Forehand grip, player height and style

J

johnmccabe

Hall of Fame
More western grip has advantage at higher contact point, chest/shoulder height, and eastern grip handles low balls better, knee height. I also read somewhere eastern grip is better for flat shots and hitting through the ball, western is better for brushing up to create topspin. Of course, good players can do anything with any grip.

Is it relatively difficult for shorter player using eastern grip to learn flattening the forehand? Similarly, is it bad for a tall player having more vertical swing path to use full western grip? Or it doesn't matter whether you are 5'6 vs 6'5?
 
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johnmccabe said:
More western grip has advantage at higher contact point, chest/shoulder height, and eastern grip handles low balls better, knee height. I also read somewhere eastern grip is better for flat shots and hitting through the ball, western is better for brushing up to create topspin. Of course, good players can do anything with any grip.

Is it relatively difficult for shorter player using eastern grip to learn flattening the forehand? Similarly, is it bad for a tall player having more vertical swing path to use full western grip? Or it doesn't matter whether you are 5'6 vs 6'5?
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Fritz is 6”4 but uses a full western grip.
 
Grip is only one element. But there are some differences. Tall players bend the knee, short players jump, flattening the forehand is possible with horizontal swing path even with western. Life finds a way.



 
I used to be worried about my choice in regard of the grips, now I know that it is a decision to make and as @Jonesy says, life finds a way, I play SW and now that I somewhat can execute almost any forehand shot, I can say that it is for me the best compromise, I can flatten out the shot, I can handle shoelaces high balls, head high balls, everything and anything in between.
 
Excellent question. It's not just whether a player is tall, but also depends on proportion. A tall player with relatively short legs will have long arms. He/she can get away with a western or SW grip. I am a tall player but I have long legs and relatively short arms. No way I could use a western. I actually use a grip that is on the border of an eastern and a continental.
 
I'm on the short side with extreme eastern grip, close to semi western. I intuitively have a more vertical swing and slowly learning how to flatten out balls. Does it worth exploring a proper semi western or I'm better off focusing on learning the horizontal swing path?
 
johnmccabe said:
I'm on the short side with extreme eastern grip, close to semi western. I intuitively have a more vertical swing and slowly learning how to flatten out balls. Does it worth exploring a proper semi western or I'm better off focusing on learning the horizontal swing path?
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Just do what's natural.
 
johnmccabe said:
I'm on the short side with extreme eastern grip, close to semi western. I intuitively have a more vertical swing and slowly learning how to flatten out balls. Does it worth exploring a proper semi western or I'm better off focusing on learning the horizontal swing path?
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I started playing with your exact same grip as it was what my teaching pro recommended, a couple of months into playing I went full SW, it felt natural to me, go with that, with what feel right and not what other people tell you.
 
SW and W grips are good for high balls. Kids and shorter adults tend to migrate toward SW & W grips because balls get up on them easily. My wife is 5' 4" and she naturally tended to slide around toward an extreme SW and we had to consciously correct it so she could handle low as well as high balls. An E or E/SW hybrid is good for low balls and can be good for high balls with a little work. My personal preference is an E/SW hybrid with the index knuckle on the bevel line between sides 3/4 for a righty. I think this grip works well for low and high balls and can generate good topspin. Del Potro used almost a pure E and he was 6' 5" so it was difficult to get a ball up and out of his strike zone. This probably made it a little easier for him to pick up low balls too. I would call Federer's grip an E/SW hybrid where he shifts the E down toward SW a bit. I have been using E/SW hybrid for couple decades now and like it. I'm OK with SW but don't like a SW that slides down toward W or a full W as it is difficult to pick low balls up and it makes the change to a conti to hit slice a big movement. A W or SW/W hybrid also requires contact way in front, or an extremely vertical swing if you are late. A W or SW/W also shrinks the contact window (where the racket face points toward the target) in my opinion as the racket tends to stay closed more. Just my opinion from 46+ playing and watching tennis - take it or leave it.
 
