ground stroke cross court contact point

[johnmccabe]

when you hit a baseline crosscourt, do you try to make contact further in front (i.e., hitting earlier cc vs hitting slightly late DTL)? I think I saw this tip from one of essential tennis videos and have been doing this since. A new coach I met said making the contact point more in front to hit cross court will make it harder to generate power. I tried it in rally and he seems to be right. But I could not figure out why that is the case. Anyone had similar experience?

 

[Rosstour]

when you hit a baseline crosscourt, do you try to make contact further in front (i.e., hitting earlier cc vs hitting slightly late DTL)? I think I saw this tip from one of essential tennis videos and have been doing this since. A new coach I met said making the contact point more in front to hit cross court will make it harder to generate power. I tried it in rally and he seems to be right. But I could not figure out why that is the case. Anyone had similar experience?

Look at the hardest FHs on tour, many are hit by Monfils--and they are hit extremely close to his body with a chicken wing arm.

Try jumping on a trampoline and doing 360s, 540s etc. WAY easier if you keep your arms close to your body. Unit turn

 

[LeeD]

More out in front.
Dtl, less out in front.
At your level.

 

[johnmccabe]

More out in front.
Dtl, less out in front.
At your level.

I tried what the coach asked me to do although I didn't believe him. Then my cc balls became deeper and harder. The difference was very obvious.

 

[Hit 'em clean]

Contact points can vary depend on your grip, swing style, etc. Also, you might’ve been too far out front. Tips on YT, etc are generally good, but can often be over used or taken out of context. Your coach saw something that would work better for you. Not all tips work for everyone.

 

[nyta2]

...making the contact point more in front to hit cross court will make it harder to generate power...

depends on the context...
if i arrive at the contact, early, i can step in (or even step diagonal into the court), it feels like i'm hitting very out in front, as i'm able to get my body weight behind the ball, and feels just like a dtm rally ball, except i'm facing diagonal
but if i'm being pulled out wide, where i can't step in with my left foot (as a righty), then im' going to plant my foot with my outside leg, and make contact kinda close to me, relying mostly on my rotational power (especially if my body weight/momentum is pulling me further out wide - ala "outside hop", "mogul step", "power step through" type footwork)

 

[johnmccabe]

depends on the context...
if i arrive at the contact, early, i can step in (or even step diagonal into the court), it feels like i'm hitting very out in front, as i'm able to get my body weight behind the ball, and feels just like a dtm rally ball, except i'm facing diagonal
but if i'm being pulled out wide, where i can't step in with my left foot (as a righty), then im' going to plant my foot with my outside leg, and make contact kinda close to me, relying mostly on my rotational power (especially if my body weight/momentum is pulling me further out wide - ala "outside hop", "mogul step", "power step through" type footwork)

this makes a lot of sense!

 

[CAREDDINGTON]

It's really more about the position of your body and footwork, and less about changing your racket contact.

 

[mcs1970]

This is a good video.

Edit. NM. I think you must have seen the same video as per your OP.

 

[RyanRF]

I guess it depends on what kind of shot you're trying to hit. Are you talking about a deep crosscourt rally ball? Or a short angle crosscourt?

If we're just talking rally balls then I don't think the crosscourt is super different than DTL or inside out.

The short angle is a different thing altogether though. Intuitive tennis just did a good video on this shot:

 

[johnmccabe]

This is a good video.

Edit. NM. I think you must have seen the same video as per your OP.

Yup. This is where I started to learn controlling directions.

 

[Dartagnan64]

This is a good video.

Edit. NM. I think you must have seen the same video as per your OP.

Problem with that video is she hasn't correct for body angle. If you adjusted the camera angle to line it up with her hips, you might see that she hits out front of her body about the same and the real difference is actually the slight body turn. All it takes is about 10 degrees of body angle difference to go CC.

 

[mcs1970]

Problem with that video is she hasn't correct for body angle. If you adjusted the camera angle to line it up with her hips, you might see that she hits out front of her body about the same and the real difference is actually the slight body turn. All it takes is about 10 degrees of body angle difference to go CC.

You are correct that’s what is happening but the problem is once a relatively beginner student, starts thinking consciously about things such as angles of body rotation, they will end up with a weak shot.

So whether she intended it or not, asking them to focus on contact point will naturally cause a slight body rotation for most students and will be easier to learn.

 

[Dartagnan64]

You are correct that’s what is happening but the problem is once a relatively beginner student, starts thinking consciously about things such as angles of body rotation, they will end up with a weak shot.

So whether she intended it or not, asking them to focus on contact point will naturally cause a slight body rotation for most students and will be easier to learn.

I think it's far better to just think about where you want to hit and let your brain figure out how to do it. I doubt any pro thought about hitting a millisecond early or late to aim his shots. His coach said, "hit CC" and the pro just did it.

