquetresearch.com/
and maybe the info can help you much more about your choices.

[paulfreda]

Well your intent to add power by choosing a powerful racquet is highly ill advised. You add power with your technique for generating racquet speed.
If you learn control and then buy a widebody, you will be forced to hit with more topspin for control. But if you learn with a flexible low power frame, you can add power without changing what you have learned.

This Q of power vs control is an eternal never ending discussion. Conventional wisdom is that control is best and most effective for winning matches. But there are schools of thought that you should just hit out with tons of power and learn to control it over time with technique. Jack Nicklaus was taught golf this way by his childhood mentor. I think Bollitieri advocates this but don't quote me on that. It is up to you to choose or to try both and see how it goes. Hit out against a wall or with a hitting partner for a portion of your practice time and see if you can reel in control. But also hit with pure control so you dont lose all your matches for the next 2 years.

[mucat]

Like hyperwarrior2004 said, if your current racket is fine, lower the tension should solve the problem, unless the current tension is already pretty low.

[jun]

It depends on indivisual. Any player at any level of player could benefit by making a switch to slightly more powerful frame. With that being said, I think advanced players benefit more by making a swtich to more control oriented racket than 3.5~4.0 player woulld.

I used to change rackets based on power level. Although I think some changes were very beneficial to my game, some changes were mistakes in a sense that I should have concentrated on increasing my racket head speed, etc.

These days, I only worry about how the racket feels. I lowered tension by a few pounds to get a little more pop...

[Frank Silbermann]

Quite likely most people make a zig-zagging development -- a little power, then some control. Little more power, then a little more control.

I don't know anyone who learns to lob the ball with the accuracy of Ken Rosewall before attempting mid-pace shots. And I don't know anyone who learns to blast the ball like a pro before developing the ability to direct the ball to one half the court or the other.

[Mahboob Khan]

The answer is controlled power!

Because of the developmental consideration of the twitch muscles, for kids, if their objective is long-term, racket head speed is more important than the results!

For recreational, social, and club players, obviously, control is number 1 consideration. If they do not have control, they become frustrated and quit tennis.

[AndrewD]

Thanks guys. I thought this might get a few different opinions.

paulfreda, its not actually my intent to buy a racquet just to get extra power. The frames Ive been looking at have all been low power -Volkl Tour10MP, LM RadMP, POG mid and o/s. However, before I actually buy one I thought I'd ask the question.


Interesting that Frank mentioned Ken Rosewall and Paul mentioned the Bollitieri method. I remember reading a book of Harry Hopman's where he always felt that the minute Lew Hoad learnt to control his power he had Rosewall's measure so never tried to hold him back. He felt that if you try to inhibit the natural power you inhibit the player. Guess on the other hand, if you try to force the power you could ruin the player.

[kevhen]

I beat alot of power players with control and consistency. I guess it depends on your mindset and how you like to play. When I was younger I played against power players and learned how to just keep the ball in play long enough to win the point. I still do that now but place the ball much better and get back even more balls. I struggled this year when switching to a more powerful racquet but am finally playing better now having learned how to control that extra power. I say control and consistency first and then start hitting lower and harder once you have that control.

[Ryoma]

I think it really depend on who you really are. If you are powerful, don't shy from it. What you need is to sharpen your tools. There is nothing wrong to be both powerful and consistent and have perfect placement. Be the best you can be.

[Brent Pederson]

I think the best strategy is to learn both at different times. Here's an analogy. Many years ago my wife needed to learn to touch-type (having shunned it when she could have learned in school). We bought a computer based typing program and it had some interesting drills. They would alternate back and forth between trying to type as accurately as possible, with no errors, then the next drill would be to try to type the same paragraph as fast as you possibly could, never mind the errors. Eventually, each drill seemed to help the other. In other words, pretty soon, the perfection drill got to be pretty fast, and the speed drill got to be pretty much error-free.

I think you can do the same in tennis. Do some drills where you're working on accuracy, setting up targets, hitting only the alleys, etc., where speed is not in the equation, then do some drills where you just try to rip it as hard as you can, never mind where it goes. Eventually, both will improve and you'll be able to rip it with surprising accuracy. Just my 2 cents...