TennisCJC said:
SW and W grips are good for high balls. Kids and shorter adults tend to migrate toward SW & W grips because balls get up on them easily. My wife is 5' 4" and she naturally tended to slide around toward an extreme SW and we had to consciously correct it so she could handle low as well as high balls. An E or E/SW hybrid is good for low balls and can be good for high balls with a little work. My personal preference is an E/SW hybrid with the index knuckle on the bevel line between sides 3/4 for a righty. I think this grip works well for low and high balls and can generate good topspin. Del Potro used almost a pure E and he was 6' 5" so it was difficult to get a ball up and out of his strike zone. This probably made it a little easier for him to pick up low balls too. I would call Federer's grip an E/SW hybrid where he shifts the E down toward SW a bit. I have been using E/SW hybrid for couple decades now and like it. I'm OK with SW but don't like a SW that slides down toward W or a full W as it is difficult to pick low balls up and it makes the change to a conti to hit slice a big movement. A W or SW/W hybrid also requires contact way in front, or an extremely vertical swing if you are late. A W or SW/W also shrinks the contact window (where the racket face points toward the target) in my opinion as the racket tends to stay closed more. Just my opinion from 46+ playing and watching tennis - take it or leave it.
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I find it very easy to hit low balls with a sw grip, low like almost at floor level.
 
Fairhit said:
I find it very easy to hit low balls with a sw grip, low like almost at floor level.
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OK, you're an exception. When 3 of the 4 grand slams were played on grass in the 1970s and prior, the very best men and women in the world used a continental or E grip because these grips were the best for handling low balls. The pros who excelled on clay during this time tended to use SW and W grips and these clay experts very rarely won on grass or hard courts. It isn't impossible to hit low balls with a SW grip but it does take good skill and timing as the racket face tends to be closed for low contact points. Yes, Nadal rips up the back of the ball with topspin with a SW grip but most of your local rec players are not quite as good at doing that. I hit with a ranked junior from time to time and he is amazing at taking low mid-court balls with a SW grip and ripping them but I would equate his current level to high 4.5 or above.
 
In talking to coaches at my club here in California, it seems like the standard FH grip they teach these days is the SemiWestern grip. Over time, some students might switch to Eastern or Western grips based on their preference, but the coaches don’t tend to start with that for beginners. Most tennis is played here on slow hard courts and I don’t know if it affects their teaching preference.
 
TennisCJC said:
OK, you're an exception. When 3 of the 4 grand slams were played on grass in the 1970s and prior, the very best men and women in the world used a continental or E grip because these grips were the best for handling low balls. The pros who excelled on clay during this time tended to use SW and W grips and these clay experts very rarely won on grass or hard courts. It isn't impossible to hit low balls with a SW grip but it does take good skill and timing as the racket face tends to be closed for low contact points. Yes, Nadal rips up the back of the ball with topspin with a SW grip but most of your local rec players are not quite as good at doing that. I hit with a ranked junior from time to time and he is amazing at taking low mid-court balls with a SW grip and ripping them but I would equate his current level to high 4.5 or above.
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My main challenge on the forehead is flattening those chest shoulder height slower balls. I can generate enough racquet head speed, but often hit too loopy when I had the opportunity to cause trouble for opponents. Can't decide whether it's completely my inability to adopt the correct swing path. Or the grip has something to do with it.
 
socallefty said:
In talking to coaches at my club here in California, it seems like the standard FH grip they teach these days is the SemiWestern grip. Over time, some students might switch to Eastern or Western grips based on their preference, but the coaches don’t tend to start with that for beginners. Most tennis is played here on slow hard courts and I don’t know if it affects their teaching preference.
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If I weren't recovering from injury, I would just keep hitting with the same grip. But now I'm wondering whether it may be a good time to switch to standard SW when I return to court, since the muscle memory will be weak after months of down time.
 
