tennis_hack
Banned
What I've found is that when I consciously close my racket face - I have to swing as quickly as I can, and in very steeply upwards, otherwise the ball will never clear the net. Even when it does clear the net it's not by very much.
However, other times I'll swing much less quickly (still a topspin groundstroke) - and the ball goes easily high over the net and in. When this happens does it mean that I've hit topspin with my racket face slightly open beyond perpendicular (relative to the court surface)?
If you're actually hitting with a perpendicular (relative to the court surface) racket face - wouldn't you have to swing extremely fast just to clear the net? It should never be 'easy' to clear the net with a perpendicular racket face - if you swing at a 3/4 pace with a perpendicular racket face, the ball is going to be dumped straight into the ground, isn't it? Perhaps lots of people think they're hitting topspin, but really they're just bunting the ball upwards with an open racket face, and the ball is flat or even has slice?
Finally, is it possible to hit topspin with an open racket face, assuming you still use a topspin swing-path/follow-through?
Those extreme moonballs that Nadal hits - has his racket face sometimes opened beyond perpendicular slightly when he's hit those?
However, other times I'll swing much less quickly (still a topspin groundstroke) - and the ball goes easily high over the net and in. When this happens does it mean that I've hit topspin with my racket face slightly open beyond perpendicular (relative to the court surface)?
If you're actually hitting with a perpendicular (relative to the court surface) racket face - wouldn't you have to swing extremely fast just to clear the net? It should never be 'easy' to clear the net with a perpendicular racket face - if you swing at a 3/4 pace with a perpendicular racket face, the ball is going to be dumped straight into the ground, isn't it? Perhaps lots of people think they're hitting topspin, but really they're just bunting the ball upwards with an open racket face, and the ball is flat or even has slice?
Finally, is it possible to hit topspin with an open racket face, assuming you still use a topspin swing-path/follow-through?
Those extreme moonballs that Nadal hits - has his racket face sometimes opened beyond perpendicular slightly when he's hit those?