I hit pretty heavy topspin and use a full western forehand grip. I hit some of the spin with my wrist, and some of it with my elbow. I use Spiky Shark strings. But, I've noticed that a lot of Nadal's topspin comes from just moving his left arm up really fast and exaggerated. Does he not use as much wrist to generate the massive amount of spin he does? Or do I just not see hit wrist movement because he moves it so fast?
Heavy topspin
- Thread starter b.termite
- Start date
HunterST
Hall of Fame
Do you mean you use forearm pronation when you say that you use a lot of wrist? I don't think the actual wrist should be very active during the forehand.
If you are talking about pronation, then yes, rafa uses it. However, he also uses, as you noticed, a lot of upward swinging motion. By combining these two methods of topspin creation, he gets those crazy high kicking shots that he is famous for.
In my opinion, you should make sure you're have the upward swing motion. It's a much more repeatable motion.
If you are talking about pronation, then yes, rafa uses it. However, he also uses, as you noticed, a lot of upward swinging motion. By combining these two methods of topspin creation, he gets those crazy high kicking shots that he is famous for.
In my opinion, you should make sure you're have the upward swing motion. It's a much more repeatable motion.
chrischris
G.O.A.T.
He gets body flow with the rackets launching into the ball from under and through and up. He has a massive weight into the shot with spin due to that.
The back foot end up toward the net as it flies through and lands in front on the forehand.
The wrist of Nadal (or Federer for that matter) "lags" his arm, accumulates tension by forced supination and releases it by natural (unforced, reactive) pronation.
If you take a still shot at the moment of contact, you will see that the wrist is almost straight, in line with the forearm. This can confuse you into thinking that his wrist is not involved in the shot at all.
It is. His wrist is pronating heavily, which can be seen if you watch the slow-mo for a second before the contact and to a second after it.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VZFCuVPMe6s
If you take a still shot at the moment of contact, you will see that the wrist is almost straight, in line with the forearm. This can confuse you into thinking that his wrist is not involved in the shot at all.
It is. His wrist is pronating heavily, which can be seen if you watch the slow-mo for a second before the contact and to a second after it.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VZFCuVPMe6s