TennisCJC said:
OK, you're an exception. When 3 of the 4 grand slams were played on grass in the 1970s and prior, the very best men and women in the world used a continental or E grip because these grips were the best for handling low balls. The pros who excelled on clay during this time tended to use SW and W grips and these clay experts very rarely won on grass or hard courts. It isn't impossible to hit low balls with a SW grip but it does take good skill and timing as the racket face tends to be closed for low contact points. Yes, Nadal rips up the back of the ball with topspin with a SW grip but most of your local rec players are not quite as good at doing that. I hit with a ranked junior from time to time and he is amazing at taking low mid-court balls with a SW grip and ripping them but I would equate his current level to high 4.5 or above.
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Well I'm not trying to start a debate and I'm sure you're right, I don't come from a tennis background, I just started playing 5 years ago but I think I've done a good job and I am an avid learner, maybe that's why it is easy for me to hit topspin from very low balls.
 
johnmccabe said:
If I weren't recovering from injury, I would just keep hitting with the same grip. But now I'm wondering whether it may be a good time to switch to standard SW when I return to court, since the muscle memory will be weak after months of down time.
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Go for it, if you are already having ideas your brain will not relax until you test it and reach a conclusion. It is fun doing some experimentation from time to time.
 
johnmccabe said:
If I weren't recovering from injury, I would just keep hitting with the same grip. But now I'm wondering whether it may be a good time to switch to standard SW when I return to court, since the muscle memory will be weak after months of down time.
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Without seeing you play, it is hard to make a recommendation for a grip change. But, in general, a SW or a E/SW hybrid is what I would recommend for all players as they offer a wide contact zone, handle low to high balls well and don't require you to hit as far in front. I understanding that there are always exceptions to the rule too and some make a W work. But, I have seen far more weak W forehands then good W forehands. The best forehands I play against seem to be SW or E/SW. My opinion it vast majority of adults would be better off with SW, E/SW or even E over a full W grip. I suggest you try the SW and make sure you don't let it shift down toward a W which require deligence on your part as you will want to shift to what is familiar. It will take a month or two to get grooved on a new grip.
 
TennisCJC said:
Without seeing you play, it is hard to make a recommendation for a grip change. But, in general, a SW or a E/SW hybrid is what I would recommend for all players as they offer a wide contact zone, handle low to high balls well and don't require you to hit as far in front. I understanding that there are always exceptions to the rule too and some make a W work. But, I have seen far more weak W forehands then good W forehands. The best forehands I play against seem to be SW or E/SW. My opinion it vast majority of adults would be better off with SW, E/SW or even E over a full W grip. I suggest you try the SW and make sure you don't let it shift down toward a W which require deligence on your part as you will want to shift to what is familiar. It will take a month or two to get grooved on a new grip.
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I screw up like that last shot a lot. Had problem with knee at that time, but it's pretty much my latest forehand.

 
I have to say that I played squash 15 years, I can impart good wrist action on the ball and maybe that's why hitting low balls with topspin and a SW grip is not much problem for me.
 
Fairhit said:
I have to say that I played squash 15 years, I can impart good wrist action on the ball and maybe that's why hitting low balls with topspin and a SW grip is not much problem for me.
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I don't even think about low balls even playing with extreme grips on both sides (W FH and SW OHBH). Of course i'm also not a tall person (5'10). But it looks like you are not even on the extreme end of spectrum for low balls.
 
johnmccabe said:
I screw up like that last shot a lot. Had problem with knee at that time, but it's pretty much my latest forehand.

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Are you a fan of Nadal? That lasso ending reminds me of the bull.

Jokes aside, if you are having trouble flattening a ball with an extreme eastern then it will be even harder with a SW. it does facilitate higher balls but your issue looks to be technique and not grip.

Perhaps less low to high and a more horizontal swingpath could solve the issue, remember to drive through the ball as a mental image.

