I am a 4.0 player and have been playing for a while about 10 years! always been a flat hitter, was quite haappy with it...but one thing with flat and hard shots, if the other player just blocks and places in the right place, you are in trouble! So, thinking of changing my game to put in some extra spin! Just wondering how difficult its going to be mixing flat and spin! How do you hit ? Please answer the survey.
Hitting flat Vs spin
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A 4.0 should be able to hit heavy topspin looper rally balls whenever he wants, and be able to flatten it out some for a faster moving forcing ball when needed.
Just like a serve, he should be able to hit either a flat fast serve that bounces around thigh high at the backboard and also spin a serve IN 98% of the time with a high bounce for his second serve.
And on the backhand side, a 4.0 also needs a sliced defensive/neutralizer stroke in addition to his topspin passing shot stroke.
The only shot you hit ONE way is a volley. That way is always with a little backspin for height and depth control.
Even you overheads need a flat fast one AND a sidespin slower safer one.
Just like a serve, he should be able to hit either a flat fast serve that bounces around thigh high at the backboard and also spin a serve IN 98% of the time with a high bounce for his second serve.
And on the backhand side, a 4.0 also needs a sliced defensive/neutralizer stroke in addition to his topspin passing shot stroke.
The only shot you hit ONE way is a volley. That way is always with a little backspin for height and depth control.
Even you overheads need a flat fast one AND a sidespin slower safer one.
Relinquis
Hall of Fame
the ability to hit both with spin and flat is very useful in so many situations:
- mixing up spins/flat during long rallies in order to force errors by mixing heights of the ball low, waist high & at the shoulders (slice, flat and topspin)
- using spins to hit high % conservative shots during rallies, i.e. can hit a meter or so (depending on spin and court surface) away from the baseline but stay neutral in the rally. allows you to recover and start a new sequence of shots.
- hitting passing shots that dip rapidly below the net.
- drop shots can cause more trouble for your opponent when they have a bit of side-spin.
- mixing up spins/flat during long rallies in order to force errors by mixing heights of the ball low, waist high & at the shoulders (slice, flat and topspin)
- using spins to hit high % conservative shots during rallies, i.e. can hit a meter or so (depending on spin and court surface) away from the baseline but stay neutral in the rally. allows you to recover and start a new sequence of shots.
- hitting passing shots that dip rapidly below the net.
- drop shots can cause more trouble for your opponent when they have a bit of side-spin.
Or like me who wants to hit 'em one way, but end up mis-hitting in all kinds of unpredictable ways, and sometimes for winners... the dying quails of tennis. Lol
TheCheese
Professional
Jay_The_Nomad
Professional
Topspin rally ball to move the ball around.
Flat one when the opportunity arises.
Flat one when the opportunity arises.
Coach Chad
Rookie
I would say about 75% of the time I hit with spin and 25% flat. It is good to mix up the pace.
Head Pegger
New User
Give me a sec while I calculate my percentages
Wrong question, too mechanical. You hit to what presents itself, and every rally is different.
I hit mostly topspin. The spin rate varies a lot. If hitting harder and lower, usually a less spin. If hitting higher over the net rally ball, more spin. But, almost all my FHs have at least a moderate bit of topspin and a majority of my 2 HBHs.
Sometimes slice the backhand for returns, approaches and when stretched. Less frequently slice the FH for returns and when stretched.
My advice is a 4.0 should use topspin for consistency and control. You don't have to use excessive spin. But, I feel much more confident hitting harder if I put topspin on the ball because it helps keep it in the court. It allows you to play aggressively with a safety margin.
Sometimes slice the backhand for returns, approaches and when stretched. Less frequently slice the FH for returns and when stretched.
My advice is a 4.0 should use topspin for consistency and control. You don't have to use excessive spin. But, I feel much more confident hitting harder if I put topspin on the ball because it helps keep it in the court. It allows you to play aggressively with a safety margin.
Might be foot work problem...
