Discussion on Ball Pocketing on Hard Rallies in Groundstrokes

[mclee025]

I've been playing for a long time and normally when I'm practicing, I'll hit moderate shots with decent pace and good control. Yesterday, a buddy and I got into a session where we were both started creaming the ball with groundstrokes from the baseline.

Each hit had a loud satisfying popping sound and I could feel the ball "pocket" on the racquet strings like I've never felt before. I would guess I was hitting at around 90% of my capability. However, I felt on the edge of losing consistency and control and knew I could not maintain this level of play for an extended period. That's not to mention that a body part like a wheel might fall off. Nevertheless, it was fun for a short time before we both dialed back down to more normal hitting levels.

That pocketing was a great feeling. I was wondering if this pocketing effect is a sensation that better players experience all the time or consistently on their strokes? Anyone have any tips on being able to do that more regularly and making it less edgy (that is, less on the edge of being out of control)?

Thinking about it, I'm thinking that it might just be a matter of hitting more with quality players that can hit hard back at each other.

[topspin kid]

my friend and i do that also to see whos quicker we would hit about 90% back and forth and see who get the most back and the most in.but we would also try to control it.do you think this will help with consistency?

[slice bh compliment]

I don't even use the pocket. I have a one-hander, so if I ever wanted to, I could just wear soccer shorts.

Kidding.

The key in a match is to give a guy so little rhythm and so little clue as to the placement of your shots, that he rarely gets to feel that pocketing, controlled feeling.

This is why people feel pocketing more in practice than they do in competition.

[BeachTennis]

You dont learn to rip with out ripping

We all know the saying "I was seeing the ball like a basketball"

The true sweet spot

[Bungalo Bill]

You dont learn to rip with out ripping

Exactly. Players during their practice sessions need to mix in drills that cause them to hit out and hit hard. A player needs to understand their limitations.

[chess9]

The two kinds of pace that I have to work extra hard on:

1. Lights out, 50+ mph topspin;
2. Dinkers;

Those are the games you learn something.

I get #1 from my ball machine and hitting with a local college kid. But, it's always physically demanding.

#2 is my hardest game because I often feel sorry for the poor guy on the other side of the net and it distracts me and my error rate goes up. I need a way to turn my head off when I play those guys. I went three sets with one last week and actually lost to one 15 year old kid because I didn't have the heart to hit out and soon my game was rubbish. <sigh>

-Robert

[baros]

i have had that feeling its great.