Depth on Groundstrokes

[jediluke]

Hi everyone,

I'd like to ask everyone for advice on how I could hit my forehand and backhand deeper. For info, I use a one-handed with continental grip and a forehand with semi-western grip. My strokes have good form and I can control the direction the ball is going toward, but I just can't seem to be able to hit with as much depth as I could some time ago.

Thanks much

 

[El Pelele]

continental backhand? don't think you'll hit that deep witht that grip.

just work on hitting the ball harder with spin

 

[jediluke]

Continental Grip should be the standard and most effective grip for a one-handed backhand. Federer and most pros with one-handed backhands on tour use it. So I think its another reason I'm not able to hit with depth.

 

[jediluke]

Continental Grip should be the standard and most effective grip for a one-handed backhand. Federer and most pros with one-handed backhands on tour use it. So I dont' think my grip is the reason I'm not able to hit with depth.

 

[jediluke]

Continental Grip should be the standard and most effective grip for a one-handed backhand. Federer and most pros with one-handed backhands on tour use it. So I think its another reason I'm not able to hit with depth.

ignore this post XD accidental double post

 

[OvertheFence]

doesnt federer use an eastern backhand for non slices

 

[[osu]ilovecows]

Jedi, you are severely misinformed. Nobody in the top 20 with a one handed backhand currently use a continental grip for topspin drives. Did you mean slices? The most common grip for OHBH drives is an eastern backhand grip.

 

[mental midget]

Jedi, you are severely misinformed. Nobody in the top 20 with a one handed backhand currently use a continental grip for topspin drives. Did you mean slices? The most common grip for OHBH drives is an eastern backhand grip.

i thought the same thing, continental grip on a backhand? good luck coming over the ball.

people get so geeked out about grip names around here, extreme eastern this-and-that, taszmanian faux-southeastern, etc. as far as i know, there are two basic one-handed backhands: knuckles on top of the racket (assuming the strings are perpendicular to the court) and knuckles further behind, maybe on the first bevel, sometimes even a little further than that. the first is the sampras/federer/edberg style, pretty versatile, good for driving low balls. number two is the clay court special, more of a kuerten, muster grip, great for ripping topspin and handling high balls. anything to either side of those is just technique for the sake of being weird, no utility either way.

 

[jediluke]

hm...interesting
thanks for correcting me...
now about hitting deeper...

 

[Federer#1]

Hi everyone,

I'd like to ask everyone for advice on how I could hit my forehand and backhand deeper. For info, I use a one-handed with continental grip and a forehand with semi-western grip. My strokes have good form and I can control the direction the ball is going toward, but I just can't seem to be able to hit with as much depth as I could some time ago.

Thanks much

"In your mind", try to send the ball to the back fence behind your opponent, you will get the ball deeper. Then, adjust your "everything" from there.

 

[El Pelele]

ignore this post XD accidental double post

that's what i thought.

 

[Djokovicfan4life]

You have two options here:

1. You can increase the clearance of your shots over the net.

2. You can flatten out your shots a little more.

Personally, I would opt for the first option since it will give your shots more margin for error.

Contrary to popular belief on these boards, you can use the continental grip for topspin drives. However, for most players the eastern backhand grip will be a better option because your wrist is in a more stable position. If the OP has the strength to use the continental grip effectively then more power to him.

Besides, he wasn't asking for opinions on his technique, he wants to know how to get more depth on his shots.

 

[[osu]ilovecows]

...

Besides, he wasn't asking for opinions on his technique, he wants to know how to get more depth on his shots.

Getting depth in your shots is the same thing as a question about technique. It's true, you could hit topspin with a continental grip, but it is definitely not the taught method anymore. Nowadays, with the modern technology, the most commonly taught grip is eastern backhand or a variation. The OP's defense for using it was because Federer and other current pros use continental for their topspin backhands, which is obviously not true.

 

[jediluke]

thx to all
what about the forehand? i use a semi-open stance loading weight onto my right leg with a semi-western grip.

 

[Bagumbawalla]

As mentioned above, two things you can do to increase depth are-- hit the ball harder, or hit it higher over the net-- sometimes both things at the same time.

As to the continental grip, though I would never recommend it for modern play, I have two friends who use it quite well and can hit the whole variety of shots- including deep backhands. If you are not physically strong, with strong wrists, you may not be able to generate the same power they do.

Normally, people choose the continental, at least partly, to avoid switching grips from forehand to backhand- since it is the same grip on both sides.

