#1 reason for unforced errors

[10isfreak]

Originally Posted by OHBH

This is true but players do not hit near the bottom of the racket on purpose, They are always looking to put it in the middle of the strings but practice and adaptation has trained them to err on the bottom side of the racket. A ball hit near the top side is simply not going to stay in the court with the rhs that the pros have but a ball mishit a little low is only going to land a little shorter in the court instead of costing them the point.

Actually, I have evidence that you're completely wrong...

The very vast majority of heavy top spin forehand are struck near the bottom edge -- the study I posted observe at least 60 forehands. And the spin rate relationship with the contact point is purely and simply compelling.

Maybe are pros not aware of this fact; maybe they do not know that they contact it higher or lower to vary their strokes... it can be the pure coincidence of a very fortunately built habit that happens to maximize either spin or pace.

What I meant is that a top spin shot, for maximum spin, ought to be struck bellow the geomateric center of the string bed and that's a scientific fact.

[10isfreak]

Originally Posted by OHBH

[A] ball mishit a little low is only going to land a little shorter in the court instead of costing them the point.

Well, that's also wrong. It does. Because the ball leaves the string with the same launching angle than if it was struck lower -- at contact, it was slightly closed until the ball made contact with the string. Look at this world number one, Wozniacki:







The face is laways a notch beyond the vertical plane or at the vertical plane for all players, for all forehands. The face is stabble, opens up or closes right after contact.

[10isfreak]

Maybe you prefer to look at the best player who has ever played the game?



He's pretty good too, isn't he?

[bad_call]

interesting....

[10isfreak]

Originally Posted by 10isfreak

Actually, I have evidence that you're completely wrong...

Partly wrong, sorry. I misread the part where you explain that it was a lucky mistake. It's the intention and the comment on the higher contact which were wrong.

As for further evidence, there's a pretty good vide of Roddick hitting a winner forehand from the side. I think it was at the AO 2004... it's easy to find on youtube, but it shows a higher contact than usual.

[5263]

Originally Posted by 10isfreak

What I meant is that a top spin shot, for maximum spin, ought to be struck bellow the geomateric center of the string bed and that's a scientific fact.

Oscar has stated this as well, but quite a few came out here against his
statement that when the players are hitting well, they are hitting on the
lower half. Did you see that discussion? I think it was deleted.

[OHBH]

Originally Posted by 10isfreak

Well, that's also wrong. It does. Because the ball leaves the string with the same launching angle than if it was struck lower -- at contact, it was slightly closed until the ball made contact with the string. Look at this world number one, Wozniacki:







The face is laways a notch beyond the vertical plane or at the vertical plane for all players, for all forehands. The face is stabble, opens up or closes right after contact.

If hitting on the bottom of the racket doesn't affect the launch angle and creates more spin, the ball would indeed land shorter than if hit in the center as the added topspin would cause the ball to dive harder into the ground. I don't see how I'm wrong here?

[jakeytennis]

my opinion on the "where the ball is on the strings on contact" debate

All i do is watch the ball carefully to make sure i hit the ball cleanly. i dont know where the ball is exactly when i hit a solid/clean shot.
but i do know how a solid shot feels like, i dont care if its happening because the ball is lower on the string or in the middle

i dont know how someone can control where on the string the ball makes contact

if it's done naturally, don't worry so much about it