Pointing Buttcap at ball

[cyrosceals]

My previous coach is always asking me to point the buttcap at the ball before swinging. Why is this so? I can hit well if I am not pointing and merely closing racket face with buttcap pointing to my side. What is the purpose of pointing?

 

[tennisfan_23]

I think he/she asks you to do this for several reasons.

First, it helps to form a natural L-shape in your wrist to forearm area, as well as your forearm to arm area. These two L-shapes assist in making sure that your stroke is clean and the face of the racquet hits the ball squarely.

Secondly, doing so can only provide you with more power. If you only point the buttcap to your side, the efficiency of your swing is lessened.

Thirdly, it tucks your elbow in a bit, which I hear is sometimes helpful.

 

[cyrosceals]

"tucking your elbow in". My elbows "pops" out and is in front of the buttcap. Is that what you mean?

 

[whoswayne]

pointing your buttcap forward helps you to hit the ball in the center of your strings...if your ever miss hitting a lot of balls try and point the butt cap forward while the rackets back

 

[eagle]

I can attest to this technique.

I have a semi western grip. When I conciously started to point the butt cap towards the ball, it virtually eliminated framed shots for me.

It helped hit the ball in the sweet spot more consistently.

I also noticed that I drive the ball a lot more now and hit a lot less spinny short balls.

It's worth a try.

r,
eagle

 

[Nellie]

Pointing the but cap at the ball means you are fully rotated at the shoulder.

likewise, pointing the but cap at the target after the swing means that you did a full shoulder and torso rotation.

 

[quicken]

Faster swing = power

 

[Bagumbawalla]

Imagine that your racket is twelve feet long. Would it be easier to get the momentum started (overcome inertia) by swinging it perpendicular to its lenght or parallel to its length?

Obviously, by "pulling" the raclet first, longways, buttcap facing the ball, it is easier/more effective to start the racket moving, then eventually change the linear motion into a pendulum-like motion.

Having said that, if you are happy with the way you play now, and never indend to get any better, then hit any way you like. It you have dreams of playing gracefully and at a higher level of play, someday, then listen to the coach.

 

[fuzz nation]

Every time I try to serve with my twelve foot racquet, I take chunks out to the court and they ask me to leave...

Sorry, couldn't resist. That image just popped in there.

That idea of a very long racquet is a good one. Think about the path you need to align your racquet on to swing it through the ball. If you point the buttcap at the ball, you've essentially set the racquet in the same plane with your point of contact; it just needs to go through it's arc with your hand the correct distance from the ball to meet it well.

It's the same with driving a golf ball in terms of the plane of your swing. You can't smoke the ball off the tee if you hold the driver straight out in front of you. The club needs to be taken back behind the ball and set in the proper plane. That plane that it swings through is the direction that the club (or the racquet) will initially send the ball. The alignment of the face and the spin are a whole different mess.