In your, case, however, since you say you use a semi-western forehand, it really does not make much sense to stick with the continental backhand since you have to make a change anyway.

An eastern grip may, very well, enable you to hit with a bit more power and control.

 

[dmtree]

try to drive the ball and follow-through on your strokes. if that doesn't work, loosen your strings a bit maybe?

edit: actually i just remembered i think we used to make a target - say a can of balls - between the service box and the baseline, and try to hit it when practicing.

 

[toughshot]

You could put some lead on your racket

I've leaded my rackets, and i cannot IMAGINE playing with anything lighter, if your strokes are smooth and grooved, there's nothing better.

 

[El Pelele]

what's the big deal people make about "switching grips", you're gonna have to anyways. There's no one grip for all shots of course, so why the difficulty about changing grips?

 

[dmtree]

You could put some lead on your racket

I've leaded my rackets, and i cannot IMAGINE playing with anything lighter, if your strokes are smooth and grooved, there's nothing better.

heavier rackets aren't necessarily for everyone - many people don't really have the strength for them. especially if he can't get the ball past the service box, i am not sure he can swing a 13+oz racket for 2 hours.

 

[Bagumbawalla]

Just to answer El Pelele's question.

Yes, most of us switch grips, in fact it is the modern style of play to have a service grip (continental), more often than not a semi-ewstern forehand and an eastern backhand and then volley with a continental grip (or sometimes an eastern grip).

Some people (for good or bad) change grips even for different serves, different heights of the ball, different spins...and so on.

But, there was a time when many players used just one grip, the continental. They served with it, used it forehand and backhand and on volleys, lobs and overheads-- just that one grip. Then it kind of went out of style- except for a few serve and volley players- Rod laver and Fred Perry come to mind.

McEnroe was the last famous example of the all-continental grip player I can think of off hand.

 

[Djokovicfan4life]

what's the big deal people make about "switching grips", you're gonna have to anyways. There's no one grip for all shots of course, so why the difficulty about changing grips?

For some players there is one grip for all shots. Mcenroe used continental for everything.

 

[WildVolley]

It's really best if you videotape yourself to see why you aren't hitting as deep as you'd like.

I find that some players misdiagnose why they are hitting short. Sometimes it is bad footwork, such that the player is not getting weight behind the shot and therefore spinning it short into the court.

The general advice is to hit harder or flatter. I think it is generally better to hit harder and try to maintain the same amount of topspin in terms of ball rotation.

If it is just a trajectory problem, you can do drills to adjust your aim.

 

[El Pelele]

Just to answer El Pelele's question.

Yes, most of us switch grips, in fact it is the modern style of play to have a service grip (continental), more often than not a semi-ewstern forehand and an eastern backhand and then volley with a continental grip (or sometimes an eastern grip).

Some people (for good or bad) change grips even for different serves, different heights of the ball, different spins...and so on.

But, there was a time when many players used just one grip, the continental. They served with it, used it forehand and backhand and on volleys, lobs and overheads-- just that one grip. Then it kind of went out of style- except for a few serve and volley players- Rod laver and Fred Perry come to mind.

McEnroe was the last famous example of the all-continental grip player I can think of off hand.

Yes, i know that this was the way it used to be before, but since it's no longer this way, that is precisely why I said what I said.

For some players there is one grip for all shots. Mcenroe used continental for everything.

I know that, but it's no longer that way is it?

No one plays like that anymore, plus it would be stupid to do so.

 

[siber222000]

i have this one question.

should ball contact be same time as hip rotation? so like should i hit the ball while moving my hip toward my opponent to apply hip rotation power? if someone could explain it thanks. also, if someone could provide me link or explain me about *leg leverage* it'll be appreciated too thanks.

 

[split-step]

continental backhand? don't think you'll hit that deep witht that grip.

This is incorrect. If anything, he/she would have a problem hitting too long with that grip.

 

[jediluke]

thanks everyone for the advice
all i needed to do was take my dampener off to increase my feel on my shots and loosen up my wrist

 

[sinned]

Its a balance of swing speed, the amount of spin, and amount of low to high you put on the ball.

Medium swing, lots of spin, very little low to high = short ball
Medium swing, lots of spin, lots of low to high = deeper ball

That's how I look at it at least. Take it slow and use a consistent moderate swing speed and after awhile you won't even think about it and it will be deep when you want it. Take a slower and aim..