Hitting Deep Balls on Groundstrokes

[Thanatos]

I played a match last night and had problems with keeping the ball past my opponent's service line on both my FH and BH. Once the ball fell within the service line, my opponent would hit a good approach shot and attack the net.
As a result, I got creamed. My question is what element of a groundstroke contributes to keeping the deep? Thanks.

[Jon Hampton]

Topspin, topspin, topspin...that's the element. If you have the proper technique, it's all about aiming high enough over the net so you're ball will land deeper and deeper. A good way to practice this is to head out to a volleyball court with a basket of balls. Try getting your ball over the volleyball net and getting it to land deep on the other side. Transitioning back to a tennis court will be much easier and you'll be able to hit deeper on a more consistent basis.

[predrag]

Topspin, topspin, topspin...that's the element. If you have the proper technique, it's all about aiming high enough over the net so you're ball will land deeper and deeper. A good way to practice this is to head out to a volleyball court with a basket of balls. Try getting your ball over the volleyball net and getting it to land deep on the other side. Transitioning back to a tennis court will be much easier and you'll be able to hit deeper on a more consistent basis.

Actually topspin will shorten the flight of the ball.
If your sollution to a short topspin is to aim higher you will end up playing
moonballs.
Which is fine, if that is your goal.
Not mine, though.
I preach hitting throuh the ball with topspin as a control element.
My goal is to hit within two feet from side- and base-line.


Regards, Predrag

[Rickson]

Actually topspin will shorten the flight of the ball.
If your sollution to a short topspin is to aim higher you will end up playing
moonballs.
Which is fine, if that is your goal.
Not mine, though.
I preach hitting throuh the ball with topspin as a control element.
My goal is to hit within two feet from side- and base-line.


Regards, Predrag
True, topspin will make the ball fall earlier than a flat drive so hit through a little more if your balls are only getting to the service line.

[bhaskart]

I have similar problems on occasion. Usually, when this happens I find that I've started hitting a lot off my back foot and I'm doing more of the brushing action to get topspin than any forward momentum on the ball. If I manage to think through this in the middle of a match, I try to put more of my weight into the drives by leaning into them. This gives the extra forward momentum needed for the deeper shots. If this still generates too many short balls, I try to flatten out my stroke by reducing the brushing motion (actually making it less of a 2D brushing action and incorporating more of a forward swing in addition to the brushing to maintain top spin). It's easy to talk about this but a lot more difficult to change this in the middle of a match.

[takeuchi]

use those legs! it usually helps me get some depth. if it feels like you are lifting the ball over you will probably need to hit through the ball more.