There was a lot of traffic about these training devices a while back and I am wondering if the people who purchased them are still using them and still finding them useful. Personally, I used the wonder wedge for about six months, I found it really improved my awareness of my grips, but in the end I couldn't produce enough juice on my serve with it on my racket (though I got great amounts of spin.) I think the product helped my game a lot, but it did not prove to be something that I wanted to keep attached to my racket forever. I am curious to hear other people's experience with this, and especially the A.P. belt.
A.P. Belt / Wonder Wedge
- Thread starter mattm
- Start date
eagle
Hall of Fame
Hi matt,
The wonder wedge is one of the best tennis improvement devices I've ever come across. It has helped me with all my strokes, e.g, ground from both wings, volleys, and even serves. Why? The biggest benefit for me is the stability it provides. Shots are solid. No wobbling in my hand. With the ww, I have a firm and sure grip on the racquet handle each and every time. Not only do I always know exactly what grip I'm using but also finding the right and comfortable grip that works for me. I can't imagine playing without the ww now.
I also purchased the AP belt a while back. I use it intermittently. I've always played with my knees bent at about 1 ft below from standing position, so that's not what I use it for. I use it primarily for improving my footwork, that is taking progressive small steps in approaching the ball.
Thanks,
eagle
The wonder wedge is one of the best tennis improvement devices I've ever come across. It has helped me with all my strokes, e.g, ground from both wings, volleys, and even serves. Why? The biggest benefit for me is the stability it provides. Shots are solid. No wobbling in my hand. With the ww, I have a firm and sure grip on the racquet handle each and every time. Not only do I always know exactly what grip I'm using but also finding the right and comfortable grip that works for me. I can't imagine playing without the ww now.
I also purchased the AP belt a while back. I use it intermittently. I've always played with my knees bent at about 1 ft below from standing position, so that's not what I use it for. I use it primarily for improving my footwork, that is taking progressive small steps in approaching the ball.
Thanks,
eagle
Tim Tennis
Professional
You got to love the game
Mattn, thanks for the nice comments, and thanks for trying the WW. You said, "I couldn't produce enough juice on my serve with it on my racket (though I got great amounts of spin.)" O baby, you were so close, you missed one of the great benefits/gifts of the WW. So many people experience that, they get so much spin they draw the ball into the net, also the extra spin slows the ball down quicker, more resistence. The key is to produce more forward energy. A great drill is to practice your serves two yards behind the base line. This is such a fantastic drill because it forces you to get outside the box and break self imposed limitations. One is because you know you have to hit the ball further you instinctively know you will have to generate more racquet head speed. Second because you know you have to hit the ball farther you will naturally create more forward energy. Third, when you tie one and two together it will cause you to make mechanic modifications to your serve such as greater use of the legs, more powerful shoulder rotation, overall greater range of motion, etc. Sure you will hit some balls into the net but once you understand and make the necessary adjustments, you will start hitting serves like you never hit before. Mattn thanks for the nice comments and I do appreciate you trying the WW. I love players that are always trying to improve their game. That is what makes tennis so much fun.
http://www.tennisgeometrics.com
mattm said:
Mattn, thanks for the nice comments, and thanks for trying the WW. You said, "I couldn't produce enough juice on my serve with it on my racket (though I got great amounts of spin.)" O baby, you were so close, you missed one of the great benefits/gifts of the WW. So many people experience that, they get so much spin they draw the ball into the net, also the extra spin slows the ball down quicker, more resistence. The key is to produce more forward energy. A great drill is to practice your serves two yards behind the base line. This is such a fantastic drill because it forces you to get outside the box and break self imposed limitations. One is because you know you have to hit the ball further you instinctively know you will have to generate more racquet head speed. Second because you know you have to hit the ball farther you will naturally create more forward energy. Third, when you tie one and two together it will cause you to make mechanic modifications to your serve such as greater use of the legs, more powerful shoulder rotation, overall greater range of motion, etc. Sure you will hit some balls into the net but once you understand and make the necessary adjustments, you will start hitting serves like you never hit before. Mattn thanks for the nice comments and I do appreciate you trying the WW. I love players that are always trying to improve their game. That is what makes tennis so much fun.
http://www.tennisgeometrics.com
Tim Tennis
Professional
eagle said:
Eagle, thanks for the kind words. I know there are a number of people on this forum that have tried the WW. A lot of them love it and some of them don't. Teaching pros seem to want to relegate the WW to a training aid for learning and teaching the grips which just drives me crazy. Why in the world would you every want to stop using something that helps you find all the grips easily and provides increased leverage and traction. I loved your comment, "I can't imagine playing without the ww now." I hear that a lot. Once you master the new points of leverage and traction it will greatly improve your game.