[kevhen]

When hitting around after a match, if I start missing too many shots, I will focus for awhile on seeing how many balls in a row I can hit in and then once I feel confident with my consistency I will start seeing how hard I can hit and not worry about errors and eventually I find that point where power and consistency start to combine. In matches though I will start slow and just focus on consistency early in the match and then as I get more confident will go for more later in the match hitting both harder and closer to the lines then. If I miss 2-3 shots in a row I will go back to hitting consistently again so I don't fall too quickly behind on UEs alone. Then eventually I will get back to hitting aggressively once my confidence is back.

[Bungalo Bill]

I realise that some players are inherently more powerful than others, however, what Im curious about is whether you should be striving for control of all your shots and then, when you've achieved that, begin to look for extra power. Or, should you get as much power as possible and then try to control it?

As Im looking to buy a new racquet I need to make the decision whether the way ahead in the ratings is to increase the level of power I have or to build on my stroke repertoire and then when I feel Ive mastered all elements of the game add some extra zip by way of a more powerful frame.

I could do with some extra pace on my serve but dont really need it on my groundstrokes (a little would be fine but its not a weakness).

I know this could be either in this section or the racquet section but thought Id try it here first.

The racquet can add power to your stroke especially if you have a slower swing speed then others. This is one way to add power in your shots.

The game of tennis is not won on power although power is an element of being able to win. The game of tennis is about who can keep the ball in play with the fewest errors at all levels of play. Therefore, as Mahboob indicated, you need to have CONTROLLED POWER. So what does that mean?

Controlled power comes from a unique blend of timing the hit properly, maintaining your balance and foundation, and hitting the ball cleanly. Uncontrolled power comes from swinging too hard which can make you mistime the ball, hit off balance, lose your foundation, and you can frame or hit the ball off center. This causes a reduction in power or worse yet a lousey shot.

Mastering your tennis stroke takes time. It takes discipline. It takes perserverance. No one likes to hit balls that are fed slowly to them for long. It is boring. It feels like nothing is happening. But there is a lot happening! The brain is being programmed to fire certain muscles at certain times to maintain a smooth stroke. As one gets better with their timing, balance, and can cleanly hit the ball consistently, the pace of the feed should be increased. Later (or slowly at the same time), lateral and forward movement should be added to further develop the brain and its ability to send the right signals under increasing pressure.

To hit with controlled power you first need to realize it is not about swinging harder! It is about swinging smoother and timing your swing so that you hit the ball at the appropriate time for your chosen grip - cleanly. Many times it is also about hitting the ball sooner. However, how soon you hit the ball plays into timing. A ball hit sooner is being hit while it is traveling faster towards you then if you waited longer. This is why the Western and SW grips are called the "POWER GRIPS". These grips enable a person (if they want) to hit the ball sooner or more out in front.

Addtionally, the unique blend of power also utilizes incoming ball speed appropriately. A ball that is coming in fast towards you needs less swing speed, more control, and good timing from you. Most players aren't disciplined to adjust their swings to the ball speed in an opposite manner.

Most of the time if we see our opponent taking a huge cut at the ball we respond in like manner (I get caught in this as well as others). It is a monkey see monkey do sort of thing. This is why many times I will take note of a person that is still HITTING the ball vs. PLAYING THE BALL. A hitter vs. a player in other words.

When you feel like you can move the ball around and maintain your consistency, then you can experiment with adding a dose of power. But by that time, you will realize you don't need to add much!

Swinging away at the ball to add power leads one on a path of self-destruction. Controlled power is about making adjustments and hitting 85 - 90 percent of your shots within your means. It is about timing, balance, basics, foundational elements, and hitting the ball cleanly more then anything you can imagine. Hitting with power is about being relaxed and in good condition so you can get to the ball on time and hit most of your balls while maintaining your balance. It is about using your brain not your muscle.

Ypu develop everything from consistency, depth, spin, power, forehands, backhands, volleys, lobs, serves, approach shots are for one reason, to win a point, to win a string of points, to win a game, to win a set and finally to win a match. One attribute can't overcome another by much. For instance if you are try to hit all your balls real hard and lose consistency, you are out of control. You are not hitting with controlled power.

Using all of your ability to execute strokes allows you to develop a game plan, adjust a game plan in midstream, and critique your game plan after the match. It gives you options and ways to "work" a point. That is WHY you are learning your shots. To construct a point and to setup shot combinations that will allow you to win. This portion of tennis engages the mind in your match not muscle.

The racquet can help but it will not solve a poor approach to the game of tennis and poor technique.

