How to hit high balls?

[Discovery660]

I find this issue becoming a problem. I'm 5'6" and either I hit balls early, or they are waist or higher. I try to bend my knees and coil through it, but I find myself coming up from the position to hit the higher balls. When I do that, I mess up. If I stay up, and hit the high balls I do much better. Do I need to be hititng the balls earlier, or move back and wait for it to come down?

[donnyz89]

I'm shorter than you and yes, highballs are a pain... I would suggest you try to take it early. If it bounces near the baseline, the take it early because if you dont, its gonna hit the fence. otherwise, wait for it.

[tennis_hand]

Here is the tip of me, the amateur player. :D

If you can time it very well, always try to hit it early on the rise around butt/waist height. Especially if the ball bounces very high near the baseline, you have to do it, because you are without choice because it is going to the fence when it comes down.

If you don't play that well or have timing problem, try it get the ball when it comes down. But bear in mind that a falling ball is actually harder to hit than a rising ball.

If the ball is medium high at your shoulder level, jump up to hit a forehand. This is what I do for those shoulder or head high balls when I have to take it on its highest point. I jump on high backhand too.

Don't be afraid to jump to hit a good forehand on a high ball. That way your forehand will be above the ball and you'll have your way.

[diredesire]

What kind of high balls are we talking about here? High near the baseline? high mid court?

What do you mean by "mess up?" Do you mean hitting them long? framing the shot? dumping it into the net?

I'll give you a tip for a specific type of high ball (the mid court high, slow ball). Prepare your racquet up high, around shoulder height. Instead of going through the "start low, finish high" routine, flatten out your swing path, and give a more linear stroke path. High to high, instead of high, low, high.

For the baseline strokes, they're going to be tough regardless. I personally like to back up and let a ball drop, but if i can tell it's going to be very high, i'll just hit the ball early. It does take some practice, but after a while it's not too bad to execute :)

[Nextman916]

Either step in and take it early, or prepare your raquet at about ball level hop a little and rip the shot. Sometimes on rare occasions the opponent will either mishit a lob type shot, landing it short when im stuck on the baseline. So nor am i in the position to hit a lob or in the position to take it early, i take a couple of steps towards the ball and let the ball drop to about mid waist and counter it with a massive upswing, ensuring the ball wont just land in the net and creates good topspin return. I find this easier to do with heavier raquets 11.8oz-12.0+ range because the lift is easier.

[Rickson]

I find this issue becoming a problem. I'm 5'6" and either I hit balls early, or they are waist or higher. I try to bend my knees and coil through it, but I find myself coming up from the position to hit the higher balls. When I do that, I mess up. If I stay up, and hit the high balls I do much better. Do I need to be hititng the balls earlier, or move back and wait for it to come down?
I love high forehands because I'm a flat ball hitter, but it's high backhands that I despise. If the balls are coming high on the forehand side, take a slightly closed face and blast that sucka back to enemy territory. Half the time, you won't even get the ball coming back to you.