If it is the Mouratoglou curse then i would try consciously making sure the wrist is in a firm strong position at the moment of contact.
 
socallefty said:
Is it possible to go forward more or take a drop step and go back? Or stop playing on clay:)
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I play on/inside the baseline unless facing a monster hitter. Stepping in is much easier on the BH side. Drop steps for FH.

been playing on clay since I was a kid and I absolutely love it. That won't change
 
johnmccabe said:
I screw up like that last shot a lot. Had problem with knee at that time, but it's pretty much my latest forehand.

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Your normal forehand is what I would consider medium topspin. You have the fundamentals to be able to learn to flatten out balls without a lot of difficulty. Look at this thread:

attack-shot consistency... help

yes, there are lot's of threads on this already. I read those first, but I'm here for some more me-specific ideas. 40-yo high 3.5/low 4.0, lefty, SW grip FH, singles, I'm fast. I have a pretty good rally-ball (depth, control, consistency) - I do not get out-rallied by 4.0 players. My FH...
tt.tennis-warehouse.com tt.tennis-warehouse.com

Our swings aren't that fundamentally different. You rotate more into the ball than I do, and you have a more steeply upward racquet path than I do. You also jump at it, which makes an accurate swing path and timing more difficult. For rec players, it's all about keeping things as simple as possible so my suggestion would be to try to flatten out the racquet path a little bit more, cut down a hair on the body rotation to the contact point, and don't jump into it. Cut down how hard you're trying to hit the ball until you get consistent at being able to execute the shot, and then put as much or more practice into placing it well rather than adding MPH. Realize that you are in an advantageous position if you get a shoulder high ball to whack. You should make an unforced error on that only rarely so developing consistency is key.

Good luck!
 
johnmccabe said:
I screw up like that last shot a lot. Had problem with knee at that time, but it's pretty much my latest forehand.

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You forehand grip looks like SW from this video. I would work on keeping a SW and not letting it slide down into a full W. You are a bit wristy at times in my opinion and sometimes your arm gets out of sync with your core rotation. I suggest use a SW grip, work on keeping the wrist passive with no conscious manipulation of the wrist just before, during or just after contact, and work on letting your legs and core rotation drive the stroke. Just my opinion but I think the biggest difference between rec players, including decent rec players, and pros is pros almost always use their body rotation to provide power and rec players frequently use an arm stroke where the core rotation is out of sync and the arm pushes through the hitting zone, instead of being pulled through the hitting zone by rotation.

Here's a decent video that explains how to use your body and not be wristy better than I can.

 
johnmccabe said:
My main challenge on the forehead is flattening those chest shoulder height slower balls. I can generate enough racquet head speed, but often hit too loopy when I had the opportunity to cause trouble for opponents. Can't decide whether it's completely my inability to adopt the correct swing path. Or the grip has something to do with it.
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johnmccabe said:
I screw up like that last shot a lot. Had problem with knee at that time, but it's pretty much my latest forehand.

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You put way too much topspin on that last shot for the pace you hit it with.
 
johnmccabe said:
I screw up like that last shot a lot. Had problem with knee at that time, but it's pretty much my latest forehand.

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I actually think your forehand stroke itself is perfectly fine.

I think the only thing you need is more a) wider base and faster/consistent unit turn and b) more adjustment steps.

I do the same mistake sometimes as your last shot on those higher balls especially when I'm getting really tired, since I don't make the adjustment steps to make sure I'm setting up my contact point with the ball more to my side (laterally) to drive it like you attempted there. The topspin on the last shot is due to taking the ball too far in front; a) and b) will probably help with that. Way easier said than done!
 
Funbun said:
I actually think your forehand stroke itself is perfectly fine.

I think the only thing you need is more a) wider base and faster/consistent unit turn and b) more adjustment steps.

I do the same mistake sometimes as your last shot on those higher balls especially when I'm getting really tired, since I don't make the adjustment steps to make sure I'm setting up my contact point with the ball more to my side (laterally) to drive it like you attempted there. The topspin on the last shot is due to taking the ball too far in front; a) and b) will probably help with that. Way easier said than done!
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This may be the question triggered my post in the first place. To flatten a relative high ball, I see some one try to create more space and hit it with normal timing, while others seem to make contact slightly earlier more in the front with possibly reduced horizontal spacing. These two methods require slightly different wrist positions at contact to control racquet face. I can't figure out which grip works better for which method. I was trying to hit earlier more in the front to flatten the ball.
 
