Angle shots - loopy or flat?

[kickingbird]

I've always thought of angle shots as relatively slow loopy shots, but I've come to find that whenever I hit a 'flattish' ball, or a ball that 'skims' the net at an angle without any extreme pace, it produces a really effective angle shot.

My question is, when hitting angle shots, do you think 'slow and loopy' or do you think 'medium and flat'? I find myself trying to loop my fhs cross court and usually ends up wide or too deep, but I seem to hit my off fh angles flatter and more effectively. I suppose it depends on the height of the ball and the position you are in when you hit it, but anyway, please share your thoughts.

 

[Prince_of_Tennis]

It all depends on the situation for me...Just when you hit the flat angles it has a really low margin of error. I like to hit flat angles when I really want to win the point. Because my loopy angles tend to sit up and gives my opponent time to get the ball back.

 

[Cuzza]

I usually hit with flat angles, especially when passing someone.

 

[eagle]

For me, it depends where I am on the court and the pace of the ball I'm going to hit. But most of the time, I back off on the pace and use a lot of top spin to clear the net and bring it down to the area I'm targeting.

r,
eagle

 

[TwistServe]

Neither... Angle shots are suppose to have tons of spin but not loopy and not flat.

 

[ferreira]

Neither... Angle shots are suppose to have tons of spin but not loopy and not flat.

I agree on the spin, but disagree about the loop. If you can put some loop (I'm not talking moonball here!) and sidespin you can both pull your opponent off the court. I have a hard time seeing an amateur (at least 5.0 and below) who can hit angled, flat AND with enough spin to make the ball land inside the court. Yeah, Federer and Agassi can do it, but they are a bit above 5.0

 

[Mahboob Khan]

"Angle begets angle". On a very short cross court, you can hit back similar shot. Angular shots are hit with topspin with little amount of side spin also. Basically you are controlling the ball with topspin roll but it should not be loopy or totally flat .. maybe a combination of both!

 

[kickingbird]

Thank you everyone for you input.

I had a good session tonight and I tried out some different ways of hitting these shots, and the term that Mahboob used; 'topspin roll', most accurately describes what I try and do to the ball. I don't lift it much at all, but I hit through the top of the ball with a slightly closed face and it worked wonderfully. Not much spin but evident forward rotation on the ball, and a generous amount of pace.

Thank you again.