Dunlop Foam Speedballs

[mightyrick]

Hi all,

I retired my old racquet and purchased a new racquet -- Wilson BLX K-Six One 95. Great racquet. I'm loving it.

However, the time has come for me to actually start to develop more topspin. I already can hit fairly flat and hard, but topspin is difficult for me as I have an eastern grip. It is most comfortable for me.

My question is about developing the "feel" for topspin. I saw a few videos of rallies with Dunlop Foam Speedballs. It seems like they might be fantastic to do hard wallwork with and practice heavy topspin strokes. Purely to develop the "feel" for the topspin stroke.

Does anyone have experience with this? Can foam balls be effective for learning heavier topspin and getting a feel for the stroke?

[only4theweak187]

Practice using normal tennis balls...only way you will learn. You're not a 5 year old

[SystemicAnomaly]

^ I would ignore this feedback.

The foam ball as well as the green/yellow qst 78 (or the orange/yellow qst 60) ball be used by intermediate & even advanced players for various aspects of training. The low compression qst balls do not spin easily -- you must put more effort into putting much spin on these. Every once in a while, I'll use the foam ball for getting a good, intense workout in a relatively short time. We tend to use an extra measure of topspin when using this ball.

Also try short-court (mini tennis) with regular balls and "wiper" strokes to practice using an extra measure of topspin.

[corners]

The Dunlop yellow and red? They don't have as much bounce as some other foam balls. And like the others, they get shredded by your strings if you hit with much spin. I used to hit them against a wall and there would be bits of foam all over the place afterward.

But otherwise they're fun and you can spin the heck out of them.

I use them mostly for volley wall practice now.

[BMC9670]

Originally Posted by SystemicAnomaly

^ I would ignore this feedback.

Yes, I second that! Using foam balls to learn or get a feel for a new stroke is a good idea, especially against a wall. Why? It slows everything down. 5 years old or 50 years old, the way to learn something new is to do it as SLOW and CORRECT as possible and build from there. Also great for getting your footwork in line, which is key to hitting any stroke. Plus, they will curve more and give your more visual feedback on your topspin.

With real balls in this situation, you'll always be playing catch up just trying to keep the ball going, rather than working on your new stroke and the footwork to hit it correctly.

[GuyClinch]

I am not going to bash foam balls. I keep one in my bag for hitting against a wall.

However heavy spin against a wall makes the ball bounce crazy low - which is fairly close to the opposite of what happens on a tennis court. A guy who hits with heavy topspin will give you a diet of HIGH bouncing topspin balls. So its not a great way to learn to hit with more topspin.

Pete

[SystemicAnomaly]

Originally Posted by corners

The Dunlop yellow and red? They don't have as much bounce as some other foam balls. And like the others, they get shredded by your strings if you hit with much spin. I used to hit them against a wall and there would be bits of foam all over the place afterward.

But otherwise they're fun and you can spin the heck out of them.

I use them mostly for volley wall practice now.

Note that the foam balls are not the same as the low-compression (felt) balls. The foam balls (3.5" diameter) are significantly larger than the low compression felt balls (2.5" or slightly larger). Foam balls and felt training balls (not to scale):

.

[BMC9670]

Originally Posted by GuyClinch

I am not going to bash foam balls. I keep one in my bag for hitting against a wall.

However heavy spin against a wall makes the ball bounce crazy low - which is fairly close to the opposite of what happens on a tennis court. A guy who hits with heavy topspin will give you a diet of HIGH bouncing topspin balls. So its not a great way to learn to hit with more topspin.

Pete

I'm confused. When a foam ball hit with a lot of topspin hits the wall, it pops up a bit. Of course, there is no spin to make it jump off the ground like a real topspin shot coming at you, but I find it doesn't stay low.

The OP is concerned about hitting the stroke correctly, not really playing "against" topspin, which would be impossible to simulate with a wall.

[corners]

Originally Posted by SystemicAnomaly

Note that the foam balls are not the same as the low-compression (felt) balls. The foam balls (3.5" diameter) are significantly larger than the low compression felt balls (2.5" or slightly larger). Foam balls and felt training balls (not to scale):

.

Yeah, foam is foam. Dounlop Speedballs are foam.

[Chenx15]

i know this is off topic. but hit the wall my friend. the wall is your bestfriend when it comes to learning topspin.

[mightyrick]

Originally Posted by SystemicAnomaly

Note that the foam balls are not the same as the low-compression (felt) balls. The foam balls (3.5" diameter) are significantly larger than the low compression felt balls (2.5" or slightly larger). Foam balls and felt training balls (not to scale):

.

Thanks for this. I'll have to give these a look. I can start with the larger balls until I feel more confident with the topspin stroke and then I can move to the smaller balls.

[Djokolate]

Originally Posted by only4theweak187

Practice using normal tennis balls...only way you will learn. You're not a 5 year old

Lol.


AHHHH feels good to post a funny pic since a long time

[SuperDuy]

Originally Posted by only4theweak187

Practice using normal tennis balls...only way you will learn. You're not a 5 year old

Not true, the foam ones make you hit more topspin.

[SuperDuy]

Originally Posted by Djokolate

Lol.


AHHHH feels good to post a funny pic since a long time

Yeah the guy got told.

[SystemicAnomaly]

Originally Posted by mightyrick

Thanks for this. I'll have to give these a look. I can start with the larger balls until I feel more confident with the topspin stroke and then I can move to the smaller balls.

Don't bother with the felt qst 36 (red/yellow) ball. Try the qst 78 (green/yellow) or the qst 60 (orange/yellow) if you can't find the qst 78.

[only4theweak187]

pff whatever. Once you learn to hit well with these balls you have to learn all over again and get new muscle memory for the weight and the way the balls fly.

[SystemicAnomaly]

Originally Posted by only4theweak187

pff whatever. Once you learn to hit well with these balls you have to learn all over again and get new muscle memory for the weight and the way the balls fly.

Not so. There are all sorts of variables in tennis. Cannot rely on rigid msucle memory. You need flexible/adaptable muscle memory to deal with different surfaces, ball brands, ball liveliness or ball condition, temperature variations, wind conditions, humidy conditions, string tension variation, etc.

If ye cannot adapt, ye shall perish.
.

[GuyClinch]

I'm confused. When a foam ball hit with a lot of topspin hits the wall, it pops up a bit. Of course, there is no spin to make it jump off the ground like a real topspin shot coming at you, but I find it doesn't stay low.

Yeah? Maybe I should get some of the kind you guys are linking. Mine stay like crazy low - I guess its a low compression ball not a foam one.

[only4theweak187]

Originally Posted by SuperDuy

Yeah the guy got told.

but you can't beat my *** in real life anyway so it doesn't matter

[MayDay]

I find it fun the hit the wilson foam balls in the house (same as the penn foam balls on the left side in the previous picture) - only for volley practice. Never thought about using it against a wall for regular swings - is it effective given the light weight?

As for the ones on the right side of the previous pictures, I find it really fun the rally with them - you can hit the heck out of the balls and they will still land in.

Besides the balls, do you already know the proper topspin technique?