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johnmccabe said:
This may be the question triggered my post in the first place. To flatten a relative high ball, I see some one try to create more space and hit it with normal timing, while others seem to make contact slightly earlier more in the front with possibly reduced horizontal spacing. These two methods require slightly different wrist positions at contact to control racquet face. I can't figure out which grip works better for which method. I was trying to hit earlier more in the front to flatten the ball.
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I'm not sure I understand what you're trying to do. I use the same grip on that high ball as I normally use. To me, it's a mistake to use different grips for different height balls. You have to adjust your racquet head angle all the time anyway, so why add complications of changing the grip as well? For instance, if you're at the baseline and you're trying to hit a ball low over the net, do you use a different grip than hitting that same ball at the same location but where you're trying to add some loft to it to get deep into the court? And then, what if you are hitting a shoulder high ball five feet from the net, versus a shoulder high ball five feet inside the baseline? You're going to want the ball to come off your racquet with different trajectories. You'd want to do that by using the same grip and manipulating your stringbed angle rather than trying to use the exact same swing and wrist angle but very slightly changing your grip.

Also, realize that when the ball gets really high or really low, your spacing to the ball needs to be reduced. Think of the ultimate high ball - an overhead. Your horizontal spacing on that ball is zero. If you are hitting something over head height, it has to be closer to you than when you hit the ball at shoulder height, or you won't be able to reach it.

Make things as simple as possible and use the things you already have to do anyway - in this case that is using the same grip and making racquet face adjustments. Try not to add new complications because hitting a ball is complicated enough.
 
Injured Again said:
I'm not sure I understand what you're trying to do. I use the same grip on that high ball as I normally use. To me, it's a mistake to use different grips for different height balls. You have to adjust your racquet head angle all the time anyway, so why add complications of changing the grip as well? For instance, if you're at the baseline and you're trying to hit a ball low over the net, do you use a different grip than hitting that same ball at the same location but where you're trying to add some loft to it to get deep into the court? And then, what if you are hitting a shoulder high ball five feet from the net, versus a shoulder high ball five feet inside the baseline? You're going to want the ball to come off your racquet with different trajectories. You'd want to do that by using the same grip and manipulating your stringbed angle rather than trying to use the exact same swing and wrist angle but very slightly changing your grip.

Also, realize that when the ball gets really high or really low, your spacing to the ball needs to be reduced. Think of the ultimate high ball - an overhead. Your horizontal spacing on that ball is zero. If you are hitting something over head height, it has to be closer to you than when you hit the ball at shoulder height, or you won't be able to reach it.

Make things as simple as possible and use the things you already have to do anyway - in this case that is using the same grip and making racquet face adjustments. Try not to add new complications because hitting a ball is complicated enough.
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Not saying using different grips for different balls... Different people seem to handle high balls differently. E vs SW grips may be suited to different ways of flattening high balls.

This video for example shows hitting a higher ball with increased lateral spacing along baseline.
 
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johnmccabe said:
Not saying using different grips for different balls... Different people seem to handle high balls differently. E vs SW grips may be suited to different ways of flattening high balls.
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Okay, I see - excuse my lack of reading comprehension. I think it varies from person to person depending on how they execute the stroke. You've definitely have guys now who can crush a high ball with a SW or Western grip, just like you had guys in the past who could crush the high ball with an Eastern grip. I personally wouldn't change grips for all forehands just to hit this ball better but IMO figure out how to flatten out your swingpath a bit and how to orient your stringbed to be able to hit the trajectory you want with the grip that you use now and/or is most comfortable for you to use for all forehand shots combined.
 
