Good Analogies / Thinking for Topspin FH ??

[user92626]

Hi All,
I'm frustrated at unable to produce a meaningful topspin FH (and im tempted to add BH as well but that might be asking for too much).

I have sw grip. I follow all the good tips on the swing -- high takeback, drop down, square contact, pat the dog, more WW path, etc. but I just send the ball into space! So frustrated that I just went back to the style of hitting thru the ball, below-shoulder follow-thru. That does the job of hitting the ball but the shot is just flat and prone to be out if I insert a slight of strength.

So, what's a good analogy / thinking for hitting a topspin? The kind of swing that the more power you put in the more topspin there is. That's the kind of exercise-tennis I like.

 

[tata]

A topspin forehand can be more harder to produce when you think about it too much.You still hit the ball with your racquet face parralle to the net BUT on the approach, that is your prepare and swing towards the ball must come from a height below the ball.So approach from under but you still hit the ball pretty much the same spot as if you were hitting it flat.From there on you just need to follow through with that low to high motion and finish above/around the shoulders.Bare in mind a bit that you might need to hit the ball closer to you than a classic flat forehand because you are swing upwards and that wont give you the same reach to the ball compared to hitting it flat and forward.

So just remember,the approach comes from under the ball BUT you hit the ball on the same spot so that the racquet is facing the net.I think what you are doing wrong is you are coming from below the ball AND hitting the ball from under which is why you send it long.

 

[aceroberts13]

In high school when I was first starting to play a lot and learn some things. I would watch videos of matches and and replay players' groundstrokes that I liked and I would try to visualize them on the court. It helped me on my groundstrokes but not much else.

 

[user92626]

tata,
what you said makes sense. Next time I go to a court I'll try to remember the spot on the ball to hit. Thanks.

 

[sukivan]

lay your wrist back, supinate the hell out of your forearm, and hit the ball at full extension with the racquet head below wrist height and coming up quickly
if you can properly execute these instructions you'll have a forehand better than 99% of the people here

 

[jasoncho92]

lay your wrist back, supinate the hell out of your forearm, and hit the ball at full extension with the racquet head below wrist height and coming up quickly
if you can properly execute these instructions you'll have a forehand better than 99% of the people here

Also, perfectly angle your racket face for every shot and hit the edges of the corners. Do this and youll be better than 99% of all pros. What the hell kind of advice is that man. Might as well just tell him, "become a pro so youll be better than most players."

 

[Sublime]

Don't try to do anything at contact. The angle you're taking to the ball, the speed of the racket, should all be locked in at the beginning of the swing forward. If you try to make adjustments or "brush" the ball at the last second, the only thing you'll accomplish is slowing your racket head speed.

Also don't try to supinate, don't try to WW finish, you can create plenty of topspin without those things. Once you've got that stroke down and you can rely on the topspin, start experimenting with the other stuff.

 

[Tomek_tennis]

show a vid...

 

[fuzz nation]

Yeah, a video could certainly help, but I think you might be working against yourself by actively trying to crank out so much topspin. If you're pulling up too much through the stroke to make those rpm's, you could be opening up your chest and shoulders toward the sky somewhat and sailing the ball - when you open up like that, the face of your racquet follows the angle of your upper body. This is a subtle thing, but it kills forehands at every level including the pros.

Not that you want to play hunched over, but pay attention to that aspect of your chest/shoulders and make sure that you're keeping them down level. If you're doing that okay, I'd recommend noodling with your backswing some more. If you're taking the racquet back high, you still need to get it down below the ball to create a low-to-high swing path, right? See if you can take it back below the ball immediately. You may get better timing through contact that way.

Since I can't see your actual swing, I'm just sort of guessing, but there are a couple of other things to try. If your swing is a little too bunched up, see what happens if you try to swing the racquet around the outside half of the ball. This might free up your stroke and help you go out after the ball some more with comfortable extension if you need to. The other possible cue to try is to follow through so that your elbow (of your swinging arm) is pointing in the general direction of your target. This can help to accelerate through the hitting zone for better bite on the ball and maybe cut down on an over active wrist if you've got too much of a flailing wiper motion happening.

One change at a time as you experiment so that you know what's helping and what's not.