How to deal with side spin?

[Power Player]

Originally Posted by LeeD

I don't pick on engineers and scientists. My current g/f is head scientist for the micro biology lab here in AlbanyCa., USDA.
PowerPlayer, who thinks he's an artist, thinks like an engineer. A + B MUST = C, no other possible answer. And, "if I turn 12 degrees left, internally supinate, the ball WILL GO faster and stronger"...
That's PPlayer's thinking. And when he reads a post, he takes it literally. Like I think I can stand in to hit with Stosur. I already said countless times I'm a 4.0. As a 4.0, out of 10 groundies she hits to me, I can shank 3 off the court, hit 4 short and weak back, and hit the net 3 times, just like the guy in the vid did. As can YOU, as can PowerPlayer, as can almost anyone here.
Now if Nalbandian was hitting to me, I'd do twice as badly, because he hits with depth and is not trying to hit easy to start with. I might just shank 7, dump 2 into the net, and hit one long.
NOW, PowerPlayer will come back and say I can't hit 4 back, but in reality, only 3. That's how PowerPlayer thinks, and that's why his thread on his service motion will never be resolved.

Was this post even necessary? LeeD, you poor soul.

[sureshs]

Originally Posted by Larrysümmers

the side spin is what i really notice when playing better players. the best advice is be ready, move your feet to put your hands in the position to make the play.

Yeah you don't see much of that at the club level at all. I did not even know that it made such a difference as nothing in tennis teaching prepares you for this.

[r2473]

Originally Posted by sureshs

How to deal with side spin

You have to meet the problem head on

[sureshs]

Originally Posted by r2473

You have to meet the problem head on

You can't because the spin axis is tilted

[vil]

Originally Posted by sureshs

You can't because the spin axis is tilted

[TomT]

Originally Posted by sureshs

Give me some tips

Only read the first page so far, but agree with LeeD and Power Player. The thing is, if you have good strokes and movement, then you'll find a way. Even at my level this is not a big problem. Ok, at your level maybe the sidespin can be quite a bit more extreme. Still, I should think that this would not be a major problem ... ie., back to what LeeD and Power Player have said.

Seems to me that you're an experienced player. I trust that you'll find a way to deal with extreme sidespin.

One alternative is to simply not let these spinny players to get into points. But I realize that it might not be that simple.

[baoshuxiong]

If it's high, I'll just smash it with top spin. If it's low, I'll use underspin

[FrisbeeFool]

Is this even an issue?

Could you maybe post a video of what type of shot you're talking about returning?

If your opponent is hitting some kind of federeresque slice drop shot or running forehand just clap your hands and tell him nice shot. If someone can come up with those kind of shots consistently they deserve to win the match.

On most groundstrokes it shouldn't even be an issue.

If it's his serve that has a lot of sidespin, remember to take a compact backswing and just work on your timing. The more times you see that serve, the easier it will be to time.

You shouldn't be worrying about adjusting your racket face angle, or "spin axis" or whatever. Do it by feel. Just move your feet and try to time the ball like you would on any other shot.

[FrisbeeFool]

Originally Posted by sureshs

No hitting change? Racket angle, trajectory, etc.?

You focus way to much on racket face angle. Most people know the right angle just through feel and practice. If you're worrying about something like that in a match, your strokes will break down.

I remember reading a great quote from federer where he was asked about his groundstroke technique. He basically said that all the top players look about the same when they make contact with the ball. The differences before they get their are mostly stylistic.

Federer doesn't worry about changing his racket face angle. In fact he tries to keep it the same every time. Your should do the same. Worry about things like timing, prep, and footwork. If you're trying to alter your racket face angle every time you will be an unforced error machine.

[treblings]

Originally Posted by FrisbeeFool

Is this even an issue?

Could you maybe post a video of what type of shot you're talking about returning?

If your opponent is hitting some kind of federeresque slice drop shot or running forehand just clap your hands and tell him nice shot. If someone can come up with those kind of shots consistently they deserve to win the match.

On most groundstrokes it shouldn't even be an issue.

If it's his serve that has a lot of sidespin, remember to take a compact backswing and just work on your timing. The more times you see that serve, the easier it will be to time.

You shouldn't be worrying about adjusting your racket face angle, or "spin axis" or whatever. Do it by feel. Just move your feet and try to time the ball like you would on any other shot.

i think it´s a case of over-analysing something that should really be solved on-court by playing.
you have to learn to read the incoming ball, and you can only do that by playing. of course many people don´t pay much attention to what their opponent does and focus on their own strokes only.

[FrisbeeFool]

Originally Posted by treblings

i think it´s a case of over-analysing something that should really be solved on-court by playing.
you have to learn to read the incoming ball, and you can only do that by playing. of course many people don´t pay much attention to what their opponent does and focus on their own strokes only.

Yeah. Agreed.

[vil]

Yes, I agree with what's said above. It's called experimentation mate. You need to get out there and try it yourself instead of seaching for some magic formula. You will improve by spending more time on court. I don't know your ability but anyone who is persistent about certain issue or aspect of a game, will get it eventually. Some things are simply hard to explain and come to most people quite naturally.