Jonesy said:
Perhaps less low to high and a more horizontal swingpath could solve the issue, remember to drive through the ball as a mental image.
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That’s what I was thinking too. I generally will try to have good spacing from the ball and a lot of forward weight transfer when I try to flatten a shot at high pace - you need a lot of RHS to hit through the ball with enough forward momentum to get enough depth when hitting flat and hard. I would usually attempt that shot with a closed or neutral stance and hit it early.

You hit it late with an open stance without much forward momentum and an up/down swing that just didn’t put enough height on the ball trajectory to clear the net - you needed to hit it higher and with more RHS to get more depth. I don’t think the grip is the issue.

If you can’t lean forward and hit it early, I would choose a more conservative shot (loopy with more height to get depth) rather than a hard, flat one.
 
socallefty said:
That’s what I was thinking too. I generally will try to have good spacing from the ball and a lot of forward weight transfer when I try to flatten a shot at high pace - you need a lot of RHS to hit through the ball with enough forward momentum to get enough depth when hitting flat and hard. I would usually attempt that shot with a closed or neutral stance and hit it early.

You hit it late with an open stance without much forward momentum and an up/down swing that just didn’t put enough height on the ball trajectory to clear the net - you needed to hit it higher and with more RHS to get more depth. I don’t think the grip is the issue.

If you can’t lean forward and hit it early, I would choose a more conservative shot (loopy with more height to get depth) rather than a hard, flat one.
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For those high balls, do you feel the racquet head is higher than the hand at contact? When I tried to hit earlier in the front, I was also trying to have the racquet head at the same height as the hand (normal racquet position for lower balls), which may be my problem.

Also do you see a problem in my follow through, sorta related to swing path?
 
johnmccabe said:
For those high balls, do you feel the racquet head is higher than the hand at contact? When I tried to hit earlier in the front, I was also trying to have the racquet head at the same height as the hand (normal racquet position for lower balls), which may be my problem.

Also do you see a problem in my follow through, sorta related to swing path?
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I’m not sure if I understand your question. What I see is that you often stop too close to the ball and try to create enough space to swing by using more of a up/down vertical swing rather than a sideways horizontal swing and secondly, you have your body tilt and fall off to the left during the stroke to create more space for you to swing. When your body is going to the the left and your swing is too close to your body making it more vertical, it is hard to generate enough RHS and forward momentum. Fix the spacing, have forward weight transfer, extend your swing to make early contact and I suspect you will be fine.

Also, try to hit the ball in your optimal contact height zone by taking steps forward and back. There is no reason to make high contact on a ball hit right at you - that should be reserved for wide balls where you are late or if you are trying to be extra-aggressive to hit a short ball early. It seems like you like to hit the ball on the rise, but you don’t have the quick up/down footwork to hit the ball early before it rises too high and you stop too close to the ball to have enough lateral space to swing freely with forward weight transfer and extension.

Your follow through looked fine when you had enough spacing and took more of a horizontal swing on an earlier shot.
 
socallefty said:
I’m not sure if I understand your question. What I see is that you often stop too close to the ball and try to create enough space to swing by using more of a up/down vertical swing rather than a sideways horizontal swing and secondly, you have your body tilt and fall off to the left during the stroke to create more space for you to swing. When your body is going to the the left and your swing is too close to your body making it more vertical, it is hard to generate enough RHS and forward momentum. Fix the spacing, have forward weight transfer, extend your swing to make early contact and I suspect you will be fine.

Also, try to hit the ball in your optimal contact height zone by taking steps forward and back. There is no reason to make high contact on a ball hit right at you - that should be reserved for wide balls where you are late or if you are trying to be extra-aggressive to hit a short ball early. It seems like you like to hit the ball on the rise, but you don’t have the quick up/down footwork to hit the ball early before it rises too high and you stop too close to the ball to have enough lateral space to swing freely with forward weight transfer and extension.

Your follow through looked fine when you had enough spacing and took more of a horizontal swing on an earlier shot.
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I will definitely work on the footwork related issues when I can run again.

