How fast should I be swinging?

[SeekHeart]

I was wondering how fast I should be swinging during groundstrokes and serves. My friend told me to swing as hard as I can and apparently I get a lot more pace but I can't control it. When I swing normally, my friend just clobbers everything. Help?

[fuzz nation]

Consistency is job #1 out there, amigo. You've got to control your shots, but keep in mind that there's a difference between taking a full swing and taking a fast swing. A full swing through the ball will let you create pace and spin that will keep the ball down on the court, but you need to stay away from your hardest possible strokes. You can't repeat them all day or hope to put many of them on your target like the killers on TV who need to win to eat well. Keep your pace somewhere in the middle gears so that you're not just pushing the ball, but also not wailing on it and missing. Unless you're in a defensive situation, keep your strokes comfortably assertive and as your timing and mechanics evolve, you'll naturally make more power.

[WildVolley]

You probably need to learn to swing faster, but it isn't something that happens overnight. You definitely shouldn't be swinging as hard as you can, as even the pros rarely do this.

My advice is to work on your topspin form. The nice thing about topspin is as you swing faster (within limits) using proper technique, you are more likely to keep the ball in the court!

Practice is good. If you can find a good hitting partner, then you can start slow and work on getting more and more topspin. Practice lets you find your limits. What you are shooting for is a moderate pace shot with enough topspin that you are not hitting long and getting reasonable net clearance.

[10s talk]

just lean into your shots (transfer you weight forward), you can create power without swinging to hard and you will be more consistent

[obnoxious2]

just lean into your shots (transfer you weight forward), you can create power without swinging to hard and you will be more consistent

+1. It's almost like free power.

[Bungalo Bill]

I was wondering how fast I should be swinging during groundstrokes and serves. My friend told me to swing as hard as I can and apparently I get a lot more pace but I can't control it. When I swing normally, my friend just clobbers everything. Help?

Your friend has just giving you poor advice.

Players think that the power in their strokes come from swinging harder. In fact, if you swing hard, especially in the open stance, in many cases your arm actually accelerates slower.

Power is derived from meeting the ball cleanly and with good timing. It is the "pop" off the strings you are looking for. It is a buttery feel and it is wonderful when you can do it consistently.

Further, by swinging as hard as you can (we are talking about groundstrokes), you jeapradize your ability to quickly recover because it is harder to control your body to begin recovery quickly. Since your body is a bit out of control, it is a bit more difficult to stop your momentum so you can recover. It usually causes your recovery to be a step slower.

Smart players realize that swinging about 80% power is all they need. From there, they adjust the knobs of their game in other areas like keeping the court closed, movement, weight transfer, conditioning, footwork/footspeed, ball judgement, taking the ball on the rise, moving the ball around (placement), and staying in the point to weaken their opponent.

Even when I get short ball I do not swing at 100%. It is still within 80%. However, because I am further into the court, I use placement and the short time my opponent has to react to the shot to my advantage. I also use the angles that I have that open up as I move in. I do not have to swing with all my might and risk losing my balance and other dumb things.

Power is important to keep your opponent neutralized, it is the smart tennis player that realizes that power is only one aspect of an entire aresenal of other weapons at their disposal. A smart player uses their court position, their technique, their ability to place the ball, their movement, their ability to keep the court closed, etc... to win the point. It is the smart player that realizes practice is to improve everything you are suppose to do on the court. It isn't just about power.

[LuckyR]

Assuming you have modern strokes, you should be having a fairly fast racquet head speed. Say about 80% of you max or so. However in the modern game, much/most of that energy should be put toward spin production, not pace. That's where your control comes from.

In the olden days, spin was a (relative) constant and you regulated pace with swing speed. Now swing speed is a (relative) constant and pace is regulated by varying the amount of spin.

[ProfoundBasic]

all suggestions so far are for competitive players.
If you are not one of them, dont hurt yourself, that is how you swing.

[Bungalo Bill]

all suggestions so far are for competitive players.
If you are not one of them, dont hurt yourself, that is how you swing.

This is not true. Swinging at "80%" means you do not swing as hard as you can so that your chances to lose your balance and racquet control are unreasonable.

All players need to swing within reason so that other aspects of what they are trying to do are balanced such as placement, consistency, depth, spin, pace, and body control.

Approaching tennis this way is not limited to competitive players.

[Il Mostro]

It's much more about rhythm+hitting through the ball than power. Develop this and you will have turned it up to "11".

[CHOcobo]

You probably need to learn to swing faster, but it isn't something that happens overnight. You definitely shouldn't be swinging as hard as you can, as even the pros rarely do this.


funny how every time i watch pro tennis plays, they seem to swing hard as they can. lol

[Lucky57]

swing as fast as you can as long as you can control your racquet.
also remember power is important, but i personally think placement and control are more important.
power is good, but if it's right at your opponent, then it's pretty simple to use that power against you.

[the wise wizard]

just lean into your shots (transfer you weight forward), you can create power without swinging to hard and you will be more consistent

this is THE way to make power. but other than that i say swing as hard as you can while the ball still lands in the court

[TTAce]

funny how every time i watch pro tennis plays, they seem to swing hard as they can. lol

this is THE way to make power. but other than that i say swing as hard as you can while the ball still lands in the court

Guys, no way they do "as hard as" they can on every shot.
hmm.. "as hard as they possible can"... that include the drop shot and lob..
hmm.. very interesting.

[MTXR]

I agree with BB, i have slowed down my swing speed and i am much more consistent overall with every shot. On my second serve though i tend to speed things up a tad since i need some major spin.

[Grizvok]

funny how every time i watch pro tennis plays, they seem to swing hard as they can. lol

How can you possibly tell by watching somebody if they are or aren't swinging as hard as they can?

[EricW]

As hard as possible while maintaining clean contact. This will ensure steady development of strength and coordination.

[miniRafa386]

swinging hard is good, but you dont want to swing hard on everything, otherwise youll tire out. i think it really depends on your game. IMO, if you hit more flat and powerful, you dont need fast strokes as much cause your hitting power and you done want to over hit. if you hit with a crapload of topspin (like myself), then you need more batspeed to get the spin.