Effect of a leather grip on mobility?

[bugeyed]

Originally Posted by robbo1970

snip one thing I really noticed was how the racket took more effort from my hand and wrist in flicking volleys and rolling my wrist over for some topspin shots and under for slicing, particularly on serves.
I swear the racket feels less mobile and slower. Has anyone else found this?

"Rolling my wrist over for topspin shots"? Can you describe this & how that motion has anything to do with hitting topspin?

Cheers,
kev

[robbo1970]

Originally Posted by bugeyed

"Rolling my wrist over for topspin shots"? Can you describe this & how that motion has anything to do with hitting topspin?

Cheers,
kev

No. Only kidding.

Picture the scene, the ball is coming back over the net, you adjust your feet to the left to take a nice swing with your forehand. The racket comes back and as you swipe upwards to create the topspin, at the last split second you roll your wrist over the the top in an arc shape......the dip the ball takes and the kick when the balls hit the ground is pretty good.

However, the thread is more about how the leather grip feels rather than an analysis of technique.

But I would like to know how you apply topspin to your forehand and back hand.

[bugeyed]

Originally Posted by robbo1970

No. Only kidding.

Picture the scene, the ball is coming back over the net, you adjust your feet to the left to take a nice swing with your forehand. The racket comes back and as you swipe upwards to create the topspin, at the last split second you roll your wrist over the the top in an arc shape......the dip the ball takes and the kick when the balls hit the ground is pretty good.

However, the thread is more about how the leather grip feels rather than an analysis of technique.

But I would like to know how you apply topspin to your forehand and back hand.

As long as the described rolling or your wrist over the top is happening after the ball has left the racquet, it is just a follow through. If it happens during ball contact, the ball will hit the court in front of you. I hit topspin with a racquet face that is moving from low to high with the racquet face vertical. The racquet face pretty much has to be vertical, as opposed to open or closed, to hit the ball back to the other side regardless of whether it is moving low to high or high to low.

Cheers,
kev

[robbo1970]

Yes it is more or less after the ball has gone, a follow through as you say. (I have just been swinging my arm in the office here to replicate what I do, now I look a right fool).

I don't do it all the time though, it just happens every now and again. Basically, I hit the shot then realise I have rolled my wrist over afterwards, it was just something I felt more with the heavier handle as opposed to the lighter handle.

[bugeyed]

Originally Posted by robbo1970

Yes it is more or less after the ball has gone, a follow through as you say. (I have just been swinging my arm in the office here to replicate what I do, now I look a right fool).

I don't do it all the time though, it just happens every now and again. Basically, I hit the shot then realise I have rolled my wrist over afterwards, it was just something I felt more with the heavier handle as opposed to the lighter handle.

I understand the perception of the motion. I have heard many ex touring pros on-air, that talk about rolling over the top of the ball to hit topspin. They should know better.
Glad you tried leather. It's not my favorite grip either. More the feel than the weight though.
Cheers,
kev

[robbo1970]

Yeah its good when you can try these things and completely reverse them if you need to. I always intended to replace the gecko tac grip anyway, I just went a roundabout way of doing it.

[robbo1970]

eek, I have been knocking out a few curls to cope with the enormous addition of 10g's on the handle and have put the leather grip back on. Having switched back and forth it is better with leather and an overgrip.

I've also ditched the dampener and the feel of the ball off the strings feels a lot more comfortable and responsive.