 

[mcs1970]

I think it's far better to just think about where you want to hit and let your brain figure out how to do it. I doubt any pro thought about hitting a millisecond early or late to aim his shots. His coach said, "hit CC" and the pro just did it.

If it was that easy why even have any coaches or any technical instruction? The pro analogy doesn’t work because they have been through many years of coaching and drills from a very young age to get to where they are.

 

[Dragy]

If it was that easy why even have any coaches or any technical instruction? The pro analogy doesn’t work because they have been through many years of coaching and drills from a very young age to get to where they are.

Yeah absolutely. Pros did get those instructions like “turn a bit more”, on practice court, decade ago. Of course they don’t think it when aiming a shot during a point, but you may be completely unable to reach that unconscious competence level if the shot isn’t 100% natural to you, and you haven’t invested court time into cleaning up those technical elements under proper supervision.

Pros are so balanced because all their weak point and issues were addressed, and afterwards - solidified during numerous practice hours.

 

[user92626]

Yeah absolutely. Pros did get those instructions like “turn a bit more”, on practice court, decade ago. Of course they don’t think it when aiming a shot during a point, but you may be completely unable to reach that unconscious competence level if the shot isn’t 100% natural to you, and you haven’t invested court time into cleaning up those technical elements under proper supervision.

Pros are so balanced because all their weak point and issues were addressed, and afterwards - solidified during numerous practice hours.

What exactly is "unconscious competence level"?

Is it like what we have with walking? We don't need to rehearse it. We can walk anytime, anywhere we want?

 

[Bagumbawalla]

when you hit a baseline crosscourt, do you try to make contact further in front (i.e., hitting earlier cc vs hitting slightly late DTL)? I think I saw this tip from one of essential tennis videos and have been doing this since. A new coach I met said making the contact point more in front to hit cross court will make it harder to generate power. I tried it in rally and he seems to be right. But I could not figure out why that is the case. Anyone had similar experience?

In my opinion, for what it's worth, once you have learned, and drilled to hit a decent groundstroke,
you should strive to get into position and hit it (as much as possible) the same stroke every time.

For example, if you are pulled wide and want to hit a forehand crosscourt, get set up early, get your
feet in the proper alignment and drive through the ball. The timing might vary a bit, but your set up
to the ball and your stroke should be basically the same as hitting practice drills back and forth down the middle.

Obviously if you are out of position, rushed, or want to "disguise" your intentions- you may resort
to improvisation.

 

[Dragy]

What exactly is "unconscious competence level"?

Is it like what we have with walking? We don't need to rehearse it. We can walk anytime, anywhere we want?

I’d use analogy like “running through a forest” - it’s intense, highly focused and adaptive, aware of where to place your feet, yet not consciously controlled in every sub-motion

 

[ballmachineguy]

I’d use analogy like “running through a forest” - it’s intense, highly focused and adaptive, aware of where to place your feet, yet not consciously controlled in every sub-motion

I know somebody that would run into a tree head-on trying to copy Fed’s degree of ankle flexion.
But, it would be correct technically.

 

[Dragy]

I know somebody that would run into a tree head-on trying to copy Fed’s degree of ankle flexion.
But, it would be correct technically.

Well there are enough parkour practitioners who break their anything learning the moves. But then you have them to use in the “run”.

 

[user92626]

I’d use analogy like “running through a forest” - it’s intense, highly focused and adaptive, aware of where to place your feet, yet not consciously controlled in every sub-motion

Remind me of Apocolypto.

Running through a forest can still be deadly for a bunch of guys.

I dunno, man. In a match, I apply everything that I know. Alot of things work but also alot of other things don't. Something can be done with high quality and something is done with mediocrity.

How would you define that?

 

[user92626]

I know somebody that would run into a tree head-on trying to copy Fed’s degree of ankle flexion.
But, it would be correct technically.

For a ballmachine guy you surely have a very complicated mind.

Are you concerned that you're speaking to a void? That nobody knows wtf you are talking about? LOL.

 

[Dragy]

Remind me of Apocolypto.

Running through a forest can still be deadly for a bunch of guys.

I dunno, man. In a match, I apply everything that I know. Alot of things work but also alot of other things don't. Something can be done with high quality and something is done with mediocrity.

How would you define that?

Everyone misses and fails, even pros. In actual match, it's a lot about decision making, what to attempt, what not to. What to avoid.

 

[ballmachineguy]

For a ballmachine guy you surely have a very complicated mind.

Are you concerned that you're speaking to a void? That nobody knows wtf you are talking about? LOL.

I already know that no one knows what I am talking about.

 

[user92626]

I already know that no one knows what I am talking about.

Don't sound so defeated. Get back to the fun.

ive been racking my brain with this thought...

What's the sport or everyday activity that resembles the FH, BF, volley?

(Someone asked me at the court so they could learn...)