[kevhen]

Amen Brother Bill, good stuff there. I still see 4.5 guys ahead of me who win with placement and control. It always amazes me when higher ranked players can still win without power but there are still many who can do it but they have a lot of experience, don't make UEs, and play within themselves. I see a higher percentage of players at the 3.5 level who try to play with power than among those I see at the 4.5 level. At 4.0 there is a good balance of power and finesse players, while at 5.0 almost everyone plays with decent power (although very controlled power).

[Bungalo Bill]

Amen Brother Bill, good stuff there. I still see 4.5 guys ahead of me who win with placement and control. It always amazes me when higher ranked players can still win without power but there are still many who can do it but they have a lot of experience, don't make UEs, and play within themselves. I see a higher percentage of players at the 3.5 level who try to play with power than among those I see at the 4.5 level. At 4.0 there is a good balance of power and finesse players, while at 5.0 almost everyone plays with decent power (although very controlled power).

Get that backhand volley down and you will be a 4.5 player! You already have the serve and forehand. Backhand is always a reach away for everyone.

When you get better it is not about one shot as you see amongst the 3.0's like you said. When the 5.0's play, they do hit with power. But as you said it is controlled power and they play mainly for shot selections, strategic matchups and shot combos to win. Therefore, they have to play within themselves. Sound like you got it!

[papa]

I'm going to (giving due credit to Mr. BB) start copying some of these posts and posting them at a couple of places where I play. I was working with a guy yesterday for an hour trying to get him just to slow down his swing - would work for a few minutes and than bang, he's into hitting home runs again. He eventually said to me that he didn't have much of a sports background to which I almost said NO S___ . The point is that he, and I've had many others, was more interested in power than anything else - like it was addictive. I this guys case, he would have been better served to read BB advice PRIOR to walking out on the court.

[jeebeesus]

I'm going to (giving due credit to Mr. BB) start copying some of these posts and posting them at a couple of places where I play. I was working with a guy yesterday for an hour trying to get him just to slow down his swing - would work for a few minutes and than bang, he's into hitting home runs again. He eventually said to me that he didn't have much of a sports background to which I almost said NO S___ . The point is that he, and I've had many others, was more interested in power than anything else - like it was addictive. I this guys case, he would have been better served to read BB advice PRIOR to walking out on the court.

Make these guys play mini tennis Papa. Like i always do, sure freak them out.

[AndrewD]

Controlled power comes from a unique blend of timing the hit properly, maintaining your balance and foundation, and hitting the ball cleanly. Uncontrolled power comes from swinging too hard which can make you mistime the ball, hit off balance, lose your foundation, and you can frame or hit the ball off center. This causes a reduction in power or worse yet a lousey shot.

That pretty much sums up the way I learnt how to play all bat and ball sports (am Australian so played cricket, not baseball), timing, balance and follow-though. Bat lift (or back swing) did not have to be excessive if you were able to time the ball,kept your body solid on the shot and followed through, not just poked at the ball, so there was a fluid transfer of weight into the shot.

I think so much talk about swing-length, in relation to which racquet to choose, caused some confusion on my part. None of my shots have excessively high back swing, you might call them moderate, but there's always been a lot of weight and a lot of power in them (if I choose to use it), the serve not withstanding.

The question about power vs control had as much to do with the question of headsize on a racquet (did say this could have been in either section). If control (of shot, of technique) is the key to the delivery of power then do you select a headsize based on it being the largest you can use and still control the ball? Or do you choose the smallest you can use that still allows you to deliver controlled power?

[Mahboob Khan]

Bungalow Bill took it to another (great) level! Excellent response!

By the way, my article on volley has appeared in www.procomparetennis.net.

[Bungalo Bill]

Bungalow Bill took it to another (great) level! Excellent response!

By the way, my article on volley has appeared in www.procomparetennis.net.

WOW! Excellent! Very well thought out so simple I can't imagine anyone not learning from this. Where is Kevhen?????????? He should read this at breakfast, lunch, and dinner.

[Mahboob Khan]

I am glad you liked it.

[Rickson]

The answer is controlled power!

Because of the developmental consideration of the twitch muscles, for kids, if their objective is long-term, racket head speed is more important than the results!

For recreational, social, and club players, obviously, control is number 1 consideration. If they do not have control, they become frustrated and quit tennis.
Sounds great, Mahboob. Control over power makes perfect sense. Why would you want to hit a powerful forehand that hits the fence but no part of the baseline?