I lost today because i was inconsistant...

[greystar403]

I hit flat shots...I HATE THAT ABOUT MY GAME!

any tips on how to add more topspin?

besides the grip...i already use a full western...

[LeeD]

Either/and loop your backswing, start under the ball, lift and hit, swing upwards with a barely closed racketface.
Loosen your grip to allow the racket to do more work. Most players tighten their grips when they go for FLAT winners.

[user92626]

grey,

there's about a million plus posts on how to hit topspin. In short, just hit through the ball from low to high and "aim" the ball safely above the net.

It's nothing difficult at all. The difficulty usually is your mind blocking you, making you hesistate to swing like that all the time. To make matter worse your mind is occupied and distracted by millions of little technical things you read and heard from others. Posts like LeeD's above is exactly what you should avoid!!!!


Couple years ago when I first learned to hit, in passing the balls over to other people to serve, I casually dropped and swinged them over and amazed at how good the "shots" looked. What was the difference that time? I asked myself why I didn't learn (and try) to hit like that all the time, and the rest is history!!!

[LeeD]

If you listen to User, you'd open the racketface, swing high to low, tighten your grip, and aim at the netcord...
Just which advice was not applicable here.

[greystar403]

uhhhh...yeah its hard to tell which one of you is right...then again yalls answers dont seem wrong either...

ill just try both!

[LeeD]

Yeah, it's pretty hard to tell, this confusing tennis game...

[tennis_balla]

Wait a minute, you use a full on western grip yet hit flat?

[rommil]

Originally Posted by greystar403

uhhhh...yeah its hard to tell which one of you is right...then again yalls answers dont seem wrong either...

ill just try both!

Lol you put a post to help you get consistent only to get inconsistent advices....goodluck

[Tennis_Monk]

How about a session with a Pro?. That seems to be the easiest and short cut way to fix it

[i8myshirt]

Ever try slowing down your swing? Even just slightly works wonders.

[pvaudio]

How in the hell can you use a full western grip and hit flat? The ONLY reason that a western grip works is because you must consciously generate so much RHS to overcome the nearly closed racquet face.

[LeeD]

Ah, the beauty of conflicting advice.....
I'd been using a strong SW for about 10 years with mixed results, then last month switched to full W to see what that was about...
Much more topspin on rallyballs as expected, but surprisingly, NO lost of flat putaway shots IF the incoming ball is lower than bellybutton, and IF I slow down my swing and shorten the backswing!
Basically, for flat shots, it's a forehand karate chop with the edge of your hand.

[Larrysümmers]

footwork. make sure you are getting to the ball and giving yourself enough time/

[Djokovicfan4life]

Originally Posted by pvaudio

How in the hell can you use a full western grip and hit flat? The ONLY reason that a western grip works is because you must consciously generate so much RHS to overcome the nearly closed racquet face.

Ask Sania Mirza, she hits about as flat as any western gripper I've seen. She's had a wrist injury though.

[Power Player]

Originally Posted by tennis_balla

Wait a minute, you use a full on western grip yet hit flat?

Thats what stuck out to me as well. Doesn't really make sense.

[pvaudio]

Originally Posted by LeeD

Ah, the beauty of conflicting advice.....
I'd been using a strong SW for about 10 years with mixed results, then last month switched to full W to see what that was about...
Much more topspin on rallyballs as expected, but surprisingly, NO lost of flat putaway shots IF the incoming ball is lower than bellybutton, and IF I slow down my swing and shorten the backswing!
Basically, for flat shots, it's a forehand karate chop with the edge of your hand.

I k now it's entirely possible; I used to use a full western grip. I'm just saying if he's having trouble because he can ONLY hit flat AND he's using a western grip, then I really really want to see his strokes.

[thug the bunny]

start under the ball, lift and hit, swing upwards with a barely closed racketface.

just hit through the ball from low to high and "aim" the ball safely above the net.

I don't see the conflict between LeeD and user? I play with a few people that hit only flat or backspin FHs, and I tell them they should learn the FH topspin. When they try, they jack the ball up in the air deep. I think it's because they don't have the confidence to close the racquet face, and instead leave it open and hit the underside of the ball. You have to brush up on the backside, not the bottom of the ball. Just put in the practice, and eventually you should find it is one of the easiest and automatic shots in the game...

[greystar403]

Originally Posted by tennis_balla

Wait a minute, you use a full on western grip yet hit flat?

yeah i know right?!

[greystar403]

Originally Posted by i8myshirt

Ever try slowing down your swing? Even just slightly works wonders.

during practice sessions it seems to help but not that much...

[greystar403]

Originally Posted by pvaudio

How in the hell can you use a full western grip and hit flat? The ONLY reason that a western grip works is because you must consciously generate so much RHS to overcome the nearly closed racquet face.

tell me about it...i dont know how but its flat...