how come I never see people hitting on the wall or backboard?

[christo]

As good as anything for prep for a match but never seems to happen, astonishing

[ollinger]

I still do it, have seen others doing it. But ball machines have also become more readily available in the past two decades and I'm now more inclined to do that (my club has one, and I bought one at my wife's request).

[jorel]

its all i do...i cant stand people

not just that. they don't hit on the courts either. they used to wait in line for tennis courts back in the day.

[TheCanadian]

Because it's boring?

[PBODY99]

Modern grips and a lack of understanding what the wall can do have the kids today not wanting to use this valuable tool.

[jdubbs]

Its ok for warmup or to try a new shot, but I don't get a ton of value out of the wall.

[mars76]

I generally hit against the wall only if i don't find any hitting partner. More over when i hit against the wall i take it on one bounce and after few mins my wrist starts to pain.

When i hit against other guys i can hit for longer periods (an hour and half) and didn't have any wrist issues.

May be i need to slow down the pace when i hit against the wall and also might need to move back closer to the net so that i hit on the second bounce.

[eidolonshinobi]

I still hit against the wall! I angle the shots so it forces me to go side to side for a good workout when none of my hitting partners are available. It's also a good time to experiment. I used to be a 1HB'er and tried 2HBH against a wall and it felt more natural to me. It just took a few sessions to workout some kinks before I took my 2HBH to hit against with my friends.

[GuyClinch]

I didn't use to like the walls I had access too. (Hard ones and on concrete/tar surfances). But since getting myself a couple dunlop speedballs I find it pretty useful. The ball travels slow - even if you hit hard giving you plenty of time to really concentrate on the form of your strokes. But yet it bounces higher like you were hitting against a real opponent. (If you stand far back with a real ball to get slower pace its bounces really really low).

I think someone said that 15 minutes on the wall is equivalent to 1 hr of play (in regards to numbers of balls hit) and that might be true.

So its less fun - but its very time efficent. I do wonder how many balls people hit in a 1 hour practice session.. so I could verify that statement..

[user92626]

In the beginning I learned from using a wall. But wall is tough to gauge your shot. How do you know if the shot you make 3 ft above the net line is good?

But wall is good for discovering footwork and hitting power though, and working on fitness.

[sureshs]

They are on the other side of the wall

[LeeD]

Most players hit the wall when there is no other player of like ability free to hit with. Say for instance, you are a 5.0. No reason to ever hit with a 3.5.
If you're a 4.5 getting ready for a tourney match, no reason to hit with a 3.5.

[BevelDevil]

they need to invent a wall that can hit with topspin. Something like a vertical conveyor belt.

[LeeD]

Slice hard at a wall, it comes back with topspin. Not good for replicating hitting vs Nadal, but that's the best you can do short of reflecting your shots down at the wall, bounce to floor, then topspin back to you.
Wall is mainly a flat and backspin hitter.

[Wuppy]

Originally Posted by BevelDevil

they need to invent a wall that can hit with topspin. Something like a vertical conveyor belt.

That would be awesome. It would have to angle forward slightly or balls would fly over your head though

[ramos77]

its one of the best ways to learn as a kid IMO.

you dont have time to prepare so you're constantly moving. good to learn timing and to centre the ball.

Also very good to practice fast volleying.

and, if agassi think it's cool, then so should you

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QHbatpT1Fy0

[bertrevert]

Did it as a kid, but it won't train you for how the ball comes at you - topspin isn't reversed how it is against a real hitting opponent. Good for fitness though...

[Bobby Jr]

Walls are great for practising overheads/backhand overheads etc. If you have a plan and work on something specific walls can be more productive than hitting on a court because you don't have to worry about distractions or the person at the other end. Fine-tuning changes in your serve timing for example.

[4sound]

Walls aren't boring if you do patterns.
Try alternating slice & topspin BH only.
or BH top, BH slice, FH top or FH slice, BH top, etc...
On the rise only. The list goes on.

Try this one!
Cara Black hitting volleys on a wall.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_cThQIhFSZk