[sureshs]

Originally Posted by TomT

Only read the first page so far, but agree with LeeD and Power Player. The thing is, if you have good strokes and movement, then you'll find a way. Even at my level this is not a big problem. Ok, at your level maybe the sidespin can be quite a bit more extreme. Still, I should think that this would not be a major problem ... ie., back to what LeeD and Power Player have said.

Seems to me that you're an experienced player. I trust that you'll find a way to deal with extreme sidespin.

One alternative is to simply not let these spinny players to get into points. But I realize that it might not be that simple.

My level is not that high, and I don't see such balls often, so it is a big pain.

[sureshs]

I read somewhere that ball machines cannot feed side spin. That is because they use two vertical counter-rotating wheels which squeeze and release the ball between them. So only top spin and under spin are possible.

[Power Player]

Originally Posted by sureshs

My level is not that high, and I don't see such balls often, so it is a big pain.

You want to raise your game a level? Focus on footwork and prep and movement. I guarantee after months of that you will be able to handle a lot more spins and be playing at a higher level.

The best thing to do is take a lesson with a pro and ask to focus specifically on that. I did it on clay and discovered the takeback on my backhand was not fluid and timed properly. Fixed that rather fast and suddenly my backhand was not attackable all the time. then I had to focus on moving my weight into my shots, which takes time as well. Huge improvement on backhand there..boils down to footwork. I was 15-18% Body fat and dropped to ~11% - huge difference in movement. So I would also suggest running and jumping rope on days you dont play tennis.

It sounds like you are late and need to improve your footwork. Like most players. And honestly even with that at the forefront of my mind, there are some days I just don't have it and it is still a struggle.

[rkelley]

Fundamentally once you see the ball curving you just have to anticipate it and make adjustments.

One of the most common places to see it is from a low slice. Just like on a sliced serve, you have to position yourself to allow for the slice. From a low, bh slice for example (a rightie to a rightie), if you're going to take the shot as a fh you have to let the ball come at your body so by the time it gets to your racquet it's moved off to the side into your hitting zone.

The side spin balls that are harder to hit are the ones that kick on the bounce differently than they were slicing in the air - kind of an American twist groundie. You see these on occasion, especially off of higher balls. You just have to keep your eye on the ball and watch it. If the ball kicks in some unanticipated way it you just have to deal with it.

And this is one of the bigger reasons why all the spin in today's game is more than just about keeping the ball in. All that spin makes the ball kick in ways that mess with your opponent. Combined with the fact that the ball is going really fast, it can get really hard to get a clean hit sometimes. Then you have a weak ball that can be attack.

[sureshs]

Originally Posted by rkelley

Fundamentally once you see the ball curving you just have to anticipate it and make adjustments.

One of the most common places to see it is from a low slice. Just like on a sliced serve, you have to position yourself to allow for the slice. From a low, bh slice for example (a rightie to a rightie), if you're going to take the shot as a fh you have to let the ball come at your body so by the time it gets to your racquet it's moved off to the side into your hitting zone.

The side spin balls that are harder to hit are the ones that kick on the bounce differently than they were slicing in the air - kind of an American twist groundie. You see these on occasion, especially off of higher balls. You just have to keep your eye on the ball and watch it. If the ball kicks in some unanticipated way it you just have to deal with it.

And this is one of the bigger reasons why all the spin in today's game is more than just about keeping the ball in. All that spin makes the ball kick in ways that mess with your opponent. Combined with the fact that the ball is going really fast, it can get really hard to get a clean hit sometimes. Then you have a weak ball that can be attack.

Slice sidespin is not a problem for me. The ball is low, so it does not mess with my eyesight. Then, the turn is very predictable. Of course, if the degree of turn is high, I will have a problem reaching to it, but it is not fundamental.

One question: when playing a rightie opponent and being a rightie, the side spin on slice is usually one which moves away deeper into the forehand. Have you seen a slice which curves the other way, i.e., deeper into the backhand? I have seen that on backhand volleys, but I think it is not easy to do that with groundies.

The main problem is top spin + side spin. There was one ball from Cheetah on Sunday which looked like a regular topspin, and I was expecting it to curve wide out into the forehand side after bounce. Instead it curved into me because of the sidespin.

[LeeD]

Instead of worrying about their weight of shot, regardless of spin, YOU hit the ball harder and to a better spot on their court, forcing them to fetch for you.

[Power Player]

Originally Posted by sureshs

Slice sidespin is not a problem for me. The ball is low, so it does not mess with my eyesight. Then, the turn is very predictable. Of course, if the degree of turn is high, I will have a problem reaching to it, but it is not fundamental.

One question: when playing a rightie opponent and being a rightie, the side spin on slice is usually one which moves away deeper into the forehand. Have you seen a slice which curves the other way, i.e., deeper into the backhand? I have seen that on backhand volleys, but I think it is not easy to do that with groundies.

The main problem is top spin + side spin. There was one ball from Cheetah on Sunday which looked like a regular topspin, and I was expecting it to curve wide out into the forehand side after bounce. Instead it curved into me because of the sidespin.

Were you prepared before the ball bounced?

[sureshs]

Originally Posted by LeeD

Instead of worrying about their weight of shot, regardless of spin, YOU hit the ball harder and to a better spot on their court, forcing them to fetch for you.

To hit the ball harder to contain the side spin, you have to first know that it is there, isn't it?