When you hit a highball early in the front, do you have the racquet positioned like this? Been shadow swinging for a while. With my current grip, I feel I have to use this trick to be able to hit earlier and still get the racquet face at the right direction.
https://imgur.com/jHFpYAl
 
johnmccabe said:
I will definitely work on the footwork related issues when I can run again.

When you hit a highball early in the front, do you have the racquet positioned like this? Been shadow swinging for a while. With my current grip, I feel I have to use this trick to be able to hit earlier and still get the racquet face at the right direction.
https://imgur.com/jHFpYAl
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Can’t help you as I would never contact the ball so high with a groundstroke on a short ball. I prefer to wait for it to drop and then take a big cut at the ball at my preferred contact height - even if I give my opponent a little bit extra time to recover, I hit a better shot with more precision when I wait for the ball to drop below my shoulder. My coach on the other hand hits those kind of shots off short balls and he tried to teach me that shot once where I jump and hit downwards, but I made too many errors.

BTW, when I say hit the ball early I don’t mean to take it on the rise at a high contact height. I just mean to set up properly with good spacing, take a horizontal swing with full extension so that you hit the ball well in front of your body at a comfortable contact height. Then you can get spin and pace easier especially if your body weight is going forward and not to the side. If you try to contact the ball above the shoulder, you can’t extend your swing too much to hit the ball early and you will end up contacting the ball later when it is closer to your body.
 
socallefty said:
Can’t help you as I would never contact the ball so high with a groundstroke on a short ball. I prefer to wait for it to drop and then take a big cut at the ball at my preferred contact height - even if I give my opponent a little bit extra time to recover, I hit a better shot with more precision when I wait for the ball to drop below my shoulder. My coach on the other hand hits those kind of shots off short balls and he tried to teach me that shot once where I jump and hit downwards, but I made too many errors.

BTW, when I say hit the ball early I don’t mean to take it on the rise at a high contact height. I just mean to set up properly with good spacing, take a horizontal swing with full extension so that you hit the ball well in front of your body at a comfortable contact height. Then you can get spin and pace easier especially if your body weight is going forward and not to the side. If you try to contact the ball above the shoulder, you can’t extend your swing too much to hit the ball early and you will end up contacting the ball later when it is closer to your body.
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I see....
 
johnmccabe said:
For those high balls, do you feel the racquet head is higher than the hand at contact? When I tried to hit earlier in the front, I was also trying to have the racquet head at the same height as the hand (normal racquet position for lower balls), which may be my problem.

Also do you see a problem in my follow through, sorta related to swing path?
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The relationship of the racquet head to your hand is going to depend on your grip. If you hit a shoulder high ball with an eastern, the most neutral wrist position will require the racquet head to be higher than the hand position. For a SW, which is what I use, it's most comfortable for me to have the racquet head and hand at the same height. Probably for a western, you could have your hand as high or maybe even a bit higher than the racquet head.

I think your swing path would benefit from being flatter to the contact point. You already have contact height so you don't need topspin to ensure you don't hit it long. You want the simplest stroke and stroke preparation to minimize chances you will miss the shot or miss your target. That also means not jumping into the shot.
 
Injured Again said:
The relationship of the racquet head to your hand is going to depend on your grip. If you hit a shoulder high ball with an eastern, the most neutral wrist position will require the racquet head to be higher than the hand position. For a SW, which is what I use, it's most comfortable for me to have the racquet head and hand at the same height. Probably for a western, you could have your hand as high or maybe even a bit higher than the racquet head.
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Yes! Before I figure out how to position correctly with footwork, this maybe the temporary solution. I experimented this kind of racquet position for one handed backhand drive on high balls at some point.
 
optic yellow said:
The other option in a situation like that is a chop slice.
Click to expand...
Yes, if I want to take a short ball early when it is above my shoulder, I would probably hit a chop slice into the corner as an approach shot and get to the net fast. I do that on my BH more than my FH though.
 
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