Mahboob Khan
Hall of Fame
If you can hit with more topspin you should also be able to hit with less topspin (flat). It's the question of the racket head going up more at contact, or going through contact.
mightyrick
Legend
Ever since I started playing tennis, I have hit very flat and hard with little spin. Flat swing plane. Follow through across the body. Almost zero low-to-high. However, I reached a peak and am unable to beat several 4.0 players. Even though I am highly accurate and hit very hard, 4.0 opponents don't have an issue dealing with my pace.
For that reason, in the last month, I have been reworking my forehand to a topspin forehand. I have changed my grip from an Eastern grip to a Modified/Extreme Eastern. I am learning how to "break" my wrist and make it passive. I am trying to swing very fast and loose with a lot of low-to-high on every shot.
I find myself framing a lot of balls. I have lost matches to several 3.5s who I would have crushed with my flat forehand. But when I hit a heavy topspin shot correctly, none of my opponents have been able to handle it. So I'm sticking with it.
I'm hoping after after a few months of practice and matches, my forehand is effective enough to be able to compete with 4.0s again.
For that reason, in the last month, I have been reworking my forehand to a topspin forehand. I have changed my grip from an Eastern grip to a Modified/Extreme Eastern. I am learning how to "break" my wrist and make it passive. I am trying to swing very fast and loose with a lot of low-to-high on every shot.
I find myself framing a lot of balls. I have lost matches to several 3.5s who I would have crushed with my flat forehand. But when I hit a heavy topspin shot correctly, none of my opponents have been able to handle it. So I'm sticking with it.
I'm hoping after after a few months of practice and matches, my forehand is effective enough to be able to compete with 4.0s again.
Mahboob Khan
Hall of Fame
By flat we mean less spin.
How to hit flat?
Just imagine that you are hitting 4 balls in a row. This will force you to hit through on a straight path and then take off.
johnchung907
Rookie
I hit 50/50. If it's on the forehand side and it's a normal ball, I usually hit flat. If it's low on the forehand side, I usually hit with spin. The backhand side is basically the same thing for my 2-hander except if I switch to my one-hander (which I do occasionally such as some approach shots, passing shots, and half volleys) it's always a spin ball (back and top).
dlam
Semi-Pro
It's the hardest to control and hit a truly flat ball
Everyone ball has some spin
I don't believe in 100% flat
During the match depending on the stroke some balls are spinning more than others
The poll makes no sense
When the ball spins it is measure by rpm
What the %spin%flat?????
Try rpm please
Everyone ball has some spin
I don't believe in 100% flat
During the match depending on the stroke some balls are spinning more than others
The poll makes no sense
When the ball spins it is measure by rpm
What the %spin%flat?????
Try rpm please
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I never hit flat - never. I always hit some spin on every shot. I vary the amount of spin, trajectory and pace but everything spins. If it ain't spinning, you ain't playing. On the other hand, I try to not be a super spinny player except for 2nd serves and topspin lobs where I go for lots of spin.
Mahboob Khan
Hall of Fame
Flat means that the ball is not turning (not spinning). In my playing as well as coaching life I have not seen a flat ball .. a ball which is not turning or not spinning.
In my 40 years of tennis experience I do recall about 4 or 5 shots which turned may be 3 or 4 times, yes, it did turn.
When we say flat we mean low ball with less spin.
TomT
Hall of Fame
Yes, that's what I've always taken it to mean. For example, the return shots in the vid are 'flat', but they have some small amount spin.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4PERTN3ranI
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Roy125
Professional
Flat in tennis means with less spin and lower trajectory than high-topspin shots and this term is also used with tennis commentators and analysts as well. For example, players in the older days in tennis used to hit very flat balls relative to today. I find the the question on whether to hit flat or spin to be important when determining one's playing style; those that hit flat shots usually are more aggressive while those that spin the ball in more are usually the ones defending.
Hang in there and learn it. You'll be glad you did. Use the wall, ball machine, and shadow swinging to help learn the new swing path.
Good luck.
BMWprestigem3
New User
When I am rallying for fun, I use spin.
When playing a match I mix it up.
When playing a match I mix it up.
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